Natascha Thomas–Regional Director, Operations Leadership with Sparq–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast.
She shares her unconventional career journey, transitioning from life sciences to the gaming industry and eventually into consulting, where she now leads developers and multiple PMOs.
Takeaways:
- Follow your passion, but stay adaptable. Each of Natascha’s career transitions were driven by curiosity and a willingness to embrace new challenges.
- Stay curious and continuously upskill, whether through formal education, side projects, or hands-on experience.
- Career risks can pay off if they align with your skills, interests, and market trends.
0:00 – Intro
1:10 – Natascha’s career journey from life sciences to gaming
5:45 – Becoming a producer
8:45 – Moving into consulting and leadership
13:00 – Eye-openers when moving to a new industry
13:53 – Speaking to experience when changing industries
15:21 – Handling engineers making video games vs. engineers in consulting
17:04 – Dealing with difficult people
18:28 – Do you ever miss the gaming industry?
19:44 – Finding passion in your current position
22:57 – Is there anything you wish you’d done differently?
25:45 – Leading a PMO
28:30 – Key skills to lead a PMO
30:14 – Applying skills from life sciences in her current career
33:16 – Channeling anxiety into risk management
34:17 – What’s next?
36:28 – Final thoughts