Video games for Change mentioned Leo Olebe would be the new chair of the board of administrators for the nonprofit devoted to social impression video games and media.
Olebe will nonetheless be vp of worldwide partnerships at Xbox, for his day job. He succeeds Asi Burak, chief enterprise officer at Tilting Level, who has served as chair for the previous ten years and can proceed to function a board member.
Video games for Change holds an occasion in New York the place it attracts inspirational audio system giving emotional talks about video games which have the potential to vary the world or your perspective of it. For example, in 2023, Video games for Change highlighted Cameron Kostopoulos, the developer of Physique of Mine, which was a strong expertise that focuses on “body dysphoria,” or the sensation folks can get after they really feel misalignment between the physique they had been born with and their gender identification.
And likewise in 2023, within the group’s twentieth yr, Video games for Change led attendees on a tour of New York’s UN constructing, by locations just like the UN Safety Council and UN Common Meeting assembly rooms, whereas showcasing the work of Benjamin “DrLupo” Lupo, a creator who at that time had raised $14 million thus far for St. Jude’s Youngsters’s Analysis Hospital.
The occasion additionally gave its Vanguard Award in 2020 to Homosexual Gaming Professionals’ Gordon Bellamy, a USC video games professor. And it gave Lego an business management award for displaying the way to care for youngsters in on-line environments. Now it is going to be the job of Olebe, working with president Susanna Pollack, to proceed to provide you with inspirational tales about gaming and social impression.
Olebe brings a wealth of expertise and management to his position as chair of Video games for Change. With over 20 years within the gaming and leisure business, he has held distinguished positions at world organizations, together with serving as International Head of Gaming at YouTube, Managing Director, Video games at Google and Senior International Director, Video games Partnerships at Fb. Leo has shipped over 100 video games from studios like BioWare, WB Video games, Zynga and Disney Interactive.
Olebe had a tearful dialog at one among our GamesBeat occasions with Lual Mayen, a South Sudan refugee who taught himself to make video games whereas residing in a refugee camp. Mayen obtained recognition for his personal inspirational story at Geoff Keighley’s The Recreation Awards.
All through his profession, Olebe has earned widespread recognition for his imaginative and prescient and his skill to domesticate significant partnerships that drive each creativity and impression. He’s a passionate advocate for training and inclusion, constantly championing efforts to drive STEM and create a extra consultant gaming business. His dedication to fostering innovation and constructing bridges throughout industries aligns completely with the mission of Video games for Change, positioning him as a dynamic chief poised to information the group into its subsequent period of development and impression.
He has some large footwear to fill on the nonprofit. Burak has left a permanent legacy at Video games for Change by his almost decade-long tenure as board chair and his earlier 5 years as president. Throughout his time as president, Burak led groundbreaking initiatives, together with the award-winning Half the Sky Motion Video games, impressed by the NYT bestselling ebook by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.
A Fb sport and three cell video games, alongside a PBS documentary and different multimedia belongings, reached hundreds of thousands of gamers worldwide, elevating each consciousness and funding to advance ladies’s rights and gender equality.
As board chair, Burak steered the group by a interval of extraordinary development. Below his management, Video games for Change cemented its standing because the main platform within the games-for-impact area and greater than doubled its annual funds. The annual Video games for Change Competition developed into one of many business’s most influential occasions, with satellite tv for pc convenings held all over the world and now on the United Nations as nicely. Moreover, the group’s instructional packages round sport creation flourished, impacting over 50,000 college students, greater than 1,500 educators, and 1000’s of builders globally.
“”As we embark on this new chapter for Video games for Change, I need to categorical my deepest gratitude to Asi Burak for his visionary management over the previous decade, which has been pivotal in shaping G4C into the group it’s at present,” mentioned Pollack, president of G4C, in an announcement. “We are excited to welcome Leo as our new Board Chair. His extensive knowledge of the gaming industry, exceptional ability to foster collaborative partnerships, and unwavering support for G4C make him the perfect leader to build on Asi’s legacy and guide us into our next phase of growth and impact.”
“Games for Change is remarkable in its ability to drive positive change globally through collaborations with leading universities, the United Nations, NGOs, game developers, and individuals worldwide,” mentioned Olebe. “Susanna, Asi, and the entire team are extraordinary, and it is a great honor to join them on such a significant mission.”
Burak added, “As we reflect on this moment of transition, I couldn’t be prouder of what Susanna Pollack and our team have achieved during this period. Games for Change has had a real impact on the gaming industry and its direction, and, more importantly, on the kids and adults who are playing digital games all over the world. We’ve partnered with Leo as a board member for a few years now, and there is no one more suited to lead the organization into its next phase of growth, at a time when the role of games in our society is more relevant than ever.”
Olebe assumed the position of board chair on February 6, 2025, and is working alongside G4C’s management group and board to increase the group’s world initiatives. Lately introduced new Board Members embrace Mark Stanley, Founder and Principal at Strategic Gaming Collective,, Samir El Agili, CEO at Brandible Video games ,and Ben Golant, Senior Director of International Video Recreation Coverage at TenCent Americas.
Since 2004, Video games for Change (G4C) has empowered sport creators and innovators to drive real-world change, utilizing video games and immersive media that assist folks be taught, enhance their communities, and contribute to creating the world a greater place. G4C companions with know-how and gaming corporations, nonprofits, foundations, and authorities companies to run world-class occasions, public arcades, design challenges, and youth packages. G4C helps a worldwide group of sport builders utilizing video games to sort out real-world challenges, from humanitarian conflicts to local weather change and training.
Olebe’s perspective
I requested Olebe some questions by way of e-mail. Right here’s the Q&A under.
GamesBeat: How lengthy have you ever been concerned with G4C?
Leo Olebe: G4C is an unbelievable group that drives real-world impression by video games and immersive media. I’ve been attending G4C occasions for almost a decade. My first keynote deal with was in 2019, titled “Building a Better Gaming Community,” the place I spoke about how video games unite us by our shared ardour.
In the summertime of 2020, throughout the peak of COVID, I gave a chat referred to as “Games Can Heal the World,” highlighting the gaming business’s efforts to boost cash and consciousness for COVID aid. In 2022, I spoke
concerning the position everybody performs in creating alternatives in a chat referred to as “Games Matter, Change Matters, You Matter.” Lastly, in 2023, I revealed that these talks had been a part of a compendium concerning the energy of group and the way we will make a distinction in one another’s lives each day. I joined the board in 2020, impressed by Susanna’s management and imaginative and prescient.
GamesBeat: What made you need to make this transfer?
Olebe: My ardour for gaming fuels me each day. Video games have profoundly impacted my life by wonderful experiences, lifelong friendships, and unbelievable alternatives. Gaming is essentially about Neighborhood, and the muse of Neighborhood helps others, regardless of how large or small the trouble. Asi has set an unbelievable instance of management over the previous decade as Chair for G4C. As a board member, I’ve watched and realized as Video games For Change expanded its world attain. I needed to make this transfer now as a result of I proceed to be impressed by the mission and need to assist information us into the subsequent chapter of alternative.
GamesBeat: How do you suppose we’re doing in utilizing video games to attain impression on social change?
Olebe: The video games business has had an incredible impression on social change in some ways. It creates financial alternatives, connects folks worldwide, and teaches and conjures up new abilities. Gaming opens doorways and builds bridges the place none existed earlier than. Whereas I feel the video games business has accomplished nicely, there’s all the time extra we will do. One in all my private sayings is, “Bring People In, Don’t Push People Out.” With so many community-driven experiences, new platforms, and applied sciences, the business has extra attain and affect than ever earlier than. Let’s use it to welcome everybody and create an area the place folks could be their finest selves and discover their tribe.
GamesBeat: What makes you most enthusiastic about this area and the position?
Olebe: Daily, we see new know-how and innovation pushing the boundaries of creativity and expression. We’re consistently studying new abilities and difficult the established order. What excites me most about this area is that there are over three billion players worldwide who share the pure pleasure of enjoying video games. These players have the ability to drive constructive change of their communities. If something, we’re simply getting began. On this position, I’m excited to assist Susanna’s management as we join with much more folks, universities, and organizations globally.
GamesBeat: Does it relate to a few of your personal duties at Microsoft too?
Olebe: Completely. My position at Xbox is to assist sport builders worldwide discover success. It’s about bringing desires to actuality. The position at Video games For Change may be very related – it’s about serving to folks, organizations, studios, and universities deliver their desires to life, join with one another, and create constructive change. At coronary heart, I’m a gamer and connector, and I see these roles as very complementary.
GamesBeat: What’s the day-to-day of what you might be doing at Microsoft?
Olebe: Daily is about supporting gaming creators and constructing transformative partnerships. Some days, we scout for brand new video games, and different days, we sort out technical challenges. With Xbox, gamers can join with their favourite video games and video games communities throughout a number of screens. I like that I can seamlessly play a sport on my console, swap to my pill, play it on PC, after which drop in on my handheld. Proper now, I’m enjoying Diablo 4 throughout 4 gadgets day by day. This season, I’m a Bone Spear Necromancer that’s absolutely Grasp-worked, however I’m solely Paragon 128, so I’ve some work to do.
