As game development becomes increasingly collaborative and cross-continental, understanding how to thrive in remote and globalized teams has never been more important. At the April meet-up, we were joined by Leyla Mamedova, Cinematic Pipeline Manager at ZeniMax Online Studios, who delivered a powerful session on Remote and Globalized Teams.
Drawing from her experience working with diverse teams across time zones, disciplines, and cultures, Leyla explored how to not only manage remote teams but how to build strong, connected cultures within them.
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Understanding Your Remote Team
One of the standout insights from Leyla’s talk was that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for remote team management. She emphasized the importance of understanding how your team communicates, what motivates them, how they learn, and whether your processes truly serve your goals.
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Building Culture Across Screens
In the physical workplace, small moments—eye contact, laughter, holding the door open—build camaraderie. In remote teams, those belonging cues must be recreated intentionally. Leyla pointed out that culture doesn’t happen by accident, especially in remote setups.
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💡 Pro tip from Leyla:
If you’re working with new team members, especially remotely, always introduce them, explain their role and value to the team, and give them access to the tools, people, and support they need to thrive.
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Engagement and Motivation in Remote Teams
Leyla broke down the three essential ingredients of engagement:
- Flexibility: Empower team members to choose how they approach tasks.
- Challenge: Create opportunities for growth, learning, and progress.
- Support: Give regular, clear feedback and encourage collaboration.
She also emphasized the importance of routine management beyond work, like making time to eat, move, and interact socially, because remote work can sometimes blur the boundaries between productivity and personal well-being.
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Scaling Teams & Communicating Across Cultures
One major challenge Leyla addressed was scaling processes as teams grow. With small teams, communication can be direct and informal. But with large or global teams, you need structured workflows, clear points of contact, and well-documented processes.
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✨ Bonus Advice:
Leyla encouraged attendees to “cold-call for help” — reaching out to experienced professionals via LinkedIn with thoughtful, concise messages. You might be surprised how many people are willing to share their insights.
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Missed the session?
🎥 Watch the full recording on the Maliyo Games YouTube channel.
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🎮 Game Showcase: REEF by Peter Chinonso
The meetup concluded with a showcase of REEF, a vibrant ocean-themed arcade game developed by a team of 7. In REEF, players explore underwater environments, collect coins, unlock fish with special powers, and dodge hungry sharks. With its crisp design and addictive gameplay loop, the game promises both challenge and fun.
Core Gameplay:
- Collect coins and power-ups
- Dodge sharks
- Unlock new fish with abilities
- Beat high scores and share progress on social media
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Final Thoughts: Why Remote Teams Matter
In today’s game industry, remote teams aren’t a backup plan—they’re the future. As game development stretches across countries and continents, learning how to build inclusive, efficient, and motivated remote teams is critical for sustainable success.
Stay tuned for our next meetup in May, and don’t forget to follow us on social media at @gameupafrica_ and GameUp Africa’s LinkedIn page. Together, let’s continue building stronger teams, better games, and a more connected industry—wherever in the world we may be. 🌍
