About Games Leadership®

“It started with a simple but frustrating truth: I couldn’t find the support I needed. So I built it.

I started Games Leadership® to create the kind of support I wish I’d had. A place where Leaders can grow, connect, and feel proud of how they lead.

Leadership can be tough, but it’s easier when you’ve got people in your corner. Everyone deserves support, access to tools, and space to grow.”
— Melissa Phillips, Director

Our Story

Games Leadership® was created with a simple belief: Leadership in the Games Industry can – and should – feel more supported, more connected, and more human.

In 2022, Melissa Phillips was leading a Studio and searching for something that felt surprisingly hard to find – a space to talk honestly about Leadership. Not just the practical side of managing people and projects, but the emotional weight of responsibility, the self-doubt, the pressure to get it right, and the quiet moments of feeling alone at the top.

With nearly two decades in entertainment, over a decade in Games, and a background in psychology and coaching, Melissa understood just how powerful it can be when Leaders are given the time, tools and support to grow. Melissa created Games Leadership® as a place for Leaders to get the kind of support she had always needed herself – a space where Leaders could feel seen, build confidence, and lead in a way that feels true to who they are.

Since then, she’s worked with over 300 Leaders across the Games Industry, launched the flagship Games Leadership® Blueprint course, and spoken at global events including GDC 2024. She also founded the not-for-profit Games Leadership Network®, making Leadership support more accessible through free events, peer learning, and scholarships.

At Games Leadership®, we don’t just understand the challenges of Leadership in Games – we’ve lived them. This isn’t just a programme - it’s a community, a shared language, and a commitment to building a stronger, more human Games Industry, one Leader at a time.

Don’t just take our word for it, though - see what those who have worked with us have to say:

  • "Working with Mel has been a real game-changer. Her insights and guidance helped me uncover obstacles I didn't even know were there, and she armed me with practical resources to tackle them head-on."

    Lara Brown
    Executive Coaching Participant

  • "I am incredibly grateful to Mel for all of the guidance given and feel I have improved in self confidence and general wellbeing throughout the programme."

    Stuart Pentelow
    1-1 Coaching Participant

  • "Melissa is an excellent coach. She provides a safe and comforting atmosphere, asks very helpful questions, and makes the approach of the program readily understandable."

    Brendan McCracken
    Executive Coaching Participant

  • "I came seeking a key to a door long held firmly shut, and am incredibly relieved to now feel empowered on my unlocking journey."

    Juney Dijkstra, MSc.
    Executive Coaching Participant

Why We’re Different

There’s a lot of noise out there about Leadership. Plenty of people will offer you strategies or quick fixes. But that doesn’t mean they truly understand what it feels like to lead – especially in the Games Industry, where the pressures, pace and people dynamics are unlike anywhere else.

Games Leadership® was built from lived experience. Melissa Phillips created the space she needed as a Leader – drawing from her time as a Head of Studio, Head of Operations and Operations Director in the Games Industry, combined with her training as an Executive Coach and Leadership Psychologist.

This isn’t theory for theory’s sake. Everything we do is grounded in psychological research, Coaching best practice, and real-world application. Melissa is a member of respected bodies like the ICF (International Coaching Federation), the Association for Coaching and the British Psychological Society – but what really sets this work apart is how deeply it understands the realities of Leadership in Games.

We don’t offer one-size-fits-all answers. Instead, we offer thoughtful, practical support tailored to your world – helping you lead in a way that’s both effective and true to who you are.

Meet The Team

As of 2025, Games Leadership® consists of three core team members! Find out more about them and their roles below:

Melissa Phillips

Director

  • Melissa is an Executive Coach specialising in Leadership, Management and Personal Development. She has worked in the Games Industry for over a decade, with a career spanning almost 20 years in the Entertainment Industries. She has held various roles in Games from Head of Studio to Operations Director, and continues to work directly in Game Development as an Operations Consultant. She regularly works with startup Studios and on projects spanning from Indie to AAA.

Daniel Moss

Programme Manager

  • Daniel is a Technical Trainer and Coach, specialising in 1-1 Personal Development. His background is in the Insurance Industry, working on Leadership Organisation, Senior Management Development and Team Onboarding. He is particularly interested in designing new tools, training and resources for Games Industry teams, focussing primarily on the development, delivery and refining of our courses and training here at Games Leadership®, such as our flagship Blueprint programme.

Millie-Jo MacIver

Junior Project Coordinator

  • Millie has a professional background in Writing and Small Business Ownership, and continues to be actively involved in Indie Development as a Narrative Designer. At Games Leadership®, her role encompasses social media management, design, communications, development and general coordination to ensure a smooth experience for all. She assists in the delivery of our structured learning programmes and resources, supporting our community spaces and events.