Blandine Prost

Where You Live: Brighton
Company: Babel Media
Job Title: Director of pre-production

Describe your job/role?
My job is twofold. On the one hand, my role is client-facing as I provide the link between our sales team and our operations team in order to set up the test and/or translation of large video games. These projects are usually for major game publishers. On the other hand, my role is internal-facing as I work on Babel’s quality control and the continuous improvements of our tools and processes. This entails critically assessing our workflows and processes and coming up with solutions to make the various departments work together more efficiently and better.

What is the best thing about your job?
I enjoy using the experience I have accumulated over the past 8 years at Babel to make a difference in the way we work. Also, working on the pre-production of new projects is always a source of excitement and knowledge as no two projects are the same. Finally, I’m proud of having led the set up our Canadian office in Montréal and I enjoy going back there on a regular basis to follow its expansion.

What attracted you to it?
I started at Babel as a games tester. A friend of mine recommended the job to me and it seemed like a good way to earn money during the summer. At the time the company was small and expanding, and I stayed because I was given the chance to take on new responsibilities. It was attractive to be part of something new and exciting and to see the company grow.

What schools did you go to and what subjects did you take?
I did an A level equivalent in France which included a specialisation in Economics, History, English and Maths.

What was your favourite subject and why?
History and English – which might explain why I’ve been living in the UK for so long!

Did you go to University / College and if so what did you study?
I went to university and did a degree in Political Science for three years followed by a fourth year at the University of Sussex taking Media Studies.

What was your first job?
Babel is my first ‘real’ job, before that I did various summer jobs such as picking fruits and working at the local supermarket.

What does your career path look like?
I started as a tester in June 1999, and then became lead tester of the French team. I moved into project management at the end of 2000. I helped set up our translation department during 2001 and ended up managing the Localisation team for 2 years. At the beginning of 2004, I was asked to cover for our client services director who was on sick leave. This new responsibility involved looking after our PC and Console test activities, as well as our localisation activities. It also included our recruitment and training activities. In 2005, I was sent to Montréal to set up our Canadian office. I stayed there for 13 months and saw the team grow to up to 200 staff. Since coming back to the UK in September 2006, I have been in my present role of director of pre-production.

Which women have inspired and influenced your career?
As part of my university degree I did work experience in an independent cinema in France and I remember being impressed by the director I worked with then. She had huge responsibilities and was a confident leader. In general I am inspired by strong and independent women who are not afraid to make decisions and stand by them. I guess my first influence in that respect was simply my mother.

What would you say is your strongest attribute/s?
I am responsible, organised and a great leader. What do you think is the most exciting/interesting thing about working in the digital media industry?
The games industry is exciting because it attracts people from varied backgrounds who have in common a real passion for what they do – which is important as the pace can be fast and the pressure can be huge.

What advice would you give to people who consider entering the digital media industry?
Be flexible and open minded about what you have to do within your job. If you just stick to what is in your job specification and you don’t want to go beyond it, you are going to stay where you are. Being open minded, motivated and energetic can get you far!