Jeannie Hovland, Vice Chairwoman of the National Indian Gaming Commission and member of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe joins the podcast to share the story of her career journey, the importance of tribal self-sufficiency and the NIGC’s efforts in addressing issues like human trafficking and missing and murdered indigenous persons. With over 20 years of experience in tribal gaming, Jeannie shares valuable insights on the role of tribal casinos in enhancing community welfare and provides crucial resources to help in combating human trafficking.

To kick off Native American Heritage Month, Josh Carter, Executive Director of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, joins the podcast to share the story of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and his dedication to preserving and promoting Northeastern Woodland culture. Josh shares insights on the role of cultural intelligence in fostering relationships with Native communities and highlights current and future initiatives at the museum to bring the story of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and their sister nations to life in new and exciting ways.

To close out Hispanic Heritage Month, Martha Morales shares the story of her journey in the casino industry and how her start in hospitality led her to her current role as Assistant General Manager at Boyd Gaming. Martha opens up about the importance of representation, building supportive networks, and her own role in advocating for her community, including her involvement with the Hospitality Advisory Committee Charitable Foundation.

As Responsible Gaming Education Month comes to an end, Juan Baez joins the podcast to share the story of his career journey, from his start in community mental health and addiction counseling to his current role as Responsible Gaming Program Manager with Rush Street Interactive. Juan shares valuable insights on the importance of responsible gaming, sustainable play, and the future of the industry.

Frances Alvarez tells the story of her 23 year journey in the tribal gaming industry, from her start with the San Francisco Tribal Gaming Commission to founding Rezonate LLC. As a current leader in organizations like the National Native American Hall of Game and the Tribal Gaming Protection Network, Frances shares valuable insights on her dedication to indigenous communities, overcoming fear in career transitions, and the importance of servant leadership.

Vik Shrestha joins us to share the story of his 10+ year journey in the gaming industry, from compliance and management at companies like GLI and IGT to co-founding SB22. He provides valuable insights on the challenges of being an entrepreneur in gaming, staying on top of an ever-evolving tech landscape, and the impact of AI and VR on future innovations.

Melissa Pursley, Senior Vice President of Global Lottery Product and Sales Development at IGT tells the story of her career journey, her background in marketing and retail unexpectedly leading her to the gaming industry. As the co-executive sponsor for Pride at IGT, Melissa provides unique insights into the company’s best in class DEI efforts while reflecting on how her own identity has influenced her career and leadership.

Sophie Wood, co-founder of Belonging Base, tells the story of her personal journey as a trans woman and her mission to foster inclusivity in company cultures. From her beginnings in the UK Police Service to leading global Diversity & Inclusion initiatives in the online gambling industry, Sophie has contributed greatly to advocacy and education in a number of industries. Tune in to discover Sophie's insights and aspirations for creating authentic and safe spaces in today's corporate world.

Value Leo, co-founder of LIONDRAGON Studio tells the story of her journey in the gaming industry, from her start in engineering and programming to managing her own teams. She provides unique insight into the world of game design, discussing her expertise in Asian-themed games, her passion for building a strong work culture, and supporting young talent.

Tomash Devenishek, founder and CEO of Kero Sports joins us to discuss how his background in startups and tech helped him succeed in leading his own company. His discussion highlights the unique capabilities of his product, while providing insight into the larger sports betting industry, its evolution, and future.

Lauren Bates, President of Global Gaming Women, shares the story of her unexpected start in the gaming industry and the pivotal role of mentorship, sponsorship, and allyship in her career progression.Her discussion with Wondr Nation CEO Anika Howard highlights the importance of building strong relationships. Lauren’s personal journey informs the impactful work she leads at Global Gaming Women, providing opportunities and support for women across all levels of the gaming industry.

Tammi Barlow, Vice President of Global Responsible Gaming at Bally’s, shares the story of her career journey, from her start in health and human services to developing and overseeing responsible gaming and corporate responsibility programs. As an expert in the responsible gaming space, Tammi sheds light on lesser-known areas of the industry, debunking misconceptions and looking at future opportunities for growth and better player protection in the evolving responsible gaming landscape.

Alex Dixon, President and CEO of the Dubuque Racing Association, joins us to tell the story of his unique path as a third-generation casino employee, from growing up in Vegas to managing casino properties across the country. Alex and Wondr Nation CEO Anika Howard discuss the importance of mentorship, sponsorship and family values in his leadership journey while highlighting the role gaming can play in economic and community development.

Co-Founder and CEO of Cxmmunity Media Ryan Johnson joins us to discuss how his company is fostering diversity and equity in eSports gaming and media. Through initiatives like the HBCU eSports League, Big Creator, and his nonprofit Gaming Community Co., Ryan and his team have found great success in creating more opportunities for young people to discover a passion for eSports.

Welcome to Level Up with Wondr! In this episode, President and CEO of Wondr Nation Anika Howard and VP Marketing & Operations Dyani Marvel introduce listeners to the podcast and give a preview of what’s to come.