For many early‑career developers, breaking into the games industry can feel like a test of endurance. That reality shaped Barbora Hrabovcová’s decision to apply for the IG50. She knew that being showcased through a programme like this could validate her potential and help her stand out to studios looking for emerging talent. “Many of us struggle to get industry experience,” she explains. “Being showcased in a scheme like IG50 helps validate our potential and makes us stand out to potential recruiters.” Winning the award didn’t just offer recognition, it created a shared connection with a cohort of equally driven creatives, all pushing toward their first big break. Over the past year, Barbora has accelerated in ways she once only hoped for. She worked as a 3D Games Artist on the upcoming title There Are No Ghosts at the Grand, before transitioning into a game production role at Pixel Federation, the largest mobile game studio in Slovakia. It was a shift that blended her artistic background with her growing passion for leadership, organisation, and guiding teams through development. Her advice to future IG50 applicants would be to “Make your portfolio the best you can, never allow doubts to creep in, and go for any opportunity that excites you. Delusion, hard work, and perseverance allowed me to land a proper games producer role within three years of graduating from university.”