The research on the effects of video games is interesting and often controversial. Brenda Bailey Gershkovitch will walk us through what we do know – and it may be surprising. For example, we know that less female university students have entered Science, Technology, Engineering and Math over the past 20 years. Research at the University of Alberta indicates that children who play video games are more likely to enter these fields. Given that 90% of the games industry is male, is it any surprise that most games are designed for boys, feeding this concerning division of roles? Brenda will explore the benefits, and some of the costs, of unlocking the power of video games to make positive change in the world.
About Brenda Bailey Gershkovitch
Brenda Bailey Gershkovitch is the CEO of Silicon Sisters Interactive, a women-owned, female-focused studio building top quality games for women and girls. Launched in May 2010 in the male-dominated world of video games, the studio has successfully introduced a tween series called School26 to iO/S, Android, PC and Mac. The studio recently launched a Romance casual game for adult women called “Everlove”.
Brenda was previously the Managing Partner of Deep Fried Entertainment Inc., building sports and racing games for the Nintendo Wii, the Nintendo Dual Screen (DS) and the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) with publishing partners Sega of American and Take Two Sports.
Brenda frequently speaks at conferences on a wide range of issues including: women in games, change management and emerging video games markets. She is a Founder of Women in Games Vancouver, a past board member of the Canadian Video Game Awards and Advisory Board member of GDC Canada.
A mother of three amazing children, Brenda enjoys running, flying planes and rowing.
