Employee Name: Jonathon Lee

Title: System Administrator II

Hometown: Los Angeles

Last book you read / listened to: Driven to Distraction

What was your career path to Zynga?
I was a musician when the pandemic hit, and I realized it might be years before I could get back to playing shows in front of crowds. I took that as an opportunity to pivot and learn about tech, which led me to an IT apprenticeship at Google. Fast forward a bit, and I found myself at Zynga where gaming is life.

Who or what inspired you to pursue the career you have today?
I used to bartend in Seattle, and a regular customer would often mention that his company had tech apprenticeships. I honestly didn’t think I could do it, but he kept pushing me to give it a shot, telling me, “I think you can do it.” Later, during the pandemic, I was at a burger drive-in with a friend who suggested the same thing. I thought to myself, “This is the second person who’s mentioned this. Okay, I’ll give it a try.” Those two nudges changed my entire career path.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone who just started their career?
Take on tasks even if you’re scared. You will either figure it out, or someone can help you figure it out; either way you learn.

What’s the best career advice you’ve been given?
I once asked a musician I looked up to how they navigated their career and accomplished so much. They told me: “You just have to do it.” It sounds simple, but it taught me that there isn’t a perfect time or secret formula; you just have to start.

What methods do you use to stay motivated and focused?
Coffee, music, and a pomodoro timer.

What would someone be surprised to learn about your company or profession?
At our core, we are always students. We are always needing to improve and learn. Being in this space requires that we keep a love for learning.

Are there any games or products that you’ve been involved with that hold a special place in your heart?
I was able to assist with prepping mobile game builds for playtesting by leadership during some of our most critical development milestones. It felt great to be able to help!

Have you had any mentors or role models who have played a significant role in your career development?
Daven Scott, Alica Hendrickson, Min Lin, Daniel Wells.

Can you share a meaningful tradition or celebration from your heritage that you hold dear?
Not so much a tradition, but a culture of sharing food. Food is at the core of everything we do when celebrating together.

How would you describe the culture at Zynga?
Games are everything here. Mobile games, video games, board games. If you love games, you’ll love working here!

What do you enjoy most about working here?
The people, the events.

What is your favorite aspect of being part of your ZAPI?
My favorite aspect is having a space where we can relate through shared cultural backgrounds. It’s great to have a community that understands your perspective without having to explain it.

What is it like being diverse in gaming?
Diversity in gaming means we don’t live or play the same way, which allows us to share different perspectives with each other.

How do you celebrate and showcase your cultural heritage within the professional environment?
I can’t emphasize enough that food is the easiest way to share and showcase a culture. “Would you like to learn about my culture? Try this.”

What advice would you give to others who may be navigating challenges related to diversity in their careers?
There’s nothing wrong with being who you are.

How do you believe your unique background and experiences contribute to the diverse perspectives within our team?
I spent most of my life as a musician and a few years working in the service industry before jumping into tech. I didn’t have a formal education, but I made the most out of the opportunities that were presented to me. I believe that having a non-traditional path allows me to look at our systems and culture through a different lens, helping us find inclusive solutions that a more standard tech background might miss.