You know those fun interview TikToks with your favorite athlete? Chances are a woman played a huge role in creating that video. Historically, the sports field is a male dominated industry; however, the script is flipping as more women enter the industry, particularly in the social media realm. If you look up your favorite sports team and find their social media team, there is a high probability a woman is involved. Here are five women that are dominating the social media field in athletics.Â
1. Emily Starkey
Emily Starkey is the director of creative media for Football at Kansas State University. Previously, she was the social media manager for the Tennessee Titans. Starkey graduated from Kansas State University where she studied communications and journalism and gained experience as a digital media specialist. She has had a stellar career in and out of college. During her time with the Titans, the social media department received an Emmy for best social/interactive video. Talk about a star! While her time with the Titans has come to an end, she continues to thrive with Kansas State University Football.Â
2. Janey MurrayÂ
Janey Murray has worked for not one, not two, but three MLB teams! She started off as a communications intern for the Cleveland Guardians from 2021 to 2022. From 2022 to 2024, she was the social media coordinator for the New York Mets. Currently, she is the social media manager for the Boston Red Sox. Throughout her time with the Mets, she handled “planning posts, covering games, and producing content like a recent behind-the-scenes video that gave fans a glimpse into the long days of the team’s clubhouse staff” (UGA Today). Murray started with Boston just six months ago and it will be a treat to watch her career unfold with this team!Â
3. Savannah HollisÂ
Not only is Savannah Hollis currently the senior manager of social and digital media for the Seattle Kraken, but she is also a two-time Emmy nominee. She began her career with the Nashville Predators as a communications intern in 2013 and was promoted to communications game day staff from 2013 until 2016. After finishing off her work with the Predators as a hockey operations graduate assistant, Hollis became the social media coordinator for the Predators until 2019. Hollis has had quite a ride with the Seattle Kraken after starting with them as their social media specialist and progressing to the senior manager of social and digital media. Hollis’ phenomenal and extensive career growth in the past 12 years makes her an influential figure to all women; she has exemplified that women can defy the odds in any field they desire.
4. Michelle Poole
Michelle Poole has had her fair share of social media experience working with two of the biggest teams in the NBA. Poole started off her career in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors as their digital assistant before being promoted to their social media coordinator in 2019. Her latest position with the Warriors was the senior coordinator of social media which ran from 2021 to 2022. After leaving the warriors, Poole landed a position with the Los Angeles Lakers. She has been their social media manager since 2022. According to her LinkedIn, her duties consist of, “Creat[ing] marketing plan, asset list, and coverage plan for Lakers Media Days and tentpole events and games,” as well as working with fan engagement and much more. In 2023, Poole was featured on a podcast called The Daily Grind to discuss her amazing career journey which seems to only be growing!Â
5. Erin Hodges
If you are looking for a woman in the athletic industry who has dabbled in multiple sports, Erin Hodges is your girl! Hodges has had experience in the MLB, NHL, and NFL. She started her sports industry career with the Tampa Bay Rays as their digital marketing coordinator from 2020 to 2021. After her time with the Rays, she became the digital communications coordinator for the Colorado Rockies. She was then promoted to her final position with the Rockies as their digital communications manager in June of 2021 until 2022. Hodges then switched sports and became the senior digital manager for the San Jose Sharks starting in 2022. She left hockey and decided to give football a try as the social media manager for the Philadelphia Eagles. Her current position had impeccable timing since the Eagles won the Super Bowl this year! Her experience in various sports proves that you can find your passion in multiple places!
These five women are the epitome of what it looks like to break the status quo. They entered a male dominated field, found their place in it, and excelled. Their hard work and dedication is inspiring to women in all industries, not just sports. Take these ladies as an example and go out and follow your dreams, no matter the obstacles in your way!