Women in Gaming webinar: Leaders break barriers and drive Africa’s igaming revolution
Top women executives shared insights on mentorship, overcoming bias and leveraging digital opportunities at the “Women in Gaming” webinar.
Kenya.- Women across Africa’s gaming and technology sectors gathered for a powerful webinar entitled “Women in Gaming: Starting a Career in the iGaming Industry”, which highlighted how women were navigating the continent’s fast-growing igaming industry and forging meaningful careers.
The discussion, held on October 10, explored identifying personal strengths, overcoming cultural and unconscious bias, building networks, leveraging mentorship and embracing opportunities in digital transformation and AI.
The session was moderated by Kenya’s Lynn Gitau, Director of Communications at GatherVerse, who guided the discussion and engaged the panelists throughout.
The webinar featured leading women shaping the igaming sector, including Ekaterina Mayorova from Malta, based in Africa, Head of Region (Africa & CIS) at QTech Games; Philisiwe Bhengu from South Africa, Founding Director of Research iGaming; and Kate Eliketa Wainaina from Kenya, Head of Growth and Partnerships – Africa at EuroVirtuals Limited. It also included Akinade Bukola from Nigeria, Group Head of Sales at Winners Golden Group, and Neha Hiralal from South Africa, Head of Digital at World Sports Betting.
The panel shared insights on how women could find their footing in a male-dominated industry. Mayorova challenged women to overcome hesitation when pursuing roles. “There is a perception women when they see the job application they just see like I don’t fit the criteria so it’s not for me I’m not going to apply,” she said. “Go apply, you might try and you might actually be a suitable person.” She also encouraged curiosity and confidence, advising: “Be curious. Be open-minded and be visible and you will get to your successes.”
For Bhengu, success begins with self-awareness and understanding the broader business landscape. “I don’t believe that women need to focus specifically on technical skills but also like understanding the whole ecosystem and how the business work,” she said. She urged women to identify their strengths, adding: “Find out what is actually your niche and what you are actually really good at and then stick with that.”
Breaking barriers, seizing opportunities
Wainaina reflected on cultural and unconscious barriers that continued to hold women back. “I would say I think we have an unconscious bias as women. Culturally we have always had to prove ourselves,” she said. Wainaina, who led growth efforts across multiple African markets for EuroVirtuals, also revealed that her company was expanding opportunities for women in the region. “We have a couple of job opportunities at Euro Virtuals- sales associate in West Africa, a sales associate in South Africa and a sales associate in LatAm,” she announced.
Hiralal highlighted the growing role of digital technologies, including AI, in creating opportunities for women. “The women in gaming community has really created such a meaningful platform for connection, insight and growth,” she said. Hiralal added: “AI is really reshaping everything we do day in and day out.”
Bukola highlighted the diversity of roles women could enter within gaming. “We’re virtually into almost all the gaming platform that we have available out there,” she said. Bukola also emphasised visibility. “Networking is a very essential part of getting jobs when you’re in need of them or putting yourself out there for people to know that you’re employable.”
The discussion emphasised mentorship, continuous learning and seizing opportunities. Panellists collectively urged women to take bold steps with the rallying call: “Why not me?”
As Africa’s igaming sector continued to grow, the voices of these women amplified the message that inclusion, visibility and confidence were essential for the industry’s innovation and sustainability.
