The music industry is where it’s at for Juliette Milber who dreams of working on developing artists’ marketing campaigns — hopefully through marketing, publicity, and brand partnerships at a record label. To get her started on the right path, the New Face of Tech winner is currently in the Bandier Program, a music business-oriented program, at the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University.

What does being the New Face of Tech mean to you?

I am proud and honored; it means that my passions are recognized. With this visibility, I will now be better able to connect and collaborate with other women who are also pursuing careers in the music industry. This achievement further inspires me to pursue my goals. It also means representing women boldly and unapologetically, with intelligence and perseverance.

Women are underrepresented in STEAM. How can we change this?

Mentorship opportunities of are crucial, as women preparing to enter the workforce should be able to look up to other women in their desired field in order to truly feel empowered. In addition, the creation of groups and networks that connect women in specific industries provides a space and voice for women to hear each other. For example, in the music industry, the Girls Behind the Rock Show (GBTRS) group provides mentorship programs, internships, and jobs for women in the music industry. But, these groups should be created for all industries in STEAM! Large companies from each respective industry should put funding into these groups so more opportunities are available for mentorship programs and meet-ups.

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

I used to struggle with voicing my opinion when I was in group settings. I was often intimidated by other people in these groups and felt that I would be judged for my thoughts. I stayed quiet a lot, even though a lot of my thoughts were unique and would have contributed to the collaborative process. When I started college, I met amazing women in my major who advocated for me and my opinions. In addition, I enrolled in a public speaking class and pushed myself completely beyond my comfort zone. This empowered me to vocalize my opinions in classes and meetings, and now I am not afraid of what others will think of me.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

I am motivated by my curiosity — my desire to know more about the music industry has me constantly on my toes and asking questions. The way I stay focused is by creating large goals for myself and breaking them down into smaller steps that I can work towards now as a student in college. Being in a program with so many talented individuals has me constantly inspired by the creative projects they are doing — whether it’s creating music, managing an artist, or starting a company. It always motivates me to be doing something meaningful.

How will funding from the 1,000 Dreams Fund and HARMAN help you reach your goals?

I will be using part of the funding towards my tuition at Syracuse University so I can continue to pursue my degree studying music business. I will be using the other part of the scholarship to possibly fund a trip to a music conference in the future. There, I will be able to network with people from different sectors of the music industry, attend unique panels about music, and learn about new projects and companies that will determine the future of the music industry I hope to work in soon.