International Women’s Day
Today, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, we would be remiss not to acknowledge the humanitarian crisis in and surrounding Ukraine as women and their children are being displaced from their homes as they flee for safety. I would like to recognize the leadership and bravery of these women as they fight to protect themselves and their families. Zynga has pledged over $200,000 to organizations including Nova Ukraine, Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund by Global Giving, and UNHCR which are providing humanitarian aid. My thoughts are with the valiant people of Ukraine.
Today, we celebrate International Women’s Day – a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. As a female leader, who has navigated my path from a refugee immigrant to a member of the US legal profession in male-dominated industries, I am proud to see how we are moving toward a world that now “expects” diversity, equity and inclusion, and that the representation of women is becoming more and more evident.
Improving representation takes the combined efforts of men, women and the communities and organizations that support them. Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions, which means every one of us can contribute to a more gender-equal world by breaking our biases – both deliberate and unconscious. This is the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day – #BreakTheBias.
At Zynga, we are celebrating International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month by recognizing 22 female employees who are striving to break the bias in the gaming industry. From diverse positions around the world, these female Zyngites are combating bias, stereotypes and discrimination in gaming.
Every day, Zynga is taking action to create an inclusive culture that enables everyone to do their best work, no matter where they are in their career or personal journey. Supported in part by our employee resource group, Women at Zynga (WAZ), we offer women and allies mentorship programs, networking workshops and benefits that are aimed at helping women reach their full potential.
We are also working hand in hand with partners to help shape the future of gaming. We have a huge opportunity to make gaming more diverse and inclusive by reflecting the ever-increasing number of women playing games in the industry. We’re proud to work with organizations like Girls Who Code, Women in Games , Unherd, Code.org, Project Glimmer and Fairygodboss that help women grow professionally and even equip them to pursue careers in games.
The future is bright for women in gaming, and I am proud to be a part of a company that is fostering an environment that empowers all women to succeed and become leaders in their careers and communities. Join me in celebrating this International Women’s Day by sharing how you will #BreakTheBias.
Phuong Phillips
Chief Legal Counsel
Executive Sponsor, Women at Zynga (WAZ)