This story was submitted by JiaJia Jiang, grade 11.

On Oct. 16, CareerConnect had its first C-Sweets event of the school year with Kevin Xu, co-founder and COO of mobile game company IGG. The event was led by officer Emily Mitnick, grade 11, and provided insight for aspiring entrepreneurs and people interested in going into the gaming industry. Xu talked about how he became interested in creating games for PCs and mobile phones, how he was able to obtain funding for his projects, and how he was able to withstand the obstacles he faced while developing his two hit games: Castle Clash in 2013 and Lords Mobile in 2016. He then opened up the floor for a Q&A and gave encouragement to anyone interested in pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams. During the event, the students enjoyed cannoli courtesy of Harker’s kitchen staff. 

Junior Jason Shim reflected on the experience: “The event truly transformed my impression of a typical success story. Mr. Xu is a natural storyteller, and the story he pitched stressed the importance in making intelligent life investments, whether in technological trends or your own academic excellence.”

Overall, the C-Sweets event gave students the opportunity to listen to the experiences of a gaming industry professional and his story of success while enjoying a sweet treat. CareerConnect’s goal in hosting these events is to give students chances to gain advice and meet entrepreneurs from all different fields and backgrounds.