Welcome to the Leadership Echoes, a place where The Future, asks the simplest, yet, the most interesting questions to the executives of well-known companies, startups and innovators.
This time we talk with, Roman Gurskiy, the Managing Director of GEM Capital. Under Roman’s leadership, GEM Capital has become a leading global gaming investor with a significant presence in Cyprus. Drake Star and InvestGame have recognized GEM Capital for its substantial contributions to the industry and have been included in the list of the world’s TOP-10 most active investors in games. The company was named Best Investor of 2021 by App2top, the leading business media in Eastern Europe, and was nominated for Investor of the Year at the 2024 MENA Games Industry Awards.
Roman has a strong track record of deals with global leaders in the gaming market, such as Tencent, Microsoft, and KRAFTON. During his time at GEM Capital, Roman has executed more than 20 deals. Games from GEM Capital’s portfolio companies frequently win prestigious awards, including Steam Awards, BAFTA, Golden Joystick Awards, The D.I.C.E. Awards, and many others.
Roman is an active member of the gaming community in Cyprus, MENA, and Eastern Europe, frequently speaking at conferences such as Google Gaming Summit, Mobidictum, DevGAMM, WN Conference, Best Invest Congress, Reflect Festival, GDCy, and Talents in Games.
Before joining GEM Capital, Roman spent six years in various roles, including as a manager in transaction advisory at EY. At EY, he specialized in valuation and business modeling. In 2017-2018, Roman was accredited as a senior appraiser by the American Society of Appraisers.
Let’s see what Gurskiy has to say…
1. Do you remember your first day on the job at GEM Capital?
Honestly, I don’t remember. But I probably arrived at the office, grabbed a delicious morning coffee, and started exploring investment opportunities in fintech or something similar. At that time, GEM Capital was industry-agnostic. Over the past seven years, GEM Capital has become known as one of the leading gaming investors in the world. It’s been quite a journey.
2. What is more difficult: being interviewed to join a team or doing the interviews yourself?
A good interview is a two-way street where both sides discuss themselves and ask questions to understand if they are a good fit for each other and if an effective, mutually beneficial collaboration is possible. Therefore, interviewing and being interviewed are fairly similar in complexity but involve different challenges. When you’re being interviewed, most people are under significant nervous pressure—managing these emotions is the main challenge when you’re in the candidate’s chair. When you’re conducting interviews, you’re less nervous but often need to consider more details of the puzzle. The candidate’s task is to find a good job where they will be comfortable. The employer’s task is to find a candidate who will not only do the job well but also integrate smoothly into the team.
3. What do you most value in your employees?
I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the most talented people. All of them came to GEM Capital from prestigious consulting firms in managerial positions and hold esteemed awards and titles, including CFA, ACCA, and ASA. I highly value their professionalism and ambition, but what stands out even more is the ability to openly admit when they need help on a task, knowing they will receive support rather than judgment. Our team is like a league of superheroes, where Superman isn’t afraid to call the Justice League for help in the darkest hour, and he knows the help will come.
4. Which is a motto/quote you use in your work?
There are several great quotes that come to mind, but I would highlight: “One for all, all for one!” from Alexandre Dumas’s The Three Musketeers. Great achievements are possible only with an effective and united team, driven by a common goal. The GEM Capital team is like the musketeers, each with its strengths and weaknesses, but together, the strengths are amplified and the weaknesses disappear!
5. If you were back to the start, what would you advise yourself for a great career?
“Don’t be afraid to ask for advice, especially from those who have already walked the path you’re about to take.” When I first graduated from university and began my career path, I knew I wanted to advance in investments and corporate finance, but I had very little understanding of the details. I had only a vague idea of the differences between venture funds, investment banks, and consulting firms. I would now advise my younger self to speak with representatives from each profession and ask them to explain their work, including the pros and cons. My career has turned out very well, but I now realize that in many ways, I was fortunate to make the right choices.
6. How do you pump up your creativity?
It’s simple—I play games. I’m lucky to be part of the games industry, which is one of the most creative fields. They say, “Find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” That’s exactly my case. My brother and I have loved playing games since childhood, and we still do it now as part of our work. I’ll let you in on a secret: sometimes I tell my wife I’m playing a game for work, even though that’s not entirely true! Let’s see if she reads my interviews!
7. What is a talent you would like to have?
Recently, my friends and colleagues and I have discovered padel and play it often in the evenings. I tend to lose more often, so right now, I would like to develop the talent of a padel player!
8. How do you balance work and personal life?
The nature of work in a venture fund involves long hours. We’re no exception, so balancing work-life balance is a significant concern. I used to swim in the sea early every morning before work. But now, my life has changed significantly—I’ve become a parent for the first time with my wife. This new chapter means my previously established work-life balance is now a thing of the past. I’m learning to manage my time again, which is always in short supply!
9. What are the top five foods you like in Cyprus?
I’m a big fan of authentic Cypriot cuisine! And, to be honest, I’m a fan of good food in general! My Top 5 are:
- Kleftiko,
- Moussaka,
- Stifado,
- Souvlaki,
- Sheftalia.
In my heart, Kleftiko always holds the top spot! Writing this answer made me hungry.
10. Can you name your top five favourite places in Cyprus?
- Paphos Harbor,
- Asprokremmos Dam,
- Picnic site in Peyia,
- Toxeftra Beach,
- My home, where my wife and son always await me.
11. Who is your favourite author/book that helped your career?
J.R.R. Tolkien. My love for fantasy began with The Lord of the Rings. This love for fantasy led me to enjoy video games. Thanks to my passion for games, we built one of the largest gaming funds in the world.
12. Where would you advise our readers to go this summer?
To where your parents are. Especially if you haven’t seen them for a long time.
