Leon Winkler’s Post

Many kudos to the German teams for producing such good looking booths and for such a well organized event: Niko, Marc, Hanno, Sebastian, Norman, Karsten (and the many others working on our gamescom presence). Ps. And I love the new beard / look, Yves 😁

A big thank you to the good people of Fuckup Nights for sharing my story!

Well, my Gamescom is off to a great start… on the train, wanting to grab something from my bag… bag gone… well sh!t! And just for the record, I don’t blame anyone other than myself… Always keep your belongings close / in eye sight

Going back to Gamescom next week - really looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones :). Who else is going? #gamescom

Hey LinkedIn family, Sometimes, it's incredible to look back and see where the journey started. I recently stumbled upon this gem from the archives - an episode of Urban LifeStyle! For those who might not know, this was more than just a TV show. It was a pioneering platform that brought Dutch hip-hop and R&B into the spotlight, creating a cultural impact that still resonates today. Despite the financial hurdles, our passion and dedication turned it into a groundbreaking project that I'm immensely proud of. Check out the video and take a trip down memory lane with me. From interviews with iconic artists, like in this case the amazing Nelly, to showcasing raw talent, it’s a reminder of the power of perseverance and the beauty of creative expression. Special shoutout to everyone who was part of this journey - you know who you are! Let’s keep pushing boundaries and creating magic. Onwards and upwards! #UrbanLifeStyle #Throwback #HipHop #RnB #BlastFromThePast #Creativity #Perseverance

For my London people wanting to explore the intersection of gaming and social media... And, what also helps is that Stephanie and her team are cool 😀

To give you all a peek behind the curtains of our most recent Ubisoft Forward showcase, check the video below 👇🏾 Video credits: Dóri Halldórsson

This week marks my 18th year at Ubisoft – 18 years... 😱 There's so much I could say, so many people who have shaped my journey, and countless memorable experiences. As I started this post, I realized how impossible it is to summarize my time at Ubi in a LinkedIn post. Maybe one day, I’ll write a book or create a TV show around my experiences 😉. For now, I’ll try to keep it concise. I never expected to be here this long, as imposter syndrome is real. I often imagined walking into the office and hearing, "Hey Leon, thanks for everything, but we have to let you go – you're just not good enough." Yet, 18 years and a lifetime later, I'm still here, doing my thing. I can't express how grateful I am. I do not take this for granted, as this is the job a younger Leon couldn't have even dreamed of. And yet, here I am 🙃 . From working on the marketing for some of our legacy games (Rayman, Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, Just Dance) to now leading a team of amazing event producers, raising the bar for video game events (E3, Ubisoft Forward)– it has been one hell of a ride, and it still feels like I’m just getting started. I also want to take this opportunity to share some gratitude for those who have been (and still are) fundamental in my career at Ubisoft: 1) Marcel Keij and Edwin Groeneveld – My former management team at Ubisoft Benelux who saw potential in me and gave me a chance. Thank you for changing my life – truly. 2) Stephanie Magnier – My current manager, mentor, and an overall amazing human being. You gave me the opportunity to lead events like E3 and Gamescom and trusted me to succeed. Thank you for helping me reach the next level of my career and for your eternal support. 3) Fabrice Poirier (He/Him), Léa Massieux, Arnaud Rizo, and Emmanuelle YOG – My legendary Events Squad, some of the best event producers I've had the honor to work with. Together, we've built memorable experiences that moved people and made the world a little bit better. Thank you for everything you do to elevate our international events like Ubisoft Forward. 4) Justin Levy - My partner in shine and good friend. From hosting E3 together to annoying Pierce Brosnan at SXSW, we've had some amazing times. 4) Yves Guillemot – A name that needs no introduction. One of the most humble, approachable, and human CEOs I've had the honor to interact with. Thank you for believing in me and letting me do my thing, I appreciate you! Looking Ahead: The journey doesn't end here. I'm excited about what the future holds and the new challenges we'll tackle together. To my colleagues, mentors, and everyone who has been part of this journey – thank you. Here's to many more years of adventure and growth. Feel free to share your own memories or experiences you've had with me – I’d love to hear them! 🧡 Leon

As an event person whose job it is to work with amazingly talented people to craft memorable experiences, I learn a lot from / get inspired by attending other events like last week's Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, and I will tell you why. First, it is the people; being surrounded by likeminded individuals who all work in the creative field generates this very contagious energy. Where every conversation can lead to a new insight, idea or even better, business. Talking about creation is one thing, having thousands of people that do not just talk the talk gather in one place, is something completely different. I never leave an event like this without some new contacts or insight that will generate business for Ubisoft either in the close or more distant future. Second, it is the wealth of content, different panel talks, seminars or other brand events you attend when going to these big events. From being inspired by the words of industry peers or people you look up to, to just attending all these different brand's interpretation of an in-person experience is so helpful in finding or finetuning your own vision of what an event should be like. All of this you take home with you or to the office and will help you create even better events / experiences. There is only so much one can learn from books or the internet.

👀