By Brent Li

For many college students, playing video games is just a way to unwind. For Martin “White” Kwan, it became a defining part of his college experience that helped shape his career.

Kwan, a University of Maryland alumnus who played competitive “League of Legends” from 2015 to 2019, is now a senior consultant at Deloitte, where he works in project management. While his current role may seem far removed from esports, he said the transition was not as disconnected as it might appear.

“It’s project dependent, but a lot of what I do is planning and managing timelines,” Kwan said. “You’re working with teams constantly.”

During his time at UMD, where he studied electrical engineering, Kwan competed at a high level in collegiate esports, including a semifinal appearance at a national tournament. His team was flown to gaming conventions such as PAX East and the studios for the Riot Games company, experiences that helped legitimize collegiate esports at the time.

Across his college career, Kwan earned more than $20,000 in tournament winnings through Riot Games’ sponsored events reflecting both the competitiveness of the scene and the growing investment in collegiate esports during that period.

At his peak, Kwan treated the game with the intensity of a full-time job, spending upwards of eight hours a day playing, reviewing matches and studying strategy.

“My freshman year, I was probably investing almost like a full workday into League-related things,” Kwan said.

Despite his success, Kwan said he realized early on that pursuing esports professionally was not a realistic career path. By his sophomore year, increasing academic demands and a lack of industry connections made him reconsider his future.

“I think after freshman year, I realized it was more of a hobby than something I could pursue as a career,” Kwan said.

Instead, Kwan shifted his focus toward building a more traditional career path. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree, he entered consulting through a referral from a friend and eventually worked his way up to his current position.

Even after stepping away from competitive play, Kwan remained involved in “League of Legends” esports as a coach, mentoring current players and staying connected to the game.

Kwan said his experience in esports continues to influence how he approaches his work today.

“If you want to get better, you have to be self-critical,” Kwan said. “You’re going to make mistakes, but it’s about how you learn from them.”

He also emphasized the importance of teamwork, noting that competitive gaming requires strong communication and collaboration — skills that directly translate to professional environments.

“League is a team-based game where everyone has a role,” Kwan said. “Being able to communicate, give feedback and take feedback is something I use every day.”

Those qualities were evident to others who worked with him. Asif “Hoptech” Islam, a UMD alumnus, former “League of Legends” player and co-coach who worked alongside Kwan, described him as a dependable and detail-oriented teammate.

“He’s really polite and very communicative,” Islam said. “He’s someone you can rely on for everything.”

Islam added that Kwan’s personality made him stand out not just as a player, but as a teammate and leader.

“From the moment I met him, he’s been very friendly and just good company to have,” Islam said.

Kwan’s journey also reflects a broader shift in how esports is perceived. Sergio Brack, UMD’s current esports coordinator, said the collegiate esports landscape has evolved significantly over the past decade.

“I would easily say the field has changed dramatically over the last decade within collegiate esports,” Brack said. “From new Division I programs to scholarships and national competitions, the space is full of opportunity for students now.”

Brack added that esports experience can translate into careers in ways that extend beyond professional play.

“One of our former students had no prior experience in esports before joining as an observer,” Brack said. “She took that role seriously and turned it into opportunities working events with Riot’s Game Changers division and the VALORANT Champions Tour.”

Kwan echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that the value of esports lies in how students present their experiences.

“I was hesitant to put it on my resume at first,” Kwan said. “But looking back, it was a big part of my college life, and being able to talk about it helped.”

Today, Kwan encourages students to think strategically about how they present their experiences, especially in an increasingly competitive job market.

“You have to do more now,” Kwan said. “Whether that’s building projects or learning new tools, you need to find ways to stand out.”

Featured Image: A professional photo of Martin Kwan, a UMD esports alumnus, post college. Photo courtesy of Martin Kwan.