Kayleen Walters

Biography

As Vice President, Franchise Development for Gaming at Microsoft, Kayleen Walters is responsible for expanding gaming franchises through various entertainment platforms, including consumer products, partnerships, film, television, and themed interactive entertainment. Kayleen is a visionary leader with a proven track record in the entertainment industry. She has spearheaded marketing and branding initiatives and forged global partnerships for legendary, multibillion-dollar franchises. Before her current role, Kayleen led Brand and Entertainment at Minecraft, where she transformed the franchise into a comprehensive entertainment powerhouse. Under her leadership, Minecraft consumer products experienced remarkable growth. She developed a robust franchise development plan that expanded linear content, immersive experiences, and consumer products. Her strategic vision and ability to forge impactful partnerships have solidified her reputation as a thought leader in the industry. Prior to joining Microsoft, Kayleen spent 13 years at Lucasfilm Ltd., where she rose to Vice President, Franchise Marketing & Integrated Planning. She provided global leadership for brand management, crafted strategic roadmaps for the Star Wars brand, and oversaw product-specific marketing campaigns. Kayleen is particularly proud of launching Star Wars: Force for Change, a charitable initiative aimed at inspiring positive global impact. She also developed and launched the #1 Blu-ray collection of all time, led marketing for Star Wars & Indiana Jones theatrical releases, produced multiple documentaries, and launched the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Earlier in her career, Kayleen held positions at MGM and Universal Studios. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from U.C. Berkeley.