Sarah Bond’s resume may appear unconventional at first glance, but the president of Xbox firmly believes she is precisely where she belongs. With a background that includes a stint as a McKinsey consultant and several years at T-Mobile, where she served as chief of staff to former CEO John Legere, Bond joined Xbox in 2017. Her career trajectory, while not typical for someone leading a major video game brand, reflects a deep understanding of both the joy and creativity inherent in gaming, as well as the business acumen required to thrive in this competitive industry.

Bond played a pivotal role in Microsoft’s ambitious 2022 acquisition of the renowned video game publisher Activision Blizzard, a move that faced regulatory scrutiny but ultimately demonstrated her strategic influence. She has also been a vocal advocate for enhancing the accessibility of gaming and attracting new customers at a time when the industry is experiencing stagnant growth. Her impressive track record not only showcases her capabilities but also invites reflection during Women’s History Month, a time to consider the ongoing gender inequality in male-dominated industries.

Discovering the Passion for Gaming Early On

Bond’s journey into the world of gaming began at the tender age of 6 when she first played the PC-based Kings Quest II alongside her father. This early exposure ignited her passion for video games, and she fondly recalls her childhood favorites, including Sonic the Hedgehog and GoldenEye 007. Today, she has taken on the role of a parent, engaging in family game nights with her husband and their two children, often featuring Xbox’s Minecraft Dungeons. This full-circle experience highlights how gaming has evolved into a cherished family activity that fosters connection and creativity.

Upon joining Xbox, a division of Microsoft Gaming, Bond initially perceived the company’s offerings as consumer technology. However, her perspective has broadened significantly through her extensive experience leading teams dedicated to building Xbox’s platform and nurturing independent developers. She describes gaming as “this beautiful mixture of art and science in the creativity,” a sentiment that fuels her passion and dedication to the industry.

Understanding the Gaming Landscape and Its Challenges

As a Black woman in the gaming industry, Bond recognizes that she belongs in a space where women and people of color have historically faced challenges. The 2015 Gamergate controversy serves as a stark reminder of the cultural struggles surrounding representation in gaming, reflecting broader societal disagreements over diversity and equality in fields typically dominated by white men. This context is important, especially as initiatives aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion are increasingly under threat.

When Bond joined Xbox in 2017, she received a candid warning from Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox Gaming, about the unique challenges within the gaming industry. Reflecting on this moment in a Harvard Business Alumni publication, Bond shared her poignant response: “Phil, my aunt died yesterday. She was a colonel in the Army in the era of segregation. That was hard.” This perspective has enabled Bond to navigate various corporate environments successfully, as she draws strength and wisdom from her ancestors’ struggles, viewing progress as a collective achievement.

Bond emphasizes that individual accomplishments are often a product of the support and investment from those who have come before us. She hopes her journey serves as inspiration for others, demonstrating that perseverance and determination can lead to remarkable achievements in the face of adversity.

Valuable Insights and Empowering Advice for Aspiring Professionals

Bond does not adhere to a work philosophy that promotes exhaustion as a badge of honor. Rather, she prioritizes practices such as meditation and mindfulness, recognizing the importance of taking physical and mental breaks to maintain peak performance. “This is absolutely me performance optimizing,” she explains. “I’ve found that to deliver my very best, sometimes I need to stop.” This approach reflects a deeper understanding of the need for balance in high-pressure environments.

In her academic journey at Yale, Bond learned the value of risk-taking over the pursuit of perfection. After memorizing answers for a Spanish exam, she achieved an “A,” only to discover that her practical language skills were lacking when she traveled to Spain. This experience taught her that relying solely on memorization and rigid frameworks can yield vastly different outcomes than embracing a mindset geared towards maximum learning capacity.

“The way I studied for Spanish was the greatest lesson of my life,” Bond states, illustrating the importance of adaptability and real-world application in education. In a tech landscape often characterized by “masculine energy,” as described by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Bond has a crucial piece of advice for girls and women aspiring to enter male-dominated STEM fields: seek mentors who will hold them to a “high bar of performance.”

She emphasizes the critical role mentors play in shaping perceptions of capability, as some may underestimate girls and women, treating them as delicate and limiting their potential. Bond believes that girls and women can truly thrive when they connect with individuals who recognize their strengths and provide constructive feedback necessary for achieving their goals. “Seek out the people who are going to invest in you, because those individuals are liquid gold,” Bond advises, highlighting the transformative power of mentorship.