Katie Sowers

EXCLUSIVE
  • First Openly LGBTQ+ Coach in the NFL
  • First Openly LGBTQ+ and Female Coach at the Super Bowl
  • Former Coach, Kansas City Chiefs and Former Assistant Coach, San Francisco 49ers
  • Defensive Coordinator, Director of Operations, & Director of Athletic Strategic Initiatives, Ottawa University

The first woman and openly gay coach to coach in a Super Bowl, former San Francisco 49ers Offensive Assistant Coach Katie Sowers paves the way for equality in the workplace. Coach Sowers is Defensive Coordinator and Director of Operations of the Ottawa University women’s flag football program and Ottawa’s Director of Athletic Strategic Initiatives. She is the Offensive and Defensive Scheme Advisor for the Ottawa Braves, coaching them to a national championship. She also coached a year with the Kansas City Chiefs under the Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship.

Through hard work and dedication, Katie has found success in a male-dominated industry and is creating an environment that welcomes all types of people, no matter their race, gender or sexual orientation.

In her authentic talks for groups including Mercedes, Paypal, Verizon, Advance Auto Parts, Putnam Investments, and more, Katie encourages audiences to find their “why” and become an irreplaceable asset to their team. An inspiration to anyone afraid to pursue their passions, she shows how it’s possible to break down barriers and make dreams come true.

 



Katie Sowers headshot
Past Hosts Include:
  • Radius Global Infrastructure
  • Danone North America
  • Mercedes
  • Advance Auto Parts
  • T-Mobile
  • Crowd Comments at T-Mobile
  • Putnam Investments
  • Paypal
  • Verizon
  • Commonwealth Club
Rave Reviews About Katie Sowers as a Speaker
Katie was epic.

Virt. Discussion clip - For success, be authentically you and let others be authentically themselves | Advance Auto Parts [1:13] - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Katie Sowers
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Breaking Boundaries for Women in Sports and Beyond

As the first openly LGBTQ+ and female coach at the Super Bowl, KATIE SOWERS changed the world of professional sports. In this compelling talk, Katie unpacks her experience as a woman in a male-dominated business and offers her perspective how we can all play a role in advancing gender equity. ...

As the first openly LGBTQ+ and female coach at the Super Bowl, KATIE SOWERS changed the world of professional sports. In this compelling talk, Katie unpacks her experience as a woman in a male-dominated business and offers her perspective how we can all play a role in advancing gender equity.

LGBTQ+ Pride: Advocacy and Community

Trailblazing coach KATIE SOWERS made history as the first openly LGBTQ+ and female coach at the Super Bowl. In this uplifting and enlightening talk, Katie shares her experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, challenges she’s faced on her journey to becoming a successful coach in the NFL, and h ...

Trailblazing coach KATIE SOWERS made history as the first openly LGBTQ+ and female coach at the Super Bowl. In this uplifting and enlightening talk, Katie shares her experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, challenges she’s faced on her journey to becoming a successful coach in the NFL, and how teams – including allies – can celebrate Pride and create more equitable workplaces.

Motivation: Finding Your ‘Why’

Visionary coach KATIE SOWERS encourages audiences to find their “why” and become an irreplaceable asset to their team. Katie pursued her passions, working against stereotypes and obstacles to break down barriers. Through her personal story and her expertise as a motivational coach and speaker, Katie ...

Visionary coach KATIE SOWERS encourages audiences to find their “why” and become an irreplaceable asset to their team. Katie pursued her passions, working against stereotypes and obstacles to break down barriers. Through her personal story and her expertise as a motivational coach and speaker, Katie leaves audiences feeling ready to make dreams come true.

Leading Teams – On and Off the Field

Coach KATIE SOWERS is an uplifting leader who motivates her team and encourages their growth on and off the field. Katie shares her experience becoming an empowering leader, practical strategies for motivating others, and how breaking down barriers and focusing on inclusivity for all make us stronge ...

Coach KATIE SOWERS is an uplifting leader who motivates her team and encourages their growth on and off the field. Katie shares her experience becoming an empowering leader, practical strategies for motivating others, and how breaking down barriers and focusing on inclusivity for all make us stronger and more effective teams.

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Speaker News
<p><strong>Through her story of resilience, visionary coach Katie Sowers inspires audiences at every event – “Katie was epic”</strong></p>

Through her story of resilience, visionary coach Katie Sowers inspires audiences at every event – “Katie was epic”

Inspirational and trailblazing coach KATIE SOWERS has inspired countless audiences with her true story of resilience, consistently receiving rave reviews. Katie made history at the 2020 Super Bowl as the first-ever female and openly LGBTQ+ coach to appear at the game – changing the history of sports and inspiring the next generation. In sought-after events, Katie shares her experience bringing determination, grit, and compassion to the table – overcoming obstacles to achieve her goals and live her dream. Heralded for her authenticity and candor, hosts rave about having her at in-person and virtual events – Verizon simply said, “Katie was epic.”

Katie speaks passionately about how it’s possible to break down the most challenging barriers to accomplish truly remarkable goals, and leaves audiences feeling moved and exhilarated. After working with Katie, Raymond Jones said, “Just fabulous. Please pass on our gratitude to Katie. Her insights were a highlight of the event.” Known for tailoring her remarks to make a maximum impact, Putnam Investments shared: “She was phenomenal… very personal and very real. She was very accommodating and very easy to work with. We received tremendous feedback.“

Watch Katie Sowers at a Women in Leadership event >>

Watch Katie Sowers keynote address at Girl Power >>

<p><strong>Katie Sowers wows over 4,000 T-Mobile employees for their Talking with Trailblazers series</strong></p>

Katie Sowers wows over 4,000 T-Mobile employees for their Talking with Trailblazers series

The first openly LGBTQ+ coach in the NFL, with experience coaching the San Francisco 49rs and the Kansas City Chiefs, KATIE SOWERS was recently invited to T-mobile’s internal Trailblazers series which brings in diverse, innovative and creative leaders to talk about timely topics that matter. The 4,000+ T-mobile employees in the audience were touched and inspired by Sower’s personal stories, leading the host to say, She did a fantastic job and we have gotten great feedback from our employees.”

Here are just a few comments from the audience: HUGE KUDOS!!!!!!!  Great conversation and an amazing perspective. Yes...a brand NEW FAN here!!!,” and “...love Katie's candor and strength...,” and “You are an inspiration to all of us and we are so tremendously proud of all you have done!!”

Watch Katie Sowers at the Fowler College of Business 'Women in Leadership' Event >>

<p><strong>Empowerment: Katie Sowers reminds audiences that resilience requires determination, grit and compassion</strong></p>

Empowerment: Katie Sowers reminds audiences that resilience requires determination, grit and compassion

Inspirational football coach KATIE SOWERS made history at the 2020 Super Bowl as the first-ever female and first openly gay coach at NFL’s biggest game. Sowers shares with audiences lessons learned and applied leading some of the world's most elite performers at the highest levels of their sport. She reminds people that resilience requires determination, grit, and compassion. She speaks passionately about how it’s possible to break down the most challenging barriers to accomplish truly remarkable goals. With her message of inclusion and empowerment, Sowers virtually surprised a 5th grader who was writing a report on her, engaged in a virtual panel on women who run the world, and more. Heralded for her authenticity and candor as a speaker, Sowers encourages audience members to find their “why” and become an irreplaceable asset to their teams.

<p><strong>Katie Sowers made NFL History as first female and openly LGBTQ+ coach to appear at the Super Bowl </strong></p>

Katie Sowers made NFL History as first female and openly LGBTQ+ coach to appear at the Super Bowl

Inspirational football coach KATIE SOWERS made history at the 2020 Super Bowl as the first-ever female and openly gay coach to work at the prestigious NFL game.

Sowers has found success in a historically male-dominated industry and is working to create an environment that welcomes all types of people.

Heralded for her authenticity and candor as a speaker, Sowers encourages audiences to find their “why” and become an irreplaceable asset to their team. An inspiration to anyone afraid to pursue their goals, she speaks passionately about how it’s possible to break down even the most challenging barriers to make dreams come true.

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Biography

The first woman and openly gay coach to coach in a Super Bowl, former San Francisco 49ers Offensive Assistant Coach Katie Sowers paves the way for equality in the workplace. Coach Sowers is Defensive Coordinator and Director of Operations of the Ottawa University women’s flag football program and Ottawa’s Director of Athletic Strategic Initiatives. She is the Offensive and Defensive Scheme Advisor for the Ottowa Braves, coaching them to a national championship. She is also coached a year with the Kansas City Chiefs under the Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship. 

Katie spent six seasons in the NFL and four as an offensive assistant with the 49ers, working primarily with the Wide Receivers. Katie started her NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons after spending five years as the athletic director of the City of Kansas City. Katie has competed at the highest level of women’s tackle football, playing in the WFA (Women’s Football Alliance) for eight years and being selected as a member of the United States Women’s National Football Team in 2013. Katie has a master’s degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in pedagogy from the University of Central Missouri.

Katie is listed as one of the "100 Most Influential Women in Sport" by Sport360 and won the 2019 Rising Star Award from The Sports Power Brunch: Celebrating the Most Powerful Women in Sports.  She was Outsports’ 2017 "Female Hero of the Year" and named the to the Bleacher Report "Power 50." In addition, Katie has been featured in several publications and magazines, such as ESPN, USA Today, NFL.com, Forbes, and Outsports