Jenny Lebron, Entrepreneur: Gear Up Gaming Shop
In Career Spotlight, the*gameHERs team interviews women who have found or created work within the gaming industry (or adjacent tech industries) in areas outside of playing, streaming, or competing.
This week’s interviewee is Jenny Lebron, Founder of Gear Up Gaming Shop, a gaming accessory company currently focusing on blue light blocking glasses designed with women in mind. We asked Jenny about her background, her experience as an entrepreneur and small business owner, and her passion for gaming.
The*gameHERs:
Before we get into your current business,we’d like to start with your own gaming background. When did you get into gaming? What is your first gaming memory?
Jenny Lebron:
I’ve been into gaming since I was a kid! In the 90s my siblings and I loved finding the hidden potions in Super Mario Brothers 2 and delivering the paper and dodging Grimm Reapers in Paperboy. (Look it up, it was a thing!) I have lots of early gaming memories, but I think the one that stands out the most is when my brother and I were deep into our Super Mario Land playthrough on the original Gameboy. We were so amazed at how cool it was to be able to play video games on a handheld device. And I distinctly remember dreaming up how AMAZING it would be if the Gameboy were in color like our TVs were. We both thought that was such an impossible feat! It’s fun to think of how far gaming has come since then.
GH:
Tell us a little bit about Gear Up Gaming Shop. What is it you do?
JL:
Gear Up Gaming Shop is my love letter to the gaming world! I *just* started (happy 2 months to us!), so we’re still a little youngling, but I want Gear Up Gaming to be a place where anyone feels welcome to grab some gear to up their game! Right now, we are focused on blue light blocking glasses. With everything going on in the world right now, my screen time increased DRAMATICALLY over the past few months. So it kind of made sense for me to start with blue light blocking glasses to help protect people’s eyes! But eventually, I would love to offer all kinds of things that people use while gaming. And even more fun things that go beyond utility and into creative expression. I would love to be able to partner with women, artists, and makers in the gaming community and create collections that promote their work! I also have a strong background in the non-profit industry, so one of my goals is to partner with agencies that support diversity in gaming and the tech world as well! These are all plans that I hope to accomplish as Gear Up Gaming grows beyond what we are today.
GH:
Did you always want to start your own business? Is that something you came to later?
JL:
Not really! After college, I always thought I’d be the career type of person that stays on my set path. As someone who sometimes struggles with anxiety, taking risks does not come easily to me. I had a career for many years and very slowly transitioned my first passion from a photography hobby into a sustainable, successful business.
However, for much of my life, both of my parents worked full time and were entrepreneurs on the side, doing something they loved. My dad is a musician and the head of a Latin band and my mom was their manager for many years, so I’m really grateful to have had them as an example of my own potential as an artistic entrepreneur. Thanks Mom and Dad!
GH:
What was your background before creating Gear Up Gaming Shop?
JL:
I had a career in the non-profit industry for 10 years before I started my first business with photography. I have worked for agencies with many different missions from helping local communities overcome transportation and technology barriers, addiction treatment and prevention services, early childhood education and maternal health programs, and other mental health agencies. I could easily talk about each of these agencies and the wonderful work that they do forever and ever. But instead, I’ll just say that social services was my first passion and continues to be something that I hope to incorporate into every business that I set out to build.
Towards the end of my career, my photography business began to take off. I made the decision to focus on my creative passion and see if I could make it on my own, doing something that I absolutely adore and creating art for people who are in love on one of the best days of their lives! Three years later, here we are with my photography business as one of my full-time jobs!
GH:
What have you learned as a business owner within the world of gaming? Do you find it different than other industries?
JL:
I think I may be a bit too new to be able to answer this question effectively, but so far, honestly, I feel pretty welcomed! Maybe it’s because of the people and agencies that I’m trying to align myself with, but it truly feels like the people are supportive and want to be involved and be a part of what I’m trying to build.
GH:
What advice do you have for other gameHERs who may want to become entrepreneurs or small business owners?
JL:
Remember that everyone’s path is totally different! Some people can jump in and take the sink-or-swim approach. Some people can take the slow-and-steady-wins-the-race approach. Figure out the best way for you and then just go for it!
I am privileged to have grown up in an environment where being an entrepreneur was encouraged and I fully recognize that is not the case for everyone. So don’t feel bad if you need encouragement or need help or guidance. We all do! Try to find people that have been there before and are willing to lend their expertise or are willing to mentor or coach you. Having a supportive community has been KEY for me and I could have never done this alone.
GH:
What kinds of things need to happen to make the world a better place for women, marginalized gender, and non-binary gamers?
JL:
I think a great place to start can be something as simple as representation and increased visibility in the industry. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to start Gear Up Gaming. I truly believe the gaming industry would benefit from having more diverse perspectives. Coupled with encouragement and support from companies like the*gameHERs, hopefully that can motivate more of us to join and contribute to making things better for everyone.
GH:
What’s your favorite game as a player?
JL:
In terms of video games, right now I am very much into Sea of Thieves! It’s been really fun playing with my friends and sailing the open oceans in search of treasure and other ships to plunder! The PvP aspect of that game makes it pretty exciting and plus, it’s fun to sink other players in my VERY pink ship. As far as tabletop games, I am a big Magic: The Gathering fan. My guest room in my house is basically made of magic cards at this point haha!
GH:
Could you share a bit about your life, hobbies and/or work outside of gaming?
JL:
As I mentioned earlier, I am also a wedding and boudoir photographer with J. Lebron Photography based in NY and FL and I LOVE documenting epic couples in love. Aside from that, I spend most of my time cuddling my beagle/dachshund puppy, Merlin, and watching Parks and Recreation + The Office 7,842 times a year.
GH:
What advice would you give to young gameHERs out there and/or to your younger gameHER self?
JL:
Don’t give up, and look for the helpers!
Check out Gear Up Gaming for awesome gaming accessories: gearupgamingshop.com
Follow Gear Up Gaming on social media:
Instagram: @gearupgamingshop
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