Pep Perez (Riot Games)

"Don't hire brilliant assholes. No matter how good their skill set."

In this episode, I speak to Pep Perez, former Global Group Creative Director (VALORANT) at Riot Games. Pep shares his journey into the gaming industry, his role as a creative director, and the importance of building high-performing creative teams. He discusses the process of developing a brand for a new game and the challenges of aligning creative decisions with business goals.

✅ Building high-performing creative teams requires hiring individuals who are hungry, humble, and smart, and who thrive in collaboration.

✅Successful teams are purpose-built, with a makeup that aligns with the specific needs of the project or game.

✅ Creative decisions should be aligned with business goals, and creatives should strive to solve business challenges through their work. Building purpose-built teams in the gaming industry is crucial for success

✅ Asking candidates about what they are not currently doing but want to do can reveal their aspirations and growth opportunities