Emerging Leaders

Strength in Self

Meghan Sleik, Director of Partnership Marketing & Communications, Aristocrat Gaming

As the director of partnership marketing & communications at Aristocrat, Meghan Sleik develops and executes marketing partnerships and sponsorship opportunities with both casino customers and non-casino brands. The position at Aristocrat is a natural fit for Sleik, given her extensive background in gaming and hospitality-related public relations.

Sleik studied public relations at Quinnipiac University prior to accepting a public relations role with MGM. Her responsibilities at MGM included managing major television and motion picture film shoots as well as media for national events. Sleik has also served in public relations roles for the Wynn Las Vegas and R&R Partners, a Las Vegas-based advertising, marketing, public relations and public affairs firm. Key accomplishments thus far in her career include securing a first-of-its-kind landbased supplier marketing partnership between Aristocrat Gaming and the Las Vegas Raiders and leading the public relations strategy for the first LGBTQ commercial for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Seeing the commercial air, Sleik says she “felt so fulfilled in giving recognition to underrepresented groups in tourism, and showcasing some of the most amazing moments that have and will continue to happen in Las Vegas.”

While Sleik’s background is now rich with industry experience and accomplishments, this was not always the case. However, Sleik did not let inexperience keep her from speaking up or providing insight, and she credits this candid style in helping her develop a leadership brand that is uniquely “her.”

To Sleik, “experience” is more than what one can list on a resume.

“Some of the most insightful experience I have that makes me who I am as a leader really has nothing to do with work,” she says, and she advises up-and-coming leaders to tap into their own untraditional experiences to develop their authentic leadership style. Sleik found that the company culture at Aristocrat aligns well with her views on experience, and credits that working environment with transforming her into the leader and marketer she is today. She encourages other young professionals to search for the right place for them, and once found, go all in and be unapologetically themselves.

Looking toward the future, Sleik is excited to expand the Aristocrat marketing team and help the company bring more world-class games to their customers. She also sees unique opportunities in the gaming industry through the fusion of gaming and technology. “The innovation and evolution of hardware, game content and more is a complete game-changer as it relates to what it means to work in technology. I would encourage emerging leaders to expand their thinking as it relates to how they define what it means to work in tech,” says Sleik.

Although ambitiously engaged in her career, Sleik finds time to help other young professionals develop the leadership skills that led to her success. She serves as an alumni resource to students at Quinnipiac University, plays an active role in the Aristocrat Future Leaders (AFL) rotational program for recent college graduates, and recently joined Global Gaming Women. —Chloe Paul is manager, data analytics for The Innovation Group.

Career Validation

Mike Nguyen, Director of Engineering, JCM Global

In his spare time, Mike Nguyen fiddles with cars, appliances and electronics. When he’s working at JCM, he also fiddles, but with a little more tech savvy.

“I’ve always liked to tinker with electronic devices to understand how things work internally,” says Nguyen, a Vietnam native who emigrated with his family to the U.S. at 10.

Gravitating towards computer science as a major at Cal State Northridge seemed a logical choice. So did obtaining employment with JCM Global in 2008—known as JCM America then— as a software developer.

“Computer science allows me to continuously learn new ways to improve existing solutions and create new technologies,” Nguyen says.

What sold Nguyen on JCM was the chance to work on a bill validator, of all devices.

“I was curious how the bill validator was able to use LED sensors to identify and validate currencies worldwide. This job allows me to learn a lot more about electronic devices and algorithms,” he says.

His initial work focused on gaming and vending, before a promotion to lead a small team working on high-end banking products for ATMs using neural networks, then considered cutting edge.

“JCM promoted me to software engineering manager, where I helped transition a system product and multiple thermal printer products from an acquired company to our Las Vegas office,” Nguyen says.

He also put together another team to design and develop a system to integrate with the firm’s peripheral devices.

During Nguyen’s 13 years with JCM, the company has opened the door to learning and creating new technologies. “I would have to say I have not had a dull moment here,” he says.

As current director of engineering for JCM, Nguyen manages teams working on a wide range of varying technologies: new hardware designs, developing embedded systems, firmware development for the bill validator and thermal printer product lines, system development using web services to link casino systems, and with peripheral devices.

Covid-19 put Nguyen’s team of teams to the test.

“It was challenging to work remotely since we did not have remote access to all test environments and equipment.”

But a month after lockdown, the company overcame the obstacle.

“I think the pandemic forced us to be more efficient and learn how to adapt to a new normal,” Nguyen says.

It all comes down to how you deal with confronting an obstacle, Nguyen says. “As an engineer, I would say that there is a solution to overcome every obstacle out there. Sometimes, it might be difficult to quickly find a solution, but there is always a workaround until a solution is found.”

Often that comes down to getting more people involved to brainstorm. “To me, an obstacle is just a puzzle waiting to be solved.”

Like any successful person, Nguyen has relied on mentors, one in particular. “Dave Kubajak has always been my go-to mentor,” he says. “As senior vice president of sales, marketing and operations, Kubajak wasn’t my direct supervisor. But he has always been there to offer valuable advice and help guide me throughout my career.”

To young engineers who might want to consider Nguyen’s career choice, he says stay determined and focused on goals.

“If you find a challenge that you can’t overcome by yourself, then ask for help. If you are early in your career, then it would be wise to find a good company with good people who are willing to be your mentor. Stay for the long term.”

—Bill Sokolic

Guiding Light

Charlotte Cain, Human Resources Manager, Continent 8 Technologies

The Isle of Man lies in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. Charlotte Cain calls the island her home, and has for most of her life. “It’s a beautiful place to live and especially to grow up in.”

Except for her years at the University of Bath, Cain has resided on the island. At Bath, she majored in French and international management.

“The course gave me the ability to learn the language in a business context,” she says. “Towards my final year of studies, I majored in human resources as a subject which solidified my interest and started my career pathway.”

As part of her degree program, Cain took an internship in a human resources department for a French global mining company.

“That really opened my eyes to how pivotal the function is to a successful organization,” she says.

For Cain, human resources is more than hiring candidate A for position B. “I’ve always been interested in how you could leverage off people’s skills in a business, particularly as people are notoriously unpredictable,” she says.

Cain could have sought a position anywhere. But she chose to remain on the Isle of Man with Continent 8 Technologies, where she serves as human resources manager. The Isle of Man has a strong presence in a number of industries, namely technology, online gaming and financial services.

“For me, a solid career will always be supported by my family, which just so happens to be based there. The Isle of Man, despite being small in size, has always had some fantastic opportunities in global organizations,” Cain says.

As Cain describes it, Continent 8 is an independent, international business on a “mission to discover and deliver innovative technologies to enhance connectivity, data center, cloud and cybersecurity solutions.”

Established over 20 years ago by entrepreneurs with what Cain says is a passion for boutique customer service, Continent 8 operates in more than 60 locations around the globe.

As HR manager, Cain is involved in all aspects of people management, helping staff reach their potential.

“I see human resources as an extension of all departments within the business, and my aim is to be there to advise and assist at all stages. My role is all-encompassing,” she says.

Continent 8 did not undergo a major seismic shift when it came to people management after Covid-19 hit.

“The structure of the company has always been very geographically dispersed, and as a highly technical organization, we were well set up to adapt and change to the ongoing situation,” says Cain, who spends down time walking, baking, cooking or involved with do-it-yourself projects at home.

—Bill Sokolic