A Bronx native who grew up to lead one of the most influential video game companies in the world is returning to his roots to help inspire the next generation. 

Reggie Fils-Aimé held several high-profile positions before landing at Nintendo of America, where he worked for more than 15 years until he retired as president of the company last year. 

However, he wasted no time in paying all of that experience forward. “I was born in the Bronx, I spent the first eight years of my life in the Bronx and to spend time with these young people and to deliver a message that I am them, they can be me. And to share my story and my life my learning with them was just so powerful,” said Fils-Aimé. 

“I did not expect to get a note from the president of Nintendo of America on the day he retires, but he said, 'Harold, one of the reasons I retired was because of how I felt when I was giving back and mentoring the kids that you mentor,'” said Harold Goldberg, who started the nonprofit the New York Game Critics Circle.

The nonprofit consists of 40 journalist members who share their skills with high school students in the Bronx and lower Manhattan. 

They offer classes, mentorships, scholarships and paid internships. Now, with Fils-Aimé on the board of directors, he and Goldberg are fundraising to expand programming. 

The first episode of “Talking Games with Reggie and Harold” is out now with exclusive content available at a cost. 

The goal is to bring gaming systems to children living in shelters, connecting the next generation to opportunity.