Kirsten-Lee Naidoo’s journey from Chatsworth to the global gaming stage is a story of talent, determina- tion and creative flair. A scholarship to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in 2008 became the turning point that launched her on a new path. After matriculating, she chose to study video game development at Wits University — a decision that blended her love for programming, drawing and animation. She now holds an honours degree in game development. Kirsten- Lee, 27, is head of publishing at Landfall Games, where she manages business development, oversees external partners, and runs backend operations for major gaming platforms like PlayStation and Nintendo. She also scouts for new talent and over- sees teams that Landfall invests in. She serves on the selection committee at the WINGS fund, helping to decide which independent games receive financial support. Kirsten-Lee has been a speaker at global events such as SXSW Sydney, Playtopia and the Game Developers Conference. She was listed among the 100 outstanding women in games by She Plays Games in 2022, and has received funding and bursaries from institutions like FedEx and Nestlé. She fundraises for Playtopia, a local indie gaming festival.
Honours in Game Development, University of the Witwatersrand
Oprah is a huge inspiration for me. I received a scholarship to attend her school, and it changed the trajectory of my life.