2004 GREAT WOMEN OF GAMING
Proven leader
Sylvie Linard
Chief Operating Officer
Cyberview Technology
Sylvie Linard has always had a fascination
with technology, a dream to travel the world and
a desire to work in an international business. As
the chief operating officer of Cyberview
Technology, Linard has combined her childhood
goals into one exciting job. Based in London,
Linard claims she travels 65 percent of the year.
Born and raised in France, Linard developed a
love of numbers and science from her father, an
engineer, and her mother, an accountant. "I think
that is why I like technology and have never been
afraid of it," she says.
After graduating college with an honors degree
in marketing, Linard joined the newly emerging
information technology age in 1986 as a product
manager at Axytel in Paris. In 1988 she became
vice-president of marketing for Gallium Information
System of Paris. She worked for the R & D
technology company that primarily operated in the
telecommunication and gaming industries until 1995.
Linard points to the founding of Cyberview
Technology Group in Palo Alto, California in 1995,
with her husband Jean-Marie Gatto, as the most
significant factor of her career. She says, "I met
and began working with Jean-Marie in the late
1980s. I have learned and discovered much
through him. He has been my mentor for quite
some time."
In the past 10 years, Linard has spent much of
her time on the road because her job description
requires her to manage all the existing Cyberview
international business operations and expansion.
She also monitors the company's games portfolio
development and integration. In the United States,
Linard is coordinating the Cyberview technical
approach with the US gaming regulations in various
jurisdictions.
Linard has enjoyed learning the different cultures
of the business world. The experience from
her former positions has helped prepare her to
become a competent force in numerous situations.
She says, "I must say that being a woman
has never really been an issue for me in order to
be taken seriously. Being young a few years back
was really more damaging for my credibility, but
this is not an issue anymore!"
Linard acknowledges that the casino industry
has historically revolved around men. She knows
that while women are making their mark in the
gaming world, it is still a male dominated industry.
However, she believes that being a solid
employee is the most important attribute that anyone
can bring to the job.
"It really doesn't take anything dramatic or
special to prosper in this or any other industry as
long as people demonstrate that they bring value
to the business and do not spend time focusing on
themselves. Being dynamic and organized helps,
but working hard is the secret. Also, being able to
chill out in any circumstances helps.
"As a female executive, I judge my teammates
based on their competence, performance and diligence
to their tasks. I apply the same standards to
both men and women," Linard says.
Around the world, the casino industry is
evolving to be more inclusive of anyone with business
talent and skills. Linard explains, "At one
time gaming was not really a 'proper' environment
for a 'lady', but these days, things are changing
quickly.
"I really hope to see more women in this
industry as long as they don't forget to have fun
and don't take themselves too seriously. Women
should not be too sensitive and must take a specific
situation with a good sense of humor. They
have to feel comfortable working with a majority
of men to enjoy working in gaming. It could
sometimes be a problem for them if they overreact
because of their gender. I have never made any
difference between working with men or women,
and maybe this is a good thing to keep in mind."
Linard encourages women in the industry to
remember that demographics prove that most slot
machine players are women. She believes this is a
plus for female executives because they are in a
better position to really understand what gets a
woman's attention. She says, "We should recognize
that everyone knows that there is always a
woman behind every successful man."
For future generations of females in the casino
industry, Linard advises young women to be confident
and work hard. However, it cannot be "just
a job" to them. It is crucial to love what they are
doing. Being open to learn as much as possible
from others, plus being dynamic and working
hard is valid advice for both men and women.
Finally, Linard states that even on the worst days,
a smile can solve many tense situations.
Copyright 2011, Great Women of Gaming. All rights reserved.
