She Lights the Way is an empowering collection of stories about remarkable, unsung women who are impacting our world in meaningful ways as they navigate personal and career obstacles, and in turn, blaze a trail of inspiration for others.
Episodes
Wednesday Mar 12, 2025
Wednesday Mar 12, 2025
Melissa Austin has spent her career opening doors in the gaming industry—not just as a technical artist and leader but as a force multiplier for others. In this conversation, she shares how mentorship, representation, and a deep passion for helping others have shaped her journey. From her early days in game development to leading a team at Niantic, Melissa opens up about the pivotal moments, the challenges of a male-dominated industry, and why empowering others is the ultimate superpower.
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Thank you for listening ❤ See below for transcript, timestamps, to get in touch, and more.
TRANSCRIPT:
https://www.shelightstheway.com/melissaaustin-interview-transcript
EPISODE LINKS:
Melissa’s LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-a-austin/
KEY MOMENTS:
00:00 Introduction
01:20 Melissa’s journey as a first-generation, mixed-race woman in gaming
04:15 How Melissa’s passion for helping people shaped her path in technical art
07:45 The key turning points that defined Melissa’s career
12:30 The challenge of representation, and why visibility matters
16:10 Finding the right allies, even when female mentors were scarce
19:50 How Melissa transitioned from individual contributor to manager and lessons learned
24:05 Why advocating for her team’s needs has been Melissa’s most rewarding part of leadership
28:40 How going “off script” during a Girls Who Code event created an unforgettable impact
32:15 Melissa’s hopes for the gaming industry and how she’s shaping its evolution
36:40 What She Lights the Way means to Melissa
38:30 Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up
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