Building An Inclusive Culture
Chelsea Blasko stands by Iron Galaxy’s value of “picking up a shovel” — the idea that every employee’s work and voice contribute to the company. This applies to its open culture of shifting roles and opportunities, as well as its inclusive policies. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Blasko recognizes the power of intentional acts in establishing a DEIA-focused foundation. In that spirit, Iron Galaxy offers diversity scholarships at two universities, has established DEI protocols for processes such as resume and content reviews and trains managers to be coaches for personalized development.
Developing Games That Better Represent The Players
Rejess Marshall is familiar with the DEIA problem in video games. “The industry has been scrutinized for lack of diverse hair options, leaving underrepresented groups struggling to create characters that look like their actual appearance,” she pointed out. An inclusive product is only possible with a diverse team, which is why Iron Galaxy’s ERGs are given a voice in the game development process, to ensure such components are integrated. New hires also go through touchpoints that reinforce the company’s position on inclusivity and belonging, including company-wide events and DEIA onboarding.
Cultivating Belonging Through Diverse Experiences
ERGs are a core aspect of Iron Galaxy’s DEIA policies, one that Keenan Moralicz appreciates as an active participant himself. He’s a member of both the Latinx and AAPI ERGs, and the events held by both organizations have enriched his sense of belonging. As a community manager, Moralicz’s also had the chance to interview fellow employees about their experiences — in and out of the gaming industry — for the company’s internal blog. What he found was a community of diverse perspectives he hasn’t found anywhere else.