Operator News

Belgium – ECA awarded two Gender Diversity Scholarships to the Executive Development Program 2020

By Phil - 2 November 2020

The European Casino Association (ECA) is pleased to announce that Kristina Kratz from Westspiel, Germany, and Jaana Ruokamo from Casino Helsinki, Finland, have been awarded the third Gender Diversity Scholarship to the prestigious Executive Development Program (EDP).

The EDP, which is co-organised by UNR College of Business and Extended Studies and UNLV International Gaming Institute (IGI), has established itself over the years as one of the most prestigious trainings in the gaming industry. This year, the EDP “All the crises, all the time” edition will – in line with the current Corona situation – take place online and will focus on crises management. Seminars, workshops, and team activities will be held in the week from 15 to 21 November; double sessions will help in accommodating the different time zones of the participants joining from all over the world.

This year’s program aims to prepare the industry’s leaders to face unexpected challenges through crisis management, communication, customer engagement, and team management. It is also a unique occasion to share relevant practices that have proved effective with gaming professionals worldwide.

As in previous years, the scholarship is sponsored by the ECA, Clarion Gaming, and the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM). The two available scholarships cover the full program costs. The jury from the sponsoring organisations has examined the applications and awarded two ambitious women from the European land-based casino industry aspiring to a leadership position and broadening their professional education.

Per Jaldung, Chairman of the ECA and 2010 EDP graduate, commented: “Even in this difficult time, the ECA did not want to miss the opportunity to encourage gender diversity within the industry. This year, the EDP will be even more valuable for participants and the whole gaming industry, as it will provide them with skills and tools to deal with unprecedented crises. I would like to thank the organisers for creating a moment of sharing despite the crisis, and the sponsors for their loyal support to this initiative. And of course, congratulations to the two winners who have well deserved their scholarships. In tough times more than ever, we should strive to learn from each other and transform the challenges into opportunities.”

Caption: Per Jaldung