Xbox's head of creator experience and ecosystem Sarah Bond has reflected on her 2019 E3 appearance in a recent interview, naming it as the most meaningful thing she's done in her time at Microsoft. Speaking to Inverse, Bond recalls being warned about trolls, interactions backstage, and crying as she walked off the stage.

"I'd argue that wasn't my best actual showcase performance, but that one was the most meaningful," Bond explained. "We had never had a Black woman come up on stage before. Xbox wanted me to do it, but they were setting my expectations that it may be very rough. There's days of rehearsals before the live show. At one point, someone who had worked on that show for 20 years told me, 'We never thought we would see this. We're so proud of you.'"

The games industry is known to struggle with diversity, especially when it comes to the people who are represented on stage at the biggest presentations and events. Bond explains how she was galvanized to do her part to change that perception by speaking at E3, then one of the biggest events in the industry's calendar.