Humans Behind the Game: Maria Qureshi, HR Generalist

Maria Qureshi, HR Generalist, is no stranger to games or the gaming industry!

She’s been playing games ever since she was a child and got her first job in gaming in 2015 before joining Gameloft Toronto in 2018.

She loves how creative and fast-paced the industry is and uses her years of experience in HR to help make a positive impact on the studio and our employees.

Learn more about why Maria loves working in both HR and gaming and the advice she has for anyone hesitating to apply to the industry below!

Hi, Maria! Tell us about yourself.

Gaming was always a big part of my childhood. I grew up playing Super Mario Bros., Tomb Raider, Need for Speed, Lion King, and countless other games on both PC and consoles. Even now as an adult, every time I switch to a new cell phone I have a habit of keeping my old phone specifically just for games—and I bring my gaming phone with me everywhere! Despite that, I never really thought about a career in gaming until I fell into it by chance and joined Zynga in 2015 and then eventually came over to Gameloft in 2018. The industry is so grand, so creative, and so fast-paced—I love it!

Outside of work, I love travelling, hiking, camping… anything that gets me out in nature to appreciate our beautiful planet! I also enjoy painting, reading, dancing, and baking. I love being active and although I’m terrible at most sports, I still enjoy playing soccer, basketball, volleyball, and tennis for fun. I like to challenge myself to learn new skills, and one of my goals right now is to learn how to ski. Wish me luck, everyone!



What is your role, and what do you enjoy most about your job?

I currently work as the HR generalist at the Gameloft Toronto studio in Canada, and I love that I get to be a part of the backend journey of making our studio better.

I would say the most challenging yet the best part of my role is thinking of new and creative ways to implement changes in our studio that would create the best experience for our employees without impacting production or the company’s success.  It’s very rewarding to make a positive impact, big or small, not just for the company itself but for our employees as well. I have always enjoyed working with people and being in HR lets me be in a position to help and guide our employees to be their best selves.

HR itself is very fast paced, and it keeps me on my toes! Almost every day is different because you’re constantly facing new challenges and dealing with new situations. I’m also consistently learning in my role, which keeps me very motivated.



What are some of your most memorable moments at Gameloft?

I love working with so many amazing people at Gameloft and specifically the team in Toronto! We’ve shared so many exciting memories from fun summer picnics, holiday parties, game jams, and countless in-studio events. The people at Gameloft complete the experience of working here!

There have been so many small and completely random moments (like my team casually bursting into “I Want It That Way” by The Backstreet Boys in perfect harmony for no apparent reason) that have made my experience here so enjoyable and memorable.



What advice do you have for people, and especially women, who want to work in gaming in a similar role?

The HR field and the gaming industry itself are both very dynamic and fast-paced, so when you bring these two together, it can be overwhelming at first. You need to be very adaptable and open to changes. In HR you wear many hats, and you’re constantly dealing with new and different situations that sometimes push you out of your comfort zone, so be ready for anything!

To the women seeking a career in this industry, do NOT think of gaming as an intimidating, male-dominated industry. It’s actually very inclusive, and there is so much incredible female talent here. As long as you have a passion for gaming, it doesn’t matter who you are—you’ll fit right in!

Don’t be afraid to join the gaming industry because you belong here! Maria and her team are currently looking for a talent acquisition specialist, but Gameloft Toronto has many other open positions, which you can apply to here. Stay tuned for another edition of Humans Behind the Game!