Always curious, hardworking and sociable, Anna Shahumyan accumulates over 10 years of experience in the iGaming industry. She holds a Pedagogical Degree in Foreign Languages, specializing in English and French. Her career path has been diverse: evolving from a translator to a live dealer, then into the role of a business development manager.
“I embarked in the iGaming sector almost 11 years ago, commencing as a live dealer in Armenia. I transitioned to the sales department within the same company, and later relocated to Europe, where I kept on advancing in the iGaming field, and continued in different positions,” she recalls. Anna worked at BetConstruct, Statscore and other firms until she joined renowned iGaming slots provider Tom Horn Gaming in April 2022 as Business Development Manager.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
About her interest and dedication for the sector, she explains: “The universe had its own plans. I was unaware of the existence of the iGaming industry before I entered. Now, I cannot imagine myself in another sphere because of the addictive nature of the iGaming world.
In this sector, Anna considers communication is a key. She admits having a genuine passion for connecting with others, and she thrives on the exchange of energy that occurs during collaborative work. Her working team often describes her as someone who would die if she could not communicate with people. She also describes herself as a responsible and quite calm person in anything she does.
ENCOURAGING FEMALE PARTICIPATION
When we ask her about the increasing role of women in the industry, she replies: “Over the years, from when I initially joined the sector to the present day, significant transformations have occurred. Notably, this once male segment has evolved. It brings me great joy to witness female professionals breaking new ground. To young women entering the industry, I would encourage them to have faith in their abilities, maintain confidence, and never shy away from voicing their thoughts openly.”
Likewise, for an active, dedicated, but also sociable woman, the challenge of work-life balance always arises. Regarding this issue, Shahumyan states: “Harmonizing personal and professional life may appear difficult, but it’s manageable. Delegation of tasks and responsibilities, coupled with efficient time management within the 24 hours we all have, is essential. I have a son, my personal interests, and my career, and thus far, I’ve been able to manage them effectively.”
NEW EXPERIENCIES AND CULTURES
When discussing her hobbies and interests, she reveals her deep passion for dancing. She enjoys exploring new destinations worldwide, embracing diverse cultures, and learning new languages. She even says she’s currently learning her sixth language, Spanish!
Thinking on the future, in the next two years, Anna aspires to find a sense of stability and establish a more permanent residence, as her current focus is on “exploring new cultures and residing in various countries as a new kind of experience.”
Professionally, she has a multitude of exciting plans at Tom Horn. “Our company is poised for expansion into new markets, increased participation in industry events, and the establishment of valuable partnerships,” she concludes with a mixture of hope and a focus on meeting those goals.
In one line
A book: “Anna Karenina” (Leon Tolstoi, 1878)
A movie: “The Green Mile” (Frank Darabont, 1999), and also the TV-show “Narcos” (various authors, 2015-2017)
Favorite music: electronic music
A fragrance: Tobacco Vanille, by Tom Ford
A place to live: wherever you feel home
A place to go on vacations: Spain
A place for dining out: riverside restaurants in the countryside of Armenia
A meal: Ukranian Borscht
A drink: coffee
A sport: Formula 1
A teacher/mentor or main reference in your life: my mom