Glenn Huybrecht, Light & Wonder’s Managing Director, Asia, discusses his journey from Belgium to Asia and into the region’s fast-paced gaming industry.
Ben Blaschke: Can you tell us a bit about your background? Where did you grow up and what are your main memories of childhood?
Glenn Huybrecht: I grew up in a very small town in Belgium, the land of chocolate and beer! As the eldest of three, I had the responsibility of paving the way for my younger siblings. There’s a sizeable age gap – six years between me and my sister, and 12 years between me and my brother – which meant that, from a young age, I was the default problem-solver, even if I didn’t always have the answers.
Other than that, life there was exactly how you’d imagine it: I spent my days mostly playing football, building camps outdoors and biking around with friends. A far cry from Singapore where I am based now!
BB: You’ve taken an interesting journey into the gaming industry, but how and where did your professional career begin? Did you have a clear vision when you were younger of what you wanted to do?
GH: My professional journey began in consulting, which I found a great platform to build my foundation in problem-solving, strategic thinking and navigating complex challenges. From the outset, I was drawn to it because of the critical thinking and creativity it demanded.
I didn’t quite know where the path would lead me, but I enjoyed working in the pressure cooker environment and learned a lot from some really great mentors who shaped my character as a young professional.
Consulting also allowed me to work across many diverse industries, each with its own unique set of challenges. What I found most rewarding was diving deep into each business, understanding its nuances, identifying pain points, and helping organizations solve questions and unlock new growth opportunities. This growth mindset became not only a guiding principle in my professional development but also a central theme throughout my career.
BB: How did you come to relocate to Asia?
GH: After six years in consulting, I decided to pursue my MBA and applied for business schools.
I was fortunate to get accepted to INSEAD in Singapore which is a top global business school, so the decision to move was quite easy. My wife and I moved to Singapore in 2010 – 14 years ago now – only a few months after MBS had opened. The experience was amazing, a full year spent with incredible people from all over the world and weekend hopping to all of Asia’s amazing getaways.
Professionally, it was also great to move into an incredible growth market like Asia, a very different environment from the post-global financial crisis work in Europe.
BB: What were your early impressions? Had you spent much time in Asia previously and were there any culture shocks that took some adjusting to?
GH: Before moving to Asia in 2010, we had traveled to several countries across Asia. These early trips provided us with a glimpse of the incredible diversity of the region. However, it wasn’t until I started working in Asia in 2011 that I truly became amazed by the depth of its cultural norms, talent pools and work environments. This diversity presents both exciting opportunities and complex challenges for anyone trying to navigate the region.
Living in Shanghai in 2013 was a great culture shock experience. You don’t realize the sheer size of China and how different the world is from their perspective. Taxi drivers didn’t speak English, so even getting to my office in the morning was a challenge with my broken Mandarin! There was also the bird flu epidemic and really bad air pollution when we were there, so we got the full spectrum experience. But we had an amazing time traveling across the country and learning about life and business aspects of Chinese culture. I visited Macau for the first time as well during that time, very different from what it is today.
BB: A number of your roles over the years have involved commercial strategy and expansion. What skills do you believe made you a good fit for these sorts of roles?
GH: My roles in commercial strategy and expansion have always been driven by the growth mindset I developed in consulting, and in Asia you need the cultural sensitivity. I approach obstacles as opportunities to improve, learn and innovate. Whether it’s entering new markets, scaling operations or refining business models, this mindset has been crucial in identifying untapped opportunities and pushing for creative solutions.
Innovation has always been my driver. In commercial strategy, it’s not just about optimizing existing methods, it’s about finding new ways to create value, disrupt conventional thinking and build sustainable competitive advantages. As a leader I am passionate about building environments where continuous improvement and innovation are encouraged, and that can be applied across industries.
At the same time, I believe that the key to successful expansion and growth lies in building and nurturing top talent. In a business world that changes so fast with data and AI, the most important skillset to develop is adaptability and continuous learning, so investing in the right learning and development support is crucial.
BB: You also have experience in cryptocurrency and digital assets. What attracted you to this field and is it something you still dabble in?
GH: From the moment I first learned about blockchain, I was fascinated by its decentralized nature, one that can really reshape how the global economy and finance works. Imagine explaining crypto currency 50 years ago! Technology is so powerful these days that we need to embrace it, or as a business we’ll fall behind quickly. We can see smart tables, cashless payments and facial recognition entering in the gaming space but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Blockchain will become part of the industry in one way or another, and I’m fortunate that I learned about it firsthand.
Dabbling is probably the right word, and I’ve not done it very well if you look at my wallet! It’s more a learning experience, but I do wish I had bought more bitcoin earlier.
BB: Can you tell us about the move to Light & Wonder? How did this opportunity emerge and what attracted you to it?
GH: The opportunity to join Light & Wonder came about when a headhunter reached out to me. What really stood out was the immense potential for growth and transformation in the region. The market is full of untapped opportunities, and the chance to drive meaningful change and innovation for clients was incredibly exciting.
As I researched the company, I really identified with the values: Dare to be Bold, Never Settle, Celebrate Perspectives, Uphold Integrity and Win as a Team. Everyone that I spoke to in the process was incredible, the level of passion and talent was undeniable. I like our market position, where the path ahead needs to be crafted and the business needs to innovate to earn the top spot. My strength is building and rewiring a business for continued growth, and I felt this was a great opportunity to really combine all my experiences in a fast growing industry.
BB: You had no gaming industry experience when you began with Light & Wonder. What have you found to be the most surprising aspects of the industry?
GH: I was expecting a very close-knit industry with a lot of shark-like competition but it’s been the polar opposite, everyone has been very welcoming and eager to connect and share their experience. I feel I joined at the perfect time because there is this wave of growth and increased focus on fresh ideas washing over the Asia casino world. That’s perfect for an outsider like myself to help bring new perspectives and to build our innovation muscle as a supplier. We’re investing a lot in Asia in terms of R&D capability, growth infrastructure and new talent, so that’s very exciting. We also just opened new offices in Singapore and the Philippines, so that gives us the perfect foundation to build and attract talent in the region.
BB: What does a typical working day in the life of Glenn Huybrecht look like?
GH: When I’m not traveling around the region, my day usually starts around 6am when I spend time with my family or jump on some US calls. If my schedule allows, I enjoy cycling my two kids to school at 7:30am. It’s a great way to start the day and get some movement in. After that, I focus on having a healthy breakfast to fuel my day ahead. I’m typically in back-to-back meetings until lunchtime and then I fit in time for exercise to recharge and stay energized for the afternoon.
I also make it a point to spend quality time with my kids before their bedtime, which is always a highlight of my day. Once they’re asleep, I check some emails and work on personal projects.
Of course, when I’m traveling, the schedule is much more hectic. I’m in Macau and the Philippines at least once a month and just spend a lot of time on the road. With the early morning meetings, early or late flights and evening events on the schedule it’s full on. But even then, I try to find time for some exercise daily as it helps me focus and feel energized.
BB: Are there any specific lessons or experiences you’ve been able to bring to Light & Wonder from your years in other industries?
GH: It’s been wonderful to accumulate so many experiences in Asia and then to land in a place where you feel you can really leverage a lot of it.
After my MBA I spent three-and-a-half years at 3M making strategic growth plans for different markets in Asia, which gave me strong exposure to supply chain, manufacturing and distribution.
After that I moved to LinkedIn, and over almost eight years I built a global outsourced sales team numbering over 500 people. The lessons in terms of scale, processes, systems and tools there are definitely very useful as we build our organization for scale. At the same time, it was a great leadership-building experience for myself in the journey.
I built a data science and AI team, before it was cool, during my time at LinkedIn as well, and I want to focus on implementing new technology to deliver better products and services to our customers. In the words of our head of international, Simon Johnson: “More, Faster!”
BB: Who have been the biggest influences on you, both in life in general and also over the past year while learning about this industry?
GH: There is some incredible talent in our company, and people like our sales directors Mark Howell, Ankur Sharma and Trevor Ross have really gone above and beyond to launch me into the business. We also have industry legends like Ken Jolly, Tim Gilbert and Mitch Di Giovanni who have helped me understand the legacy we’re building upon.
On the personal front, my father passed away two weeks before joining Light & Wonder in January 2024, and that’s added fuel to my fire to relentlessly go at it every single day. There’s no time like the present, and I try to focus every day to move the needle at work. At home my wife and kids inspire me every day to make sure I’m the best person I can be for them and that we craft the best possible future for them.
BB: A year into the job, what are the key opportunities you see for Light & Wonder moving forward in Asia, and what is your vision for the company in this region?
GH: In the short term I want us to be really good thought partners to our customers as well as increase our quality of execution. We’ve historically relied a lot on global and intra-regional support but now we’re building a lot of new competencies in Asia with regards to our R&D, our supply chain, our servicing, our talent and our office footprint.
In the medium term, innovation needs to be our hallmark. With all that new infrastructure and talent, we have to start pushing the boundaries and really be the strategic partners that our customers want us to be. Co-creating new product roadmaps and customer experiences will be at the core of the strategy for the next few years.
The industry has moved very fast the last few years, and we need to ensure that we are at the front of the pack in terms of data-driven decisions, automation and the use of AI. Dare to be Bold can’t just be a slogan on our office wall, I want us to really bring it to life.
BB: You mentioned that you travel quite a lot in this role. Do you have a favorite travel destination, be it for work or pleasure?
GH: Every market has its own special vibe. I like Macau as the older sibling in the region and the Philippines as the rebellious teenager market. On the personal front I’m a big fan of Thailand – I love the culture, the amazing infrastructure and general vibe. I’m an aspiring golfer and there are some amazing courses throughout the region as well. Getting in early for a nice Sunday morning round and then a good prep meeting for the week is now my new favorite activity when I can fit it into the schedule!
BB: What do you like to do outside of work to relax?
GH: I prioritize staying fit and healthy, and I make time for regular exercise, which helps clear my mind and boost my energy. I also enjoy connecting with friends over a good glass of wine – it’s a great way to unwind and enjoy meaningful conversations.
But above all, I cherish spending time with my family. I’m a hands-on dad and take an active role in guiding my kids on their learning journey. I like working on little projects around the house with them, like building a mud kitchen or a bug hotel. Watching them grow into curious, critical thinkers who can communicate and negotiate with their old man is one of the most rewarding experiences. It’s a constant reminder of the importance of balance, and how meaningful family connections shape both personal and professional success.
BB: Finally Glenn, where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?
GH: Right here, scaling Light & Wonder to new heights and enjoying the ride! And of course, collecting our 10th consecutive “Best Industry Supplier” and “Best Industry Workplace” trophies at the IAG Academy IR Awards!
