The Ripple Effect: Lauren Cordeiro on Mentorship in Gaming

"Mentors have played a pivotal role in shaping my career. They offered invaluable support, insights, advice, and encouragement that helped me navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and make informed decisions."

Lauren Cordeiro knows firsthand what good mentorship can do. As Vice President of Systems Products & Commercial Strategy at Light & Wonder in Las Vegas, she's built a career in casino gaming, a traditionally male-dominated field. But she didn't do it alone.

"Mentors have played a pivotal role in shaping my career," she explains. "They offered invaluable support, insights, advice, and encouragement that helped me navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and make informed decisions. Their guidance extended beyond technical skills, influencing my development in leadership, communication, and overall professional growth."

Now in a leadership position herself, Lauren has become a mentor through the Global Gaming Women mentorship program. For her, it's a natural next step: paying forward the support she once received.

What Mentorship Actually Looks Like

One of the most impactful moments in Lauren's mentorship journey involved working with someone who was struggling with confidence and unsure about their career direction. Through regular one-on-one conversations, they identified strengths, clarified goals, and worked on building both technical and communication skills.

In just a few months, Lauren watched them transform into a more confident, capable professional. The experience reinforced an important lesson: "Mentorship isn't about having all the answers; it's about being present, offering perspective, and empowering others to believe in themselves."

That realization shapes how Lauren approaches mentorship. It's not about being perfect or knowing everything. It's about showing up and creating space for someone else's growth.

What Mentors Learn

Being a mentor has changed Lauren as much as it has helped her mentees. The experience has deepened her empathy and strengthened her communication skills, requiring her to truly listen and adapt to each individual's unique needs.

Professionally, mentoring has challenged her to stay curious and continuously refine her knowledge. "Guiding others often brings fresh perspectives and new questions," she says. Personally, it's been incredibly rewarding, reminding her of the importance of investing in others' growth, which ultimately enriches her own leadership journey.

The exchange goes both ways. Mentors gain as much as they give.

Advice for Future Mentors

For anyone considering becoming a mentor for the first time, Lauren shares the following: "Mentoring isn't about having all the answers; it's about being open, listening actively, and offering your support and perspective. You'll be surprised at how much you learn from the experience and how meaningful it feels to help someone navigate their path."

Her advice is to start simple: "Just start with a willingness to invest your time and energy, and the rest will follow naturally."

She's direct about why this matters. "Why hold back information and support when you have the opportunity to help and pay it forward?"

The Ripple Effect

Lauren believes mentorship creates something larger than individual relationships. "I believe mentorship is important because it creates a powerful ripple effect. By sharing knowledge, experiences, and guidance, mentors help others overcome challenges, unlock their potential, and accelerate their growth. It builds a supportive community where both mentors and mentees continuously learn from each other, driving personal and professional success."

That ripple effect extends through industries and careers. Each person who receives mentorship can then support others, creating networks of guidance and growth that expand far beyond the original relationship.

Resources That Help

For women navigating the gaming industry, Lauren recommends How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen. While not specific to gaming, the book highlights 12 common habits that can limit women's career growth, especially in male-dominated fields like gaming. These include reluctance to claim achievements, overvaluing expertise, the need to please everyone, and hesitation to ask for help.

The book offers practical advice to overcome these challenges and build confidence, visibility, and influence - tools that complement the personal guidance mentorship provides.

Building Community Through Connection

Lauren's experience demonstrates how mentorship creates more than just individual growth. It builds supportive communities where knowledge flows in multiple directions. Mentors learn from mentees. Mentees become future mentors. The cycle continues, strengthening industries and opening doors for those who follow.

Her message to anyone considering mentorship, whether as a mentor or mentee, is clear: the investment pays returns far beyond what you might expect, enriching both your own path and the paths of others.