Empowering Women in esports - Sarah Voon's Digital Media Journey
"I strive to change the world - one online community at a time."
Sarah Voon stands as a shining example of female empowerment, leading the charge in reshaping the digital landscape, one online community at a time. Her journey began with a Bachelor of Communication from the University of Newcastle in 2012, setting the stage for her illustrious career in the media industry.
“My degree set a very nice foundation for me to start my career in a prestigious business publication in Malaysia, which propelled my career success overall to what it is today… one of the best things about the course was that it was compressed into 2 years for the degree rather than 3 or 4 years. This helped me to kickstart my career at a younger age compared to my peers and thus, building my career up to a point where I am ahead in years of experience versus others my age”.
Fueling her passion for food, Sarah founded the social media sensation Foodie VS the World in 2014. With over 38k followers, the platform's mission is clear: to guide food enthusiasts and travelers towards the finest culinary experiences worldwide. It has even been recognised as an official foodie brand by Netflix Asia!
While continuing to grow Foodie VS the World, Sarah's career scaled new heights in 2017 when she joined Tickled Media, the parent company of theAsianparent Group. This conglomerate stands as the largest content-community-commerce platform for parents in Southeast Asia. Merging her expertise as a media specialist and a dedicated mother, Sarah, as the Head of Content/Marketing Manager, disseminated invaluable parenting content to a virtual audience. Her dedication and natural aptitude were swiftly acknowledged, propelling her to become Tickled Media's youngest General Manager in just four years, all at the tender age of 30. She then assumed the role of Regional Head of Growth.
A two-time award-winning journalist and recipient of the Women of the Future Awards Southeast Asia 2020 in the business category, Sarah's influence is undeniable. Now, her journey has extended into the realm of esports as she takes the helm as Operations Manager for ESL FACEIT Group (EFG). As the leading esports company across the globe, EFG are dedicated to "fostering unique experiences that advance gaming culture and empower gamer communities."
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Snapdragon Pro Series in Jakarta, Indonesia
EFG champions five fundamental pillars: universal participation, eradicating toxicity, promoting mental and physical well-being, advocating for environmental impact, and ensuring fair play for all. These principles work in tandem to enhance inclusivity in esports through the GGFORALL program. Its inaugural initiative, ESL Impact, was crafted to be a platform for women, offering a competitive environment and secure playground for women to showcase their skills and dedication on a global stage. Notably, ESL Impact has become the most-watched women's tournament ever for a PC (personal computer) title.
In a domain where male participation and viewership dominate, Sarah takes pride in her role at an organisation at the forefront of championing women in esports. At EFG, women are not just participating, but actively managing operations, shaping products, and effecting global change.
“I’ve learnt so much in my journey here and I’m so proud to be part of this team that continues to push past boundaries and achieve greater heights in esports. The decision to join the esports industry was the right one for me. Having been a gamer most of my life, I see the stigma slowly cracking and paving way for a bright future for the generations of gamers to come.”
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.