Nivedita Rajasekaran

I attribute my success to my parents and my grandfather especially. Growing up, he always encouraged me to be a very independent and strong woman and always asked me to pursue whatever I want in my life with passion, never for the sake of money or just for the sake of going and working. I think they are the ones who have worked very hard to bring me up and always were there to support me. My aunt has also been my biggest role model in my life and a very big inspiration. She's here in the U.S., moved way back in the 90s, and she's very successful in her career at Google.

I've received a couple pieces of advice, but something that really stood out for me is that in your journey, in your career, there are a lot of things you'll encounter - a lot of skills, a lot of people, a lot of changes. One thing I've always been told is to always be open to changes, always have the learn and growth mindset, and never stop networking. All these three things will always help you rise in your career and always reach great heights in life.

To be very completely transparent, I haven't had any major challenges because, one, I'm a woman of color, and I had that fear where being a woman in the gaming industry might be challenging, and then being a woman of color might be challenging. But at Microsoft and at Epic Games, I've had the best experience ever. I've always been welcomed and I've always been given a lot of opportunities and exposure. So, to be very honest, I've never had any challenges personally in the gaming industry or working here.

For me especially, it's staying true to yourself - knowing what you want, what is something that you feel like doing or pursuing, and being true to yourself that you're passionate about it. I always have this saying where, whether it's your personal life or your career, your smile is your logo, your body is your business, and the way you make others feel is your trademark. If we are true to all of that, then we can best represent ourselves.