In this edition of the Industry Insider, we spoke with Dyani Marvel the Vice President of Marketing Strategy and Operations at WONDR NATION and a member of the leadership team for African Americans in Gaming (AAG). In celebrating Black History Month, we discuss Dyani’s unique journey into gaming, how she is promoting diversity and inclusion across the industry, AAG’s relationship with G2E, and what trends she is following into 2025. 
 

Your career path is quite impressive, can you share your career journey and what inspired you to pursue a career in the gaming industry?

My professional journey kicked-off in the world of diversity advertising, working with agencies before switching over to representing brands directly. This exposure allowed me to gain priceless experience across 10 distinct industries and over 30 different brands, encompassing everything from entrepreneurship to big-name Fortune 100 and international corporations.

Along the way, gaming became a recurring theme in my career, leading me from handling the Harrah’s Casino account at an agency to spearheading marketing for the Illinois Lottery under IGT’s subsidiary. What really gets my adrenaline pumping is the positive impact gaming can have. Gaming is exciting, but the biggest draw for me has been the positive impact that gaming can have on the surrounding communities that it impacts.

It was exhilarating to see my work with the Illinois Lottery fund projects for the state’s residents. Now, at WONDR NATION, I get to contribute to supporting Native American communities, specifically the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

At WONDR NATION, how do you and your organization prioritize equity and inclusive initiatives, and how are they implemented in day-to-day operations?

At WONDR NATION, we are very much committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable work environment and every day, we are delivering on our promise to amplify diverse voices. A key initiative to accomplish this has been the launch of the LevelUp with Wondr podcast, where we invite professionals from the gaming, tech, and innovation sectors to share their unique narratives. Additionally, we use observance months like Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and Pride as touchpoints to ensure representation across topics.

Our team, although small, boasts a range of gender, gender identity, age, and ethnic diversity. This melting pot of backgrounds means we're constantly enriched with a wide array of perspectives, fostering creativity and innovation. We work tirelessly to create a welcoming environment, giving everyone the opportunity to feel valued and included.

Within your role and as part of the African Americans in Gaming (AAG), what are the key challenges the gaming industry faces in creating more equity, and how can they be addressed?

Let's break down what "equity" really means. To me, it's all about equal opportunities, no matter your age, race, physical ability, gender or gender identity. This applies to job opportunities, promotions, leadership positions, visibility, and the chance to make a difference.

Now, many big companies are set in their ways, including their hiring and promoting procedures. Oftentimes, these methods work for some, but not all. Achieving true equity means creating opportunities that are both available and accessible to everyone, which might mean changing up the usual procedures—like sourcing talent from different places (like utilizing organizations such as AAG for talent). Change is something we all have the ability to contribute to. We each have the power to speak up and identify when we see opportunities to make things more equitable as well as discourage those efforts that work against it, especially those of us who are leaders.

AAG has had a strong relationship with G2E since its inception, featuring various programming on-site during the event. Can we expect even more from AAG this year at G2E?

Easy answer, yes! We will have our annual networking mixer on the show floor, as well as at least one additional networking event. We are planning to make some exciting announcements, and we encourage everyone to join us. Each year, the attendance of AAG events continues to grow, and it’s exciting to see what this year’s G2E will bring.

Convening gaming and creating authentic experiences, G2E is committed to bringing unique perspectives together. What are you most looking forward to at G2E 2025?

I truly enjoy the opportunity to connect with my fellow gaming professionals.
Continue to build on existing relationships and making new ones is why I attend G2E. It is always exciting to see what new technology and innovations are emerging, G2E always has it first. With the explosion of AI, I am confident there will be many exciting product enhancements that will be shared as well as some engaging panel discussions to look forward to.

Make sure to join and participate in the African Americans in Gaming LinkedIn Group.