Koen Schobbers

Koen Schobbers is a gaming and esports expert who translates the power of digital play into practical strategies for organisations, families and professionals. As vice chair of the Global Esports Federation's Athletes, Players & Community Commission and founder of Koenz, he has guided major brands including Vodafone and KIA whilst developing internationally adopted models through Parents of Play that reshape how families and educators connect with gaming children. A former professional gamer turned TED speaker and author of 'My Gaming Child', Koen equips audiences with actionable frameworks to harness gaming culture for engagement, innovation and authentic relationship building across generations and industries.

At just 15 years old, Koen Schobbers turned professional in competitive gaming, launching a career that would see him become Dutch champion in Trackmania for five consecutive years and finish third at the 2013 World Championships. What began with personal challenges in his own family relationships evolved into a mission to bridge the generational divide around gaming, transforming him into one of the industry's most trusted voices on how digital play shapes behaviour, connection and opportunity. His journey from elite competitor to global advocate has equipped him with a rare perspective that combines lived experience with strategic insight, positioning him to help organisations and families navigate the complexities of gaming culture with clarity and purpose.

Today, Koen serves as vice chair of the Athletes, Players & Community Commission at the Global Esports Federation, an organisation partnering with UNESCO, the World Health Organisation and over 100 member federations worldwide. As founder of Koenz, he has guided major brands including Vodafone, KIA, Acer and Spinnin' Records in integrating gaming and esports into their commercial strategies. Through Parents of Play, the initiative he created from his own experiences, Koen has developed internationally adopted models and guidelines that train professionals and support parents in building stronger relationships with gaming children. His book, 'My Gaming Child', addresses the 50 most frequently asked questions from concerned parents, whilst his 2019 TEDx talk has helped thousands understand how to reconnect across the gaming divide. Since 2014, he has been featured in over 300 media outlets and delivered 40 global speaking engagements in 2023 alone, from Croatia to London, reaching audiences at organisations including The European Lotteries, FTI Consulting and GroupM. His growing YouTube channel has attracted nearly 7,000 subscribers and over 700,000 views, building a Discord community of more than 1,500 members.

Koen equips audiences with practical frameworks that translate gaming culture into actionable strategies for engagement, innovation and authentic relationship building. Whether addressing business leaders seeking to connect with younger demographics, educators working with gaming youth, or parents navigating screen time concerns, he delivers insights grounded in real-world application and measurable outcomes. His presentations move beyond theory to offer specific models that organisations can implement immediately, helping them harness the collaborative, community-driven principles that make gaming so powerful. Audiences leave with renewed confidence to approach gaming not as a challenge to manage, but as a gateway to deeper connection, fresh thinking and meaningful engagement across generations and industries.