Leon Chen
AI · Tech · Gaming · Sports

Bridging AI innovation, platform growth, and global storytelling.

I build go-to-market systems for emerging technology — translating complex products into trusted narratives, scalable ecosystems, and measurable business impact across developer, creator, and enterprise audiences.

Current Lens

AI GTM · platform ecosystems · fan and creator experiences

15+ Years
Experience
5x
AI Marketplace Adoption
$7M+
Net New ARR
50M+ MAU
Partner / Platform Reach

A hybrid operating space

AI and cloud platforms, game developer ecosystems, digital commerce, and sports media innovation — brought together through product marketing and cross-functional leadership.

What I do

Strategy built for emerging technology and real-world adoption

My work sits where technical possibility meets audience understanding. I focus on making new categories legible, credible, and commercially viable — especially in spaces where AI, platforms, and communities intersect.

AI & Platform GTM

Translating emerging technology into clear positioning, launch strategy, and adoption pathways for technical and business audiences.

Gaming, Sports & Creator Ecosystems

Operating at the intersection of developer platforms, fan experiences, community growth, and commercialization.

Global Orchestration

Aligning cross-functional teams across regions, functions, and cultures to turn strategy into scalable execution.

Selected work

A few stories that define my operating style

From category creation to growth turnarounds, these examples reflect how I connect research, product, ecosystem strategy, and market execution.

NBA · AI & Cloud

Building AI foundations for fan engagement

Helping shape GTM foundations for AI-driven fan experiences, partnership models, and scalable intelligence layers across global and China teams.

Flagship initiative

Unity · AI Marketplace

Launching a new AI ecosystem for creators

Led category definition and go-to-market strategy for Unity's first AI Marketplace, driving rapid adoption and establishing trusted partner pathways.

5x adoption

Unity · ML-Agents

Making advanced AI resonate with developers

Turned a complex machine learning product into a compelling developer story, helping ML-Agents become one of the most recognized frameworks in its category.

#2 on GitHub

Marketplace Growth

Reversing decline through digital transformation

Built data-driven growth motions across marketplace, eCommerce, and partner channels to improve performance and unlock new revenue streams.

$7M+ ARR
Experience

A career built across enterprise tech, developer platforms, and global growth

I've worked across Oracle, Microsoft, Unity, and the NBA — building a throughline around data, AI, ecosystem strategy, and cross-cultural execution.

NBA

Senior Director, Global Partnerships, AI & Cloud

2025 — Present

Driving AI and cloud partnership strategy at the intersection of sports, media, and next-generation fan engagement.

Unity Technologies

Global Head of Marketplace eCommerce, Asset Store, and Partnerships

2016 — 2024

Led AI product GTM, ecosystem growth, digital transformation, and global marketplace strategy across gaming and developer audiences.

Microsoft Open Tech

Senior Program Manager, Developer Evangelism

2013 — 2016

Managed open-source ecosystem initiatives on Azure and bridged technical communities across markets and cultures.

Oracle

Business Manager / Global Business Manager

2004 — 2010

Built early foundations in enterprise strategy, solutions, and global business development.

How I work

Leadership principles that shape my teams and partnerships

My management style blends strategic clarity with empathy, direct communication, and a strong bias toward ownership and thoughtful collaboration.

Inform · Inspire · Empower

My leadership style centers on clarity, trust, ownership, and enabling teams to do their best work.

Direct, contextual feedback

I value honesty and thoughtful debate, with enough context to make stronger decisions together.

Strategic, async-friendly collaboration

I work best with well-prepared communication, shared context, and room for reflection before key decisions.

Insights / Research

Essays, research, and fresh perspectives coming soon

This section will feature public-facing essays, research reports, and commentary on AI go-to-market, platform ecosystems, gaming, sports, and cross-cultural strategy.

Upcoming Essays

AI, platforms, and cross-cultural strategy

Forthcoming perspectives on AI adoption, platform shifts, creator ecosystems, and the operating models behind meaningful growth.

New updates coming soon

Research & Briefs

Market analysis and executive viewpoints

A curated space for strategic research, long-form analysis, and concise briefs for leaders navigating technology and transformation.

New updates coming soon

Featured Updates

Launch stories, lessons, and industry observations

New writing will spotlight product launches, ecosystem strategy, and practical lessons from building at the intersection of AI, gaming, and sports.

New updates coming soon

Let's connect

Open to conversations around AI, platforms, growth, and strategic storytelling.

Whether the topic is product marketing, ecosystem strategy, developer adoption, sports innovation, or long-form research, I enjoy connecting with people building meaningful things.