When Kate H. was named as a Fellow to the 1,000 Dreams Fund BroadcastHER Academy back in 2020, she was standing at a crossroads. She’d been steadily gaining experience in live production roles, but she was also ready to take on something new, something more technical —  where she could understand not just how things worked, but why.

“The support came at a time when I was transitioning from operating roles into engineering,” she says. “It really helped solidify that direction for me. It felt like the first real validation outside of my mentors and friends that I was capable of building a long-term career in a space many told me wasn’t possible.”

Our BroadcastHER Academy Fellowship — which offered fellows of the program $1,000, an all-expense paid trip to live esports events for a day of shadowing and mentorship, products from partner HyperX, and more — was important to Kate’s journey. That mix of mentorship, encouragement, validation and practical support from 1,000 Dreams Fund gave Kate exactly what she needed to keep saying “yes” to bigger opportunities — and to herself.

From ‘Working in Gaming’ to Engineering Global Broadcasts

In the years since her BroadcastHER win, Kate’s curiosity and drive has led her into an extraordinary career that’s taken her all over the world.

“I’ve gone from just wanting to ‘work in gaming’ to helping build and run the systems that make everything function behind the scenes of a live broadcast,” she says.

Today, she’s an accomplished broadcast engineer — someone who thrives on solving the technical puzzles that make massive events possible. “Being an engineer constantly presents new challenges and forces you to adapt, think creatively, and stay curious,” Kate adds. “That’s exactly what I love most about it.”

Her work has earned her the trust and friendship of some of the industry’s most talented operators and fellow engineers — and she’s brought more than 100 live events to life across the globe, from esports tournaments to concerts and even a few “bizarre” corporate shows.

A Career That’s Gone Global

One standout moment? The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 in Riyadh.

As Engineer in Charge (EIC), Kate spent 75 days onsite overseeing the preparation, execution, and teardown of EWC — a seven-week global broadcast that covered 25 tournaments and 24 game titles. “It was a massive production and an incredible undertaking for everyone involved,” she says.

That scale of work reflects just how far she’s come since her early days volunteering at DreamHack — another event that still holds a special place in her heart.

“For DreamHack Atlanta this year, I was part of the engineering team for Main Stage,” Kate shares. “We supported everything from cosplay competitions to Esports tournaments and even a live D&D session featuring VTubers.”

DreamHack, she says, “has always felt like home.” It’s where she got her first big opportunity back in 2017, and it remains a reminder of the power of community and support in the gaming world.

Looking Ahead

Kate’s journey is proof that curiosity, passion, and technical creativity can go a long way — especially when paired with organizations that believe in your potential.

“Being selected for the BroadcastHER Grant gave me the confidence and gear I needed to keep going,” she says. “It helped me see that I belonged in this space.”

You can follow Kate’s continuing adventures in broadcast engineering and live production at kateharrell.com, or on social media:

@iamkateAV on X/Twitter
@iamkate.av on Instagram
LinkedIn: kateharrell