Our Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Sonja Gittens Ottley, reflects on how we champion belonging, inclusion and growth at Scopely during Global Inclusion Week and every day.
At Scopely, we believe that life is better when we play together. We see this reflected in our commitment to Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), embodied in our culture tenets and seen in our daily interactions, the teams we build, and the games we create.
For the last four years, we’ve observed Global Inclusion Week (GIW) – a week where we invite all Scopeleans to play and learn together, listen to new perspectives, and build a more inclusive future through thoughtfully curated events and experiences. Moments like GIW make our global community stronger. They create space for celebration and critical reflection, but, most importantly, they remind us that inclusion does not start and stop, but requires an ongoing commitment in all that we do.
This year’s theme, “Belonging, Inclusion & Growth: Shaping an Inclusive Tomorrow,” speaks to our culture. If we can provide our Scopeleans with a place where they belong and feel included, it fosters psychological safety, drives innovation, and turns individual strengths into collective and sustained high performing teams. If we can all work together in a safe, multicultural organization that elevates diverse voices, we’re more likely to perform at our best, and be strong collaborators. Growth highlights the personal development, self-reflection, and learning that this week is designed to inspire. Our intentional and ongoing commitment to belonging, inclusion and growth shapes our future and helps us continuously evolve into a workplace where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered.
Some highlights from this year’s GIW included a featured guest talk on game accessibility with the Head of the IGDA Game Accessibility Special Interest Group (SIG), Ian Hamilton; a fireside chat on with our Co-CEOs, Walter Driver & Javier Ferreira, on how DEI strengthens our teams and shapes player experiences and assistive tech sessions to explore accessibility in gaming. We created unique in-hub experiences, from global cuisine tastings, to virtual reality (VR) experiences and immersive audio stories that shared Scopelean perspectives on identity, connection, and reflection.
This year's Global Inclusion Week saw an increase in overall engagement, which is a testament to Scopeleans’ commitment to their growth and to supporting each other. More than 800 new connections were made through the “10x5 Challenge,” an initiative encouraging Scopeleans to meet 10 new people in 5 days, fostering new work relationships and collaboration opportunities. More than 500 Scopeleans joined our existing employee resource groups, enabling participation and opportunities to learn more about the various communities that exist here at Scopely.
Our commitment to DEI doesn’t end after GIW, it extends throughout all we do at Scopely. Whether it’s through our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), our Mentorship Program, learning opportunities, or our investments in inclusive game design through our Play For All framework, we continuously cultivate a space for our Scopeleans and our players where they feel valued and supported.
A heartfelt thank you to our DEI team, Experience & Engagement, Information Technology, and Communications teams, as well as every Scopelean who helped bring GIW 2025 to life. Your creativity, care, and collaboration made this year unforgettable.
Let’s keep showing up, learning, listening, and shaping what’s next, together!
- Sonja Gittens Ottley
VP, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion