Women Innovators of Play 2024

Hasbro launched Women Innovators of Play in Fall 2023 to promote a more inclusive and equitable toys and games industry, encourage women’s participation, inspire the next generation of girls to unleash their creativity, and expand awareness of creative career pathways.

I entered the 2024 competition with three original, purpose-driven products called The Feeling Friends Explorer Kit that contained The Feeling Friends Monopoly, STEM QUest, a STEM-based Emotional Intelligence game, and a Feeling Friends Twister movement-based board game. I conducted focus groups with elementary, middle, and high school students, and across age groups, the response was clear—the students loved the games. They were engaged, expressive, and excited to learn through play.

While I was not selected as a Women Innovator of Play for 2024, the experience highlighted a deeper truth: Black women remain significantly underrepresented in the toy and game manufacturing industry, even though we are major consumers and cultural influencers…