Marli Delaney is all ears when it comes to her professional dream; she wants to work as a music producer and audio engineer in the music industry by establishing her own recording studio. Her college degree from Hofstra University in New York — majoring in Music and Public Relations — set her on the right track to get there. Here’s what else this New Face of Tech winner has to say.

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

According to Forbes, “women make up 21.7% of artists, 12.3% of songwriters and 2.1% of producers.” With this in mind, being the New Face of Tech means that I am fortunate to have support with my efforts to change to this statistic while also inspiring other women to follow their dreams.

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

We can raise representation in STEAM by showing support to the women around us who have similar interests. We can show support through mentorship, networking, and spreading awareness of each other’s goals both in person and online.

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

My most frequent challenges that I’ve faced include financial struggles due to the necessities of hardware and software in my field — along with often being the only woman in the studio or project, which makes sharing my voice feel more vulnerable at times.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

I stay motivated and focused on my goals by talking to likeminded people and by being open to taking advice on my craft, while always remembering to create new music because this is what I genuinely love to do.

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

The funding will help me reach my goals by allowing me to make meaningful investments so that I can expand my home studio into a more professional studio.