Donna “BasicTaq” Walters
I am Tom Leonard, the host of the Gamers Change Lives Podcast where we talk about how esports can create jobs anywhere in the world. Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
In Season 1 we talked about jobs. In Season 2 we talked about sponsorship and investment – ‘Follow the Money’. And now in Season 3 we are talking about how to build a business. Esports 101.
Today’s guest is Today’s guest is Donna “BasicTaq” Walters, Executive Director of Collegeesports.gg.
In this episode we delve into the world of esports with guest Donna "BasicTaq" Walters. Donna is an avid gamer, the host of "GPU the show," and the executive director of College Esports, a nonprofit organization aiming to provide educational and career opportunities in the esports industry.
Key Points:
- Donna shares her gaming journey from traditional consoles to PC gaming during her college days.
- She discusses her work with College Esports, collaborating with schools and organizations to create after-school programs, bridging the college-to-career gap for students interested in esports careers.
- The conversation explores the growth of esports in college conferences like the Big Sky Conference and the importance of inclusivity and diversity in the esports space.
- Donna emphasizes the need for gender-neutral spaces and designs to attract a diverse audience and foster inclusivity.
- The podcast also covers the significance of creativity, introspection, and effective communication in community building to enhance student engagement in college esports communities.
Tune in to discover the transformative potential of esports and its positive impact on student leadership and career opportunities. Learn from Donna's insights and experiences as she offers valuable guidance for anyone interested in the dynamic world of esports.
Episode Webpage: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/closing-the-college-to-career-gap-college-esports-impact
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Featured in this episode:
Donna “BasicTaq” Walters
Meet Donna "BasicTaq" Walters, an inspiring leader and visionary in the scholastic esports industry. Donna is the founder and Executive Director of College Esports, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is dedicated to supporting educators, community leaders, and government officials in creating sustainable, engaging, and inclusive esports and video game programs.
Donna has a wealth of experience, having launched initiatives, and consulted on the development of esports programming for several large brands such as the California State University system (CSU), California State Fair, Big Sky Conference, Sacramento State University, Sacramento King’s Golden 1 Center, San Jose Sharks, CORSAIR, and many others. She is a sought-after presenter at national conferences in both the esports and higher education spaces, where she shares her expertise as a speaker, moderator, panelist, and event host.
Donna's passion for esports and her commitment to creating a more inclusive and diverse industry is truly inspiring. Her work with College Esports is making a real difference in the lives of students and educators across the country, and we are honored to have her share her insights and experiences with us.
Email: info@collegeesports.gg
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnawalters527
Website: https://collegeesports.gg
Twitter: https://twitter.com/taqitoburrito
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/collegeesportsofficial
IMDB: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm12866209/
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PRODUCTION:
Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/
Producer: Reginald Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
This is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of esports entrepreneurs and others to learn how they solved a particular problem that everyone will ultimately face.
In Season Three our theme is “Building a Business: Esports 101”.
I am your host, Tom Leonard. I have a background in entertainment marketing. After working with many amazing esports entrepreneurs from emerging markets, they inspired me to create a show to tell their stories so that others can be motivated to create their own esports business. Gaming and esports can create jobs tackling the problem of global youth unemployment. Creating jobs from playing games. What could be better than that?
Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!
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