This year, our very own Sonia Mokhtari, Senior Audio Designer, presented at the Game Developers Conference. Here’s the scoop on how it went…

You’ve attended the GDC as an audience member for years, but this time you were the one presenting. How did the reality of being on stage compare to your expectations?

Presenting at the GDC this year was both exciting and surreal. I’ve attended before, but being on the other side of the stage as a speaker is a completely different experience.

To the audience, a 30-minute session looks seamless, but we know there’s a lot of groundwork involved. What did the actual preparation timeline look like for you?

Exactly—what many people don’t see is how long the preparation actually takes. This talk didn’t come together in a few weeks—it took months. Writing it was a bit like composing music. You start with ideas, themes, and stories you want to share, and then you refine them again and again until everything flows naturally.

You’ve mentioned that this wasn’t a solo effort. Who were the key people who helped you refine the presentation along the way?

Yes, I had the incredible chance to be supported throughout the process. Through the GDC speaker program, I was paired with a mentor, and I truly couldn’t have asked for a better one than Adele Cutting. Her guidance helped me shape the talk, structure the message, and make sure the story I wanted to tell would resonate with the audience.

At the same time, I was lucky to be surrounded by the amazing community at Zynga. Preparing for a talk can feel intimidating, but having supportive colleagues makes a huge difference. I’m especially grateful to Melissa Foran for her encouragement and coaching along the way, and to Michael Cullen. They generously took the time to listen to an early version of my presentation so I could practice in front of them and receive honest feedback. That moment—testing the talk before the real stage—was incredibly helpful in building confidence and refining the message.

When you arrived at the Moscone Center on the morning of your talk and saw the crowd, what were you feeling?

The days leading up to the talk definitely came with some nerves. Even if you’re comfortable speaking, GDC is one of the biggest gatherings in the game industry. You can’t help but wonder: will people connect with what you’re saying?

The morning of the presentation, everything suddenly became very real. Walking through the conference halls, seeing thousands of developers, designers, artists, and audio professionals, I felt both proud and a little intimidated.

And then you step onto the stage…

Once I stepped on stage, something shifted. The nerves turned into focus. I remembered why I wanted to give this talk in the first place—to share my journey navigating the game audio industry and hopefully make the path a little more visible for others.

One of the surprising things about presenting is how fast the time goes by. You’re very aware of every slide and every transition, but at the same time you’re also reading the room—seeing people nod, smile, or take notes. That connection with the audience is incredibly energizing.

Did you have a chance to connect with the attendees after?

After the talk, some of the best moments happened off stage. People came up to share their own experiences or say that something in the talk resonated with them. Those conversations are one of the most rewarding parts of speaking at events like GDC.

What are you taking away from this experience?

Looking back now that the talk is over, the biggest feeling is gratitude—gratitude for the mentorship, the support from colleagues, and the opportunity to share my story with the community.

And yes, a little relief too.

But mostly, I’m walking away from the experience energized—and already thinking about the next conversation we can start.