Games for Change said Leo Olebe will be the new chair of the board of directors for the nonprofit dedicated to social impact games and media.
Olebe will still be vice president of global partnerships at Xbox, for his day job. He succeeds Asi Burak, chief business officer at Tilting Point, who has served as chair for the past ten years and will continue to serve as a board member.
Games for Change holds an event in New York where it draws inspirational speakers giving emotional talks about games that have the potential to change the world or your perspective of it. For instance, in 2023, Games for Change highlighted Cameron Kostopoulos, the developer of Body of Mine, which was a powerful experience that focuses on “body dysphoria,” or the feeling people can get when they feel misalignment between the body they were born with and their gender identity.
And also in 2023, in the group’s 20th year, Games for Change led attendees on a tour of New York’s UN building, through places like the UN Security Council and UN General Assembly meeting rooms, while showcasing the work of Benjamin “DrLupo” Lupo, a creator who at that point had raised $14 million to date for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
The event also gave its Vanguard Award in 2020 to Gay Gaming Professionals’ Gordon Bellamy, a USC games professor. And it gave Lego an industry leadership award for showing how to take care of children in online environments. Now it will be the job of Olebe, working with president Susanna Pollack, to continue to come up with inspirational stories about gaming and social impact.
Olebe brings a wealth of experience and leadership to his role as chair of Games for Change. With over two decades in the gaming and entertainment industry, he has held prominent positions at global organizations, including serving as Global Head of Gaming at YouTube, Managing Director, Games at Google and Senior Global Director, Games Partnerships at Facebook. Leo has shipped over 100 games from studios like BioWare, WB Games, Zynga and Disney Interactive.
Olebe had a tearful conversation at one of our GamesBeat events with Lual Mayen, a South Sudan refugee who taught himself to make games while living in a refugee camp. Mayen received recognition for his own inspirational story at Geoff Keighley’s The Game Awards.
Throughout his career, Olebe has earned widespread recognition for his vision and his ability to cultivate meaningful partnerships that drive both creativity and impact. He is a passionate advocate for education and inclusion, consistently championing efforts to drive STEM and create a more representative gaming industry. His commitment to fostering innovation and building bridges across industries aligns perfectly with the mission of Games for Change, positioning him as a dynamic leader poised to guide the organization into its next era of growth and impact.
He has some big shoes to fill at the nonprofit. Burak has left an enduring legacy at Games for Change through his nearly decade-long tenure as board chair and his previous five years as president. During his time as president, Burak led groundbreaking initiatives, including the award-winning Half the Sky Movement Games, inspired by the NYT bestselling book by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.
A Facebook game and three mobile games, alongside a PBS documentary and other multimedia assets, reached millions of players worldwide, raising both awareness and funding to advance women’s rights and gender equality.
As board chair, Burak steered the organization through a period of extraordinary growth. Under his leadership, Games for Change cemented its status as the leading platform in the games-for-impact space and more than doubled its annual budget. The annual Games for Change Festival evolved into one of the industry’s most influential events, with satellite convenings held around the world and now at the United Nations as well. Additionally, the organization’s educational programs around game creation flourished, impacting over 50,000 students, more than 1,500 educators, and thousands of developers globally.
“”As we embark on this new chapter for Games for Change, I want to express my deepest gratitude to Asi Burak for his visionary leadership over the past decade, which has been pivotal in shaping G4C into the organization it is today,” said Pollack, president of G4C, in a statement. “We are excited to welcome Leo as our new Board Chair. His extensive knowledge of the gaming industry, exceptional ability to foster collaborative partnerships, and unwavering support for G4C make him the perfect leader to build on Asi’s legacy and guide us into our next phase of growth and impact.”
“Games for Change is remarkable in its ability to drive positive change globally through collaborations with leading universities, the United Nations, NGOs, game developers, and individuals worldwide,” said Olebe. “Susanna, Asi, and the entire team are extraordinary, and it is a great honor to join them on such a significant mission.”
Burak added, “As we reflect on this moment of transition, I couldn’t be prouder of what Susanna Pollack and our team have achieved during this period. Games for Change has had a real impact on the gaming industry and its direction, and, more importantly, on the kids and adults who are playing digital games all over the world. We’ve partnered with Leo as a board member for a few years now, and there is no one more suited to lead the organization into its next phase of growth, at a time when the role of games in our society is more relevant than ever.”
Olebe assumed the role of board chair on February 6, 2025, and is working alongside G4C’s leadership team and board to expand the organization’s global initiatives. Recently announced new Board Members include Mark Stanley, Founder and Principal at Strategic Gaming Collective,, Samir El Agili, CEO at Brandible Games ,and Ben Golant, Senior Director of Global Video Game Policy at TenCent Americas.
Since 2004, Games for Change (G4C) has empowered game creators and innovators to drive real-world change, using games and immersive media that help people learn, improve their communities, and contribute to making the world a better place. G4C partners with technology and gaming companies, nonprofits, foundations, and government agencies to run world-class events, public arcades, design challenges, and youth programs. G4C supports a global community of game developers using games to tackle real-world challenges, from humanitarian conflicts to climate change and education.
Olebe’s perspective
I asked Olebe some questions via email. Here’s the Q&A below.
GamesBeat: How long have you been involved with G4C?
Leo Olebe: G4C is an incredible organization that drives real-world impact through games and immersive media. I’ve been attending G4C events for nearly a decade. My first keynote address was in 2019, titled “Building a Better Gaming Community,” where I spoke about how games unite us through our shared passion.
In the summer of 2020, during the height of COVID, I gave a talk called “Games Can Heal the World,” highlighting the gaming industry’s efforts to raise money and awareness for COVID relief. In 2022, I spokeabout the role everyone plays in creating opportunities in a talk called “Games Matter, Change Matters, You Matter.” Finally, in 2023, I revealed that these talks were part of a compendium about the power of community and how we can make a difference in each other’s lives every day. I joined the board in 2020, inspired by Susanna’s leadership and vision.
GamesBeat: What made you want to make this move?
Olebe: My passion for gaming fuels me every day. Games have profoundly impacted my life through amazing experiences, lifelong friendships, and incredible opportunities. Gaming is fundamentally about Community, and the foundation of Community is helping others, no matter how big or small the effort. Asi has set an incredible example of leadership over the past decade as Chair for G4C. As a board member, I’ve watched and learned as Games For Change expanded its global reach. I wanted to make this move now because I continue to be inspired by the mission and want to help guide us into the next chapter of opportunity.
GamesBeat: How do you think we’re doing in using games to achieve impact on social change?
Olebe: The games industry has had a tremendous impact on social change in many ways. It creates economic opportunities, connects people worldwide, and teaches and inspires new skills. Gaming opens doors and builds bridges where none existed before. While I think the games industry has done well, there’s always more we can do. One of my personal sayings is, “Bring People In, Don’t Push People Out.” With so many community-driven experiences, new platforms, and technologies, the industry has more reach and influence than ever before. Let’s use it to welcome everyone and create a space where people can be their best selves and find their tribe.
GamesBeat: What makes you most excited about this space and the role?
Olebe: Every day, we see new technology and innovation pushing the boundaries of creativity and expression. We’re constantly learning new skills and challenging the status quo. What excites me most about this space is that there are over three billion gamers worldwide who share the pure joy of playing games. These gamers have the power to drive positive change in their communities. If anything, we’re just getting started. In this role, I’m excited to support Susanna’s leadership as we connect with even more people, universities, and organizations globally.
GamesBeat: Does it relate to some of your own duties at Microsoft too?
Olebe: Absolutely. My role at Xbox is to help game developers worldwide find success. It’s about bringing dreams to reality. The role at Games For Change is very similar – it’s about helping people, organizations, studios, and universities bring their dreams to life, connect with each other, and create positive change. At heart, I’m a gamer and connector, and I see these roles as very complementary.
GamesBeat: What’s the day-to-day of what you are doing at Microsoft?
Olebe: Every day is about supporting gaming creators and building transformative partnerships. Some days, we scout for new games, and other days, we tackle technical challenges. With Xbox, players can connect with their favorite games and games communities across multiple screens. I love that I can seamlessly play a game on my console, switch to my tablet, play it on PC, and then drop in on my handheld. Right now, I’m playing Diablo 4 across four devices daily. This season, I’m a Bone Spear Necromancer that’s fully Master-worked, but I’m only Paragon 128, so I have some work to do.
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