Employee Name: Diana Crowley

Title: Producer

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Last book you read / listened to: Armour Astir Advent

Who or what inspired you to pursue the career you have today?

Just out of college, still unsure of what direction to take, a group of friends and I gathered and said “Let’s make a video game. How hard could it be?”

As anyone who’s spent time in the games industry would tell you: very hard. But we kept at it. Each of us fell into roles that suited us and worked to teach ourselves the skills we needed to get our project done. My experience working with them helped me discover my instincts for support and improvement, and put me on the path of Production. Getting that firsthand experience helped me find a career path that I never expected I would still be enjoying today.

What’s the best career advice you’ve been given?

If you want to get into the video games industry, you’ve got to get out there and just do it. Start a project and build some skills. It doesn’t have to be something you put out for the public, but only you can help you build the skills you need to get your foot in the door. There’s no one way into the industry, but what you learn doing independent projects and self-teaching can give you a foundation for a future career.

How would you describe the culture at Zynga?

For me, Zynga has been an incredibly welcoming place. I was initially planning to wait for some time before coming out at work. However, I knew within a matter of days of starting that I would be accepted here.

Everyone involved in helping me make the transition at work to my new name and pronouns was wonderful and made sure everything happened at my pace. Once I made myself known, the rest of Zynga adapted right away. That kind of understanding and immediate welcome feels so rare.
Zynga has a great balance of drive, support, and camaraderie.

Who are some of your major influences at work?

I would be remiss not to credit everyone in Publishing Analytics and Production, but to keep it reasonable I must talk about my manager, Songthan Lam. She’s been great to drive me and supply me with new opportunities, while also ensuring I have all the support I need. She encourages me to think further ahead and solve deeper problems—giving me the backing I need to see my ideas through.

I’d also love to shout-out Hunter Gaskin. It means a lot to have a connection to another trans person at Zynga. Being able to work with someone whom I share so much in common with is a breath of fresh air.

How do you connect to this month’s theme?

Unity in our community is so imperative for us all at this moment. Between socially transitioning this past January, to starting my new job at Zynga, to so many other new people and places that have come into my life this year: I wouldn’t be here experiencing so many new beginnings without the people standing alongside me.

It feels right to look forward together this Pride Month. This month will always be about remembering how we’ve come so far, but there’s still so much good in store and many new things to begin or begin again.

What advice would you give to others on fostering inclusivity and understanding in the workplace?

Most trans people just want to live their lives pretty much the same way you do. I know I’ve encountered people in the past who were nervous about interacting with me because they thought they might do something “wrong”.

I promise you that if your heart’s in the right place and you’re doing your best to be inclusive and refer to people with the terms that make them most comfortable, we can see that and it means so much to us. Mistakes are inevitable, but the best thing to do is just self-correct and continue. Don’t let a small bump derail the interaction.