Joining us today is the founder of the Esports Trade Association, Megan Van Petten, to share her experiences in the gaming and esports space, how she started the association, and the challenge of changing the industry from the inside out through collaborative efforts and connectivity. 

Megan is a faith-based visionary with over 20 years of experience transforming non-profit associations, foundations, & societies into best-of-class organizations. She is a John Maxwell Certified Executive Coach, host of the Esports Connected podcast, and a Thought Leader. 

In this episode, we dive into Megan’s first steps in the gaming and esports industry, her innate talent for creating collaborative spaces, and her experiences with the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, which spurred the creation of the Esports Trade Association in 2017. 

Megan also shared her thoughts on the need to pay attention to health and wellness in gaming, her first contact with gaming, The EsportsNext Conference organized by the Esports Trade Association in Chicago, and much more. 

Resources:

Visit the Esports Trade Association website: https://esportsta.org/.

Learn more about The EsportsNext Conference: https://esportsta.org/esportsnext-2022/.

Connect with Megan on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganvanpetten/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vanpettengroup?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com /

Full Episode Breakdown:

1:22 – Megan talks about her relationship with video games and gaming throughout her childhood.

6:19 – Megan talks about the Fantasy Sports Trade Association and how her experiences there settle her to start the Esports Trade Association.

9:48 – Megan explains what moved her to create a community around Fantasy.

14:40 – Megan describes her first steps into esports and the sensations the experience produced in her.

17:51 – Megan and Gary talk about how the concern about health and wellness gained a central space in the gaming and esports industry.

22:13 – Megan talks about the importance of creating non-competitive and cooperative associations in the industry.

27:10 – Megan describes the Esports Trade Association’s purpose.

30:13 – Megan shares some details about The EsportsNext Conference.

35:01 – Megan talks about the speed networking system used in the conference and its several benefits for creating meaningful connections.

41:03 – Megan talks about some of the most meaningful experiences with podcasting.