first mentor at age 13, who inspired her to pursue a business degree and a career beyond her small town in British Columbia.
Later, gaming industry trailblazer Diana Bennett played a pivotal role, sponsoring Bruckner to move to the United States at age 22 and modeling a leadership style based on empathy and servant leadership.“ Without her, I would not have a vision of the career or leadership style I strive to emulate,” Bruckner says.
Bruckner sees emerging trends in the gaming industry that promise new opportunities for aspiring professionals. As online wagering on casino games and sports continues to grow, she notes that future leaders will benefit from a well-rounded skill set that blends core gaming fundamentals with expertise in analytics, technology and AI— key tools for thriving in an increasingly dynamic, cross-platform gaming landscape.
Looking back, Bruckner is most proud of the teams she has built and has had the privilege to lead. Her passion is centered on mentorship and developing others, with previous team members advancing in their careers, both within and outside the gaming industry.“ There is nothing more fulfilling than seeing people grow and knowing you may have had some small part in helping them,” she reflects.
Bruckner’ s passion for developing young talent is evident in her current initiatives. As a co-founder and co-chair of Light & Wonder’ s EmpowHer Employee Resource Group, she champions women’ s professional growth through panels, workshops, book clubs and networking events. She also leads the Commercial Intern Program, dedicated to recruiting and developing diverse young talent.
For the coming year, Bruckner is especially excited about her work with UNLV Rebels EmpowHer presented by Diana Bennett, a new career center that supports female student-athletes in launching their post-collegiate careers. As the executive sponsor of this initiative, Bruckner aims to nurture these talented athletes into becoming the gaming industry’ s next generation of leaders. Additionally, she looks forward to expanding the EmpowHer program’ s reach through partnerships with organizations like Global Gaming Women and Women in Sports and Events.
As Bruckner strives to drive Light & Wonder’ s strategic goals, her vision for the future is rooted in a belief that change is constant— and she is fueled by her determination to lead it.— Allison McCoy, Program Director, Emerging Leaders of Gaming, The Innovation Group
A Home in Gaming
Kasandra Yellowitz
Vice President of Sales, Gift & Go
Kasandra Yellowitz grew up in Las Vegas, and like many others, found her professional home in the gaming capital. Born in Southern California, Yellowitz moved from Las Vegas to Central California for high school, but went back to Nevada to attend the College of Southern Nevada as a communications major. Yellowitz has had diverse job experiences over the years, including TV production and proprietership of a flower shop. But she ultimately found a home in gaming, first at Planet Hollywood on the Las Vegas Strip, then at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, and ultimately as vice president of sales at Gift & Go.“ It didn’ t take long for me to realize that the gaming industry was where I wanted to build my career,” she says.“ I was motivated, eager, and hungry for more.” With Gift & Go, Yellowitz oversees all sales efforts across North America.“ I developed and implemented a comprehensive sales strategy that aligns our annual goals with the company’ s broader vision,” she says.“ This included detailed roadmaps that helped our team stay on track and exceed key performance targets.” Mentors usually play a critical role in shaping careers, and for Yellowitz, two people immediately come to mind:“ Shelly Smith played a key leadership role during my time at The Cosmopolitan— her guidance helped shape my early professional foundation,” she says,“ And Jeff Hoss, who I met through Shelly, has been an invaluable mentor since 2016. His support and insights were instrumental as I transitioned back into gaming and built my current career path.” That path relates to the merger of the retail and casino industries, especially in a full resort like Las Vegas, Yellowitz says.“ Retail can enhance brand loyalty, serve as an extension of hospitality, and deliver unique, memory-making moments,” she says.“ Whether through curated experiences, personalized gifting, or strategic partnerships, I see retail evolving into a seamless part of the overall entertainment journey.”
In the near future, Yellowitz and her team will continue to lead that evolution.“ I see myself continuing to lead a dynamic sales team within the gaming industry— scaling growth, expanding market presence, and pushing innovation in how companies engage with their customers and partners,” she says.“ I love the casino gaming world; I have been intentional with roles I have had. My goal is to understand the full ecosystem of the gaming floor, from table games to slots, bingo, keno, marketing and the casino management system. I have equipped myself with the knowledge and understanding of the larger picture.“ I spent over a year diving deep into the understanding of the casino management system and everything that comes along with it. My past experience in different aspects of the industry made it possible for me to learn and understand at a level with which I can fully relate to casino properties across the country. I want to be able to offer the highest level of service and care for all of my customers.” Meanwhile, Yellowitz seeks life-work balance whenever she gets the chance.“ When I do take time to unwind, I enjoy being at home with my family and my dogs. I have an Italian mastiff named Sir Edward and a German shepherd / black lab mix named Church. They’ re both big personalities, and bring a lot of joy to our household.”— Frank Legato
JULY 2025 www. ggbmagazine. com 35