Ladina Taxer – Womenize! – Inspiring Stories
Womenize! – Inspiring Stories is our weekly series featuring inspirational individuals from games and tech. For this edition we talked to Ladina Taxer, Arts & Project Manager at Pro Helvetia. She speaks about adaptability, collaboration, and empowering women to drive inclusivity and innovation in the gaming industry. Read more about Ladina here:
Hi Ladina! You’ve held many roles in project management, marketing, and events. Looking back, what key experiences have shaped how you manage and lead creative projects?
Coordinating the She Got Game program has taught me the importance of creating a supportive, safe and personal space for creativity – in my every-day working environment at the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia as well as in the virtual spheres of our project.
When Pro Helvetia first launched this global mentoring initiative for women in the gaming industry three years ago, we knew that our ability to balance clear goals with experimentation would be key. This may sound obvious and easy now, but building a community within a virtual space was a big challenge at the beginning. Only after we had filled the role of a “trust person”, who is fully responsible for community building, did we succeed in creating a meaningful exchange between the participants. We also thought it would be super easy to find a physical event format that suits everyone. However, it turned out that it is not, when you have participants from all over the world who are at different stages in their careers. So, we tried to offer event participation at different locations with different goals for the participants.
In my previous roles at dance and music festivals, as well as large public events, I learned the value of staying flexible and staying ahead of trends. Festivals often bring unexpected challenges, so I embraced change and quickly adapted to new circumstances. Through all these experiences, my passion for the creative industry has remained at the core of my work. When you’re truly invested in what you do—when it aligns with your personal interests — it becomes more than just a job; it becomes a meaningful part of your life.
How do you manage to keep a project’s creative vision intact while also staying on track with budgets, timelines, and other logistical challenges?
Balancing structure with creativity is key. I prioritize clear planning when setting up projects, breaking projects into manageable phases with realistic milestones. This ensures we stay on track while leaving room for flexibility and creativity. Regular check-ins with everyone involved help address potential issues early, preventing surprises.
Budgets often need adjusting due to unforeseen changes such as higher costs or budget cuts, so I focus on ensuring that artists have what they need to be creative, identifying areas where we can make changes without compromising the core vision. Working within constraints often sparks innovative solutions – we try thinking outside the box – which in turn allows us to get to the desired impact without needing additional resources.
Keeping a project’s creative vision intact requires constant collaboration, adaptability, and a commitment to finding solutions that honor both the artistic and logistical aspects of the project.
In your role with She Got Game, you’re helping to create opportunities for women in the interactive media sector. What do you find most rewarding about working on this program, and how do you see it shaping the future landscape for female game developers?
The most rewarding part of She Got Game is seeing the personal and professional growth of the participants. It’s inspiring to watch them gain confidence, develop new skills, and build connections as they move through the program. It really shows how important it is to create chances like this. There are participants that start the program insecurely with unclear ideas. After six months, however, they stand convinced at an international trade fair where they confidently present their projects.
She Got Game helps empower women to pursue their dreams and create opportunities in the gaming industry. During the six months of the program, participants receive support from industry professionals. These mentors offer them advice on their projects and insights into understanding the market. Participants also have access to lectures on business topics, can connect with their peers and receive a stipend for their project development.
Mentorship and networking are key to building lasting careers, as they can open doors. I believe programs like this are important for creating a more inclusive gaming industry, break down barriers and giving women a chance to bring their voices into game development and make a real impact.