As I prepare for one of the biggest gaming events of the year, SPIEL Essen in Germany (with over 200,000 attendees from 50+ countries), I’m feeling a bit emotional. For the first time in two years, I’m traveling without my family. In the past, my kids worked the booth alongside me, proudly wearing their Maestro Media shirts, joining partner meetings, and even helping with playtesting games like The Binding of Isaac. I’ll never forget watching them playtest at Essen in 2021 (maybe they shouldn’t have played that game so early, haha). We’ve traveled together to meet partners around the world, from Belgium’s Smurfs HQ to countless booths at this very event. It’s bittersweet knowing they’re cheering me on from home—I miss their energy, their presence, and the joy of sharing these moments.
This year, I’m focused on global expansion. We’ve already translated The Binding of Isaac into 14 different languages, building distribution partnerships across the world, and our games are reaching more fans than ever before. I’m thrilled to be here, meeting with partners, collaborators, and supporters to further expand that reach.
As we launch Hello Kitty: Day at the Park for her 50th anniversary—backers will receive it this month, and it will hit shelves in November—it’s an exciting time for Maestro Media! To celebrate this big month, I’m sharing personal insights over the next 31 days—stories of resilience, tough business decisions, and leadership lessons. I’d love to hear from you! Drop a comment if you have any questions about balancing family with work, entrepreneurship, or game creation. Let’s connect and support one another as we grow!
October is going to be huge for us, and I’m beyond grateful for the incredible fans, partners, and team members who have brought us here. Let’s make this next chapter our biggest yet!
#EssenSpiel2024 #HelloKitty50th #FamilyAndWork #GlobalExpansion #MaestroMedia #EntrepreneurshipJourney #LeadershipInsight
