Behind every career in game development is a series of unexpected turns, and Leyla Lacombe’s journey is a perfect example of how curiosity and persistence can shape a path through the industry.

In Dev to Dev Season 02 Episode 4 I sit down with Leyla to talk about how she discovered game development almost by accident while studying theatre and media at UC Berkeley. Gaming had always been part of her life, from playing SSX Tricky with her dad to late-night Zelda sessions, but she never thought about the people behind the games until she joined a women-in-games club at university.

That moment sparked a chain reaction of curiosity that eventually led her into the industry through Esports, working with the Overwatch League ecosystem. But the real story of the episode is how Leyla learned that finding your place in games often involves exploring roles that aren’t quite right before discovering the one that truly fits.

Through mentorship, persistence, and a lot of thoughtful reflection, she found that production was the role that aligned best with her strengths - organization, communication, and helping teams navigate the chaos of development.

The conversation also touches on layoffs, career uncertainty, and the importance of staying curious even when the industry feels unpredictable. Leyla’s perspective on navigating those challenges, while still maintaining a strong sense of work-life balance, is one I suspect many developers will find reassuring.

Highlights

How growing up across multiple countries shaped Leyla’s perspective on games and creativity
Discovering the games industry through a university women-in-games club
Why esports was an important—but temporary—step in her career
The mentorship that helped her transition into game production
Lessons from navigating layoffs and finding a new role at Sony Santa Monica
Why production is about enabling teams rather than controlling them

Find the Podcast at:

Find Leyla At:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leyla-lacombe/
YouTube: @leylabelle
Twitch: @leylabelle
IG: @leylalalacombe