Latin American studios can draw in skilled workers by creating an environment where individuals don't feel like faceless paychecks on the company's roster.
In the vibrant world of game development, Jorge Suarez Basañez, the general manager of Amber, a full-service development company headquartered in Guadalajara, Mexico, is making waves with his innovative strategies to attract and retain top talent in Latin America.
Suarez Basañez suggests that employers in the region should focus on understanding and playing to their workers' unique strengths. This approach, he believes, will help create an environment where employees feel valued and motivated to stay for the long haul.
Amber, the studio overseen by Suarez Basañez, is a shining example of this philosophy. The company boasts a training center dedicated to bridging the skill gap between its hires and team members. With a roster of notable partners like Amazon, Netflix, Paradox Interactive, King, Epic Games, Disney, and more, Amber is a testament to the potential for success when businesses prioritize talent development.
One of the key challenges in Latin America is the elephant in the room: salary. However, Suarez Basañez advises employers not to let this be the only focus. Instead, he suggests offering both financial and emotional compensation. While the former is crucial, the latter can be equally important for some people.
Emotional compensation can take many forms. It could be recognition programs, opportunities for creative input, community building activities, or mental health resources. These benefits foster a sense of belonging and emotional well-being, which are essential for retaining top talent.
Another strategy Suarez Basañez advocates is enabling remote work. This approach allows employers to tap into talent outside of larger urban areas, potentially in regions with lower cost-of-living. By doing so, studios can offer a more balanced lifestyle to their employees, which can be a significant draw.
However, remote work comes with its own challenges, such as managing connectivity and infrastructure gaps. Suarez Basañez emphasizes the importance of helping employees access reliable technology and internet to maintain productivity and reduce stress linked to technical issues.
Moreover, Suarez Basañez stresses the need to prevent toxicity in the workplace. He suggests refusing to let toxicity fester and building a team around positive influences. To achieve this, studios should emphasize clear communication, inclusive culture, mental health support, and safe channels for feedback.
In terms of cultural values, Suarez Basañez believes that Latam studios can attract and retain talent by implementing systems that nurture and help developers grow. He suggests that employers should strive to understand how to instill cultural values that enable them to punch above their weight.
These strategies, if implemented effectively, can help Latin American game studios build attractive remote workplaces that retain skilled talent and maintain a healthy, motivating environment. Gamescom Latam, a major event in the gaming industry, recently invited our website to attend, underscoring the surging talent destiny in Latin America and the opportunity for studios in the region to nurture and retain developers on home soil.
[1]: Source 1 [3]: Source 3 [5]: Source 5
In the realm of talent retention, Jorge Suarez Basañez, a key figure in Latin America's game development industry, advocates for a combination of financial and emotional compensation. This approach, he believes, can foster a sense of belonging and emotional well-being, crucial for retaining top talent.
To facilitate access to diverse talent across regions, Suarez Basañez also endorses the adoption of remote work strategies. However, he underscores the need for studios to provide employees with reliable technology and internet to ensure productivity and alleviate stress caused by technical issues.
