Maria Cornelius

Maria Cornelius serves as the Chief Product Officer at Arrowhead Game Studios. She is passionate about creating environments that foster innovation and collaboration while challenging individuals and teams to achieve more than they believed possible. Maria's experience stems from running her own small businesses for many years and from leadership roles at Paradox Interactive and Spotify. Driven by her belief in people's ability to achieve exceptional outcomes, Maria sets high standards for herself and the teams she leads. This approach has enabled her to push boundaries and cultivate a culture where unique ideas not only come to fruition but also challenge and redefine industry standards.

From Stalled to Shipped: Hard-Won Lessons From the Development of Helldivers 2

Join this keynote fireside chat with Maria Cornelius (Chief Product Officer, Arrowhead Games Studios) and moderator Leanne Loombe (Vice President, Head of External Games, Netflix) for an intimate conversation on the trials and triumphs of developing Helldivers 2. This talk explores the raw realities of leading through difficult times including how the team confronted periods of low morale and uncertain futures and the personal resilience required to lead the team through these challenges. Amid the development turmoil, Arrowhead transformed real setbacks into critical stepping stones through authentic leadership rather than flawless planning. Discover how one might turn adversity into success as Maria shares the pivotal lessons that launched Arrowhead far beyond their expectations.