At Abstraction, it’s the people who make this place so special. Today, we’re shining light on Kirsten, our Chief People Officer. She’s been an incredible force in shaping
Abstraction’s culture and supporting everyone here, and she had a lot to share about her journey, favorite memories, and what makes our studio so unique
Let’s dive in!
1. What is the most rewarding part of shaping Abstraction’s culture and supporting its people?
"Creating a culture is not hard, but keeping it while the company grows over 17+ years with 17 different cultures is way harder. Especially with everything that has happened in the world and the gaming industry over the last few years (Covid, working from home, a lot of layoffs, to name a few...).
But culture is the most important thing for a company to focus on, I think. There’s no company without the people in it. For now, I would say the most rewarding part is seeing the impact of a strong, inclusive culture reflected in the way people collaborate, grow, and have fun while doing this. Watching individuals unlock their potential, feel valued, and come together to achieve amazing results reminds me of why I love what I do. Abstraction, we don’t just work together; we grow together as a team and as individuals."
2. What’s one thing about Abstraction that makes you feel proud every day?
"No way I can nor should I keep it to only one thing! The way we moved forward over all the years, slow and solid with our growth. Learning constantly by making a lot of mistakes and learning from them, all the time. That we, until this day and beyond, try to do everything to maintain the original culture, how it was set up. Even though knowing that not all game developers out there would be a good fit for our company and vice versa.
From starting out in a shed in my parents’ backyard to now having a large company filled with incredible people all working together for the same company—it has been an incredible journey and it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come, together."
3. In your view, what makes Abstraction's work environment unique?
"We are still a small company (100+) and to see what we can do with all the people working at Abstraction, to see that our clients are happy and that we are able to work with big AAA companies on highly esteemed franchises, is awesome.
Our transparent & direct communication is a great example, and seeing people at Abstraction doing often things that other companies can’t or are uncomfortable with, and going the extra mile over and over again, is truly amazing. Also, I believe the people working at Abstraction share the same mindset, they naturally understand this and this makes us different/unique in what we can offer.
I think we foster a perfect blend of professionalism and playfulness.
Years ago, when everyone working at Abstraction kept telling us through weekly engagement surveys that they felt like it was a family, I don’t think I truly understood or appreciated the depth of that comment as much as I do now. It’s only with time and growth that I’ve come to realize how special and rare that sense of belonging really is."
4 . What’s one piece of Abstraction’s history that always makes you smile when you think about it?
"There are a lot of things to smile about.
First of all, I can tell you something that would seem counter intuitive as something to smile about, but that when an Abstractioner wants to leave the company to spread their wings, we totally support that. We are still in good contact with leavers, and we are happy for them. When I see some of them at events, it’s clear that we still have a great relationship.
When we were a smaller company, we all knew each other really well — being such a tightly-knit team, working closely to make things happen. We went out for dinner together like one big family, danced, went bowling, celebrated birthdays, and more.
On a daily basis, we’d diss and poke fun at each other, all in good humor. It became a kind of unofficial competition to see who could come up with the best one-liner or playful jab that day. With fewer people, it was easier to maintain that sense of closeness and familiarity, where everyone felt comfortable being themselves and joining in on the fun. We all loved it and had the best times together. No one every felt offended because we trusted one another completely.
Also, it would sometimes happen that when we needed to deliver certain game build, stuff went wrong, and I mean really wrong. Like no electricity or internet, and everyone from the team put their pc’s, screens, internet cables, extension cords you name it, into their cars and drove to our house to make sure the build was delivered on time. Our home was a hazard trap with all the cables, etc., they slept on the sofa’s during the night and we had a blast. I will never forget that.
The moment when a seemingly impossible project came together against all odds — thanks to pure grit and teamwork. Those late-night problem-solving sessions where someone cracks a joke at just the right moment to lighten the mood… Those are the memories that stick with me. They remind me of why Abstraction is such a special place."
5. What’s one thing you wish people knew about the behind-the-scenes of running a company like Abstraction?
"You are constantly ‘on,’ even on weekends or during your holiday. When you are the one leading a company, it can sometimes be lonely. People sometimes think we are not transparent, but that's not the case at all. On occasion, you just need to wait for additional information because we can’t be sure yet, and we don’t want to generate unneeded noise. Negotiations might still be going on, contracts may still be with the lawyer, and business tactics sometimes have to change dramatically in a short amount of time due to external factors that are impossible to predict, especially in a creative industry like gaming, and then you need to adjust again. Also, creating a strategy and vision is something that needs quality time in order for us to come back with a solid plan and clarity. Running a company is all about setting people up for success rather than failure. I think this is something that's important for other people to understand. It’s hard but very rewarding work, and having people empathize with our challenges does help a great deal, I think.
Also, we still like to crack jokes, diss, and, in general, have fun with every single person in Abstraction, which in turn helps us as leaders to put things in perspective, especially because we still allow ourselves to become the target of playful insults."
4. If you had to sum up your journey with Abstraction in one sentence, what would it be?
"A hell of a ride! Very happy to have been on this ongoing journey, though, and I will never regret that I made the step from corporate, big companies into the ‘small’ and, for me, then unfamiliar world of the gaming industry. No way will I ever leave this craft; it is now in my heart!"
Kirsten’s insights offer a heartfelt look into what makes Abstraction such a unique and special place. From memorable moments to the challenges of leading in a creative industry, her perspective is a reminder of how far we’ve come and the journey we’re all on together.