Womenize! – Inspiring Stories is our weekly series featuring inspirational individuals from games and tech. For this edition, we talked to Dr. Sharon Coleclough, Senior Lecturer Technical Game Design at University of Staffordshire. She speaks about the value of embracing diverse skills and nonlinear career paths, the power of sharing authentic personal stories, and the importance of self-advocacy and belonging. Read more about Sharon here:
Hi Sharon! Your career has spanned film, sound design, game audio, and now education and podcasting. Looking back, were there any pivotal moments or unexpected turns that helped define your path and what would you say to someone who’s still figuring out how their skills might fit into the games industry?
When I started out, I didn’t even think about the games industry, but now I am a part of it I can see how everything I have done to this point contributes to my ability within this sector. So, something which has been important is my openness to learning new skills and approaches which then feed back into my next pathway.

I have a very diverse range of interests and although in academia sometimes that can be seen as a negative, I have always found it, for me, to be a massive positive. If something has piqued my interest I have looked at it, learned about it and those skills have essentially opened doors for me that I wouldn’t have first thought they would. So, for someone trying to find their way, think about what additional aspects you might add to your skillset or knowledge base. In many cases that extra thing, whatever it is, can mean that you are valuable because you are able to step into another area as well as your specialism. You don’t have to be amazing at the extra thing, so say an artist who specialises in environments but can also if needed contribute to character. The ability to step out of your focus and be directly helpful in another area is a massive win for everyone. 

Something to also highlight is that game and the skills inherent to creating an engaging product or a good experience can be found in other sectors. Game is the “new kid on the block” so can be fed and shaped using knowledge from other areas which then find their shape in game. Game, and any sector really, benefits from a range of experience and a range of voices so don’t think that because you perhaps started in a different focus you can’t move into game.

With the “Game Changers Podcast,” you’re spotlighting women and underrepresented voices who’ve helped shape games and gaming culture. In your experience so far, what’s one unexpected insight or story that’s really stayed with you and why do you think it’s important we keep telling these stories?

Something which took me a long time to learn is that everyone’s journey is different. I think we are educated to believe that there are specific trajectories – ways we must travel to get to a place, whether that is a job, a life stage, etc. Importantly though, although how we get to a place is different we all have shared moments of doubt, epiphany or learning, which when shared resonate with other people and communicating these is important as it helps us to then navigate our own moments. Some of my most important moments of clarity have been hearing that people I think are leaders in their field have had times when things have not gone well, this isn’t to revel in their failure it’s salient because generally we see only the highs in someone’s journey. I think to hear that there is a struggle, that there are moments where they have had negative interactions is as important as hearing how things went really well. 

I think from my chats on the podcast the real takeaway is how many people experience imposter syndrome, something that I struggle with. But the more I speak to people, the more I hear that similar narrative. Hearing that somehow calms my own experience, and I really hope that this is true for listeners who hear that people working in their field also navigate similar situations and feelings of un-necessary self-doubt. 

That takeaway is why it is important to keep telling these stories – not necessarily just that other people experience imposter syndrome, although many women do and I think it is important to ask why this is such a shared experience for women. But to have people share their own life experiences and for a listener to hear something which resonates with them or lets them understand someone else’s experience a little better.

As someone who mentors the next generation through your teaching, what’s one piece of advice you wish someone had given you at the start of your career, especially as a woman working in technical and creative roles?

Oh gosh can I choose a couple? Well I will anyway! 

Firstly – don’t ask, don’t get. I didn’t really learn this until I was in my 30’s. Be brave, it does feel like bravery sometimes! If there is something you need or want to know – ask. If they don’t have the answer, then ask someone else. If they don’t get back to you, that’s okay it’s not about you (see my next point below). Or they might give you the answer you need to move forwards to your goal. But sitting narritivising the outcomes of asking but never doing it will not move you on – so ask!

Next – You are in a space because you belong there, this can be a job, your wish to learn, because you want to participate etc. Remember that! I think that this is especially important for anyone who is in a minority in the sector they work in. Your skills and knowledge have got you where you are – you are meant to be in that space – take up that space and don’t minimise yourself.

Thanks for this interview, Sharon!

Sharon’s links: LinkedIn

Womenize! – Inspiring Stories Feature by Madeleine Egger