An accomplished communications professional, Harsha, brings 12+ years of vast experience with her. A storyteller by heart, she plays a pivotal role of positioning Ubisoft India Studios as the ultimate game development studio in the country. Another key responsibility under her involves fostering positive collaborations with internal teams and external stakeholders. In this interview, Harsha shares insights into the working of her agile team, nurturing a dynamic workplace culture and her journey of creating some wonderful memories — for the teams and the gaming community of India.
Hello Harsha, could you shed light on the roles and responsibilities of a Communications & PR Director?
If I had to sum it up in a sentence, I’m primarily responsible for strategizing the most effective approach of sharing information about Ubisoft not only within our internal teams across the studios but externally to the media and community as well. It’s an exciting blend of team leadership, strategic vision for internal and external communications, employee engagement, media relations, and community management. I lead a team of professionals who are experts in communications, PR, digital media, and branding. Together our goal is to keep the line of communication strong while always upholding Ubisoft values – be it with our internal teams, our community, or the media.
We constantly strive to cultivate an irresistible workplace culture for our creative teams who contribute to the overall game development pipeline. We believe in celebrating every key milestone from our developers at Ubisoft with project launch events being at the heart of it. To encourage a healthy work-life balance, we organise several employee engagements activities throughout the year including massive internal events such as Ubilympics, Battleground, Ubisoft Forward Watch Party, Annual Party and more. Such events not only give our team members an opportunity to step away from their screens at work, but also have fun with their teammates and connect with folks from other departments.
Internally, our focus is on disseminating information and updates relevant to our team members while using the latest communication resources. I remember during my initial days when we had a much lower headcount it was comparatively easier to host Town Halls in the studio. However, over time with advancement in technology, headcount, and workplace culture, organising a Town Hall today takes a collective effort across multiple teams and departments, as we host them for our employees working at the studio and remotely.
When it comes to PR, my efforts are dedicated to nurturing a strong and positive relationship between the Indian media and gaming community with Ubisoft. I truly believe in building and maintaining an accessible medium for our media, so it’s a constant effort to create opportunities and host them at external events or in our studio. My team and I actively stay connected with the community via social media platforms. Participating in various gaming industry events across India also provides us an excellent opportunity to directly connect with our fans, showcasing our unwavering support for the industry.
What inspires you the most about working at Ubisoft?
Headquartered in Paris, France, Ubisoft has a diverse workplace spread across around 45 studios in 5 continents. We collaborate with colleagues from studios across the world fostering meaningful connections and learning from our creative and passionate team members, all united by our shared love for the gaming world.
This year marks my 10th work anniversary at Ubisoft also known internally as ‘Ubiversary.’ I have always felt inspired, working alongside some of the industry’s most creative minds, and the years have just flown by. I have had the privilege in working on some amazing projects and I take pride as I reflect on all the positive impacts they have created over the years.
Having spent a decade at Ubisoft, I can attest that not all days are alike. Each day brings with it fresh ideas, exciting new projects, and insightful brainstorming sessions, that have kept me constantly engaged. Ubisoft’s workplace culture enables a remarkable sense of ownership and inspires an intrinsic drive to push our own boundaries and realise the vision we have for our project.
Breaking the myth about the gaming industry being exclusively for tech professionals, what non-technical career paths are accessible in the Indian gaming industry?
Careers in the video gaming industry have become an increasingly popular choice in the past few years. I started at Ubisoft in a communications role which wasn’t very common back then in the Indian gaming industry. After more than a decade, we are seeing a massive influx of careers in gaming locally. According to the HP India Gaming Landscape Study 2023, More than 52% of Indian gamers see a career in the field, with player incomes steadily rising. About 1 in 3 gamers are gaming for money or recognition with sponsorships and esports tournaments emerging as significant income sources.
In the current social structure, video games are important drivers of change which is why our industry thrives on collaboration between technical and non-technical roles. Today, you don’t need to be a gamer to land a job in video games. However, an appreciation for the creativity and innovation behind game development can also be a strong factor to take a plunge into this industry.
Working in video games doesn’t mean playing all day. You will find yourself working as hard as other technical roles since you are constantly working towards the release of next-gen projects and anticipating future trends, which can be equally challenging.
Traditional gaming careers range from art, animation, programming, level design to quality control. However, there are many thriving opportunities in communications, project management, HR, finance, legal, localisation, community management, and many more.
Esports and community management are exciting career paths in the country currently. India is the 3rd largest smartphone user base in the world parked at 842 million devices. According to the India Games Market Report 2023 by Niko Partners, 96.8% of gamers in India play on smartphones and tablets. So potentially, there’s ample scope to dive into the esports industry which again has numerous job functions available, from professional team organisations to event management.
In what ways does the community influence your work, and how do you actively engage with and impact the community?
The gaming community plays a crucial role in shaping the success of our games. We understand the dynamics and actively engage with the Indian audience to provide them a medium to talk with Ubisoft. Through participation in various events and gaming conferences across India, we ensure direct interaction with our beloved fans and potential talents. Whether through immersive gaming experiences or enlightening developer talks, our goal is to create meaningful avenues for engaging with our players.
With India boasting a staggering 400+ million gamers across PC, Mobile, and Console platforms as of 2023, we continuously seek innovative approaches to connect with gaming enthusiasts. Notably, nearly 72% of gamers have either played esports games or watched a tournament, based on the same market study.
Our social media presence is equally vital to us. We maintain a strong presence across all major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and X (Twitter). Every day, we encourage discussions and eventually build strong connections with our fans. Our social media strategy is designed to keep them updated about our active projects and studio developments, provide them glimpses into the life at Ubisoft India studios, share the latest open job roles, and overall celebrate the vibrant gaming culture.
As a woman in a leadership role, what advice would you offer to aspiring women in similar positions?
As a woman in a leadership position, I would say that first and foremost, embrace your authentic individuality with courage. Be unapologetically you! Your unique voice and perspective are your biggest strengths, so never hesitate to express yourself and share your ideas with confidence.
Secondly, prioritise staying on top of popular trends in video game development, read about the latest gaming news and what kind of games people are playing. Try out video games across different genres that spark an interest in you, regardless of whether you play on mobile or console. Also, commit to regularly upskilling yourself to ensure you remain relevant and adaptable in an ever-evolving landscape.
Thirdly, actively pursue opportunities for growth and development. Seek out mentors who can offer guidance and support in your journey. Cultivate genuine relationships with those who inspire you not only within your own circle but across the entire industry. Mentorship truly matters, so invest in nurturing these connections for your personal and professional growth.
If you’re a woman aspiring to join the gaming industry, don’t hesitate to advocate for opportunities and pay it forward by supporting other women and underrepresented individuals in the industry. This will foster a more inclusive and diverse community for future generation of working professionals in gaming.