Meet the Sages - Dean Watkin, CEO
This week we are sitting down with Dean Watkin, our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Co-Founder here at Humble Sage Games. Dean's interview focuses on how he came to be in the game development industry, what excites him most about the industry and what interests him outside of games.
Tell us a bit about yourself!
I am one of the founders of Humble Sage Games (HSG); I am a father of 2 who enjoys hanging out with the family, walking our dog, playing music, travelling (when possible) and generally learning new things.
What excites you most about this industry?
The games industry is always at the forefront of technology, and it's exciting to be constantly playing in new spaces. It often feels like we are in the wild west, making up the rules. Whether that's VR or Blockchain technology, these are all things that are embraced and innovated by the games industry before flowing onto other industries.
What led you to co-found HSG and join the game developing industry?
Joining this industry was a very organic process; I was having a conversation with my friend and co-founder, Jake Harris, noting the lack of Australian game development companies and communities around in 2015. We decided this was something we wanted to address, so we founded the Humble Sage community around a group of like-minded developers and creatives that, over time, evolved into the games company that it is today. The games industry is a fantastic blend of the creative and technology industries that I am interested in.
What does your average day look like as CEO?
A variety of tasks take up my day-to-day work, from phone calls with clients/ investors and meeting with the team to running a large amount of the back end of the business. The team are incredible and highly skilled in their respective areas; as a leader in the business I set the goal posts and guardrails, then get out of their way! It's a constant shift between many different things, no two days are ever the same, and I have to constantly find the balance between working in the business and working on the business.
What have you learnt on your journey to get here?
I’ve learned a lot from living and visiting various places, studying different subjects and courses, and parenting! One of the tools I utilise most at work would be the people and consultancy skills I gained from my work with NeuroPower Group, one of our strategic partners. I like to subtly nudge the team towards a specific goal, looking ahead and being aware of what's coming and trusting in the team to be good at what they do. I also draw a lot from my background in music, not necessarily the active part of playing the instrument, but the creative thinking, problem solving and determination has served me well in my role at HSG.
What’s next for HSG?
Humble Sage Games hopes to play a large role in the upwards trajectory of the Australian games industry. We would like to be considered as one of the most innovative and influential game developers in Australia, competing with some of the biggest game companies in the world.
What game would you say is the most memorable from your childhood? Would you say that it has influenced your career?
My most memorable childhood game was a side-scrolling platformer called Commander Keen. The colourful 2D graphics captured my sense of adventure as I set out to save the galaxy with my ray gun and pogo stick. I was interested in games from a very young age, and grew up watching them evolve - it’s pretty incredible to now be making them.
