Women in Games Ambassadors at Keywords Studios: Kah Hui Teo

Are there any specific industry issues you are seeking to address in your activities as a Women in Games Ambassador?

Yes! There are so many issues I would like to address in my activities as a Women in Games Ambassador. Currently, I am prioritising three areas, namely: building the community, supporting the community, and policy advocacy.

Women are under-represented in the games industry, and more so in Asia. APAC makes up 48% of the global games market revenue, but there is a lower awareness of DEI in the region. We have been building the WiG community in Asia to allow women working in the Asia games industry to have access to the network and support, even if they may be from smaller game studios where such resources are not made available to them.

As a Women in Games Ambassador in Asia, I work together with publishers and major game studios in the region on their DEI activities, which includes mentorship opportunities, technical workshops and initiatives to support the women in our community. We are currently collaborating on a white paper which will be focused on the landscape of the Asia games industry. The data and information from this paper will support our policy advocacy, where we will push for corporate policies and employment practices to be more inclusive and create cultures of equality at the workplace.

What does being a WiG Ambassador mean to you?

Since I was appointed a WiG Ambassador, my journey has been nothing short of amazing. Other than the W Coffee sessions, which I co-hosted alongside other WiG Ambassadors in Asia, I have also set up the Women in Games Asia Chapter with my co-director, Dan Sun of Riot Games. I was also awarded the Outstanding Individual Ambassador of the Year 2022 by Women in Games.

However, I feel the true inspirations are the many wonderful women I have met in the games industry, who share heartfelt stories of their journeys as well as the awesome female founders of game studios in the region, who continue to thrive against all odds.

Would you have any advice for other women considering a career in video gaming? 

My advice would be to join a community such as Women in Games. Listening to the stories of other women in the games industry, the challenges they have encountered, how they have overcome obstacles to get to where they are today, truly broadens your perspective.

This is not to encourage bonding through negative experiences, but rather to see how women persist, despite systemic barriers. Such communities are where we find support, encouragement and advice when needed and this is where life-long friendships are often formed.