## Leading Women in 2019: First Installment – iGB
The iGaming Business Leading Women list is now in its second year, recognizing the most successful women in our field. Today, we unveil the top three women on the 2019 list.
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**Leading Women in 2019: First Installment**
It is widely known that women are underrepresented at the highest positions in the iGaming industry. The iGaming Business Leading Women list is now in its second year, aiming to shift that.
There is a wealth of evidence that organizations with gender diversity perform better than those that don’t.
At the close of last year, the All-in Diversity Project released its inaugural All-Index, which revealed that overall, the gambling and gaming industry is close to gender equality. The index examined data from 25 gambling and gaming organizations and found that 47% of employees in the industry are women.
However, when we examine the specifics, the issue becomes clear. While the gender ratio is close at entry level (53% male vs. 47% female) and team leader or supervisor level (51% male vs. 49% female), the disparity begins to widen after that.
At manager level, the gender ratio widens to 60% male vs. 40% female, and further worsens at department head level (70% male vs. 30% female), director or C-level (78% male vs. 22% female), and CEO or MD level (83% male vs. 17% female).
Wagering isn’t the only business with this issue. McKinsey, in its 2019 “Women in the Workplace” study, polled 68,500 workers from 329 US businesses and discovered that women confront a “broken rung” on the professional ladder.
Although the study revealed that the number of women in executive positions increased by 24% over the past five years, the situation below the ladder isn’t as bright. It found that while women make up 48% of entry-level workers, that number drops to 38% at the managerial level.
The study states: “This early disparity has a long-term impact on the talent pool. Because there are significantly more men at the managerial level, there are significantly fewer women available to be hired or promoted into senior management. The number of women at each subsequent level decreases. As a result, even if women see an increase in hiring and promotion rates at the senior levels, overall, women will never catch up. There are simply too few women available for advancement.”
This inequality at higher levels partly explains the persistent gender pay difference. For instance, in the UK, many were hoping that the second annual gender pay gap data released this year would show signs of significant improvement.
Regrettably, this wasn’t the case, and when the data was released, it showed only marginal change. The median gender pay gap only slightly decreased from 9.7% last year to 9.6%, based on data reported by companies with a reporting deadline of March 31st.
Although the situation isn’t entirely gloomy, there are many women in our field who are achieving remarkable success at the highest levels. Last year, we initiated the “Most Influential Women” poll to recognize the women who are making a significant impact on our industry, and now we are prepared to reveal the outcomes of the second survey.
We once again invited nominations from the industry, and this year, we received a substantial number of applications.
Some applicants impressed the judges with their contributions to the field, some earned points for their influence on their organizations, and others earned recognition for being role models or champions of diversity.
Naturally, many applicants exhibited several of these qualities, especially in such a strong group of candidates. In fact, it was quite challenging to select the top 10 from such a talented pool, so we decided to also list 5 runners-up this year.
Here are the top three of our 10 Most Influential Women of 2019, in alphabetical order.
Melissa Blau, Head of iGaming Capital
Blau is regarded as a strong advocate for innovation, as demonstrated by her role as chair of the Clarion Startup Launchpad since its inception in 2009. “When I joined the gaming industry, I truly enjoyed the more entrepreneurial aspect,” she stated. This is perhaps not unexpected, considering her prior experience in investment banking before entering the venture capital sector.
Launchpads success tales encompass numberFire, which was purchased by FanDuel four months after triumphing in Launchpad; BlueBat Games, which was acquired by Greentube and is now “a core component of their interactive business”; and Colossus Bets, “a sector pioneer in the sports betting and pool betting realm with its popular cash-out feature.”
Beyond collaborating with fledgling ventures, Blau also provides counsel to numerous gaming enterprises. After working in Europe for numerous years and traversing back and forth across the Atlantic, Blau permanently returned to her birthplace, the United States, in 2015, playing a pivotal role in the development of the American market. She introduced Tropicana’s online gambling product in 2013 and oversaw the online gambling bid and vendor selection for the Delaware Lottery. Blau also established and continues to own one of the first licensed affiliate businesses in New Jersey. One industry insider labeled Blau “a potent force in the industry,” and her other clients encompass Hard Rock, Pechanga, Mystic Lake, and Akwesasne Mohawk. She is presently working with SuperBook, which declared its nationwide expansion last year.
Her guidance for women seeking to make their mark in the industry is to enhance their visibility. “Be out front,” she advises. “Compose articles, particularly when you have something to convey. Magazines are consistently seeking good, fresh content, and many magazines also host gatherings.”
Britt Boskov, the Chief Experience Officer at Kindred, suggests, “Attend conferences and online seminars with them. Clearly articulate your skills and the value you can bring in leadership and expertise. Make your presence known.”
Boskov has been making a splash since being recognized on our Most Influential Women list last year. She has been elevated to lead a new department at Kindred and assumed a position as an independent non-executive director at Racecourse Media Group.
She anticipates this appointment will pave the way for more women on boards. “There’s a compelling case for boards to be more diverse, not just in terms of gender, but to reflect the general population and the company’s stakeholders,” Boskov clarifies. “I’m truly delighted that Racecourse Media Group is taking this initiative. It’s a positive sign and hopefully it will have a ripple effect. When women observe that it’s feasible to combine executive roles with board positions, they might receive more opportunities.”
In her position at Kindred, Boskov is at the forefront of the transition from a product-centric to a customer-centric approach. She states that the emphasis on customer experience has presented challenges, but the endeavor has already produced outcomes in terms of player and employee involvement.
For those aiming to follow in her professional journey, she suggests: “Always accept new experiences and tasks that make you slightly uneasy. Obtain formal education and seek informal guidance from individuals you believe are accomplishing what you aspire to do. In most cases, they will be eager to assist you.
“Furthermore, relish the variety of the sector and the genuine challenges and identity concerns it’s currently confronting,” she added. “It’s an excellent time to join the industry as we strive to redefine our purpose and our relevance in society.”
Shannon DeHaven, Assistant Director of Digital Operations for the Michigan Lottery
Inquire of anyone involved in the developing online lottery sector in the US about their source of inspiration, and Michigan is likely the first thing that comes to mind.
DeHaven, who has been recognized as “the go-to expert on all matters digital and online lottery” by industry professionals, is the driving force behind the Michigan Lottery’s online lottery operation.
“Michigan was the first state to demonstrate that online lottery could be financially successful and enhance revenue contributions to lottery-supported charitable causes,” DeHaven stated. “I’m incredibly proud to have been a part of that accomplishment.”
She joined the state lottery in 2010 as a Club Games/Interactive Coordinator, having previously worked in the sporting goods sector.
Following several advancements in her career, she assumed control of the lottery enterprise in 2016. From that point forward, revenue has steadily increased – in the 2019 fiscal year, online sales exceeded $1 billion.
Michigan’s achievement is particularly noteworthy due to an obscure regulation that mandates the lottery to solely provide the same games online as it did prior to 2004.
“Numerous individuals are unaware of this limitation, but it exists, and we must be highly inventive in game development,” Dehaven stated.
While delighted to observe others consider Michigan as a model, Dehaven mentioned that a crucial factor in their success is not fearing setbacks.
“The Michigan Lottery hasn’t consistently been flawless in its execution. We’ve encountered our fair share of obstacles, but our triumph actually stems from those failures. I believe many lotteries are apprehensive of failure, particularly when they transition online, so while we’re proud to furnish a framework for numerous lotteries, in my division, we frequently say, ‘If you haven’t stumbled, you likely haven’t been striving sufficiently.'”
**Evaluator**
Ewa Bakun serves as the Director of Industry Insight and Engagement for Clarion Gaming. She is accountable for key industry connections and market intelligence to discern industry trends and guarantee the editorial integrity of the educational content disseminated through the Clarion brand.
Eva has been following industry advancements since 2009, observing the rise and fall of trends, companies, and figures, demonstrating how quickly the industry evolves.
Andrew Bros is a partner at Odgers Berndtson, a recruitment agency, and has been locating directors, senior management, top executives, and non-executive directors for the gaming and gambling sector for the past decade. Before joining Odgers, he led recruitment endeavors in the technology/online, consumer goods, and financial services sectors in the UK and Europe for eight years.
Kelly Kane is the co-founder of All-In Diversity, an initiative promoting a data-driven approach to enhancing inclusivity in the gaming sector. Throughout her career, Kane has held leadership positions in marketing, operations, management, and sales. She was recognized with the “Gaming Women” Leader of the Year award in 2016.
Suzy Reid is the Head of Talent Development at Kindred, responsible for diversity and inclusion, employee engagement, and values. Before joining Kindred, she held business roles across numerous industries and led global talent and people development teams. She has over seven years of experience in the gambling sector.
Holly Strako is the Head of Inclusion and Engagement at Sky Betting and Gaming, committed to making the company an inclusive environment for all.
This encompasses overseeing SBG’s comprehensive and inclusive work procedures, which this year encompass gender, parents and caregivers, ethnicity, LGBTQ+ inclusivity, age, and well-being, alongside other initiatives within the broader inclusion and community strategy.
Christina Tacol-Rankin is the co-founder of All-in Diversity and operates a consulting company. She has been a part of the gaming and gambling sector for 25 years, encompassing the entire industry, including land-based, online, and mobile gaming. She firmly believes that diversity and inclusion are essential for business success.
Helen Walton is the founder and Chief Creative Officer of Gamevy and Gluck. She began her career at Unilever and has collaborated with Boots, Frucor, Tate Britain, PZ Cussons, and numerous other brands. She describes herself as a dealmaker, writer, and marketer, who enjoys tackling challenges, experimenting with ideas, and making things happen.
The second portion of the iGB 2019 Most Influential Women list will be released tomorrow in this section.
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