From Monopoly to Madden NFL: Laura Miele’s Journey in the Gaming Industry
From Monopoly to Madden NFL: Laura Miele’s Journey in the Gaming Industry
Laura Miele, Chief Studios Officer at Electronic Arts (EA), is a trailblazer in the gaming industry. Her journey from family game nights to leading one of the world’s largest gaming companies is both inspiring and instructive. Let’s delve into her story and explore how she has become a fierce advocate for women in gaming.
The Early Years: A Passion for Gaming
Laura Miele’s love for games began in her childhood. She fondly recalls begging her parents for family game nights, where she indulged in classics like Monopoly and Battleship. Her passion for gaming only grew with time, evolving from board games to video games on Atari and Nintendo consoles. The advent of online gaming introduced her to worlds like World of Warcraft, where she was captivated by the social interactions and shared experiences.
Climbing the Ladder at Electronic Arts
Miele’s extensive gaming background paved the way for her career at Electronic Arts. With over two decades at EA, she has held various leadership roles in publishing, marketing, and analytics. Her current position as Chief Studios Officer oversees the creative heart of the company, where she leads a team of over 6,000 creators working on iconic games like Star Wars, Battlefield, Madden NFL, FIFA, and The Sims.
Advocating for Women in Gaming
As one of the few women in EA’s executive team, Miele is acutely aware of the underrepresentation of women in the gaming industry. She is a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion, leading EA’s Women’s Ultimate Team (WUT), an employee resource group dedicated to fostering an inclusive culture. Miele has also been instrumental in EA’s partnership with Lucasfilm Ltd. and Disney for the Star Wars franchise.
The Gaming Industry: A Booming Market
The gaming industry is experiencing unprecedented growth. According to a study by GlobalData, the video game market is projected to grow from $131 billion in 2018 to $305 billion in 2025. Electronic Arts, a publicly traded company, had a market capitalization of over $29 billion as of March 2020, with its stock price doubling in the past five years.
Leadership Insights from Laura Miele
Miele shares valuable insights into her leadership style and the lessons she has learned along the way. She emphasizes the importance of creative freedom and a bias for disruption in game development. She also highlights the significance of bringing people along rather than steamrolling them, a lesson she learned early in her career.
Building a Diverse and Inclusive Team
When building her team, Miele looks for individuals who are not afraid to challenge the status quo. She believes in the power of diversity and inclusion, both in the workplace and in the games they create. EA has introduced an inclusion framework into their game development process to ensure that their games reflect the diverse world we live in.
Favorite Books on Leadership
Miele recommends two books on leadership: “Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World” by retired General Stanley McChrystal and “Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces that Stand in the Way of True Inspiration” by Ed Catmull. These books offer insights into creating sustainable, creative cultures and effective decision-making.
The Future of Gaming
The gaming world is rapidly evolving, and Miele is at the forefront of this innovation. She believes that the future of game development lies in disruption and creative freedom. As the industry continues to grow, Miele’s leadership and advocacy for diversity will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping its future.
