129. Crystin Cox on Leadership, LiveOps, and Navigating Cultural Differences in the Gaming Industry
Jul 16, 2024
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Crystin Cox, Director of Business Strategy for Xbox Game Studios Publishing, discusses leadership, LiveOps, and cultural differences in the gaming industry. Topics include giving feedback in corporate environments, management training, and navigating cultural influences in leadership. Crystin shares her passion for LiveOps, holistic strategy, and running 'The Art of LiveOps' podcast.
Filter feedback for usefulness and perspective shift.
Career evolution from QA tester to gaming industry leader.
Embrace diversity and effective communication in leadership roles.
Deep dives
Feedback Evaluation and Discernment
It is important to filter and discern feedback, understanding that not all feedback received is necessarily useful or valid. The realization that some feedback may be unfavorable or unhelpful can be eye-opening and lead to a valuable shift in perspective, especially when dealing with a multitude of feedback in various contexts.
Professional Journey Evolution and Growth
The podcast episode delves into Kristin Cox's professional journey evolution, highlighting her transition from a background in theatrical design to a successful career in the gaming industry. Cox's experience showcases a path from starting as a QA tester to reaching leadership roles in game development, emphasizing the importance of adapting, learning, and evolving in one's career.
Leadership Approach Reflection and Adaptation
Kristin Cox reflects on her early leadership approach, emphasizing a results-oriented strategy. She acknowledges the need for a shift towards more nuanced people management, understanding individual motivations, and fostering positive working relationships. This journey highlights the importance of adapting leadership styles to promote team well-being and productivity.
Cultural and Ethical Leadership Challenges
Navigating leadership roles across diverse cultural and ethical environments presents unique challenges. Kristin Cox shares insights from her experiences working in multicultural teams, emphasizing the significance of patience, humility, and understanding within cross-cultural contexts. Her journey underscores the importance of embracing diverse perspectives and fostering effective communication in leadership roles.
Future Goals and Balancing Priorities
Looking ahead, Kristin Cox focuses on executing strategic initiatives within Xbox Game Studios Publishing while fostering team growth and empowerment. Her future goals emphasize achieving a balance between professional responsibilities and personal well-being, highlighting the importance of resilience, adaptability, and maintaining a holistic approach to leadership in a dynamic industry.
Podcast and Industry Engagement
Kristin Cox's engagement through podcasts, talks, and industry events reflects a commitment to sharing expertise and perspectives within the gaming industry. Initiatives like 'The Art of Live Ops' podcast illustrate a dedication to fostering knowledge sharing and challenging conventional wisdom within the industry, promoting continuous learning, and collaboration among industry professionals.
We're excited to have on this episode a new podcast host at Rise and Play: Nina Kim. Nina is a Senior game designer who previously worked on games like Merge Dragons, Cozy Grove, and Sea of Thieves. With a deep interest in wholesome mechanics and approaches to well-being, Nina strives to contribute to nurturing creative teams within the industry. Let's give her a warm welcome on the show 👏. In this episode, we interview Crystin Cox, the Director of Business Strategy for Xbox Game Studios Publishing. Crystin shares her journey from theatrical design to a career in gaming, her early experiences in QA, and her transition into leadership roles. We cover leadership practices on how to give feedback in complex corporate environments, effective management training, and how to navigate cultural differences in business. Crystin also talks about her passion for LiveOps, her holistic approach to strategy, and her experience running the podcast 'The Art of LiveOps'.
