Womenize! – Inspiring Stories is our weekly series featuring inspirational individuals from games and tech. For this edition we talked to Audrey Gravier,  Co-Founder at Outsiders. She speaks about how her varied education and volunteer work have shaped her game development and leadership skills, her approach to incorporating Cairo’s culture into “Lost in Cairo,” and offers advice for young women entering the gaming industry. Read more about Audrey here: 
Hi Audrey! Your educational journey has taken you from HEC Montréal to NEOMA Business School and even fashion studies at ESMOD. How has this diverse educational background contributed to your unique perspective and skills in game development?

I’ve always known that one day I would want to start my own business, and these various experiences have allowed me to develop my artistic mindset without neglecting the financial and commercial management skills that I would need to build my studio. I believe that as a woman stepping into entrepreneurship, it’s important to be independent and have a 360-degree understanding of the challenges a business must face on a daily basis.

A game isn’t just about art and technique; to run a studio, you have to be comfortable with managing a business. Business school pushed me out of my comfort zone. I was a girl from the countryside, not used to meeting new people every day, but it made me more comfortable with networking, which has proven very useful to me today. After studying at HEC Montreal, I completed my financial degree with a communication/marketing degree at NEOMA, because viral communication is central to my strategy for getting noticed as an indie studio.

Your volunteer work with organizations like NOVA and AIESEC showcases your commitment to social causes and community engagement. What aspects of these experiences have most significantly shaped your approach to leadership and teamwork at Outsiders?

My volunteer work with organizations like NOVA and AIESEC helped me grow and taught me responsibility, problem-solving, and leadership at a very young age. HEC Montreal took its associations very seriously, which is why I developed so much during that time. My involvement boosted my confidence and planted the seed that one day I might be capable of running a business and leading projects.

As VP of Communication and Marketing at NOVA, I learned the importance of empathy and understanding diverse perspectives, which has been crucial in leading a creative team where collaboration and open communication are key.

AIESEC, on the other hand, taught me the value of global thinking and cultural sensitivity, which has shaped the way I build and manage teams, ensuring that we remain inclusive and innovative. These experiences have also reinforced my belief in purpose-driven leadership, where aligning the team with a shared vision not only drives results but also fosters a sense of community and belonging within the studio.

How do you incorporate elements of Cairo’s rich cultural and historical heritage into “Lost in Cairo,” and what steps do you take to ensure authenticity and respect for the culture? What message would you like to share with young women who aspire to break into the gaming industry, and how can they overcome the challenges they might face along the way?

Incorporating elements of Cairo’s rich cultural and historical heritage into Lost in Cairo was a significant challenge, given that the game is set in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic version of Egypt. Our goal was to integrate the greatness of ancient Egyptian civilization and the vibrancy of modern Cairo into a reimagined, futuristic world. This required creatively blending traditional elements with a vision of Egypt transformed by time and technological evolution, crafting a poetic and immersive experience that pays tribute to Cairo’s diverse heritage.

To achieve this, we studied key aspects of ancient Egyptian architecture, art, and mythology, as well as the urban landscape and cultural dynamics of modern Cairo. Our efforts to communicate our development process effectively led to connections with individuals we might not have otherwise met. We’re now fortunate to collaborate with egyptologists and Egyptians who help ensure that our depiction of futuristic Cairo respects and accurately reflects these influences.

This way, Lost in Cairo not only offers players an exciting and imaginative experience but also pays homage to the rich heritage of Cairo, blending past and future in a thoughtful and engaging manner.

I would give very concrete advice: Start learning as soon as you can if you want to contribute to technical development or artistic areas and don’t have formal training yet. Begin with small game projects and experiment with launching them as quickly as possible to fail fast and improve for your next projects. If you encounter sexism from a freelancer or male colleague, try to distance yourself from them as soon as possible. Try not to doubt yourself too much or be held back by imposter syndrome, and consider joining programs like Women Making Games to make your voice and vision heard.

Thanks for this interview, Audrey!

Audrey’s links: LinkedIn

Womenize! – Inspiring Stories Feature by Madeleine Egger