Camille Thomas, Chief Financial Officer of Southeast Asia, joined Gameloft in 2015 because she was looking for a change—a fun change—which she found in the gaming industry!
She loves her colleagues and the fact that people can come as they are. A big supporter of diversity and inclusion, Camille believes companies and individuals all have their part to play in order to make the gaming industry a better place for all.
Find out more about her job, the biggest challenge she’s had to overcome as a woman in gaming, and what games mean to her below!
What is your role at Gameloft?
I’m the chief financial officer of Southeast Asia. I make sure our project costs are on track for the countries in this region and comply with local regulations. I also work closely with the production teams to make sure they have enough support and resources.
What sparked your interest in video games?
I played a lot of games on the NES and SNES when I was young, and I play the Nintendo Switch with my kids all the time. It brings back a lot of childhood memories.
I got interested in the industry because I was looking for something more entertaining and young! I also wanted a more accessible job in terms of products—games have a large audience and are quite impactful.
I work with a lot of people in the production and business teams, and they’re very passionate about what they do. I love the environment and the fact that people can be who they are and wear what they want. It’s less about presentation. What’s important is what you deliver.
How did you come to first work in the gaming industry?
Before coming to Gameloft, I worked in the automobile and distribution industries. I love working in finance, but I was looking for a change.
After six years in China, my husband and I decided to go back to France to be closer to our friends and family. I saw an open position at Gameloft while I was looking for a new job in Paris, and it was just great timing. I wanted to enter a more fun industry, so I seized the opportunity.
I truly thought it was a good choice and was also fully supported by my husband and kids. We flew back to China so I could work at Gameloft Beijing and now, I’m in Saigon.
Who is one of your role models, and how have they helped you in your career? My amazing friends. They’re incredible and have always been there for me in moments of joy but also doubt.
My husband who is also my ally. Gender equality starts at home, and finding the right balance is a team effort. He also helped me change my mindset and feel less guilty about staying at work instead of being with our kids.
And last but not least, I love Victoire Tuaillon from the French podcast Binge Audio. She’s inspiring and has incredible guests. In order to breakdown gender stereotypes, it’s important that we keep on educating ourselves by reading documents on gender equality and listening to interviews!
What have been your main challenges as a woman throughout your career so far?
For me, it was overcoming the guilt I felt for enjoying my professional life and not being present at home more often.
I think a lot of women go through this, but by accepting the help and support of all our colleagues and loved ones, we can definitely reach our goals.
We need to accept that superwoman doesn’t exist and that fathers can do just as well as the mothers. It’ll allow us to fully enjoy our careers and create harmony at home.
What do you love about your job today?
I really enjoy working with my colleagues. The mangers I work with in HR, communications, and production all have different views and inputs, and it’s very enriching. I love working and sharing with different people because it helps me grow and change my views.
I’m also very proud to be a part of some transversal projects this year, which challenge our existing processes and optimize the way we work. What has worked in the past doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best way to do things, and we should always push ourselves to do better.
It’s a lot of work, but it’s also very intellectually stimulating. It feels great to work with others to help the company transform!
What kind of changes would you like to see in the industry and beyond?
We interview women in our industry because hiring more women is something we still need to work on. But I would like to see diversity and inclusion to be truly and fully integrated into everyone’s minds and company policies so that this isn’t a question or topic anymore.
Video game companies should include more diversity and inclusion in their games, but also in their workplace. I believe we’re on the right track and things are getting better, but we still need to monitor this until people become more aware.
What do video games mean to you?
To me, video games represent sharing and joy. They’re also a big part of my personal and professional lives. My kids play, and working in the gaming industry has helped me to have open discussions about games and screen time with them.
I think video games can definitely be a force for good and have a big impact on education, inclusivity, diversity, gender, race, everything! We’re not there yet, but we’re on the right path. We have to keep pushing!
What do you love about video games in one word?
Fun. Games are fun and exciting, and I’m all about having fun. We can be serious and do serious work, but we shouldn’t forget about having fun from time to time and taking a breather!
If you're looking for a fun-but-still-serious enviornment where you can come as you are, check out all our job opportunities in our studios around the world here! Stay tuned tomorrow for another edition of Girls Who Slay the Game!
