Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kaitlin Urka. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Kaitlin, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I’ve been a part of was the first all-female broadcast of an NHL game. The broadcast was my idea, and I was able to see it through from concept to completion. As someone who grew up without any female role models in the sports industry, it was incredibly important for me to take advantage of the opportunity to showcase the incredible women that work both in front of and behind the camera on a daily basis. The overwhelmingly positive feedback we received in the wake of the game was remarkable. And the work we did has since inspired several additional all-female broadcast teams.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I attended the University of Michigan and had every intention of eventually going to law school. But, while I was in Ann Arbor, I joined WOLV – TV, the student-run station on campus, and began to fall in love with broadcasting. I thought it would be a fun hobby, but soon I had people telling me I should consider making it a career. I was hired as a local news associate producer out of college and dabbled in some on-air reporting while at the station. I was then offered the opportunity to join NBC’s Olympic profiles and features unit. I drove my car out east thinking it would be a temporary position, but more than 11 years later, I’m still with NBC! I’m now a producer and work on various properties that include the Olympics, Football Night in America, Notre Dame football, A10 basketball, college hockey, and an educational/informational program called “One Team: The Power of Sports”.
During my time I’ve been blessed to work on Super Bowls, Stanley Cup Finals, Tours de France, NASCAR Championships, Triple Crowns, and seven Olympic games.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I grew up in an era where women playing sports were still often referred to as “tomboys” and showing interest in things like watching football wasn’t deemed ladylike behavior. There were very few women covering sports on TV, and even fewer working behind the scenes. When I first started working in live sports, I was often the only woman in the TV truck. And while attitudes towards women and sports have, thankfully, started to change and more and more women are getting involved in the industry, one of my personal goals is to work to create an environment that has more diversity in front of and behind the camera. We need more women, more people of color, and more representation in all facets of broadcasting. I want to help encourage others to pursue their dreams, even if they grew up not seeing anyone that looked like them doing the work they might want to do someday. I want to use my platform to tell powerful and motivating stories, share exceptional athletic and human achievements, promote diversity, and inspire others.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of my job is seeing how sports can inspire, educate, and lift up others. During the pandemic, for example, sports became a place of refuge as fans could find happiness and strength in watching their favorite athletes compete amidst a time of great uncertainty and fear. I once helped produce a feature on a little girl who received a life-saving bone marrow transplant and learned later that the airing of that feature resulted in a large uptick in sign-ups to donor registries. I’ve seen how sports can help a community come together after tragedy. I’ve watched as athletes who have overcome adversity to reach the pinnacles of their sports have inspired others to fight through tough times. Being able to share in the joy of human achievement and tell stories that can impact others and inspire change is a privilege and a responsibility that I don’t take lightly. It’s why I work as hard as I do and why I am so blessed to get to do this job.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlinurka/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaitlinurka