10 Women Rising in Gaming
Korbi Carrison
Company: RX/Reed Exhibitions, VP Events RX
Years of experience in the gaming industry: 30
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada since 1994; originally from Sauk Rapids, Minnesota.
What was your first job in the gaming industry? Did you have previous experience in other industries? What drew you to gaming?
I really wasn’t drawn to gaming, gaming found me. New to Las Vegas and looking to establish myself, a friend in my then extremely small network recommended me to a small technology company, Gaming Systems International. From there, I followed my passion for marketing to companies like WMS Gaming, IGT, Everi, and others where I learned conference management and large event production.
What do you like about working in gaming? What is it about the industry that keeps you engaged? What is unique about it?
Without question, it’s the people that keep me excited about the gaming industry. When I can help to make connections between people that allows them to move their businesses forward, I feel a sense of accomplishment. While the gaming industry as a whole is small, it is a global industry of extremely talented people and relationships run deep.
What are your long-term goals? What do you hope to accomplish?
I have always been open to following where opportunity leads. I never would have thought that I would be leading the strategy and planning of G2E, but looking back, the paths I chose led me to where I am today.
It’s a little like parenting, where my goal has been to prepare my children to go off into the world and make positive contributions to society. I hope that through my work, I can help to create a space where everyone feels welcome, can contribute in their own way to the growth of the industry, and grow themselves too. As for the long-term, I’m excited to see where opportunity can lead me in the future.
Do you have any resource recommendations/suggestions for other people who desire a career in gaming?
Network, all the time. There are formal resources and groups like GGW and LinkedIn. Show up and be available and open to all possibilities. This is a global industry that is very small. Make those connections and be loyal to those who extend themselves to you.
How do/did you overcome adversity in the industry?
I am a person who never gives up. I have not been afraid to take on big challenges. I engage with many people in my network to find creative solutions, and to continue to learn and grow. We are in a fortunate place today that inclusion and diversity is more important than ever. Engaging with people who are different than me allows me to approach adversity with a different lens, which is invaluable.
