She started with a single sheet on her phone — now thousands of people have signed up. This week a slice of that community met in London to celebrate how a tiny idea became the UK’s largest mentorship programme for underrepresented game developers.
How a difficult start turned into a mentoring mission
Anisa Sanusi began her career in game development without imagining she would face fewer opportunities than others. Early on she encountered situations at work that made clear she was being treated unfairly — often the only woman or the only foreign colleague in a team. Originally from Malaysia, Anisa remembers being cared for by a few more experienced coworkers during vulnerable moments, and she has a special memory of one colleague who looked out for her after a particularly hard episode. Those experiences made her realise the value of having someone to talk to, ideally a mentor who shared similar lived experiences. The absence of that support is what ultimately inspired her to create Limit Break Mentorship in 2019.
From a single page at meetups to an organised volunteer network
Limit Break’s origins were modest: a one-page note on Anisa’s phone that she would show to women and non-binary people at events and meetups. The idea resonated quickly. In the first year about 100 people signed up to receive mentoring. Fast forward to the sixth year and the programme has grown significantly: a volunteer core of around 30 industry professionals helps run the initiative, and the roster of mentors has expanded to more than 600 this year.
The London gathering and the current cohort
This week in London Limit Break held an in-person meetup. The Tuesday event brought together roughly 10% of the people who are part of this year’s programme — a visible cross-section of the network as registration for the six-month mentorship rounds had already closed. For this sixth edition of the initiative, approximately 1,800 professionals registered to take part.
Keeping mentorship free and widening who it serves
Anisa is clear that making Limit Break free is central to its mission: removing financial barriers helps make the programme as accessible as possible. What began as a project aimed at women and non-binary developers has evolved to include other underrepresented groups across the industry. The volunteer mentors and organisers are industry workers who say they support the cause and want to help others navigate the sector.
Public recognition and where to read more
Anisa has shared highlights of the community on social media — for example a celebratory post about the “Limit Breakers class of 2024.” For additional related coverage, you can find the full report on Guadalindie in the special hub dedicated to the Malaga fair.
Similar Posts
- PlayStation Revenue Soars Despite PS5 Sales Dip: A Surprising Financial Turn!
- WhatsApp Spam Overload? New App Feature Promises Protection, But Will It Work?
- Stick to the Plan Set for Exciting Switch Release Next Week!
- TOEM 2, Despelote, and Naiad: Wholesome Games’ Adorable Year-End Teaser!
- Legendary Reggae Icon Jimmy Cliff Dies at 81: A Look Back at His Influential Career
Logan Whitmere is a gaming enthusiast who lives and breathes video games. Whether it’s reviews, gaming tips, or news about the latest releases, Logan’s passion and expertise bring the virtual world to life for every reader.