Then, Betsy saw a listing for a new creative opportunity opening up. She had to decide…was she going to keep going in the direction she was already on, or would she leap into the metaverse and the great unknown?

A fairy tale podcast about the real-life rebel women who inspire us. In this mini series, we’re diving into stories of women who are shaping the ever-changing landscape of technology.

On this episode, Betsy DeHont — a Senior Art Department Manager who is shaping the future of virtual design.

After she graduated high school, Betsy went off to college, where she studied communication. She was most excited about documentary filmmaking, which is telling true stories on film using interviews, photographs, and lots of research.

Betsy wanted to make films that really immersed viewers and brought stories to life. But she had no idea how to start.

First, she got a job and did some traveling so she could experience different cultures. Then, she interned for a filmmaker so she could learn about documentary editing and production. Betsy saw first-hand how each movie, tv show, or commercial was the product of so many different kinds of artists working together. She loved collaborating! She started to look for jobs that allowed her to build with other creatives, and the one that she found next was out of this world.

Yeah, but doesn’t a former Jedi apprentice with two lightsabers have to look tough too?

The year was 2010 and Betsy was one of the art coordinators for an animated television series. She was thrilled. She loved working directly with artists– connecting many intricate details to bring new worlds and characters to life on screen. Whether the team was debating what a Jedi apprentice should wear on her head or mapping out uncharted galaxies for animation, Betsy’s communication and organization skills were a vital part of the process.

She wanted to go further though. Betsy started working on production for video games, which was a much more interactive way to relay stories. In fact, Betsy’s job was to make sure anyone jumping into the game felt like they were part of the story unfolding. The environment, the game design, and the animation all had to add up to a unique and ever-changing experience. It stretched Betsy’s ideas of world-building for sure.

Betsy was actually very busy with launching a game and doing research on another in development when she saw that listing for a new creative opportunity.

It was top secret not only to her, but to the world. It was developing a virtual reality experience called Meta Horizon. In Horizon, there are lots of fun worlds to explore, plus games, special events, and communities. There are new Horizon worlds and quests launching all the time, including concerts, sporting events, and ways for creators to use their imagination to build their own spaces.

Betsy had never worked this closely with VR before. She soon realized that what her team was making had never been done and there was no roadmap for where they were going. At Meta, Betsy was literally forging a path as she went, which made it incredibly challenging and rewarding.

She loves working on a product or a piece of entertainment that’s bringing people joy and connecting them in a new dimension. During the pandemic, Betsy witnessed communities forming through Meta Horizon Worlds. They were interacting in worlds that Betsy’s team helped design – with flying hot air balloons, hidden doorways, and different laws of gravity. She thought about the function of these virtual spaces– whether she wanted users to feel cozy or expansive or to have little corners for finding calm. It felt incredible to be using brand new technology to make immersive universes like people had never seen.

In Betsy’s offline life, a lot has changed too. She’s recently become mom to two wonderful kids who are full of stories, questions, and ideas. Much like her job of art management, Betsy thinks a lot about how to build a world for her kids that’s bright and expansive.

Everywhere she looks, there are new sources of inspiration.

Every virtual world she creates is full of new landscapes, sounds and possibilities.

Every day is another chance for her to expand what art can be.

This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls. It’s based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls.

This episode was narrated by ME, Sura Siu. It was produced and directed by Haley Dapkus, with sound design and mixing by Mumble Media.

The story was written by Abby Sher and edited by Haley Dapkus. Our executive producers were Joy Smith and Jes Wolfe.

Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi.

A special thanks to the whole Rebel Girls team, who make this podcast possible! Until next time, staaaay rebel!