In late 2013, Playa and Aalto University ran a Game Executive program working with 15 executives from both large and small studios. In this panel, some of those leaders talk about their experiences.

1. Game Executive program
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2. Game Executive
The Game Executive program aims to
train future industry leaders from
established game companies to better
lead their teams, companies and to
create successful commercial products
for global audience.
© Aalto University Executive Education 2013 2

3. What did participants say?
© Aalto University Executive Education 3
“ABSOLUTELY
HELPFUL INSIGHTS
INTO THE GAME
STARTUP
SCENE. I LEARNED
THE ESSENTIAL
SKILLS FOR
LEADING A
GAME STARTUP AND
THE THINGS YOU
NEED TO THINK
ABOUT IN ORDER TO
BE SUCCESSFUL.”
GEX Spring 2014 participant
“THIS PROGRAM
OPENED MY EYES. I
THOUGHT THAT I KNEW
PRETTY MUCH
EVERYTHING ABOUT
THE ISSUES I NEED TO
TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IN
MY BUSINESS. I DID NOT
KNOW. NOW I KNOW
BETTER. FOR ME THE
MOST IMPORTANT AND
USEFUL ASPECTS WERE
LEARNING TOGETHER
AND SHARING
EXPERIENCES.”
GEX Spring 2014 participant
“THE PROGRAM
WAS EXTREMELY
SUCCESSFULLY
DRAFTED AND
EXECUTED. IT
COVERED ALL
THE MAJOR
TOPICS NEEDED
TO BUILD A
SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS FOR
THE GAMING
INDUSTRY.”
GEX Spring 2014
participant

4. Program structure
Leadership and self
//
Influencing Others and
Pitching
//
Building Killer Teams
//
Leading Creative Teams
//
The Best Strategy
//
Business Planning with
Business Model Canvas
Creating and
Communicating
Compelling Value
Propositions
//
Pathway to a Strong Brand
//
Winning Go-To-Market and
Distribution Strategies
//
HR
//
Legal training
Virtual Module on
Financial Accounting
//
Financial Planning
//
Pricing
//
Applying for funding
//
Pitching for Investors
Module 1
29th-31st October 2014
Being a Visionary
Module 2
5th-7th November 2014
Profitability and Funding
Module 3
12th-14th November 2014
Growth and Branding
Continuous evaluation of learning reflected on participant’s organization
Strategy project assignment
© Aalto University Executive Education

5. Who should apply?
The programme is designed especially to established Finnish
and International gaming companies and companies serving
them
• CEO level directors of game start-ups
• Functional heads already having leadership experience
• Professionals with technical background working in senior
managerial company functions
• Professionals in companies serving the gaming sector
• Young business professionals having potential to or taking
on senior management and leadership positions
© Aalto University Executive Education 5