While @dazeddreamx isn’t a digital broadcaster, she does work on e-sports productions as an observer! She mostly observes VALORANT and has worked on the 2021 and 2022 NA VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), 2021 NA VCT Game Changers, OfflineTV VALORANT Charity Invitational, and more.

When this BroadcastHER Grant winner first started observing, she really didn’t know how to form connections, improve her craft, or gain opportunities — and she noticed there weren’t many non-men production people in the industry. So, she created Pogservers, which has 40-plus non-men production people and has held three educational workshops.

What is your dream as a digital broadcaster?

My goal is to create a space where non-men production individuals can uplift and help each other as well as provide educational instruction from industry professionals. Outside of that dream, my other goal is to provide beginner VALORANT non-men players an opportunity to compete. Right now, I’m working with Community Gaming on a low-elo (Iron – Silver 3) tournament for non-men players called Level Up VALORANT. It has a prize pool of $500 and the top three teams get a one-hour coaching session.

How will your award from the 1,000 Dreams Fund help you reach your goals?

I thought I wouldn’t get the grant because I’m not a streamer, so I was so surprised. It means a lot.

What does being a recipient mean to you?

I thought I wouldn’t get the grant because I’m not a streamer, so I was so surprised. It means a lot.

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

I studied English teaching. During one of my educational courses, we talked about open-source educational resources. In essence, this allows anyone to collaborate and build up resources. A lot of resources are very, very hard to find in this industry. A lot of advice is often passed down from individuals. There isn’t really a collective place for everything. I think having one could help more non-men individuals build up their skillset, find a community, and break into the scene.

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

I have been very blessed to have so many individuals support me and my career. I think the hardest part of e-sports is forming meaningful connections. Like any industry, having connections with individuals will provide opportunities — but, more importantly, it adds meaning to what you do. Making a career in e-sports can be a very lonely, solitary road, so it’s really important to find people to celebrate dubs and comfort not-so-dubs.

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

As cliché as it sounds, just start. Also, be comfortable with asking questions. There is often a fear that asking questions will annoy someone. But, at least in e-sports productions, questions are good. A lot of people are willing to help.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

I honestly don’t know. I think it is very important to understand how mental health affects motivation, and I am very fortunate to not have mental health issues. More recently, I have realized that time is finite and will continue to pass whether I do something or not. I think that realization has helped me be more motivated in times where I may feel discouraged.