Fiona Hickey, Games Inc: Asking Silly Questions Can Be the Key to Success

(AsiaGameHub) –   Back in 2019, when I announced I was leaving my great role at Betting Jobs to join Push Gaming, I was met with nothing but confused, bewildered looks. For most people, this decision made zero sense. Why would I walk away from a comfortable, well-paying position to explore a brand new area of the industry where I had no prior experience at all?

I knew the gaming industry from a recruitment standpoint. I’d earned a lot of success, built a steady career and developed a strong network of industry contacts. The supplier side of the business, though? That was completely uncharted territory for me. I was also leaving my director role and taking a sizeable pay cut to make this career shift.

Even so, to me, this was just another example of what I’ve always done: believed in and backed myself. I’ve never shied away from a new challenge, and I fully believed, perhaps naively from other people’s perspective, that I would find success in this new path.

A path to the top

Just like most iGaming professionals, I stumbled into the industry unexpectedly. If we’re being honest, very few of us grow up dreaming of working with online slot games and sports betting platforms. I left Ireland in 2010 after working for the recruitment firm Manpower, and joined Betting Jobs, one of the top two niche iGaming recruitment agencies in the space.

I spent nine very successful years there, climbing the career ladder and working my way up to senior leadership. Early in my career, I was lucky enough to work alongside some incredible CEOs and industry experts, many of whom helped shape the professional I am today. I built a strong reputation, earned a great salary and managed major key accounts for the company.

Everyone I knew, both professionally and personally, was shocked that I would walk away from a secure, high-profile role to start almost from scratch on the supplier side at Push Gaming. I knew the recruitment side of the business inside and out, but the supplier side was an entirely different beast.

I was incredibly naive about what the job would actually entail. I thought I would just negotiate commercial terms, close deals and move on. I had no clue what an integration was, and I never expected I would have to fight so hard for strong positioning with every new product release, or that the role would come with so much pressure.

However, one thing I was certain of was that I would figure it out as I went. Just as I’ve done time and time again throughout my career, I backed myself to succeed. I was eager to learn, and the biggest lesson I’ve ever learned is that the desire to learn is already half the battle.

Asking stupid questions

One of the key lessons all these career changes have taught me is that the second you let go of the need to impress everyone around you is the moment you actually start learning. Your ego can be a massive barrier to success, and I’ve seen people fail not because they lack talent, but because they are too proud to admit they don’t know something.

During my time at Push Gaming, I watched the company go through dramatic growth. We expanded from around 45 employees, with a new in-house platform and no existing integrations, to roughly 300 team members with 80 direct integrations. We secured hundreds of partnerships across regulated markets and eventually saw the company acquired by a larger firm.

Pulling off that level of growth was no small feat, and I credit a big part of that success to an ability few people like to talk about: not being afraid to ask stupid questions.

It’s a skill I encourage everyone to develop: asking questions without letting ego get in the way. Whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned veteran, asking questions and continuing to learn is essential for professional progress. When I joined Games Inc as MD/CEO last year, my CTO would often explain technical concepts to me, and I would regularly stop them to ask exactly what they meant.

A supportive industry

In my experience, the people worth learning from will never judge you for not knowing something, but they will judge you for making preventable mistakes because you were too proud to ask for help.

Another key lesson I’ve learned over my years working at different levels in the industry is that the idea that all senior leaders are hyper-competitive is nonsense. Yes, the industry is competitive, but it’s also collaborative, and people at the top are always seeking new insights. I’ve received support and mentorship from many of my peers, and that support only came because I was brave enough to ask for it.

I also talk to many of my competitors on a regular basis, and we support each other and help one another out. The industry is full of incredibly talented people, and in most cases, the only barrier holding you back is yourself.

Key takeaways

If you’re new to the industry or mid-career looking for a little bit of advice, this is what I have to share: never be the smartest person in the room, and if you are, leave that room as quickly as you can.

Similarly, never be afraid to make yourself redundant. Holding back your skills or knowledge will never benefit you—share your experiences to help your entire team grow. If you are no longer needed at one company, you will almost definitely be needed at another.

Finally, stay curious and have fun. The iGaming industry is full of brilliant people, and it’s an space that encourages curiosity and risk-taking. Never be afraid to ask someone what something means, and show genuine interest in the industry. I will always want to work with people who have real interest and passion—you can’t fake that.

And don’t forget to enjoy the journey. This industry has given me incredible opportunities. I get to travel to amazing events, chat with brilliant people and have a lot of fun. There aren’t many industries that offer you that kind of experience, so embrace it.