INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY SPOTLIGHT: Katie Harding
The Edmonton Oil Kings are proud to celebrate International Women’s Day and are excited to highlight some of the amazing women that work within our organization.
Katie Harding – Coordinator of Social Media and Community Relations
My role focuses greatly on building relationships with our fans and the greater Edmonton community. Whether that is through social media or community events, my goal is to connect with our community on a deeper level. The Oil Kings have the best fans in the league and it’s important that we showcase our gratitude by giving back where we can.
Additionally, I handle our media channels, anything from our website to Tik Tok runs through me! It’s important that we highlight the amazing hard work of our players as well as connect with our fans on a regular basis!
What steps did you take to get here:
I started working full time in sports when I was 21 while also juggling completing my university degree! I knew for a long time that working in sports was what I wanted to do which is why I pursued a degree in sports studies and marketing! Now at 23, I’ve had the opportunity to work in 3 different sports all in social media marketing! As a sports fan myself, I know how important social media is in connecting and promoting your brand initiatives with your audience! Sports would never be the way they are now without the people working tirelessly behind the screen!
I’ve always been a sports fan and just like many Canadians, I grew up watching and loving hockey. It was a no brainer to go out on a limb and move to Edmonton to continue pursuing my dream career in a sport I love!
What challenges did you face getting to where you are now:
I think no matter what career path you are looking to follow there is always going to be people that look down on you or tell you that you won’t be able to achieve it. A lot of the time even your peers will sometimes not recognize the sports industry as a realistic career choice. Throughout my studies I even had professors and mentors tell me not to pursue my chosen career path.
In the long run there are going to be many more people that support you than not, and there’s nothing wrong with using those that don’t believe in you as motivation and prove them wrong!
What advice would you give to a young girl with dreams to work in sports:
Take the time to connect yourself with others in the industry. There are so many amazing women that work in sports every day and they have a plethora of knowledge and experience that they are always willing to share! I am lucky enough to say I know some extremely talented people who are paving a way for women in sports every day. No one is going to be able to give you better advice than someone in your shoes!
(Left to Right: Roan Woodward, Kolby Hay, Blake Fiddler, Katie Harding, Hudson Perry, Ty Nash, and Cole Miller)