Bayan Mashat •  Game Developer

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I am a

Game developer

Bayan Mashat

Presented by SOCIETY FOR SCIENCE
MY PATH

How I became a ballroom dance instructor, coffee aficionado, and game developer.

MAJOR INFLUENCES

  • Walt Disney World

    Growing up, my family would travel to Florida so that we could visit amusement parks like Walt Disney World. I was already increasingly interested in designing games, and I loved the idea of working at Walt Disney Imagineering.

  • Extracurricular Activities

    My journey began with robotics competitions, which later led me to science fairs—an experience that opened an entirely new world for me. I was honored to be recognized internationally, winning first place and having a minor planet named after me, as well as nationally, receiving the Excellence Prize from the prince. These early experiences fueled my imagination and deepened my curiosity, shaping my passion for science.

  • Moving to the US

    At age 16, my father helped me move from Saudi Arabia to the United States in pursuit of a good education and more opportunities. More than a decade later, I’ve returned to Saudi Arabia to share the valuable experiences I gained in the U.S., helping local game studios and contributing to my community.

The traditional stereotype in my home country was that women couldn’t be scientists.

Nevertheless, I always had a hunger for learning and breaking this mold. As a high schooler, I won numerous national and international awards for coding and quickly broke that stereotype. I am proud that I pushed those thoughts aside and pursued my dreams.

Major Milestones

Moving to the U.S.

At the age of 16, I moved to Illinois. My father came along for the first few weeks, but afterward, I was completely on my own, which made me the first person in my family to move abroad. I didn’t speak the language well, so I started an ESL program to learn English.

Undergrad Internship

With help from my professors, I got an internship with Will Wright, the creator of Sims and Spores, to do game design. This became a really important first step in building my professional network.

Working at Microsoft

I was lucky to be offered a job as a game producer at one of the biggest studios at Microsoft, Turn 10, working on their flagship popular game, Forza Motorsport.

Launching My Studio

I finally launched my own indie game design studio called “Blue Tango Street”. I feel fortunate to get to create my own work-life balance and not have to worry about applying for jobs in order to gain new skills. I do everything from coding to writing software, to support roles.

Things I learned

along the way:

  • Failure is a learning opportunity.

    I had performance anxiety while taking tests and even failed a few classes during my undergraduate experience. However, I realized that my forte lied in doing more practical, hands-on work. This was an important lesson for me in my career choices going forward.

  • Don't believe everything you think.

    I tend to be overcritical of myself and get down, but over time I’ve found ways to push this aside and not stand in my own way. Also, a mentor or friend can be a good person to lean on if times get tough.

  • There are different ways to learn.

    There is a difference between being capable of learning and understanding versus knowing how to navigate the systems of learning… like test taking and accessing the right resources.

  • Entertainment is valuable.

    It is more than okay to find joy and fun in your life. Entertainment is a way to recharge your battery. And you can pursue something that just makes you happy, and that’s enough.

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Ella Sophie • Illustrator: Ana Latese

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