How We Grow Leaders in Game Development at Devoted Studios

At Devoted Studios, we believe that making great games is not only about having the best technology or the coolest ideas—though those are definitely important. What really makes the magic happen is having strong leaders who can bring it all together. Leaders who inspire, guide, and help everyone reach their full potential. 

At Devoted Studios, we know that strong leaders are key to our success in the game industry. Whether it’s creating games or managing outsourced projects, having the right leaders in place makes all the difference. In this article, we want to share how we help our team members grow into great leaders, with insights from one of our own, Kseniia Mendeliuk, who is our Lead Talent Account Manager, who’s been an incredible part of our team.

Get to know Kseniia Mendeliuk

Kseniia’s journey into the game development industry began at the ArtCraft digital school in Ukraine. This wasn’t just any school—it was a place where budding artists were transformed into skilled game developers. Kseniia wasn’t just a student there; she took on the roles of both mentor and organizer. She helped new artists develop their skills while also sharpening her own talents in 2D and 3D art. This experience was like boot camp for her career, laying a solid foundation for everything that came next.

After her time at ArtCraft, Kseniia moved on to Playrix, a huge name in the game industry. There, she worked in the Recruiter Department, which was a big shift from her previous role. But Kseniia is nothing if not adaptable. This job at Playrix gave her a front-row seat to see how a big game development company operates from the inside. She learned a lot about how game development studios work, how to work within a large organization, and the importance of teamwork.

But then, life threw a curveball. The war in Ukraine forced Kseniia to make a tough decision: stay or seek new opportunities elsewhere. It wasn’t easy, but Kseniia chose to move on, and that decision led her to us at Devoted Studios. Now, she’s our Lead Talent Account Manager, and we could not be happier to have her on board.

Overcoming Early Career Challenges

Let’s talk about something that a lot of people face early in their careers: imposter syndrome. Yes, even someone as talented as Kseniia wasn’t immune to those nagging doubts. She describes it as feeling like a “small fish in a big ocean” of experts. We’ve all been there, right? That feeling where you are sure everyone around you knows more than you do, and you’re just waiting for someone to notice you don’t belong.

But here’s the thing—Kseniia didn’t let those feelings hold her back. She kept pushing forward, believing in herself even when it was hard. She learned to see mistakes as opportunities to grow, which is a lesson we can all use. Instead of beating herself up over every little error, she used them as stepping stones to get better. This mindset has been crucial in her journey, especially in the ever-changing world of game development outsourcing, where new challenges pop up all the time.

The most crucial advice I can offer to anyone grappling with these feelings is to persevere and maintain faith in oneself. It’s essential to embrace our mistakes as learning opportunities; each error teaches us something valuable and ensures that we won’t repeat the same missteps—though we may encounter new ones along the way.

Key Qualities for Leading Leaders

So, what does it take to be a great leader in game development? At Devoted Studios, we have learned that it is not just about managing tasks or making decisions. True leadership is about building a team that can lead too. Kseniia has some great insights on this.

She believes that a leader does not have to be an expert in everything. In fact, trying to do it all yourself is a recipe for burnout. 

It’s a misconception to believe that being a leader equates to being a universal expert capable of handling every aspect of a project or organization. Rather, true leadership involves recognizing one’s strengths and, perhaps more importantly, acknowledging one’s weaknesses.

Instead, a good leader knows their strengths and weaknesses and brings together a team that complements them. For example, if you are fantastic at coming up with creative ideas but not so great at organizing details, it’s smart to bring in someone who excels in planning and execution. This way, the team’s strengths balance each other out, and you can all focus on what you do best.

Leadership Development at Devoted Studios.

When Kseniia joined us, one of the first things she noticed was that our Request for Proposal (RFP) Process was not as smooth as it could be. There was not a clear system in place, which made things a bit chaotic at times. But Kseniia didn’t just point out the problem—she took action to fix it.

She spent her first year with us building a new database from scratch. This wasn’t just any database, it was designed to be super user-friendly and easy to navigate. Kseniia made sure that anyone on her team, and even those in other departments, could access it without needing a lot of training. She personally taught each team member how to use it, making sure that everyone could take full advantage of this new tool.

This initiative has made a huge difference in how we manage our workflows in our game development studios. The new system has streamlined our operations, making it easier for everyone to stay on top of their tasks. It has also fostered a greater sense of teamwork because now everyone is on the same page. 

Final Words…

At Devoted Studios, we’re all about growing leaders who are not only capable but also caring, creative, and confident. We believe that leadership is about more than just managing—it’s about inspiring others, building strong teams, and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive. Kseniia Mendeliuk’s journey is a perfect example of how we nurture leadership at every level, from overcoming early career challenges to taking the initiative to improve how we work.

We’re proud of the leaders we’ve developed here, and we’re excited about the future as we continue to grow and evolve as a game development company and as a game outsourcing company. Our leaders are ready to tackle whatever comes their way. And we’re having a great time doing it!

So, if you’re thinking about what makes a successful game development studio, remember this: it’s the people who lead with passion, creativity, and confidence that truly make a difference. And at Devoted Studios, we’re devoted to making sure our leaders are the best in the business.