HGB: Lioness Girl Gaming Expo typically takes place in the fall. When is it going to take place this year?

Todd: We are excited to bring back Lioness Girl Gaming Expo on Wednesday October 14^th, 2026.  Lioness helps young female students understand career options and technical skills related to the future workforce. And the event uses videogames and esports, and their interest around those things, to do that!  It is all about meeting students where they are.

HGB: How do you register to attend?

Todd: Lioness is completely free for middle school students around Metro Atlanta because it is structured as a school field trip. We work with a set of partner schools, and the students arrive on school buses alongside their teachers for the event, which runs from 9am - 1pm.For educators and professionals who wish to attend separately, they can purchase a ticket to our Esports Summit professional development conference and that includes access to Lioness Girl Gaming Expo.

HGB: Previous years featured panels of women who work in gaming, whether that be in streaming, esports, or game development. What sort of panels will be in store this year?

Todd: We will start with a career panel that helps young women understand the career opportunities open to them. Then there are additional panels and hands-on workshops and an esports show match over lunch.

HGB: There have been rotating Workshop Sessions in the past highlighting  Game Design, Animation, Content Creation, AI, Esports and Teamwork. What sort of workshops do you have planned for this year?

Todd: It will be a similar set of topics. The event is really about shifting mindsets from being simply a consumer of technology to becoming a creator with technology.

HGB: With the current rise of AI, what will the AI-based workshops be teaching students and attendees?

Todd: We are finalizing our AI partner this month so that will affect the programming a bit. But we believe students need to be responsible users of AI, so they are not left out of the next generation workforce and the skills that employers are demanding already.

HGB: I’ve seen lots of pictures of women wielding their controllers and keyboards from past Lioness Esports Competition. Is that competition strictly between professional gamers?

Todd: We have some hands-on gaming for attendees and there is typically a showcase match planned over lunchtime so participants can see the behind-the-scenes jobs involved with a live event production.

HGB: Is there any time during the expo that attendees are able to try their hand at any sort of competition gaming?

Todd: We have a leaderboard type competition during the expo. What we find more generally is that students who participate in a well-structured esports competition at their school show improved school attendance, improved grades, and higher STEM engagement.

HGB: Last year, Content Creators and Streamers from Ghost Gaming, specifically some of their Ghost Girls, attended the Expo. Are the Ghost Girls going to return this year?

Todd: We have a few surprises planned and will definitely have some of our Ghost Girls present.  Ghost Gaming is our professional gaming lifestyle organization. We have been intentional in that half of our signed Ghost Gaming roster are female and we always invite a set of those women to participate in Lioness.

HGB: Last year, there were prizes and giveaways from Zenni Optical. What did those prizes look like, and do we know what sort of giveaways will be happening this year, if any?

Todd: Zenni Optical has been a long-term partner of ours and they will definitely provide some giveaways.  We love Zenni because it is eyewear that is high style but low cost and therefore accessible for the entire community we serve with this event. We are always interested in talking with corporate partners or local companies who wish to support education and workforce development. This event is put on by our non-profit NASEF but the current environment for grants is very challenging. So, keeping events like this sustainable depends on amazing partners who can offer some financial support to keep it free for attendees.

HGB: Last year, lunch was offered by Chick-Fil-A. Is lunch typically offered on-site?

Todd: We are excited that Chick-Fil-A Piedmont is once again providing lunch for the young women who attend. They provide sandwiches and include vegetarian options as well. They have been a multi-year lunch sponsor, and we are appreciative they continue to give back to our local community in this way.

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