Our 1,000 Dreams Fund BroadcastHER Academy Gaming and Esports Fellows Traveled to Games Week Georgia!

1,000 Dreams Fund Founder & CEO, Christie Garton, & Project Manager, Kayla Cooper, with the 2026 Fellows!

Our Fellows selected to the 2026 BroadcastHER Academy Fellowship for Women & Fems in Esports & Gaming cohort just traveled to Atlanta, Ga., for an unforgettable trip for Games Week Georgia.

This year’s Fellows — BM0R3Natural, reluscent, FizzyIce5, solJinx, and MorganOfTheLeaf — spent four packed days learning directly from creators and executives, networking with industry professionals, and stepping into spaces many aspiring esports professionals only dream about.

We have our long-standing partner HyperX and supporting partners Skillshot Media, and Ghost Gaming to thank for this — not only do they make the trip possible, but they also open the doors to so many experiences for our Fellows during their time there.

Here’s a day-by-day playback of this inspiring long weekend in Atlanta.

Day One: Creator Summit + Connections Made

The trip kicked off with a full day at the Creator Summit, where our fellows immersed themselves in creator-focused programming and gained firsthand insight into the evolving world of content creation.

1DF and our BroadcastHER Academy Fellows were welcomed at the Creator Summit & Esports Summit where they got access to programming all weekend long.

One of the highlights of the day was a mentorship session with creator TacticalGramma, who shared honest advice about building a personal brand and navigating challenges in gaming spaces. Fellows had the opportunity to ask questions, learn from her experiences, and get encouragement from someone who has successfully made her way in the industry.

Creator TacticalGramma with our fellows

The group also received a special behind-the-scenes tour of The Atrium at Skillshot Media, giving them a closer look at the production and operational side of esports events and broadcasts.

Mentorship and a special sitdown with Skillshot CEO, Todd Harris

Throughout the day, fellows also attended Creator Summit programming, connected with other creators, and participated in the Ghost Girls Meetup and an evening Industry Mixer — all fun and valuable opportunities to network, build relationships, and more.

Day Two: Big Dreams on the DreamHack Stage

The second day was full speed ahead to DreamHack Atlanta — and it brought several incredible moments for our fellows.

The group first met with 1,000 Dreams Fund Board of Directors member Manasi to hear more about her personal journey into esports, her career path, and how she got involved with our organization.

1,000 Dreams Fund Project Manager, Kayla Cooper, with the 2026 Fellows on the DreamHack Stage!

Later, the fellows were celebrated on the DreamHack stage and shared more about their dreams in the industry. Standing on one of the biggest stages in gaming is always such a surreal and empowering moment for our fellows!

Our Fellows got the chance to celebrate their BIG win both at DreamHack Atlanta and during a special feature at the Esports Summit. Clockwise from top left: FizzyIce5, solJinx, BM0R3Natural, reluscent, MorganOfTheLeaf

That evening, the Esports Summit featured a special panel with 1,000 Dreams Fund Founder and CEO Christie Garton — and the Fellows also had the chance to introduce themselves and share their own stories on stage during this time.

Left to right: Todd Harris – CEO of Resurgens, Skillshot Media, and Ghost Gaming; Christie Garton – 1DF founder and CEO; Brian Grayson – Leading Game Development at Ghost Gaming; Justin Stefanovic – Senior Vice President at Super League Gaming

Before the night was over, the group headed to the Esports Industry Mixer for another round of mingling and networking!

Days Three & Four: DreamHack Atlanta Immersion

The final two days of the trip allowed fellows to fully immerse in the energy and scale of DreamHack Atlanta — from numerous panels and programming, to activations, and more. We also hosted our very own 1,000 Dreams Fund meetup, where fellows connected with community members.

We got the chance to connect with the community at our meetup right on the floor of DreamHack Atlanta!

But one of the biggest highlights was exclusive on-site shadowing with DreamHack staff behind the stage, where fellows had firsthand, behind-the-scenes exposure to live event operations, production coordination, and esports programming.

We ended the weekend with shadowing behind the Main Stage with Cris from the DreamHack team!

Building the Future of Women in Esports

Experiences like this are at the heart of our BroadcastHER Academy mission: creating access, mentorship, and real-world opportunities for women and femmes pursuing careers in gaming and esports.

Thank you again to our incredible partners, mentors, and community members who helped make this experience possible for the 2026 BroadcastHER Academy Fellows.

We cannot wait to see where these talented creators go next!

*Special thanks to LightsCameraSeek for all photos.