Will Vasquez has been with PTW for 16 years and shows no signs of slowing down. His passion for education drove his career path from QA Tester to his current position as Manager, Global L&D (Learning & Development). Let’s get to know him a bit better: 

A history of gaming 

Will is originally from Texas but has spent the last 17 years in Scotland, most of that time working with PTW. “Although I had studied art history and studio art and started a career in museum education in Texas, one of my lifelong passions was gaming,” he explains, “so I leapt at the opportunity to get involved in the industry here on the ground floor.” Will made art on his own and kept up with developments in that world, but he also played more games than ever before. “Any gaming outside of work I considered ‘professional development’.” 

Will has been a lifelong gamer. “I remember barely being able to reach the joysticks on the Pac Man and Pole Position arcade machines at the local Dairy Queen and begging for more quarters to keep playing,” he relates. “When home gaming really hit its stride, I was told by my mother that we didn’t have enough money for a Nintendo Entertainment System.” Will set out to mow lawns and enter contests... or do whatever he could to make playing games at home a reality. “I had pledged myself at that age that I would play ALL the games when I was grown up. I can’t say I’m remotely close to playing all the games, but my younger self would be proud of where I landed.” 

Professional development 

Will began his career at PTW as a Quality Assurance Tester in 2006, moving on to LQA shortly after. “I then led both QA and LQA teams before transitioning into HR, heading up local training as well. I was promoted to Assistant Manager of HR, and once L&D became a global unit, I moved away from HR into L&D alone. I currently manage Global L&D, looking after LQA, Localization, and SIDE.” 

Will explains what drove him to Learning and Development. “I’ve always loved games and have always felt most supercharged when helping others learn,” he says. “My career prior to the games industry was also in education and L&D, in an art museum back in Houston, so when the opportunity arose to join the two fields, I jumped at it and kept pushing for more focus on learning and development within PTW.” 

Similarities and differences 

Will discusses how QA and L&D compare with each other: “Both require a fair amount of soft skills and communication. You’re working with other human beings trying to cobble together something larger than what all of you individually are doing. To ensure that process is effective and stable, the people involved need to be good at communication and considerate of the other forces and challenges involved. Regardless of all the data and tech flying about, it’s vital to remember that we’re all dealing with other human beings. 

“In terms of differences, I sometimes miss the nature of hunting as a tester, interaction with games, and camaraderie with the larger teams. We still have great teamwork in L&D but getting involved with games during work is less likely.” 

Reusable skills

Will’s experience in education and learning has taught him that no learned skill is ever useless, even if they don’t seem to apply to a new position. “Realistically, I think all my experiences in the company over the past 16 years have helped me,” he muses. “Even though it was ages ago, I feel I can still relate to the challenges and experiences that new testers or agents have when they join the company. From HR, I’ve learned a lot about working with different stakeholders, operating as a unit that is responsible for hundreds of people, tons of Excel skills, and an understanding of the company’s function.” 

To anyone considering a career change, Will offers some advice: “Do what you love beyond all else. You’ve got one life, so chase that dream. In practical terms, if you have a target destination, speak to the people who are already there. Find out what skill or knowledge gaps stand between you and that position, and tackle those. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek out help; most people in more senior positions love opportunities to speak to someone with a genuine passion and interest in their field/path.” 

In closing, Will considers the current state of the games industry as the best it’s ever been: