Speaker Spotlight: Kai Hui Teo at the Women In Games Careers Expo

Kah Hui Teo, Portfolio Director at Keywords Studios and Director of the Women in Games Asia Chapter, was invited to speak at this year’s event as part of an interview series designed to give people an insight into the career journeys of leading industry figures, hear them speak about emerging trends, and offer advice to those looking to build meaningful careers in games.

A veteran of the space, she has spent almost two decades helping games reach players around the world while advocating for more inclusive pathways into the industry, having previously served as an Advisor and ExCo of the Singapore Games Association, while currently working on the Singapore National Translation Committee Resource Panel and Translation Industry Workgroup. Kah Hui is also a part-time faculty of a Master’s Programme at Nanyang Technological University, where her research interests are games and transmedia.

Read on to see what she had to say:

How do you see the future of work in games evolving over the next 5–10 years, and what skills do you think will be most important for people working in the industry?

Over the next decade, I think we will see the games industry become even more global, collaborative, and interdisciplinary. Development teams already work across multiple regions and time zones, and that will only increase as studios expand their reach to players around the world.With this change, the most important skills will not only be technical ones, but also human and collaborative skills. Communication, cultural awareness, adaptability, and the ability to work across disciplines will be critical.

In my field of localization, we constantly bridge language, culture, and technology to ensure games resonate with players worldwide. Cross-cultural thinking will become increasingly valuable as games continue to reach broader audiences. Most importantly, people entering the industry should focus on learning how to learn. The tools and platforms will evolve, but the ability to adapt and grow will always remain essential.

How do you think emerging technologies will change the way people work in games - and how can individuals prepare for that shift?

Emerging technologies such as AI are already transforming many aspects of game development, from content creation to localization workflows. These tools can improve efficiency, automate repetitive tasks, and allow teams to focus more on creativity and player experience.However, technology works best when it augments human expertise rather than replaces it. In localization, for example, machine translation can accelerate workflows, but it cannot fully replicate cultural nuance, tone, or context. Games are ultimately creative experiences, and human insight remains essential.

To prepare for these changes, individuals should stay curious and proactive about learning new tools. At the same time, it is equally important to strengthen the uniquely human skills that technology cannot easily replace, such as empathy, creativity, and critical thinking.

Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that helped shape where you are today, and what it taught you about navigating change in the workplace?

A pivotal moment in my career was entering the games industry ‘accidentally’ after working several years as a chemical engineer. I started as a project coordinator in the games industry, but over time I discovered how much I enjoyed working at the intersection of language, culture, and games.That experience taught me that careers are rarely linear. Some of the most meaningful opportunities arise when one is open to exploring unfamiliar paths. Throughout my career journey, I have had the opportunity to work with diverse teams across different regions, and each transition required learning new skills and perspectives. This reinforced for me that navigating change requires curiosity, resilience, and the willingness to step outside my comfort zone.

What practical advice would you give to women and marginalised genders who want to build sustainable, long-term careers in games?

One of the most important things is to build a strong network and support system. The games industry is highly collaborative, and communities like Women in Games create spaces where people can connect, learn from one another, and support each other’s growth. An excellent example is the upcoming Women in Games Careers Expo, where we bring together professionals in the games industry and people who aspire to join this industry to have honest conversations about the future of work. It is also important to recognise that your skills are valuable and transferable. Many people enter the games industry through unconventional paths, and diverse perspectives can bring fresh ideas and innovation.

Finally, think about your career as a long-term journey. Invest in continuous learning, seek mentors, and confidently advocate for yourself and others. When more voices are heard, the industry becomes stronger and more inclusive.

If you could change one thing about how the games industry hires, supports, or develops talent for the future, what would it be and why?

I would like to see the industry place more emphasis on recognising transferable skills and non-traditional career pathways.Many talented people assume they need a very specific background to enter the games industry. In reality, game development benefits enormously from people with diverse experiences, whether they come from education, film, performing arts, technology, or other industries.By broadening how we think about hiring and career development, we can unlock a much wider pool of talent and perspectives. This diversity ultimately leads to more creative teams and better games.

The future of work in games will be shaped not just by technology, but by people, their creativity, their perspectives, and their willingness to support one another. When we open the door to diverse pathways and voices, we create an industry that is not only more inclusive, but also more innovative.

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