The gender gap in tech is gradually decreasing, and the mobile tech industry is doing its part to offer more leadership roles to women.
Aarki is passionate about strengthening women’s leadership and voices. Here we continue our series highlighting women in the mobile industry.
Sabrina Chen 
Senior User Acquisition Specialist at Jam City
"Learn about yourself, know what you like and what you are good at. If you are doing something that brings you joy, the passion will follow."
Q: What motivated you to pursue this career?
I enjoy what I do. I have always found pleasure in tasks that ask for both the left and the right side of the brain. User acquisition is the perfect mix where it not only requires analytical skills but also creativity and outside of the box thinking. Its constantly evolving nature always keeps me motivated.
Q: What’s the one thing you have learned in your career that you would like to share with new entrants?
Learn about yourself, know what you like and what you are good at. If you are doing something that brings you joy, the passion will follow.
Q: What are the common challenges women face today in the world of tech?
Growing up, boys are taught to be brave and girls to be perfect. I see many women hesitant in speaking up and grasp the opportunity or responsibility they deserve, especially in an industry still mainly led by men.
Q: How do you stay ahead of changes in technology?
Read, listen, and share. I try to ingest new information on a daily basis, whether by reading the news or listening to industry podcasts. (One of my favorite daily podcasts is WSJ’s Tech News Briefing. Always my background when eating breakfast.) Apart from that, I share interesting news with my peer and rely on them to do the same. After all, no one can read all the news in the world.
Q: What do you think are the top trends that will shape the mobile gaming industry in 3-5 years?
I believe everything will be “smarter” in mobile user acquisition. Instead of identifying the target audience by set characteristics such as demographic data, more emphasis will be on behavior data. Social psychology and machine learning will work together on giving users more personalized and seamless experiences.
Q: If you could start a charity, what would it be for?
Education for children in third world countries.
"There are many things in the world that could be improved, I believe educating our kids is the best way to a brighter future."
Q: What keeps you busy outside work?
I love boxing, cooking, reading, and traveling. I have discovered quite a few new receipts that I’m proud of during the quarantine. Additionally, I also recently took up the piano with the extra time we have at home.
Q: If you could time travel, what’s one event you’d like to attend?
Either all the way back to see the dinosaurs or centuries into the future to see how the world is like then.
Q: What book had the most significant impact on you?
There are too many books that bring me joy and tears, influence the way I behave, and shape my values. It is hard to pick only one out of them all. That being said, the one book that influenced me the most in 2020 is Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell. It studies how assumptions are formed and how miscommunication happens when people face unfamiliar situations. It talks about prejudice, racism, and how we tend to judge the world with bias unconsciously. Definitely a thought-provoking piece worth reading especially in the current climate.
Q: What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?
As a Chinese foreign national, my favorite holiday is the Mid-autumn Festival. It is said the moon is the brightest and roundest on this day. We would sit in the yard, eat mooncakes, and enjoy the moonlight. This day is about family reunions and sharing your appreciation for each other. Though it has been a while since I have shared this holiday with my family, I know we are all looking at the same moon and that we are always together.
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