Christine Virardi, Elite Recruiter & Founder of HRLadderBox, is redefining talent management in the fast-paced iGaming sector. In an exclusive conversation with iGaming News Today, she shared insights from her experience with global tech and iGaming firms, highlighting her approach to spotting the right senior talent, executives and building authentic HR practices that drive real business results.
“Everyone talks about tech in iGaming, but people are what actually make things move,” Christine says. “At HRLadderBox, we hire leaders who push for change and build strategies that empower teams, and create something that lasts.”
HRLadderBox’s Approach to iGaming Challenges
Long-Term Talent Strategy is Frequently Neglected
Many iGaming firms focus on immediate hiring needs while overlooking long-term talent strategy, leadership development, cultural alignment, and the frameworks that make teams truly perform. The consequences are clear: skill gaps, high turnover, and missed opportunities that stall scaling and cost the business money. . Strategic HR is about building a solid foundation, identifying leaders who can deliver change, and investing in talent authentically. Companies that get this right don’t just fill roles, they build teams that endure, perform, and drive sustainable results.
Fix the Team Before Expecting Wins
No marketing campaign can save a bad product, you fix the product first. The same goes for people. You can throw perks, slogans, and fancy programs at your team, but if the foundation isn’t solid, if the right people aren’t in the right roles and your culture doesn’t support them, nothing sticks. Build the foundation first: hire smart, empower your teams, lead with accountability, respect local nuances, and create systems that actually work. That’s when results truly follow.
Compensation needs to be context-specific
Salary frameworks are often too generalized, ignoring differences between cities or regions. This can lead to roles being uncompetitive, especially for tech and product teams in high-demand markets. Christine recommends market-informed, flexible compensation that reflects local realities and attracts top talent.
Authenticity as a Business Imperative
“The Authenticity Edge”
In iGaming, noise is everywhere. Many companies claim to be innovative, teams claim to be world-class. Christine says the real differentiator is honesty in how a company operates. When leaders show reality, challenges, expectations, and clear paths forward, teams respond with trust, engagement, and results. Authenticity becomes the invisible engine that drives performance, loyalty, and long-term growth.
Why HRLadderBox Stands Out
We’re not just a recruitment agency, we’re part of iGaming. We know what scaling a game, platform, or studio really means. We speak your language: GGR, NGR, OPEX, retention, churn, and the real talent challenges that come with growth. Most importantly, we understand the people behind the numbers.
Our role is to be true partners to iGaming companies. We identify the key talent and executives who drive performance on a global scale, advise on HR strategy aligned with business goals, and design frameworks that set teams, and companies, up for sustainable success.
