Global Gaming Women

What Global Gaming Women does

Global Gaming Women (GGW) is a Las Vegas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing women across the international gaming industry through education, mentorship, and professional networking. The organization began in 2011 as a development program of the American Gaming Association and became an independent 501(c)(3) in 2016. It operates as a free membership community of more than 9,000 women spanning 70 countries, with a stated target to reach 10,000 members in 2026.

GGW's programmatic infrastructure comprises a member portal (members.globalgamingwomen.org), virtual workshops delivered over Zoom, and a partnership-powered near-peer mentorship matching platform operated by OneUpOneDown. Its core products include tiered in-person educational conferences (Leadership Conference, Foundations Conference, Strategic Ascent), a year-round calendar of virtual workshops, Lean In Circles (small peer groups modeled on LeanIn.org's methodology), the OneUpOneDown structured three-month mentorship program, Link & L.E.A.R.N. and Sip & Social networking events, the Kick Up Your Heels annual fundraiser held during G2E, the Fair Game Podcast, and complimentary access to Harvard Business Publishing's HBR Spark learning platform. In 2025 the organization awarded 469 scholarships representing over $840,000 in educational value, hosted 14 in-person conferences and 6 virtual classes, launched 38 new Lean In Circles, and held 19 global networking events.

GGW is funded entirely through corporate sponsorships — structured at Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers — supplemented by the Kick Up Your Heels fundraiser (798 tickets sold in 2024), individual donations, and minor merchandise sales. Its sustaining sponsors include Light & Wonder, IGT, Konami, Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts, Aristocrat Gaming, Penn Entertainment, Seminole Gaming, Boyd Gaming, FanDuel, BCLC, AGEM, and others across the casino, gaming technology, and supplier segments. Strategic partnerships extend its reach, including agreements with the American Gaming Association, UNLV International Center for Gaming Regulation, CDC Gaming, LeanIn.org, and United Women of Tribal Gaming. Governance is provided by a board staffed largely by senior gaming-industry executives, with Light & Wonder Group CEO Siobhan Lane serving as President and Board Chair effective January 2026.

Name

Global Gaming Women

Legal name

Global Gaming Women

Website

https://globalgamingwomen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Global Gaming Women is a Las Vegas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit running a free global community of more than 9,000 women across 70 countries, delivering education, mentorship, and networking programs for women in the gaming industry, funded by tiered corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Gaming Social Networks & Community Platforms (profiles, guilds, forums, discovery) (MPAFAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Course Authoring, Hosting & Delivery Tools (LMS for Creators) (MPACALAJ)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Women leadership development
• Mentorship programs
• Industry networking events
• Educational scholarships

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: GGW is funded entirely through corporate sponsorships from gaming industry companies. Sponsors provide year-round financial support at multiple tiers (Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) that funds all programs including scholarships, conferences, mentorship, and networking events. Membership is free to participants thanks to these sponsorships.
2. Individual Donations: GGW accepts individual donations from members and supporters to supplement corporate sponsorship revenue. Donations support the Charitable Education Fund which provides scholarships to women in the gaming industry.
3. Event Fundraising (Kick Up Your Heels): The annual Kick Up Your Heels (KUYH) fundraiser, held during G2E in Las Vegas, raises funds for GGW's Charitable Education Fund. The event also features the Patty Becker Pay It Forward Award, which honors women who uplift others in the industry. In 2024, KUYH sold 798 tickets.
4. Merchandise Sales: GGW operates a webstore (globalgamingwomen.myspreadshop.com) selling branded merchandise including apparel and swag items, providing a minor revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Global Gaming Women (GGW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free, scholarship-funded educational, mentorship, and networking programs for women in the casino and gaming industry. Core offerings include free membership, in-person educational conferences (Leadership, Foundations, Strategic Ascent), virtual workshops, Lean In Circles peer groups, the OneUpOneDown near-peer mentorship program, networking events (Link & L.E.A.R.N., Sip & Social), the Fair Game Podcast, Harvard Business Spark learning access, and the annual Kick Up Your Heels fundraiser supporting its Charitable Education Fund.

Product overview

Global Gaming Women operates as a non-profit organization providing a comprehensive platform of professional development programs for women in the gaming industry. The core offerings include free membership with access to educational conferences (Leadership Conference, Foundations Conference, Strategic Ascent), virtual workshops, and scholarships. The mentorship ecosystem comprises Lean In Circles (peer support groups) and OneUpOneDown (near-peer mentorship). Networking opportunities are delivered through Link & L.E.A.R.N. events, Sip & Social gatherings, and the annual Kick Up Your Heels fundraiser. Educational resources include the Fair Game Podcast and Harvard Business Spark access. All programs work together to advance women at every career stage through education, mentorship, and community building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fair Game Podcast: Official podcast of Global Gaming Women featuring conversations about leadership, gaming industry topics, and women's advancement.
• Kick Up Your Heels
• Link & L.E.A.R.N.
• Lean In Circles
• OneUpOneDown
• Sip & Social

Products and services

• GGW Membership Free membership program providing access to educational conferences, scholarships, mentorship programs, virtual workshops, and networking events for women in the gaming industry.
• Educational Conferences In-person educational conferences including the Leadership Conference, Foundations Conference, and Strategic Ascent, offered through scholarship programs for women at various career stages in gaming.
• Virtual Workshops Year-round calendar of virtual trainings and workshops covering leadership, communication, strategy, and personal growth topics, led by gaming industry professionals and delivered via Zoom.
• Lean In Circles Small peer support groups where women in gaming meet regularly (in-person or virtually) to learn, share experiences, and grow together through facilitated discussions on leadership, communication, and gender equality.
• OneUpOneDown Mentorship Program Virtual near-peer mentorship program pairing less experienced professionals (One Down) with more experienced peers (One Up) for career growth and confidence building over a structured three-month period.
• Link & L.E.A.R.N. Events In-person networking happy hour events bringing together gaming professionals to connect, learn, and build relationships across the industry.
• Sip & Social Events Signature casual networking series bringing together women across the gaming industry in relaxed, inclusive environments for connection and inspiration, hosted both in-person and virtually.
• Kick Up Your Heels Annual Fundraiser Annual premier fundraiser held during G2E Las Vegas, supporting the Charitable Education Fund and honoring women through the Patty Becker Pay It Forward Award.
• Fair Game Podcast Official podcast of Global Gaming Women featuring conversations with women leaders in the gaming industry, available on YouTube and streaming platforms.
• Harvard Business Spark Access Complimentary access to Harvard Business Publishing's personalized online learning platform providing articles, videos, podcasts, and lessons on business and leadership topics for GGW members.
• Educational Scholarships Scholarship programs providing access to in-person conferences, virtual workshops, and educational opportunities for women in the gaming industry, funded through the Charitable Education Fund.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,400 scholarships awarded and over $840,000 provided in educational scholarships in 2025 alone, reaching women across 70+ countries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• OneUpOneDowncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGW partners with OneUpOneDown to deliver its near-peer mentorship program, which pairs less experienced professionals (One Down) with more experienced peers (One Up) in a structured 3-month mentorship experience. OneUpOneDown provides the matching platform and methodology, enabling GGW to offer structured virtual mentorship to its members globally. The partnership supports over 200 mentors and mentees worldwide.
• Harvard Business PublishingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGW provides its members with free access to HBR Spark, Harvard Business Publishing's personalized online learning platform. HBR Spark offers thousands of curated Harvard Business Review articles, videos, and podcasts on leadership, strategy, communication, and personal growth. This partnership enables GGW to offer its members world-class business education content as a complimentary benefit of membership.
• CDC GamingflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerGGW partners with CDC Gaming on the 10 Women Rising in Gaming awards program, launched in 2022. CDC Gaming publishes GGW Voices thought leadership content featuring GGW members and board members, amplifying GGW's reach and brand visibility across the gaming industry.
• American Gaming Association (AGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGW began as a development program of the American Gaming Association in 2011. While GGW became an independent 501c(3) organization in 2016, it maintains a strong ongoing relationship with AGA. AGA appears as a sponsor for the Kick Up Your Heels event and the organizations collaborate on industry-wide initiatives.
• UNLV International Center for Gaming RegulationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGW collaborates with UNLV's International Center for Gaming Regulation on education initiatives. Nicole Russo from UNLV has contributed to GGW Voices, and GGW supports executive education programs developed by UNLV's gaming regulation center, contributing to the professional development of gaming executives.
• United Women of Tribal GamingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGGW partners with the United Women of Tribal Gaming for the annual OIGA Cocktail Reception, bringing together professionals from tribal gaming operations for networking and community building during the OIGA tradeshow.
• LeanIn.orgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGW's Lean In Circles are based on the LeanIn.org Circle methodology. According to LeanIn.org research, 98% of women who have moderated a Lean In Circle state that the experience had a positive impact on their life. This partnership provides GGW with a proven framework for peer mentorship circle facilitation.
• Global Gaming Expo (G2E)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGGW hosts its premier annual fundraiser, Kick Up Your Heels, during the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas. G2E is the industry's flagship trade show, and GGW's presence at the event drives significant visibility and attendance for its programs. GGW also hosts Sip & Social events during G2E.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Lean In Foundation: Foundation that created and licenses the Lean In Circles methodology used by GGW. Comparable in mission (advancing women via peer circles and community) and methodology, though Lean In serves women broadly across industries rather than specializing in gaming.

Broad incumbents

• Catalyst: Global nonprofit working to accelerate women in leadership through research, advisory services, and corporate partnerships. Comparable as a women-advancement nonprofit with corporate-sponsor revenue model and focus on workplace outcomes, but broader industry scope than gaming.
• American Gaming Association (AGA): National trade association for the US casino gaming industry; GGW originated as an AGA development program before becoming independent in 2016. AGA shares the same industry footprint, member base of gaming operators and suppliers, and policy/leadership agenda, and remains a sponsor.
• National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA): Trade association for tribal gaming operators, hosts the OIGA tradeshow that GGW participates in annually. Comparable in serving as an industry convener with conferences, advocacy, and member services — but trade rather than talent-development focused.
• AGEM (Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers): International trade association of gaming equipment manufacturers; GGW Gold-level sustaining sponsor. Shares the gaming supplier audience and conference ecosystem, and operates as a comparable industry membership/sponsor-funded body, though focused on suppliers rather than talent.

Emerging players

• Women in Tech Global: Global nonprofit advancing women in technology through mentoring, education, and networking events. Comparable model (free membership, mentorship circles, conferences, corporate sponsors) and partially overlapping audience where gaming intersects with gaming technology.
• Women Who Code: International nonprofit supporting women in technology careers via local networks, mentorship, and programming. Similar free-membership, sponsor-funded, community-and-education model with global local chapters analogous to GGW's Lean In Circles.
• Society of Women Engineers (SWE): Long-standing nonprofit advancing women in engineering through scholarships, conferences, mentorship, and corporate partnerships. Highly comparable operating model (free membership, scholarship-funded programs, corporate sponsor tiers, leadership conferences), adapted to engineering rather than gaming.

Direct peers

• AnitaB.org (formerly Anita Borg Institute): Nonprofit connecting, inspiring, and guiding women in computing and technology. Comparable operating model — corporate sponsorships, community circles, mentorship, conferences — and analogous value proposition of advancing women in a male-dominated technical industry.
• Women in Gaming (WiG): International nonprofit promoting women in the gaming industry through networking, education, and mentorship. Closest direct peer to GGW: similar mission, overlapping audience of women in casino gaming and iGaming, similar conference-and-community delivery model.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gaming_women
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GGWFairGame
• Facebookfacebook.com/GlobalGamingWomen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-gaming-women
• Instagraminstagram.com/global_gaming_women

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Global Gaming Women