#MeetIronGalaxy - LGBTQ+ Edition

At Iron Galaxy, our team of inspired and motivated people are essential to our company's success. Our different backgrounds and views provide us with diversity that helps us create broad, exciting and unique gaming experiences. This recurring series of interviews is a chance for us to introduce them to you and let them tell their story.

As part of our recognition of Pride month, today we're talking to Alexander Stopar, Margaret Dax, Austin Lewis and Tiffani Koczenasz of our LGBTQ+ affinity group.

Header image from left to right: Alexander Stopar, Margaret Dax, Austin Lewis, Tiffani Koczenasz

Iron Galaxy: Who are you and what would you say you do here at Iron Galaxy?

Alex: I'm a programmer with a focus on graphics/rendering.

Margaret: I'm a generalist programmer mostly doing UI/UX work at the moment.

Austin: I'm a hybrid artist/production person. I manage art outsourcing partnerships.

Tiffani: I'm a UI and UX designer, currently focused on UI implementation as a Technical Designer.

IG: What has been your proudest moment as a member of the Iron Galaxy team?

Alex: Working on Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon - making those childhood dreams come true!

Margaret: If I had to pick, my first project and first task was getting a game working on Xbox, something totally new to me, and in a few weeks managed to get it working finally!

Austin: I'm brand new, so getting hired!

Tiffani: Getting hired!

IG: If you give someone who wanted to follow in your career footsteps one piece of advice, what would it be?

Alex: Grad school is totally a valid option! You don't have to make your career from scratch.

Margaret: Everything you learn can and probably will help you in unexpected ways, so just know that. Keep an open mind, find opportunities to learn and grow, and look out for those moments where your specific past experience lines you up to knock something out of the park.

Austin: Every creative process uses the same problem sovling ability. Focus on learning how to frame and solve a creative problem.

Tiffani: Explore all avenues of game design! Learning about and experimenting with different paths allowed me to find out which design role I was most passionate about, even though I originally wanted to pursue something completely different.

IG: What does the LGBTQ+ group at Iron Galaxy mean to you?

Alex: A place where I can express myself, even at work.

Margaret: When I started it didn't exist! I'd heard we had a lot of folks at the company that anonymously identified as LGBTQ+ but I had no line of communication. While the group isn't super active day-to-day it's nice to have that line of communication and occasional group lunches which are always a blast!

Austin: It helps me feel like my workplace accepts who I am.

Tiffani: This group shows me that my workplace cares about and supports me, outside of just being an employee.

IG: What is something you have always wanted to create?

Alex: A spooky game with the IG team.

Margaret: A game where you explore an abandoned subway system and solve puzzles/mysteries.

Austin: A non-euclidean VR game.

IG: Aside from playing video games, what is a favorite hobby of yours?

Alex: Spooky movies.

Margaret: Currently learning German and discovering new German language music! There's so much good German, Swiss, and Austrian music out there. Here's a playlist of great German music, a lot of it by queer artists!

Austin: I'm a drag queen! Look for LeVelle Uppe on the stages of Chicago.

Tiffani: I enjoy collecting/dressing up in women's vintage 1950's style clothing!

We're constantly growing, and we're looking for people with varied experiences to join our team. If you want to work with our group of fantastic individuals making great things, view our career page and see if there is a fit for you.

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