10 Women Rising in Gaming
Tosha Tousant
Company: Penn Entertainment – Hollywood Gulf Coast and Boomtown Biloxi Casinos, Vice President of Casino Operations
Years of experience in the gaming industry: 31 years
Hometown: Lake Charles, Louisiana
What was your first job in the gaming industry? My first job was a dealer (croupier).
Did you have previous experience in other industries?
I worked in retail before this role.
What drew you to gaming?
Casino gaming was approved gaming in the state of Louisiana, and I applied for one of the jobs. I had only been to Lake Tahoe with my parents. While my parents gambled, my siblings and I had the pleasure of watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in Kid’s Quest.
Were you familiar with gambling, casinos, sports betting, or any of the other facets of the industry before you started?
I was not familiar with casinos in any fashion. I had not patronized a casino before applying for the dealer job in 1993.
Did anything surprise you about the industry when you first started?
When I first started, there was an array of emotions, such as the feeling of excitement, being extraordinary, intense, and a bit of dramatics.
What do you like about working in gaming?
I love being of service and creating experiences for people.
What is it about the industry that keeps you engaged?
Self-development and the development of others keep me engaged in the gaming industry.
What is unique about it?
Many believe the casino industry is only about gambling as that is only the beginning. It is about creating experiences, connecting people, developing careers, inspiring team members, and serving the community.
What advice do you have for women seeking careers in gaming?
Go for it! Be your own advocate. You do not have to wait for all the qualifications to apply. Network, maintain curiosity, be your authentic self.
Continue to learn and develop.
Reach one, teach one.
Join groups such as Lean in Circles and Global Gaming Women.
What are your long-term goals? What do you hope to accomplish?
My long-term goal is to be an assistant general manager transitioning into the general manager. I hope to continue to develop people and help them realize their professional goals.
Do you think there is a personality type that is well suited for this industry?
It takes a balanced personality type for this industry. There are assessments that can identify your personality type you tend to lean into and provide exercises to flex into the other traits to create balance.
What personality traits do you possess that help you in this industry?
I flex through the personality traits equally with a tilted percentage of time in the promoting style. Defining promoting style as being inspirational, goal oriented, risk-taking, and enthusiastic.
What do you wish you would have known starting out in gaming?
I do not wish for anything to be different as I feel that the journey has shaped me into who I am today. I appreciate the pitfalls and the successes of my career.
Do you have any resource recommendations/suggestions for other people who desire a career in gaming?
Join groups that will support your journey like GGW, join a Lean In Circle and create your own “board of mentors and sponsors.”
Read leadership books, Human Operating System (Senn-Delany), No Ego, Emotional Intelligence, and Four Disciplines of Execution are a few of my personal favorites.
How do/did you overcome adversity in the industry?
Start with asking yourself, “how did I contribute to the situation?”
Self-accountability, “what more can I do to get the results desired?”
Consult others to gain perspective.
Do not give up because a challenge is present, develop resilience. “No, just means no right now.”
This is the time to use soft skills or emotional intelligence.
