On April 15, 2025, Goodville announced that Katerina Dudinskaya, currently serving as CMO, will move to the new position of CEO and replace the co-founder, Alexey Meleshkevich, effective May 1, 2025.
Katerina started her professional journey at the age of 19 as a digital marketer. She was previously a part of the Marketing and Growth team at Easybrain, led a 70-person marketing team at Gismart, and built a strong marketing team from scratch at Goodville.
During Katerina’s four-year tenure as CMO, Goodville experienced substantial growth, reaching 5.5 million players. She expanded the player base in Tier 1 markets through strategic marketing campaigns and partnered with global wellness and mental health initiatives to increase product credibility and reach, which resulted in improved user retention and LTV and significant YOY revenue growth.
Following this news, we have contacted Goodville to discuss Katerina’s new adventure as the CEO of Goodville.
You’ve been with Goodville since its early stages. What does this transition to CEO mean to you personally?
It’s a deeply personal and meaningful milestone. Having been part of Goodville from the beginning, I’ve seen it grow from an idea into a product that impacts millions of lives. Becoming CEO feels like both a recognition of that journey and a new chapter of responsibility – to the people who built this with me, to our players, and to the vision we’ve always believed in.
From starting your career at 19 to becoming CEO at 30, what have been the most important lessons or turning points along the way?
The biggest lessons came from the hardest moments – when things didn’t go as planned, and we had to make tough calls without a clear map. I learned to trust my instincts, value collaboration, and stay focused on the long game.
A key turning point was realizing that leadership isn’t about having all the answers, but about asking the right questions and empowering others.
How has your mindset or sense of responsibility evolved in the transition from CMO to CEO?
As CMO, my focus was primarily on growth, user engagement, and product impact. As CEO, the lens is wider. Now I think more about the whole system: our culture, our people, long-term strategy, and sustainable success. The sense of responsibility has grown – from owning a part of the mission to stewarding the entire vision.
What are your early priorities as you step into this new leadership role?
My first priorities are alignment and clarity. I want to ensure the entire team understands where we’re going and why- and that everyone feels empowered to contribute to that vision. We’re also focusing on strengthening our foundation: deepening our wellness expertise, refining our player journey, and being intentional about how we scale.
Your role now includes defining the long-term vision and driving sustainable growth. What does “sustainable growth” mean to you in the context of mobile gaming?
Sustainable growth means building in a way that’s scalable, ethical, and deeply aligned with our values. In mobile gaming, it’s easy to chase short-term metrics – but we’re here to create real, lasting impact. That means respecting our players’ time and well-being, investing in meaningful content, and being thoughtful in how we grow our reach and partnerships.
How do you evaluate potential partners in wellness and mental health to ensure alignment with Goodville’s values?
We look for partners who are evidence-based, player-centered, and genuinely care about impact over hype. Alignment with our values- empathy, credibility, and purpose- is non-negotiable. We take our role seriously in the wellness space, so we only collaborate with those who share that responsibility.
You now lead a fully remote, cross-functional team at Goodville. How do you maintain culture, cohesion, and alignment across different teams?
Intentional communication is key. We’ve built rituals and processes that keep us connected, from regular all-hands to smaller team syncs and one-on-ones. But culture is more than meetings – it’s about shared purpose and mutual respect. We invest time in listening, celebrating wins, and making sure every voice is heard, no matter the timezone.
What excites you most about where mobile gaming and wellness are headed, and what role do you hope to play with Goodville in shaping that future?
I’m excited by the growing awareness that games can be tools for healing, self-discovery, and connection, not just escape. At Goodville, we’re uniquely positioned at the intersection of gaming and wellness, and I want us to lead the way in shaping a future where mobile games can truly support mental health in an authentic, evidence-based, and engaging way.
