Powering Change Through Play: The Future of Games for Impact

Ludic Tea with Susanna Pollack
Date: 08.10.2025
Time: 17:00
Location: Experimental Game Cultures Studio

Susanna will share how a bold idea grew into a global movement harnessing the power of games for social good. Games are more than entertainment — they are immersive experiences that spark empathy, ignite creativity, and bring people together across boundaries. From classrooms to communities, they are inspiring a new generation to see themselves as changemakers, equipped with the skills and imagination to tackle the world’s greatest challenges. This talk will celebrate the momentum of innovators already transforming lives through play, while inviting us all to envision what becomes possible when we unlock the full potential of games. Ultimately, it is a call to embrace games as a force for hope, connection, and real-world change.

Biography

Susanna Pollack is the President of Games for Change, the leading global advocate for the power of games and immersive media as drivers of social impact. As a social entrepreneur and cross-sector leader, Susanna has over 25 years of experience advancing ambitious social impact goals through traditional and interactive media.

At Games for Change, Susanna leads a global nonprofit and community dedicated to using games and immersive media to tackle real-world challenges, from humanitarian conflicts to climate change and education. She has initiated dozens of G4C’s world-class events, public arcades, design challenges, and youth programs in partnership with clients such as the Nobel Peace Center, Minecraft, the Bezos Family Foundation, Google, and Hasbro.  Games for Change hosts the annual G4C Festival in NYC every year attracting a cross sector audience from the games industry, government agencies, foundations and not for profits as well as media.  G4C Festivals are now held around the world with world class partners committed to bring games and impact into their communities.
Under Susanna’s leadership, G4C has significantly expanded its programs and impact—including G4C Learn, a portfolio of education initiatives that empower the next generation of game-changers to drive real-world impact through games. Over a decade, the G4C Student Challenge, largest international games design compeittion for youth ages 10 – 25, has grown to reach over 20,000 students annual in 93 countries.
G4C has been widely recognized for its innovative programs and cross-sector impact, receiving the Classy Award, Anthem Award, Shorty Impact Award, and Engage for Good Halo Award. Susanna has been named on the Nonprofit Times Power & Influence Top 50 List and the Worthy 100 List.