The Rainmaker Podcast How Kathryn Dobbs Cultivates a Fan-First Approach to Marketing a Pro Sports Team
How do you market a brand when the product itself is completely out of your control?
This week, Kathryn Dobbs, Chief Marketing Officer of the Columbus Blue Jackets, joins me to share her unique perspective on sports marketing, fan loyalty, and how to create an unforgettable game-day experience—regardless of what’s happening on the ice.
We dive into the challenges of keeping fans engaged during tough seasons, the role of storytelling in sports, and why optimism is the most important trait a sports marketer can have. We also explore how she transitioned from nonprofit leadership into the world of professional sports and what it takes to lead marketing for a major league team.
If you’ve ever wondered what goes into building fan loyalty or how to market something you don’t have full control over, this episode is packed with real-world insights, leadership lessons, and fresh perspectives from one of the best in the business.
About Kathryn
Kathryn Dobbs is the senior vice president and chief marketing officer for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Dobbs leads the club's efforts to grow the Blue Jackets brand, broaden the fan base, and integrate the club's collective marketing initiatives, including branding, promotions, event presentation, broadcasting, communications, community and fan development.
Dobbs was promoted to the position in December 2018 after serving as the club's vice president of community development and executive director of the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation for three years.
In 2017, Dobbs was named to the 40 Under 40 list by Columbus Business First and was recognized again in 2020 as a most admired executive. Prior to joining the Blue Jackets, Dobbs spent more than a dozen years as a senior-level executive with the YMCA organization in multiple locations around the United States. The Northern Ontario native is a graduate of the University of North Georgia and currently lives in suburban Columbus with her daughter, Myah.
Connect with Kathryn
https://www.instagram.com/katedobbs99/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-dobbs-45179710/
Connect with Veronica
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vromney/
If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/
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