Leadership, Reinvented: How Nana Shneider Went From HR to Chief Acquisition Officer at Betbazar

1. What’s the story behind your journey at Betbazar? How did you get started, and how has your role grown or changed over time?

 I started at Betbazar in quite an unexpected way — as an assistant to the CEO. At the time, I had no background in the iGaming or tech industry. I didn’t know what Bet365 was, or what BetVictor did — I came from a completely different world: more artistic, educational, even diplomatic in a way. I had worked with organisations like the UN and OSCE, so joining Betbazar felt like stepping into a different universe.

Very early on, I found myself involved in all sorts of things — from helping with follow-ups and recruitment to PR, events, even re-decorating the office. I still remember being in the cargo elevator in the middle of winter, moving a sofa with some workers, thinking: “What am I doing with my life?” It was surreal, but also… strangely exciting.

But what really made the difference was that the CEO believed in me. He saw potential in places I hadn’t even noticed in myself yet, and he encouraged me to try, to learn, and to grow into each new challenge. And the whole team , actually. I felt very welcome and very safe. 

Over the years, those small steps became something much bigger — and now, here I am.

2. Moving from HR Director to Chief Acquisition Officer is a pretty big leap — what sparked that change, and what made you say yes to it?

 It is a leap — and I’ll be honest, I don’t consider myself an expert in acquisition. I’ve just started this journey. But what made me say yes was the trust I felt from the team, especially our CEO, and the belief that I could grow into this role the same way I’ve grown into every role before.

I bring a deep understanding of the company, of how we work, and what we value. And I know I’m capable of learning — step by step, with time. That’s what I’m focusing on now.

3. How’s the new role treating you so far? Anything that’s surprised you or caught you off guard along the way?
It’s a lot — in the best way. I’m still figuring things out, and I try to remind myself that it’s okay not to have everything mastered right away. I’m learning from the team, from partners, and from the process itself.

What’s surprised me is how many parallels there are with my past roles — how much of this work still comes down to understanding people and building genuine relationships. That part feels familiar, even if the landscape is new.

4. Where do you see the acquisition side of things heading within the bigger picture at Betbazar?
For me personally, I see this as a journey. I’m still at the beginning, and I don’t have a polished five-year vision to present — but I know what direction we’re moving in. I see acquisition becoming more intentional, more connected to our long-term strategy, and more human in how we approach partnerships.

As for the bigger picture — I believe in the people I work with, and in what we’re building. That gives me a lot of confidence, even when I’m still finding my feet.

5. Looking back at your time as HR Director, what are some of the achievements you're most proud of? How did they shape the company or your own growth?

Looking back at my time as HR Director at a 30-person iGaming company, I think the biggest challenge—and achievement—was becoming a one-woman HR orchestra overnight. I had to learn everything fast. If there was a course called ‘HR in a Startup: Crash Test Edition,’ I’d be teaching it by now.

One of my proudest accomplishments was helping to build a team of not just talented professionals, but genuinely good humans. Hiring in a small company is like picking crew members for a rocket to Mars—every single person matters. I’m proud to say we chose wisely.

I also created clear HR processes from scratch—everything from onboarding to performance reviews, to organizing events that weren’t just pizza in the break room (though yes, there was pizza too). The result? A company where people actually understand how things work, feel welcomed from day one, and look forward to our events—even the virtual ones.

Personally, I learned how to spot not just a good resume, but a great fit. I figured out how to balance KPIs with kindness, and how to be the person that people trust with both their onboarding questions and their karaoke mic.

More than anything, I’ve learned that when people feel truly seen, heard, and supported, everything else—productivity, engagement, retention—starts to fall into place. That’s the energy I’d bring to this role, too.

6. Every role comes with its share of challenges. Can you share a moment or decision during your time as HR Director that didn’t go as planned — and what you learned from it?

Challenges? Oh, they came in bulk — but one that really stands out was during an industry event when, due to sudden travel restrictions, our sales team couldn’t make it. Just like that, we were three people down… and I somehow ended up with 40 back-to-back meetings. I wasn't sure if I was representing HR or running a one-woman sales roadshow.

It was wild, exhausting, and weirdly amazing. I had to jump in, stay calm, and make sure we still showed up strong — which we did. But more importantly, it taught me a lot about resilience, the importance of cross-functional understanding, and the kind of personalities we needed on the team moving forward.

After that event, I fine-tuned how we evaluate candidates for adaptability and ownership — because when things go sideways (and they do), you want people who can roll up their sleeves and get it done, title or not. That moment was stressful, yes, but also one of the most valuable experiences of my career.

About Betbazar

Betbazar is a B2B worldwide iGaming marketplace which has set a new sales standard, sourcing specialist iGaming products and advising on their role within existing strategies to deliver growth to our partners. The company’s ambition is building a digital iGaming marketplace that connects creators with operators to accelerate growth powered by best-in-class products.

Website: https://betbazar.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betbazar

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