Taking the Mask Off: Leadership Through Doubt, Pressure and Authenticity

In 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. Jovana 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.The 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.Guest BioJovana Popović Čanaki, known to most as Jovi, is the CEO of iGP, an iGaming platform, aggregator, and lottery provider. With 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.But 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.At 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.Key Topics Discussed00:00 – The loneliness and emotional swings of leadership03:00 – Losing everything in a hotel lobby: vulnerability and perspective07:00 – The myth of work–life balance as a CEO, parent and expat15:00 – How her early years shaped her leadership style20:00 – Doubt, intimidation, and learning to “push through”32:00 – Wearing a “manager mask” and the cost of inauthenticity40:00 – Women in leadership: the progress, challenges and realities50:00 – Her advice to her younger self: stop doubtingMemorable Quotes“Do what you believe in.”“Why are you so afraid to show who you are? What’s the worst that can happen?” “If you don’t have a little stage fright, you don’t care enough.”Connect with Jovihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jovanapopovic/https://igamingbusiness.com/strategy/management/jovana-popovic-canaki-igp-leadership/https://g3newswire.com/igp-a-transformative-year/www.igpgaming.comFollow Leo Judkins & iGaming LeaderLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-judkins/Newsletter: https://www.igamingleader.com/subscribeJoin the Mastermind: https://www.igamingleader.com/apply