AFFILIATE EYE
Beyond gender:
Building affiliate careers on merit and talent
Professional growth in iGaming has nothing to do with gender or background and everything to do with commitment, skill and a supportive culture, writes Game Lounge COO Rosi Bremec. Here, she outlines how focusing on merit creates a level playing field where talent thrives, regardless of gender
Although they are constant buzzwords in iGaming – or in any industry – diversity, gender equality and inclusion are hotter topics than ever right now.
Earlier this year, in the run up to International Women’ s Day 2025, the same conversations resurfaced:“ How do we support more women into leadership?” or“ What’ s being done to break gender barriers in iGaming?”
I understand why the industry asks these questions, but I believe it’ s time we shift the conversation. Where once iGaming companies may have focused on fulfilling quotas, overcoming gender bias now means not even factoring it into the equation of professional growth.
Many industries are still perceived as maledominated, and iGaming is no different. But should we even consider that a barrier anymore? Women in iGaming are leading by example and showing that we can do anything. Opportunities exist, and women are earning them.
Success doesn’ t mean gender
At Game Lounge, success doesn’ t mean gender. It’ s all about skills, innovation, dedication and merit. And frankly, that’ s exactly how it should be.
Yet, success needs more than opportunity, so we place as much emphasis on employee wellbeing, trust and empowerment as we do on merit-based career progression. Game Lounge’ s employee value proposition, launched last year, helped take wellbeing to a different level, with flexibility and inclusivity at our culture’ s core. We value performance over proximity, working quality over working quantity and ability over gender. We always say that if you’ re good at what you do and are driven to become even better, you’ ll go far at Game Lounge.
That doesn’ t mean speed is of the essence, however. One of the biggest misconceptions about career growth is that everyone wants the same path and to climb the ladder as fast as possible. But all that approach offers is a quick way for your best employees to burn out and move to another company – or even another industry – that is better suited to their lifestyle.
Rockstar vs. superstar
To keep talent within iGaming precisely where it needs and wants to be, at Game Lounge we embrace the Rockstar vs Superstar concept, inspired by Kim Scott’ s book, Radical Candor. There are the Superstars – those who thrive through rapid career advancement. Then there are the Rockstars – people who are exceptional at what they do, who form the foundation of our business and who may not want constant upward movement. And that’ s OK, too. Affiliates should
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