Empowering Change: Laila Shabir and the Girls Make Games Initiative

The Game Changers series by GamesIndustry.biz highlights individuals and groups dedicated to making the gaming industry a better place, focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and mental health. Laila Shabir, CEO and co-founder of Girls Make Games, has been a key figure in this movement, adapting to the evolving gaming ecosystem to support the next generation of game developers. Recently, she launched the Girls Make Games Scholarship Fund, a charity aimed at improving access to education for young women pursuing careers in the gaming industry. Shabir's journey began with the founding of Girls Make Games during the summer of Gamergate, initially as a summer camp that exposed girls to video game development. The program gained prominence on Twitter, and people rallied around the concept. Over the years, Girls Make Games has evolved, establishing workshops, mentoring opportunities, and a high retention rate of 80% at its annual summer camp. However, Shabir recognizes the need to reach more schools and make the program more accessible to those who need it. The Girls Make Games Scholarship Fund aims to address this by providing financial support, mentorship, and internships to young women. Shabir's personal experience as a scholarship recipient has driven her passion for making college accessible. She emphasizes the importance of supporting young women throughout the entire pipeline, from scholarship to mentorship to internship, to ensure they are 'book smart' and industry-ready by the time they graduate. With the support of major gaming companies like PlayStation, Nintendo, and Take Two, Girls Make Games has been able to make these initiatives a reality. Shabir hopes to reach 100,000 girls and young women within three years through the scholarship fund, focusing on creating more creators and providing a platform for them to develop their skills. Ultimately, her goal is to build a more inclusive and diverse gaming industry, and she invites partners to join her in this endeavor.