{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The iGaming Leader","title":"Taking the Mask Off: Leadership Through Doubt, Pressure and Authenticity","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3158,"description":"\nIn this episode of iGaming Leader, Leo sits down with Jovana Popovic Canaki, CEO of iGP and one of the few female leaders in the B2B iGaming space. \nJovana opens up about the emotional highs and lows of leadership, the hidden pressure of being “the strong one,” and the journey from intimidation and self-doubt to authentic, grounded leadership.\nThe conversation explores losing her belongings abroad and what it taught her about vulnerability, balancing work with family roles, early-career imposter feelings, learning to lead without wearing a “manager mask,” and the reality of being a woman advancing through a male-dominated industry.\nGuest Bio\n\nJovana Popović Čanaki, known to most as Jovi, is the CEO of iGP, an iGaming platform, aggregator, and lottery provider. \nWith more than 15 years of experience in the industry, she’s helped shape some of its most recognizable brands from Aspire Global to ORYX Gaming. Today she leads iGP’s evolution from a single-platform provider into a trusted, full-suite partner for operators worldwide.\nBut what really defines Jovi is her belief that growth comes from people first. She’s known for leading with empathy, authenticity, and a strong sense of purpose, building teams where creativity, accountability, and trust go hand in hand.\nAt iGP, she continues to champion the company’s Be Purple mindset, a reminder to stay bold, curious, and human, guiding both her team and partners to build gaming experiences that inspire connection and progress.\nKey Topics Discussed\n\n00:00 – The loneliness and emotional swings of leadership\n03:00 – Losing everything in a hotel lobby: vulnerability and perspective\n07:00 – The myth of work–life balance as a CEO, parent and expat\n15:00 – How her early years shaped her leadership style\n20:00 – Doubt, intimidation, and learning to “push through”\n32:00 – Wearing a “manager mask” and the cost of inauthenticity\n40:00 – Women in leadership: the progress, challenges and realities\n50:00 – Her advice to her younger...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/yqvdFvcfDiDCUT_op0gUBWr9w0nodzeeimRJmH0xYVI/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9lNTg1/MTBkYjJjNjA5MTU2/ZWFkZDc3OGI4MDgx/NDRmOC5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}