Womenize!
Schedule
Wed Jun 03 2026 at 10:00 am to 08:00 pm
UTC+02:00Location
Institut Français Berlin | Berlin, BE
About this Event
Talks, Workshops, Networking & more
Womenize! is an event celebrating women and all underrepresented groups in the gaming industry, offering inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, and valuable networking. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, there's something for everyone.
That said, the event welcomes participants of all genders!
More information on our program will be announced soon.
You can already look forward to speakers such as Kelly Vero (Technical Founder of NAK3D), Anna Gruzina (Product Manager at InnoGames), Mafalda Duarte (Producer & Studio Head), Candela Ayala Vizán (Gameforge), and many more inspiring voices from across the industry.
At Womenize!, we celebrate diversity, amplify the voices of women and marginalized groups, and create a safe and inclusive space for everyone. We recognize the importance of allies in fostering a culture of equality and driving positive change.
Bring an ally (a cis-male colleague, friend, or supporter) and enjoy a 25% lower price when purchasing two or more tickets.
Important Notes
Our priority is maintaining Womenize! as a safe space for women and marginalized groups. (Male) Allies are invited to join as supporters and learners, not as dominant voices.
We encourage all attendees to engage respectfully, remain open to feedback, and focus on how they can contribute to positive change.
We want to make our event as accessible and welcoming as possible. If you have any special requirements or requests (e.g. childcare, accessibility needs, dietary restrictions), please reach out to us in advance at [email protected]. While we can’t guarantee every request, we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs.
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Please note: We would like to point out that photos and videos will be taken at the event. The photos will be used for documentation and post-reporting on the website, in print media and social networks of Womenize!
Agenda
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM
WELCOME
Host: Madeleine Egger
🕑: 10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
You Are Not Your Job Title: The Transferable Power of Game Makers
Host: Kelly Vero
Info: TALK: The games industry is shifting fast, but your value was never your job title. It’s your ability to design systems, understand behaviour, and create experiences people actually engage with. Kelly Vero will reframe those skills beyond the studio—interactively, of course—showing why they matter now more than ever and where they translate across industries.
🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Behind the Hype: What it Really Means to Manage Communities
Host: Candela Ayala Vizán
Info: TALK: Candela will share her experience of the full journey, from the myth of “building communities” to what it really takes to start from nothing, including the invisible work no one talks about and the gap between expectations and reality.
She'll explore what happens when creators enter the picture as partners rather than just numbers and why finding the right fit matters more than reach.
Finally, She'll talk about the part we rarely address: what happens when everything ends, when communities shrink and the real human impact remains.
Behind every community, there are people, stories, and connections that go far beyond the hype.
🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Not a Syndrome, a System: Who Benefits from When You Feel Like an Imposter?
Host: Isabella Spitznagel
Info: WORKSHOP: Feeling inadequate? Have you ever been told not to feel inadequate? Has any of that kind of advice ever helped? Do you wonder why your discomfort is labeled as a syndrome? And why if it’s so common, it’s often only tackled on an individual level? In this two-part talk and workshop, we will contextualize the so-called “imposter syndrome”, demystify its occurrence, and fight its hold onto all of us, together.
🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Create, Play, Iterate: Let’s Make a Game in 90 Minutes
Host: Anne Sauer
Info: MASTERCLASS: Dive into the world of game design in this hands-on masterclass. No prior experience required! In
small teams, you’ll develop a game idea from scratch to a playable prototype in just 90 minutes.
Using analog materials and creative constraints, we’ll explore brainstorming, iteration, and
playtesting in a dynamic, collaborative process.
Why join?
● Collaborative & beginner-friendly: Ideal for newcomers and experienced players alike.
● Analog & hands-on: Focus on mechanics, rules, and the joy of creation.
● Networking with a playful twist: Get to know each other through creative collaboration!
No prior knowledge needed — just bring curiosity and a willingness to experiment!
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM
LUNCH BREAK
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:00 PM
In Between Chapters: Reinventing Yourself When the Path Isn’t Clear
Host: Mafalda Duarte
Info: FIRE SIDE CHAT: In times of industry layoffs and uncertainty, many professionals are forced to
rethink their careers. But reinvention rarely looks like a clean success story.
It can involve doubt, identity shifts, and moments of not knowing where to go
next.
This fireside chat brings together personal perspectives on navigating layoffs,
career pivots, and the emotional realities behind them. Through an honest and
vulnerable conversation, Mafalda and Ruth explore how to cope with uncertainty,
protect mental health, and find empowerment in the process of redefining oneself.
🕑: 01:45 PM - 03:45 PM
10 Things You Need to Know to Successfully Release Your Indie Game
Host: Irene Preuss
Info: MASTERCLASS: We will cover the most essential aspects needed for a successful release of your game, including: (indie) games marketing basics, how to find and reach your audience, what activities will help the most to get your game noticed, how to plan and stay organised, and a look at the most important tools and resources. Attendees will be able to apply the learnings to their own games and will be encouraged to ask questions throughout the masterclass.
🕑: 02:15 PM - 03:00 PM
Leading LiveOps: Product, Production, and the Reality of Running a Live Game
Host: Valeria Spirande
Info: TALK: Running a live game is messy, fast-moving, and never really “done.” In this talk, Valeria and Olivia will pull back the curtain on the real day-to-day of LiveOps, from tough prioritization calls and production challenges to the constant balancing act between player happiness, business impact, and team wellbeing. Using lessons from Idle Miner Tycoon, we’ll explore how product and production truly work together to keep a game evolving for years, what breaks (and what scales), and the leadership lessons that come with it. Expect practical insights on decision-making, feedback, and how to build teams that can thrive in the long run and not just survive the next update.
🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:45 PM
Be queer, make games – Queer Perspectives on Founding Your Own Games Company
Info: PANEL
🕑: 04:00 PM - 04:45 PM
Lost in Translation: What Marketing and Product Get Wrong About Each Other
Host: Anna Gruzina
Info: TALK: Marketing lives in last week's numbers. Product lives in the next quarter's
vision. When these two time orientations share a studio without a translator,
alignment becomes a negotiation between two separate realities, and not a
conversation about one game. This talk unpacks why Marketing and Product teams
conflict, not because of personality or politics, but because of a structural
mismatch in how each function relates to time. Drawing on a real cross-over
journey from 17 years in marketing to product, this session introduces
fundamental issues between teams and how to bridge these gaps.
🕑: 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Ready to Launch? The Ultimate Launch Checklist!
Host: Jaqueline Martin
Info: WORKSHOP: Launching a game is more than just hitting the release button. When you are preparing for a Kickstarter campaign, Early Access launch, Steam release, or publisher pitch, success often depends on the work that happens long before launch day.
In this workshop, Jacky Martin breaks down the essential systems, strategies, and warning signs every indie developer should know before going live. From audience validation and positioning to production readiness, marketing preparation, and funding strategy, attendees will learn what actually makes a game launch-ready in today’s competitive market.
The session includes a practical launch readiness framework and a complete checklist developers can immediately apply to their own projects to identify weaknesses, avoid common launch mistakes, and improve their chances of building momentum from day one.
Perfect for indie developers, small studios, and first-time founders preparing for Kickstarter, Early Access, or commercial release.
🕑: 06:45 PM - 08:00 PM
NETWORKING SESSION
Where is it happening?
Institut Français Berlin, Kurfürstendamm 211, Berlin, GermanyEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
EUR 25.00 to EUR 110.00



















