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

As 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 within legacy institutions. Coach Sowers is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Ottawa University women’s flag football program. She is the Offensive and Defensive Scheme Advisor for the Ottawa Braves, coaching them to a national championship. She also coached for a year with the Kansas City Chiefs under the Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship. Through hard work and dedication, Sowers has found success in a male-dominated industry, creating an environment that welcomes people of any 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 for pursuing passions as a career, 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>First openly LGBTQ+ NFL coach Katie Sowers receives rave reviews for her live events</strong></p>

First openly LGBTQ+ NFL coach Katie Sowers receives rave reviews for her live events

The first openly LGBTQ+ coach in the NFL, with experience coaching the San Francisco 49rs and the Kansas City Chiefs KATIE SOWERS receives rave reviews for her live events:

  • Putnam Investments: "She was phenomenal… very personal and very real. She was very accommodating and very easy to work with. We received tremendous feedback."
  • Advance Auto Parts: “We’ve received lots of feedback and our TMs, leaders, and our CEO all agree the event was amazing! We appreciate Katie being a part of something so important to our team.”
  • Danone North America: “People LOVED her message about leading with love and empathy, actively listening to build relationships, and being a transparent and authentic leader.”

Watch Katie Sowers speak at Advance Auto Parts >>

Watch Katie Sowers speak at CAI >>

<p><strong>Katie Sowers leads women’s flag football team to 4<sup>th</sup> consecutive NAIA championship</strong></p>

Katie Sowers leads women’s flag football team to 4th consecutive NAIA championship

Director of Strategic Initiatives at Ottawa University KATIE SOWERS has led the women’s flag football team to their 4th consecutive NAIA championship, the first coach in the league to do so. Changing the history of sports and inspiring the next generation, Sowers shares with audiences the lessons learned leading some of the world's most elite performers and what it means to advocate for them as a coach.

Watch Katie Sowers in conversation with Bamboo HR >>

Watch Katie Sowers speak to Version and Yahoo! Finance >>

<p><strong>Women Making History: Coach Katie Sowers was the first female and openly LGBTQ+ coach to appear at the Super Bowl </strong></p>

Women Making History: Coach Katie Sowers was the first female and openly LGBTQ+ coach to appear at the Super Bowl

Trailblazing 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. Heralded for her authenticity and candor as a speaker, Sowers reflects on her experiences as a rising star in a highly competitive, traditionally male-dominated field to encourage audiences to find their “why” and become an irreplaceable asset to their team.

Watch Katie Sowers in conversation with Microsoft >>

Watch Katie Sowers on a panel with Cameo Cares >>

<p><strong>ESS: Katie Sowers’ grit, determination, and compassion wowed over 4,000 T-Mobile employees for their Talking with Trailblazers series</strong></p>

ESS: Katie Sowers’ grit, determination, and compassion wowed 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. 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.”

Watch Katie Sowers’ profile for NBC Sports Bay Area >>

Watch Katie Sowers speak at Advance Auto Parts >>

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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