Room 8 Voices: Meet Iga Szymanska 

Welcome to Room 8 Voices, a series about the people behind the projects. With Voices, we’ll strive to highlight the unique journeys and experiences of our specialists—those whose creativity and dedication powers everything we do.   

All month long, we’re celebrating International Women’s Day—a day dedicated to equality, empowerment, and opportunity. At Room 8 Group, we believe in empowering women and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Throughout March, we’ll be publishing special editions of Voices, each spotlighting one of our female experts. We’ll ask them a series of questions about their dreams, achievements, biggest inspirations and more to celebrate the considerable female talent in our company—and in the industry as a whole. Today’s voice is Iga Szymanska, Associate QA Manager at Room 8 Group! 

Originally from Poland and now based there again, Iga Szymanska has lived and worked in several countries, including the United States and Sweden. Iga always knew she was creative, loved organizing things, and was eager to help others — and, above all, she describes herself as a massive nerd. Video games have been a huge part of her life since childhood, along with hobbies like playing Dungeons & Dragons, tabletop RPGs, and board games. After exploring different career paths — from studying music to veterinary medicine — Iga found her way into the games industry in 2019, starting as a tester. Today, she works as an Associate QA Manager at Room 8 Group. 

When you were a child, what did you imagine you’d be doing as an adult?  

Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a veterinarian. I loved animals, grew up with them, and was always surrounded by them. 

What first sparked your interest in the gaming industry, and how did you break in?  

The gaming industry kind of found me, to be honest. When I moved back to Poland after living in the United States for almost 20 years, I quickly found out that my certification and license as a veterinary technician were no longer valid because they didn’t meet certain timing requirements. Because of various circumstances, I wasn’t able to start over and commit to a 5.5-year program in Poland. 

At that point, I was out of options and needed a job. I had been teaching myself coding on the side and had sent out applications to several places. Lionbridge was the first to respond and invited me for an assessment and interview. 

Long story short, after the interview — and thanks to my newly gained junior coding experience — I was hired as a game engine tester and ended up on a niche team focused on visual scripting. 

Who is your favorite game character and why does she resonate with you?  

I don’t know if I have a favorite video game character, but one that comes to mind is Senua. Senua’s Sacrifice was the first game that made me take off my headset and step away. 

When I play games, I like to avoid spoilers and go in blind. But when I started playing Senua’s Sacrifice, I quickly found myself overwhelmed. It was definitely a combination of things, including a particularly difficult time in my life. 

For those who haven’t played Senua’s Sacrifice, it’s the story of a warrior from a tribe who, after experiencing a great loss, struggles with her mental health. Throughout the game, she battles psychosis, and as she moves through the world, you experience it as she does. One of the symptoms, if you will, is that she hears voices — whispering, commenting on her every choice, action, or even inaction. 

If you’ve ever dealt with anxiety and had that kind of inner dialogue, you know exactly what I’m talking about. At that time, it became too much for me — but, in a way, that journey, even if not identical to my own, helped me face and work through some of my own struggles. So, I really appreciate Senua and Ninja Theory for breaking the mold and creating such a powerful, meaningful experience. 

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far?   

It’s never a presentation or a challenging problem to solve — it’s saying goodbye to people, letting people go. 

Who or what has been the biggest inspiration in your professional journey?  

I’ve had a few, but the overarching theme has been leaders who empower and genuinely listen to their teams. 

What do you love most about your job and why? 

Working with and for people. I love when someone comes to me with a problem, and I can help solve it. And it’s incredibly rewarding to watch people grow. 

Is there a personal story you’ve encountered in a game that truly inspired or moved you? 

The stories that hit me the hardest are the ones where characters fight for survival against all odds and the ones about learning to let go. Those are themes I hold very close to my heart. 

What’s one misconception people have about working in the game industry that you’d like to clear up? 

There are quite a few, actually. One is that it’s easy, or that it’s somehow “lesser” than other careers. People still tend to look down on you or take you less seriously because you work in games rather than in a more “traditional” industry. That’s always strange to me, considering gaming is the largest entertainment industry in the world — by far. 

How do you stay creative and motivated, especially when facing tight deadlines? 

Remembering to take a step back. Sometimes a 5–10 minute break to grab a tea helps more than trying to push through and cram as much work as possible into that time. Also, remembering that you’re not alone — asking for help and delegating tasks is such an important skill in management. Asking for help is not a weakness — quite the opposite. 

What’s your proudest achievement or ‘wow’ moment in your current role? 

Honestly, hearing that people are happy and proud to have me as their manager. When they say they feel safe, comfortable, and supported because I’m there — that’s what I work for, why I’m here, and what I want to continue achieving. 

What is your favorite routine during the day? 

Sharing meals with my team. It’s honestly the best part of the day. Taking that moment to pause, forget about work for a bit, sit at the same table, joke, laugh, and have fun. It’s such a simple ritual, but I feel a real difference on the days when we’re too busy to make it happen. 

What advice would you give to women aspiring to join the gaming industry? 

Know your worth, trust your gut, and don’t assume someone else knows better just because they have a few more years of experience. You have an instinct — hone it, trust it. Don’t be afraid to speak up; there’s a reason that little voice is nagging you about something. Experience and technical skills will come with time. What’s much harder to teach are soft skills and good instincts — and that’s your superpower, what makes you stand out. 

If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be? 

Oh, that’s an emotional one. Honestly, I’d say: don’t give up, keep fighting — it will all be okay. It will work out. Even when it feels like you’re alone, you’re not — there are people who love and support you and have your back, even if you don’t realize it yet. There is a space for you here, and don’t worry, you’ll find it. 

What’s the most unexpected lesson you’ve learned from working on a game project? 

Cover your butt! Keep records, keep notes, and stay organized. You might be working on the best and easiest project, but sometimes things can flip upside down for unexpected reasons — and suddenly you’re in a defensive position. A little bit of housekeeping and good record-keeping can go a long way when that happens. 

How do you believe games can influence people on a deeper level? 

It’s a completely interactive way of telling a story. You can live through any story you can imagine. You can live in any world or create any world you want. You can change the laws of the universe, shift perspectives, teach, and present complex concepts — and so much more. I believe it’s one of the most powerful ways we currently have to share and exchange ideas. Even though not all games are used that way, some are — and they definitely stand out. 

What one skill do you think is most underrated yet crucial in game development? 

I will repeat this until the day I die: communication. We could achieve so much more and work so much better together if everyone communicated clearly and regularly. 

What does success mean to you personally in this industry? 

Success is personal, and I believe it should always start with yourself. If you’re only chasing someone else’s definition of success, you’re always running after a ghost — it’s fleeting. For me, success is about what I’ve accomplished for myself, how I’ve grown and improved. Not just to hit some arbitrary target, but in ways that will stay with me in life and in future pursuits. That kind of growth can’t be taken away from you — and to me, that’s far more important than anything else. 

Is there a skill or passion outside of work that you’ve found unexpectedly useful in your role? 

I believe any skill or passion can bring something positive into your professional life. Of course, being a gamer helps — having that user’s perspective is invaluable. 

Two of my favorite hobbies right now are Tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer Fantasy RP, Shadowrun, Dragon Age RP, and more. They are fantastic practice for communication, scheduling, and learning how to find a rhythm with a team. Roleplaying involves a lot of synchronization and trust, and you learn so much about the people you play with — while also building strong relationships. 

Another passion of mine is playing the piano. I used to play more when I was younger but recently picked it up again. What’s been especially helpful is what piano teaches about repetition, patience, and self-kindness. I’ve learned to accept that sometimes you just have an off day — and that’s okay. Something you played perfectly yesterday may suddenly not work today; your muscle memory might fail you, or something just feels off. And that’s fine. Not every day will be a good day and recognizing that and being kind to yourself is so important. Otherwise, you risk becoming overly critical and discouraging yourself for no real reason. 

What is your vision for the future of women in gaming, and how do you see the industry transforming to reach it?

 I think women are already doing a great job representing themselves in the industry. We’re seeing more and more creative and powerful women taking the stage. 

My vision — and my hope — is that this question eventually becomes irrelevant. I don’t think women need to be the “most creative” or “most powerful” to thrive in games. You just need to trust yourself — your opinion and your worth. Trust your instinct and keep honing it — it’s one of the most powerful tools you have. And practice communicating the ‘what,’ ‘how,’ and ‘why’ of your ideas. If you do that, you’ll be in a strong position to succeed, no matter what your goals are.