10 Women Rising in Gaming
Brooke Thomas
Company, position: Seminole Hard Rock, People & Inclusion Executive
Hometown: Buffalo, New York
What was your first job in the gaming industry? Did you have previous experience in other industries? What drew you to gaming?
I worked as a consultant after law school for all kinds of industries- entertainment, hospitality, and tribal gaming- I was enamored by the resiliency I witnessed, the creativity and the drive from employees at every level of the business. I fell in love with gaming culture, so when Seminole Hard Rock called, the answer was an absolute YES!
Were you familiar with gambling, casinos, sports betting or any of the other facets of the industry before you started? Did anything surprise you about the industry when you first started?
Besides a great aunt with a very competitive bingo habit at the church hall (she would even try to take down the nuns!), I really didn’t know anything about the industry before working with my first Tribal Gaming organization. What surprised me about this industry is how there is something for everyone! The industry is so accessible- wherever you are in your career journey, whatever you strive for, you can find a home in gaming.
What do you like about working in gaming? What is it about the industry that keeps you engaged? What is unique about it?
What makes gaming so unique to me is the energy of guest service that permeates everywhere, not just in front of house. There is a genuine feeling of care for one another that happens – maybe from the long hours and the unbelievable experiences – and it sounds like such a cliché, but my colleagues feel like family.
What advice do you have for women seeking careers in gaming?
Go for it. What are you waiting for? Find a mentor, and if you don’t know where to start, I know every woman on this list, myself included, would always hop on a call to discuss what your goals are and connect you to the appropriate leader in the industry.
What are your long-term goals? What do you hope to accomplish?
I’m not much of an outdoors-y person (my wife jokes that my idea of camping is a hotel without room service) but there’s a camping adage that I try to live by: to leave the campsite better than when you found it. So, applying it to my career, I want to leave every room, every interaction, every team, better than when I found it. That could mean safer, more productive, more excited, more engaged, but that is my hope and my goal every day
Do you think there is a personality type that’s well suited for this industry?
I really don’t- I think the power of our industry comes in the diversity of personalities that walk in our doors, in-person or virtually, every day. The range of cultural experiences amongst our employees that inform our decision-making create some of the most innovative outcomes. I love that when I walk into any room, I’m surrounded with people who don’t think exactly like me.
What personality traits do you possess that help you in this industry?
I’m fascinated by 100-year strategy sessions and the creativity allowed when you zoom out – that forward thinking means I never allow the creep of no to enter my vocabulary, I try to start from a place of possibility, a place of “yes”.
What do you wish you would have known starting out in gaming?
I wish someone had told me, “You deserve to be here.” My experience, consulting with gaming and hospitality organizations, my work as an attorney, even all the way back to my first job as a waitress at a 24-hour diner (I was fired after 3 weeks)… I brought all that knowledge in, so for those of you thinking about taking the leap into gaming, trust me, you are more qualified than you imagine. Join us! Just don’t ask me to take your egg order.
Do you have any resource recommendations/suggestions for other people who desire a career in gaming?
Immerse yourself- I subscribe to multiple magazines and regularly check gaming websites to keep myself abreast of trends – even if it’s not your particular area or focus, never underestimate the power of knowledge to help guide your decisions. Also, never miss an opportunity in this industry to meet those trailblazers who made gaming what it is today. This industry is so accessible- so many legendary leaders are willing to sit down with you and give you advice. Take advantage of it!
How do/did you overcome adversity in the industry?
I feel lucky because I’ve had unconditional support from my leader, Stephanie Piimauna. She taught me the power of sponsorship- what people say about you when you’re not in the room. I’m fortunate to have leaders like her, along with other legendary leaders in the industry, to guide me and support me, and share their knowledge of decades in the industry. My work every day is to ensure that I exceed the expectations they set for me when I’m not in the room.
