On November 14, Oksana Kubushyna, head of the platform group at Riot Games was honored by Girls Inc., at its 2018 Los Angeles Celebration Luncheon. Girls Inc. is an organization that teaches girls skill-based programming to inspire them to be smart, strong, bold women. The award is given annually to women in leadership who, by work and example, demonstrate what it means to be a strong, powerful woman.

Girls Inc. focuses on girls’ development as individuals, helping them learn to value themselves, take risks, and discover and develop their inherent strengths. Through a combination of long-lasting mentorships, a pro-girl environment, and research-based programming, Girls Inc. works to equip girls with the tools to navigate gender, economic, and social barriers, and grow up healthy, educated, and independent. The majority of the girls serviced by Girls Inc. come from low-income areas, with 68% of them from families that earn less than $30,000 per year. Girls Inc. ensures that the girls in these underserved communities don't fall through the cracks and get the support and mentorship they deserve.

Oksana was nominated for the award by the Riot Games leadership team for her work and leadership in a male-dominated industry. With support from Riot’s personal donation matching, Oksana raised over $36,000 for Girls Inc., in addition to a $25,000 donation from Riot’s independent Karma philanthropy program. We’re immensely proud of Oksana’s continued example in leadership, hard work, and community engagement. We hope that our continued support to create opportunities for underserved populations helps make their vision a reality.

If you’re interested in learning more about Oksana, check out her personal response to receiving this award and an article she wrote about her path to success at Riot.