Today’s episode is hosted by Elliot Tripp and they are joined on the podcast by Victoria Yurchenko, Art Operations Manager at Playtika, Atilla Kabakcıoğlu, Senior Project Manager at Athena Studio.

The conversation explores the hidden costs of leadership in the games industry, examining the responsibilities, pressures and challenges that come with managing creative teams and delivering successful projects. It considers how leadership decisions influence game development workflows, team performance and the balance between creative ambition and operational efficiency.

The exchange highlights the wider demands of gaming industry leadership, from coordinating multidisciplinary teams to managing production schedules and maintaining quality in a competitive market. It also considers the importance of communication, collaboration and effective project management in supporting sustainable game development. By looking at the organisational and human factors behind leadership, the discussion offers a broader perspective on what it takes to guide teams through complex production environments while navigating competing priorities and expectations.