Emerging Influence: Insights from Women Leading Tribal Gaming
At G2E this October, I have the honor of moderating a powerhouse panel: Emerging Influence and New Paths in Tribal Gaming—Monday, October 6 at 1:30 PM.
This session highlights Indigenous women who are redefining leadership, shaping industries, and weaving culture into spaces where it has often been overlooked. To give you a glimpse of what’s ahead, I asked each panelist one question that captures the spirit of their work. Their full stories, insights, and experiences will unfold live on stage, but consider this your teaser for the discussion to come.
Meet the panelists: Allison Howison , Little Fawn Boland , Renita DiStefano , Shauna Williams, MBA, PMP
Allison Howison | Preconstruction Manager, Connect Advisors:
AL: You’ve guided countless projects from planning to groundbreaking. How do you balance technical precision with cultural responsibility when advising tribes on building projects that will serve generations to come?
AH: Each project holds significant value for the tribe and its future, and I take my responsibility as an owner’s representative seriously to ensure the project is a success in terms of quality, budget, schedule, and meeting the tribe’s needs. My team and I always have high expectations of our building partners and we relay that message to the tribes so they know they can expect more out of the firms they hire.
We ensure the tribe is being heard throughout the design process and the contractor executes the project while adhering to any tribal requirements. If something is not feasible, we will discuss alternatives that still acknowledge and respect the tribe’s vision for the project. Some tribes have native participation requirements, commonly known as TERO (Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance).
This brings opportunities to native-owned businesses, and it is incumbent on us to convey the unique aspects of tribal projects to set them, and the project, up for success. The tribe’s history, culture, and laws are kept in mind during the course of the project, and it is up to us to ensure those details are enshrined in the design and get executed during construction. Tribal projects are special in that each one is built to better their community and I take great pride in helping these projects come to fruition.
Little Fawn Boland | Owner, Ceiba Legal, PC:
AL: You often talk about leaning into our feminine qualities when it comes to leadership. What does that mean to you, especially in spaces like tribal gaming that can feel traditionally male-dominated?
LF: For me, it means leading with love first. When you create a safer space, people feel more open to sharing ideas, concerns, and even mistakes. That openness leads to stronger teams and better outcomes. It also allows us to stay rooted in cultural values while navigating complex industries. Understanding where you come from is a strength, and pairing that with empathy and connection can transform how we work together and build the next generation of leaders.
Renita DiStefano | President & CEO, Second Derivative:
AL: As one of the first Indigenous women to hold top titles in IT and cybersecurity, you’ve opened doors in a field where representation is rare. What does building a “cyber workforce” across Indian Country look like to you, and why is it so urgent now?
RD: When Indigenous women and professionals see themselves reflected in tech and cybersecurity leadership, it sends a powerful message: you belong here, too. Building a tech workforce across Indian Country isn’t just about filling jobs—it’s about creating space for our people to lead, innovate, and protect what is ours.
For me, that means filling stages and pages with women like us. It means mentorship and telegraphing the message, “Come take my job!” I try to connect people with training opportunities designed with tribal communities in mind, where our students and young professionals don’t have to choose between their culture and their career. It means elevating Indigenous voices—especially women—in boardrooms, in classrooms, in publications, so that future generations know the door is open and the path is possible.
The urgency is clear: tech is the foundation of every organization and threats to Tribal Sovereignty are already at our doorstep. But the opportunity is even greater—by building representation in tech and cybersecurity today, we’re not only protecting tribal enterprises and sovereignty, but we’re also showing the next generation that they can be the ones to lead, defend, and redefine this field.
Visibility changes everything and representation matters. A dear colleague once said to me, "You won't find a fiercer cyber warrior than a protector of seven generations." For me, those words are a call to action.
Shauna Williams | Executive Director of Communications, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma:
AL: Your career has been defined by telling authentic stories on behalf of the Choctaw people. How can communications leaders ensure that large-scale development projects don’t just succeed operationally, but also carry forward cultural integrity and community trust?
SW: While communications is my current role, my career has always been about ensuring the Choctaw people are authentically represented—not just in words, but in every detail of our built environment and branded experience. Storytelling is not confined to press releases or campaigns; it lives in the textures of interior finishes, the names we give our venues, the artwork that adorns our walls, and the themes that shape our hotel rooms.
Each design decision is an opportunity to honor our ancestors, reflect our values, and invite others into our story. Whether it's incorporating traditional patterns into flooring, naming a space in the Choctaw language, or curating art that speaks to our history and future, these choices are acts of cultural preservation.
They build trust by showing our community that we see them, we remember them, and we celebrate them. For communications leaders, this means collaborating across disciplines—development, construction, hospitality, branding, and beyond—to ensure that every project is infused with meaning. It means asking not just “Does this work?” but “Does this feel Choctaw?” When we lead with cultural integrity, we create spaces and experiences that resonate deeply, not just functionally but spiritually.
Conversations like this remind me that representation is more than being present. It is about changing the way the space itself is built.
Each of these women is creating pathways where cultural values and professional excellence move forward together. I am grateful to share the stage with them at G2E, and I hope you’ll join us for what will be an inspiring and energizing session.
Details on our session can be found here: https://www.globalgamingexpo.com/en-us/learn/educationschedule/session-details.4465.247458.emerging-influence-and-new-paths-in-tribal-gaming.html
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