Curator of The Week: Cristina Amaya

In this week's feature, we have Cristina Amaya, Co-Founder of Latinx in Gaming and Director of Dream Hacks Festivals, America.
1. How did you get started in Gaming? What's been your career road map?
My path into gaming was never linear and like many folks who work within this industry, I started with a completely different degree. I studied political science and international relations and got a culinary school degree. I was incredibly dissatisfied and paralyzed trying to find a solution for what my career would be. One day I decided to sleep on a cousin’s couch in NYC for a month looking for a job. During that time I found a Social Media Manager position and moved into agency work. From agency work, I was able to transition to working at gaming companies. I decided to start in social but quickly realized event management was where my passions truly lay.

2. What has been an important, perhaps the most important, lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
Failure is a part of our work and we not only need to accept that we will probably fail but that others will and to be gentle with ourselves and others when those failures happen.

3. What inspires your creativity? What is your creative process like?
I’m inspired by what I could do to create community and create core memories for people. I want to create a moment that makes our community smile, bond with each other, and turn into family. For me, what’s most important is finding a way to make sure that everybody feels included and like they have a seat at the table. My creative process comes in waves! Because I have ADHD there are times when I can’t really function creatively and just need to follow my to-do list in order to get stuff done. That’s okay and I’m trying to be better with myself about this.

4. If you could go back in time, what would you have told your younger self?
That your flaws are okay, that your weirdness is okay, that impressing people isn’t necessary, that it’s okay that you fucked up, that you don’t have to overexplain yourself, that it’s okay to have boundaries and to enforce those. I wish I had been so much more gentle with myself and given myself the space that I deserved to make the mistakes and that I didn’t let others dictate how I should see myself. I wish I could give myself a little self-love.

5. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or seen this week?
I really would love to recommend the book Brotopia by Emily Chang to anybody who is considering working in tech or gaming. The space is difficult to navigate and I think it’s important to keep that in mind. I really enjoy visual mediums so I watched “The Take’s, “The Death of Feminism” which I thought were super interesting.

6. Any closing thoughts you want to share with the ThinkLA Members?
I would love to connect and chat! You can find me under Cristina Amaya or SIlcris88 on most socials!