25 PEOPLE TO WATCH 2024
From the Mountaintops
Julia Boguslawski , Chief Marketing Officer , AGS
In 2015 , Julia Boguslawski became chief marketing officer and investor relations vice president at a “ small , scrappy company ” then known as American Gaming Systems .
“ At the time ,” she recalls , “ we had two to three slot cabinets and one table game ; we didn ’ t even have interactive . The plan was , through ( acquisitions and investments in R & D ), to take a smaller company and just grow , grow , grow .”
Today , Boguslawski heads up marketing at a more established , competitive , but still-scrappy supplier known as AGS . The company has posted considerable growth under David Lopez , president and CEO since 2014 . The company went public in 2018 .
“ In under 10 years , we ’ ve gotten into so many different product categories and form factors ,” says Boguslawski . “ We ’ re now on the leaderboard for interactive and offer over 30 table products , including the industry ’ s best progressive systems .
“ In just a few years ’ time , we ’ ve doubled our slot game content output and are in a position to consistently introduce a new cabinet each year . Our latest accomplishment , the Spectra cabinet , has led the Eilers charts nearly every month since
“ In just a few years ’ time , we ’ ve doubled our slot game content output and are in a position to consistently introduce a new cabinet each year . Our latest accomplishment , the Spectra cabinet , has led the Eilers charts nearly every month since its release . Our team has grown from 350 people when I started to over 900 team members worldwide .”
its release . Our team has grown from 350 people when I started to over 900 team members worldwide .”
While AGS isn ’ t one of the biggest names in the space , “ we ’ re very close to the big leagues ,” the executive says . “ Customers know they can use AGS products to almost outfit their whole floor .”
Boguslawski began her career in hospitality and travel , as a financial analyst . She then moved to investor relations ; marketing was “ a logical next step .” Her job is to “ elevate and promote our people , our products and our culture : here ’ s our vision , here ’ s who we want to be , here ’ s what we ’ re focusing on .”
For all its rapid growth , AGS is protective of its roots in Class II tribal gaming . “ When David came on board , he was ready for change , but in a responsible and thoughtful manner that would keep us growing in Class II while opening up the business to Class III ,” says Boguslawski . “ He won ’ t let us get ahead of our skis .”
Since 2016 , AGS has become well-known for its popular GameOn conference . The three-day confab is a deep dive into trends in and out of gaming , such as artificial intelligence , data analytics and evolving casino games . As architect of the series , Boguslawski says , “ our goal is to be the TED of gaming .” She says 2024 “ is really positioned to be a big year ” for AGS . “ We talk a lot about market resonance , brand extensions and continued portfolio expansion . We ’ re still pushing the message to customers , Wall Street and the industry that AGS today isn ’ t like the AGS of even three or four years ago .”
Motherhood keeps this Orlando , Florida native upbeat ; it ’ s an attitude that ’ s just as important in the workplace . “ If your energy is negative at home , the whole house changes ,” says the mom of four . “ I go to work saying , ‘ Hey , it ’ s a great day , great things are going to happen .’”
She attributes AGS ’ success to the boss , the team and the company ’ s candid , collegial atmosphere , in which everyone has the CEO ’ s ear , and every voice counts . For her personal success , Boguslawski credits resilience . “ Life , career , parenting , friendships , relationships , are all going to throw you curveballs . If you ’ re resilient , you can keep moving forward .”
Moving into the new year , “ I love being small and scrappy , figuring out how to grow in the smartest way possible , to ensure that we ’ re going to be here tomorrow , the next day and the day after .
“ We ’ ve had a great opportunity to really shout from the mountaintops what we have to offer , what our competitive strengths are , and why people should do business with us . And that ’ s a really fun place to be .” — Marjorie Preston
24 Global Gaming Business JANUARY 2024