Las Vegas, Nev.
October 5, 2011

Global Gaming Expo, Sands Expo and Convention Center

From Mentorship to Leadership: Women in Gaming 

This breakfast event, which formally kicked-off the Global Gaming Women (GGW) initiative, featured a roundtable discussion among key industry leaders.  The session, moderated by Virginia McDowell, president and CEO of Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc, also featured Marybel Batjer, vice president of public policy and communications for Caesars Entertainment; Yvette Landau, principal at W.A. Richardson Builders; Jana McKeag, president of Lowry Strategies; and Debra Nutton, senior vice president of casino operations for MGM Grand. 

The discussion was followed by a “speed mentoring” session during which attendees rotated between small groups to hear advice from GGW steering committee members about how to succeed in the industry across a variety of sectors and disciplines.

G2E “State of the Industry” Keynote Panel

In 2011, the annual State of the Industry keynote panel at G2E exclusively featured women leaders from across the international gaming industry.  The session, “Innovating for a Stronger Future,” looked at trends driving the industry forward and how to harness innovation and technology to meet the challenges ahead.  McDowell; Patti Hart, president and CEO of International Game Technology; Jan Jones, senior vice president of communications and government relations for Caesars Entertainment Corporation; Sheila Morago, executive director of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association; and Akiko Takahashi, executive vice president, chief human resources/corporate social responsibility officer for Melco Crown Entertainment, joined moderator Judy Patterson, senior vice president and executive director of the AGA, for a discussion about everything from global expansion and taxation issues to the future of the replacement cycle, operations developments and the outlook for online gambling. Panelists also discussed the role of women in gaming. 

Kick Up Your Heels Invitation-only Reception hosted by IGI

 The final GGW event of the day was an invitation-only evening reception for high-level female gaming executives. Hosted by the International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, this networking reception provided invitees an opportunity to network and discuss the advancement of women in the industry.