Black History Month at 2K
Black History Month at 2K is a celebration and tribute to the generations of Black people who have made outstanding contributions to our society while navigating adversity, persevering to lay a foundation of resilience, hope, victory, and knowledge of self.
We recognize our Black@2K ERG community and their many contributions to 2K's "Come As You Are" environment, where people from all backgrounds feel welcomed, accepted and heard.
Black@2K aims to leverage access and resources to contribute to the betterment of Black people within and beyond 2K. Black@2K supports this through multiple initiatives: bringing general awareness to our employees, influencing in-game representation, volunteering and giving back to local nonprofits, and supporting mentorship opportunities for HBCU students who are eager to get their start in the gaming industry.
As part of 2K's celebration of Black History Month, we invite you to meet some of our Black@2K members to learn more about them and their unique career journeys.
Alexis Polk (2K)
Tell us about your role at 2K! What does a typical week look like?
I'm an Associate Social Media Manager for the WWE 2K and PGA TOUR 2K franchises. In brief, I aid in creating social strategies, community building, and execution of social activations.
A typical work week for me is never typical. When it comes to social ideation (bringing ideas to life on our social platforms, in other words), every project is different. A fun and recent example of this would be our 'See John Cena' social tease campaign, where influencers and WWE talent all chimed in to help reveal John Cena as our cover star. The ultimate cherry on the cake was John Cena revealing himself by posting a blank WWE 2K23 cover. This entire strategy was a fun one, and I can't wait to dive deeper with even stronger ideas for future campaigns.
What's something you love about working at 2K?
2K is innovative, makes you feel at home, and listens to each of our ideas. I love that I can come to work each day, be myself, have huge ideas, and not feel bad about expressing myself. What makes 2K an exciting place to work is the fact that our teams are very collaborative, even remotely, while celebrating many wins, working hard and pivoting quickly daily, and of course team bonding while having fun executing on our campaigns! At the end of the day, this team is a family and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
What is the best career lesson you've learned so far?
To be fearless, and know that you are YOUR area expert. Own it! Embrace it! Continue to learn and elevate yourself. Get to know other industry leaders in your field, and continue to communicate, connect, and build lasting relationships with your audience and those around you. Tap into common interests and soar!
What's one quote that inspires you?
"Don't compare yourself to others. There's no comparison between the sun and the moon. They shine when it's their time."
What are some personal hobbies you have outside of work that help you recharge?
I love learning and becoming well versed in other topics. At the moment, I'm currently learning Korean and also extending my knowledge on video editing. I also love to listen to music, and dancing is a favorite hobby of mine! If you see me plugged into my music, I'm no doubt listening to my favorite artist currently, Stray Kids!
What career advice do you have for anyone wanting to break into the gaming industry?
Make connections, be bold, step outside the box, take risks where it makes sense, and never forget you are your own brand. ALWAYS be yourself. It goes a long way and speaks volumes.
Brooke Anderson (Firaxis)
Tell us about your role at 2K! What does a typical week look like?
I'm a Senior Quality Assurance Tester, acting as the Liaison for UI and Character Modeling. Alongside my tasks of ensuring we develop and maintain some of the best products in the industry with our QA, I also work with the two disciplines to offer feedback, suggestions, assistance with in-game knowledge, and further cement QA's ability to positively impact the development process.
Throughout the week, I'm involved in various department meetings and voice my outlook on certain aspects of our games regarding possible character cosmetics, accessibility options, inclusion and diversity details, and overall ways to secure a broad variety of distinction.
What's something you love about working at 2K?
One of the best things a company can do is provide the ability to grow within your domain. I came to this company with an indeterminate interest in what métier I wanted to pursue and was offered the opportunity to work on Visual Effects. Through learning and implementing destruction and audio configuration, I was able to discover an extreme interest and passion for a profession I had never thought to explore. Currently I'm in training to become a Visual Effects Artist, and though it's a very extensive subject to study, I'm excited to continue this path with the assistance from my astute and convivial colleagues.
What is the best career lesson you've learned so far?
We as human beings never stop learning, and I should never fear not knowing. Not knowing something can be a motivator to develop yourself and ameliorate personal standards. If I'm ever unsure in something then I simply ask; that dispels any festering self-doubt by facing any lack of comprehension head-on. By doing so, you're also showing your want to learn to those around you and create an easy atmosphere to converse.
What's one quote that inspires you?
"Wisdom begins in wonder" or its long version "Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder." I found this Socrates quote on a golden bookmark in a bookstore when I was twelve and it's one I carry with me eighteen years later. The expression of admiration and appreciation at the simplest of things will keep wonder spry; in turn, you will be eternally enlightened and ever vibrant. I make sure to enjoy the little aspects of life we never think about, regardless of whether or not I understand them completely.
What are some personal hobbies you have outside of work that help you recharge?
I love photography the most; I like snapshotting moments that only I'll ever properly see. You can see the photo and understand the basics of it, but you'll never understand what I felt that made me take the photo in that moment—what sparkled in my mind that told me that that should be captured. Disconnecting from my tech life and enjoying nature is my favorite way to recenter myself.
What career advice do you have for anyone wanting to break into the gaming industry?
Be flexible about your interests. You may come into the company or interview thinking you only want to pursue one avenue, when in fact you may decide to change completely. It's best to talk to those around you in other disciplines for insight as well, so that if you don't have a particular subject area, you can perhaps find one.
Jared Daye (2K)
Tell us about your role at 2K! What does a typical week look like?
I started as a capture specialist for NBA 2K back in 2017, and I now serve as Senior Content Designer within the Creative Services department. Depending on the time of the year, my responsibilities are very different. Although Pre-Launch is our busiest time of the year, it's also the most exciting time for us. A typical week during Pre-Launch is full of opportunities to express my creativity through capturing and editing various assets to promote the upcoming title. These expressions of creativity vary from producing creative ideas such as First Look trailers or screenshots, collaborating with the team on how to execute those ideas, and finally bringing those ideas to life through the game. I like to say that we tell stories through the game.
What's something you love about working at 2K?
2K is an exciting place to work because it allows you to be exactly who you want to be. I've been extremely blessed to explore all my different dreams within one company. Anything I've wanted to do here, I put in the work, spoke up about my interests, and by the grace of God, had been granted those opportunities in due time. I've done voiceover work for global marketing assets, interviewed WNBA stars, sat courtside at the All-Star game, edited script lines for LeBron James, and I've even beat Drake in 1-on-1 on Ronnie's MyCOURT back on 2K18. My experience here at 2K has been nothing short of a dream come true.
What is the best career lesson you've learned so far?
Put in the work and be patient. All those exciting things listed above didn't just fall into my lap. I put in the work, and I allow one achievement to build onto the next. Nothing is ever too big or too small; take advantage of every opportunity, then be patient as you look forward to what's coming. Also, keep things to look forward to, big or small. No matter what, if you have something to look forward to, you're conditioning yourself to be in a constant flow of preparedness.
What's one quote that inspires you?
"We do what we have to do, so we can do what we want to do."
What are some personal hobbies you have outside of work that help you recharge?
Acting brings me tremendous joy. I've acted in a number of short films within the Bay Area, and I absolutely love expressing myself on screen. It would mean the world to me to become a movie star one day.
What career advice do you have for anyone wanting to break into the gaming industry?
Be creative in your hustle and see the beauty in all relationships. I would encourage anyone in almost every industry to make a genuine effort to protect and maintain their relationships over time. I thoroughly believe in the concept of the six degrees of separation, and that's because somebody always knows somebody. This industry is much bigger than some would want you to believe.
Also, read the credits to your favorite games. They are typically somewhere within the game menu, and there are thousands of people that contribute to your favorite titles. In the world we live in now, it's not that hard to get a hold of someone via the internet, and once you know their name, you're off to a great start. Ronnie and I met at a party in LA back in 2016. From there, I just simply made an effort to keep in touch until the stars aligned, and here we are almost seven years later. Be genuine. Work hard. Keep in touch. Remain patient.
Chinagorom Mbaraonye (Visual Concepts)
Tell us about your role at 2K! What does a typical week look like?
A typical week for me involves responding to data requests regarding our Telemetry data and building tools that assist in the development of the NBA 2K series.
What's something you love about working at 2K?
2K has been an exciting place to work at because I get the opportunity to work on challenging and diversified projects alongside a great and supportive team.
What is the best career lesson you've learned so far?
There's nothing wrong with asking questions when you don't understand something. No one expects you to know everything!
What's one quote that inspires you?
"When Plan A doesn't work, don't worry—you still have 25 more letters to go through."
What are some personal hobbies you have outside of work that help you recharge?
I enjoy trying out local restaurants, hiking, and working out. I also enjoy playing video games when I get the time.
What career advice do you have for anyone wanting to break into the gaming industry?
There are lots of roles in the gaming industry that don't require coding experience, so don't let a lack of previous coding experience stop you from at least applying.
We are always interested in hearing more about our 2K employees. We are constantly striving to create safe spaces where everyone feels seen, welcomed, and appreciated. 2K puts the “Come As You Are” value into practice each and every day thanks to the courage and confidence of our employees, as we’re always looking to grow our community in the most inclusive ways possible. Employees who are interested in sharing their story can reach out to 2kemployeecomms@2k.com.