Don't be afraid to ask for more from life

My name is Viktoria Igbauboa, executive director of “Gaming Entertainment” with over ten years of experience in the iGaming industry. People describe me as a positive person who manages to keep smiling even in the most stressful moments. I love dynamics, clear decisions, and moving forward. I am persistent and goal-oriented by nature, and loyalty and humanity are the values I carry in everything I do.

What did you dream of becoming as a child?

As a child I wanted to work in a warehouse because I was impressed and attracted by the shelves, labels, and ideal order. To this day, I have a weakness for  bookstores and pharmaceutical establishments, because I love to browse everything by categories. Interestingly, now in my role as an executive director, I do almost the same - I control processes, set priorities, and optimize everything that can work better. And the best part is that there are days when I truly enjoy the process.

Your first earned money. A funny incident?

I earned my first money when I was a first-year student, helping the accountant in a warehouse for construction materials and I was convinced that this was the beginning of my “financial independence”. Now I smile because I probably spent it on  coffee or something very trivial, but back then it felt like a mini triumph.

What builds us as individuals and how do we develop curiosity?

In my opinion, three main things build us: family and the example we see; the environment and the people we grow up with, as well and the situations that push us out of our comfort zone. Curiosity develops when we have the freedom to ask and to seek. For me, this started with mathematics, which I adored from an early age. It taught me to seek logic and meaning and that feeling follows me even to this day.

Has your motivation changed in more mature age?

Honestly, I wouldn't say that my motivation has changed. I have always been a motivated person, some even call me ambitious. Rather, my expectations of myself, of people and of results have changed. Over the years, I have become clearer about what I seek and why. My motivation is constant, but the way I use it is different.

Whose decision was it what to study? Was the choice correct?

The decision for my first education was entirely mine. Interestingly, I enrolled in a master's program only at 33 years old. I wanted to first work, to see where my career was heading and what would really interest me to read and learn, not just what “should”. Today I believe that this approach was correct.

Interests, knowledge, skills, and hobbies.

Organization and analytical thinking are my strong traits in professional terms, and I believe that the same skills help me in personal life as well. But from the perspective of hobbies and interests, I do not follow a strict routine, but  I prefer to choose things that bring me positive emotions here and in the moment. For me, this most often means time with family and friends, some sport or a short shared trip.

Would you change your profession?

I wouldn't easily change my profession because dynamics and challenges are among the things that keep me motivated. If I ever decide to make a change, it will certainly be in a field where there is movement, tempo, and development. I have worked in telecommunications, finance, and for the past ten years I have been in iGaming, all industries where change is part of everyday life.

What would you like people to say about you when you are not in the room?

That I am a person you can trust and rely on and that I am a professional who knows how to inspire, lead, and at the same time laugh from the heart.

How do you deal with daily challenges?

I try to organize my day through clear lists. Sometimes everything goes smoothly, other times I can't check everything off and I take that as completely normal. Challenges, both in personal and professional terms, are daily. Over the years, I have learned to prioritize, day by day.

The most important lessons for communication with different characters.

Communication becomes easy when you understand what drives the person in front of you. Some seek logic, others seek support, while others seek clear instructions. When you tailor the conversation to the specific style of the other, the interaction becomes easier and even complex topics are resolved faster.

What do you think about money?

I see money as a tool that can facilitate life, but cannot make it fulfilling by itself. There are many examples of this.

The most valuable career advice from you.

Work hard, but smart. Be persistent, but also adaptable. Choose people and environments that teach you, develop you, and challenge you. And don't be afraid to ask for more from life - it loves the brave.