At the May 2025 edition of the GameUp Africa Monthly Meetup, we had the privilege of learning from Thomas Winkley, Lead Creator Advocate at LEGO, who brought his dynamic career journey front and center with an insightful talk titled “Navigating Career Transitions.”
From sales floors to the global game development stage, Thomas’s path has been far from linear—and that’s exactly why his talk resonated so deeply with our community. Thomas’s takeaways were full of practical wisdom, honesty, and encouragement.
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Why Career Transitions Matter
Career transitions are rarely straightforward. Thomas opened his session by reflecting on what he wished someone had told him when he was just finishing college: “It’s going to be okay. Just keep working hard and trying.”
As Thomas put it: “You want to do the profitable things or the things that give you the life you want, keep you connected and happy.”
And with that, he took us through a powerful series of lessons learned across his winding path:
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1. Be Willing to Learn
Being open to not knowing everything is key. According to Thomas, a learner’s mindset not only helps you grow but also makes you a better teammate. Vulnerability is a strength in career transitions—being honest about where you’re growing builds trust and opens doors.
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2. Receive and Process Feedback
Feedback can sting, but it’s a gift when delivered and received with care. Thomas emphasized learning how to process feedback as a professional muscle that gets stronger over time. He suggested asking:
- Where is this feedback coming from?
- What’s the intent behind it?
By reflecting on these questions, professionals can grow without taking criticism personally.
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3. Treat People Kindly and Fairly
You don’t have to be best friends with everyone you work with, but you should always treat people fairly and with respect. According to Thomas, kindness and professionalism aren’t mutually exclusive—and often, the way you treat others is remembered far more than what you did.
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4. Your Past Experience Still Counts
Drawing from his years in sales and store management, Thomas reminded us that every career phase contributes valuable skills. From learning how to talk to strangers to managing tough conversations, each role taught him lessons that applied later in game production.
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✨ Bonus Advice:
Thomas also touched on the importance of mentorship, establishing boundaries, and learning how to advocate for yourself while remaining open to new ideas.
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In Case You Missed It…
🎥 Watch the full recording on the Maliyo Games YouTube channel.
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🎮 Game Showcase: Word Search by Binyam Wondmagegnehu
Following the talk, we had a fantastic showcase by Binyam Wondegegnehu, an architect and game designer from Ethiopia. His game Word Search is a mobile puzzle game designed to make learning Amharic vocabulary fun, accessible, and educational.
The game challenges players to navigate character grids, rearrange letters, and unlock new levels as they learn. As the difficulty increases, so does the challenge—making for a joyful, brain-boosting experience.
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Final Thoughts
Navigating career transitions can be both exciting and overwhelming—but as Thomas reminded us, they’re often where the most growth happens. Stay open, stay curious, and never underestimate the power of being kind, learning constantly, and learning from feedback.
We look forward to you joining us next month for the Summer Game Jam in June! Don’t forget to follow us on social media at @gameupafrica_ and GameUp Africa’s LinkedIn page.
