Nicole LaPointe Jameson facts for kids

Nicole LaPointe Jameson (born April 11, 1994) is an American businesswoman. She was the CEO of the esports team Evil Geniuses from 2019 to 2023. Esports involves professional video game competitions.

Early Life and Her Journey

Nicole LaPointe Jameson grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut. She went to Columbia University in New York City and finished her studies in 2016. During her college years, she got a job offer from an investment company called PEAK6. She worked there for five years, helping different businesses.

One day, she discovered Evil Geniuses, an esports organization. She thought it had great potential. In May 2019, PEAK6 bought Evil Geniuses. Nicole LaPointe Jameson then became the new CEO of the organization.

Growing Evil Geniuses

Under her leadership, Evil Geniuses grew quickly. In September 2019, the team returned to competing in popular games. These included League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. They joined the League of Legends Championship Series. They also acquired the CS:GO team from NRG Esports.

Within a year, the organization doubled its staff. They also opened new offices in Seattle and Los Angeles. In 2020, Nicole LaPointe Jameson was recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30. This list highlights young leaders in various fields, including games.

Supporting Diverse Teams

In January 2021, Evil Geniuses made history. They became the first major esports team to sign a mixed-gender squad for Valorant. Nicole LaPointe Jameson shared her vision for the team. She said that talent was the most important thing. She believed that anyone who was "the best of the best" had a place at Evil Geniuses.

In August 2021, a player named Christine "potter" Chi moved to a new role. She became the head coach of the Valorant squad. She led the team to win the Valorant Champions in 2023. This was a big achievement for the team.

Challenges and Departure

In March 2023, some reports came out about Evil Geniuses. These reports mentioned concerns about a player named Kyle "Danny" Sakamaki. He played for the League of Legends team. It was reported that the team's management had not fully supported his well-being. Despite warnings, he continued to play in tournaments. Sakamaki later took a break from the team. This led to an investigation by Riot Games, the company behind League of Legends.

In September 2023, Nicole LaPointe Jameson left her role as CEO. This happened during a time when the company faced several challenges. Some employees reported issues with management. The company also lost many sponsors between late 2022 and early 2023. This included a long-term partnership with Monster Energy. Evil Geniuses also had to reduce its staff during this period.

After stepping down, Nicole LaPointe Jameson spoke about her time at Evil Geniuses. She admitted that "nothing has been done perfectly." However, she also said she was proud of the progress the company had made.