Womenize! – Inspiring Stories is our weekly series featuring inspirational individuals from games and tech. For this edition we talked to Luna Javier, Co-Founder, Game Design Consultant & Educator. She speaks about her journey as the first female game developer in the Philippines, highlighting the importance of mentorship, building supportive networks, and collaborative leadership in shaping both her career and the future of women in the gaming industry. Read more about Luna here:
Hi Luna! When you look back at the moment you became the first female game developer in the Philippines, what did that mean to you then and what does it mean to you now, knowing how many others have walked through the door you opened?

I honestly didn’t realize I was the first until a friend pointed it out, probably 10 years into my career. I remember thinking, “Wait, what?” I had gone through the first part of my career completely oblivious, just trying to do good work and make great games.

But once I knew, I couldn’t un-know it. It took years for me to fully embrace the responsibility, not just to represent but also actively help others. I started volunteering my time to support other Filipina game developers. I did a lot of talks and press because I knew young women needed to see a woman onstage – that it helped them see what was possible. I became a Women in Games Ambassador and launched a free mentorship program for female game devs in the Philippines. I joined Women in Games Asia Chapter’s leadership team to amplify that impact, and together we built a mentorship program across Southeast Asia. 

 

I am now very conscious of the responsibility I carry: not just being the “first” from the past, but also shaping the future. It’s one reason why I left my company and moved into teaching. I’m always thinking: how else can I help? What else can I do?
You’ve led projects, co-founded studios, mentored talent, and helped shape an entire industry’s culture. If you could time-travel and give your younger self one piece of advice from the Luna you are today, what would it be?

I would tell her to find other women in the industry – to form a support network of peers and mentors early. The younger me could have used career advice and coaching much sooner. It would have made me a better teammate, team lead, and manager. I had simply accepted that the workplace was mostly male, and didn’t realize how powerful female support could be until much later in my career.

In over two decades of making games, you’ve no doubt faced moments where the path forward wasn’t clear. Can you share a time when you had to take a leap into the unknown and how that moment shaped the way you lead and create today?

Co-founding Altitude Games in 2014 was a giant leap for me. I knew nothing about how to run a company or even how to be a creative director. What helped me was having four other co-founders that I knew well and deeply respected. Knowing I wasn’t alone, that we were all figuring it out together, helped me navigate the new role better. 

Leadership to me is always a team effort. You’re only as strong as the team around you – so you should surround yourself with people who share your values, complement your weaker areas, and challenge you to be better. It takes a village to make a game or run a company. And when you’re leaping into the unknown, it’s a lot easier when you’re not jumping alone.
Thanks for this interview, Luna!

Luna’s links: LinkedIn, Website

 

Womenize! – Inspiring Stories Feature by Madeleine Egger