By Juli Scarr
When you look at the gaming industry, most conversations focus on the games, hardware, or big announcements. But every now and then a story comes along that reminds you how much of this space is shaped by the people behind the scenes. That’s what stood out when Sony Interactive Entertainment highlighted Catherine Jensen, their VP of Global Consumer Experience, in a recent LinkedIn post linking to a Lifewire feature. It’s a spotlight that shows how leadership, mentorship, and lived experience can shift the direction of gaming communities in real ways.
Jensen’s connection to technology runs deep. She has always been drawn to how tech can create environments that feel safe, meaningful, and inclusive. As she told Lifewire, that belief guided her from her early days studying Computer Information Systems to leading consumer-focused initiatives across major companies like Intuit, Symantec, and Oracle. That mindset carried with her when she eventually landed at PlayStation.
How the PS4 Era Became a Turning Point
One of the turning points in her career came during the launch of the PS4 in 2013. Online gaming was changing fast. The console brought new levels of connection between gamers, and Jensen saw firsthand how vibrant, unpredictable, and sometimes messy online spaces could become when a massive community grows almost overnight. Instead of simply watching it happen, she saw an opportunity to help shape that experience.
That’s part of what led her to establish PlayStation’s global Online Safety team in 2019. According to Jensen, the goal wasn’t just policing bad behaviour. It was about building a framework where people felt welcome and supported. She worked with industry partners and outside organizations to develop policies that put wellness, safety, and inclusion at the centre. In an era where online gaming can feel overwhelming, knowing someone is working on that side of the experience carries more weight than we might realize.
Her influence doesn’t end with policy or systems. Jensen also invests in people. A 2016 TED Talk by Reshma Saujani pushed her to think even bigger, especially when it came to women entering tech roles. Instead of staying on the sidelines, she stepped fully into mentorship. She joined employee networks like VETS@PlayStation and Women@PlayStation, where she actively supports others navigating their careers. She also participates in Sony’s career development programs, including pathways designed for those coming from nontraditional backgrounds. For her, mentorship isn’t a casual activity. As she puts it, it has to be intentional.
Why Mentorship and Representation Matter in Gaming Tech
Her advice to anyone hoping to break into tech is surprisingly simple: listen more. It’s the kind of guidance that sounds obvious but hits harder the longer you spend working in any industry. Jensen says that slowing down, absorbing, and learning from people around you shaped every step of her own journey. It’s not about being the loudest person in the room. It’s about being the one who pays attention.
She also talks about something small but relatable. The most unexpected tech that affected her day-to-day life wasn’t a gadget or a breakthrough device. It was smart lighting. She says it helped her focus and manage her energy, something that makes perfect sense if you’ve ever worked long hours or tried to stay sharp while juggling multiple responsibilities. It’s a reminder that tech isn’t always about the next big leap. Sometimes it’s about something simple that helps you stay balanced.
How Leadership Shapes the Gaming Experience
Stories like Jensen’s help paint a clearer picture of what leadership in gaming can look like. It’s not always tied to hardware specs or game engines. Sometimes it’s about shaping the environment where gamers spend their time, even if most people never see the work directly. And honestly, pieces like this always get me thinking about how online spaces have changed over the last decade. I spent countless hours on PS4, and you could feel the shift in how people talked, connected, and formed communities. Knowing someone was pushing for those spaces to be safer and more welcoming adds a new perspective to those memories.
Jensen’s journey also speaks to something important for anyone considering a future in tech. Her path wasn’t about chasing titles. It was about finding purpose. She followed the things that mattered to her, stayed curious, and tried to lift others along the way. That’s the kind of leadership that quietly shapes an industry.
For gamers, especially those who spend a lot of time online, this type of work affects everyday experiences more than we realize. It influences how we communicate, how safe we feel, and how wide the door opens for the next wave of creators, developers, and community leaders. And yeah, it also reminds you that gaming is built by real people who care about the direction this space is heading.
As more stories like this surface, I hope they help inspire new voices to consider tech and gaming as a career path. Seeing someone like Catherine Jensen make an impact at a global level sends a message that there’s room for many perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences in this industry. If that encourages even one person to take their first step, it’s already a win.
Comments
Post a Comment
Comments are moderated. Please stay respectful and on topic.