Libby K., @Askesienne on Twitch, is a variety caster, so that means she plays whatever game in her library strikes her fancy — and just chatting with her community, too. The BroadcastHER Academy winner is also the team manager and a streaming member of Team Kitty, which is a network of female broadcasters who aim to celebrate each other, elevate their communities, and spread joy through gaming.

What is your dream as a digital broadcaster?

My dream is to create and nurture community spaces where people feel comfortable sharing their most authentic selves.

What does being the BroadcastHER Academy winner, which includes a $1,000 grant and all-expense-paid visit to the HyperX Esports Arena to shadow, mean to you and how will it help you reach your goals?

It allows me to expand my horizons and add new perspectives to my current work of promoting women in gaming and broadcasting. I’m so grateful for the opportunity!

Women are underrepresented in gaming, broadcasting, and esports. What can we do to change this?

I also face this gap in my ‘other world’ — competitive robotics — and the best way I can explain it is that you have to see it to know you can be it. The more women we bolster into industry spaces, the less strange or out-there it will be to have a woman in that space.

What are you most inspired by when it comes to creating encouraging content for young women in gaming, broadcasting, and esports?

I’m most inspired by my teammates on Team Kitty, the all-female broadcaster team I manage. Their constant drive, enthusiasm, and willingness to share new ideas is part of what keeps me going!

What are some of the challenges you have faced along the way?

I definitely struggle with feeling ‘enough’ in streaming spaces — online, at conferences, or anywhere in between. It’s hard to work hard on yourself and still not feel like you belong, but we all do!

What advice do you have for women who want to start broadcasting?

Just do it! Research the tech, get yourself out there, and just hit that dang go-live button!

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

I make sure to do lots of reconnecting with myself in my spare time as well as taking a break from screens and hustling to simply enjoy what’s around me. That way, when I’m back at work, I can really focus.