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Kathrine Switzer is a dynamic and effective speaker. She is a woman who has pioneered an obscure activity into global movement, has made positive change in women's lives around the world, and has parlayed her success as an iconoclastic athlete also into successful careers in corporate sports marketing, public relations, as an author, fitness expert and TV sports commentator. Switzer is also in demand as a personality, with compelling and inspirational stories to tell. She has been featured in publications around the world and on hundreds of radio and TV shows, including Oprah, Today, Good Morning America, Tonight, Nightline, HBO, NPR, BBC and CBC. She is popular with the media and garners excellent publicity for her clients and their events. Whether business, sports or health, Switzer is sought after to speak to corporate, university, association, convention and sports groups because she is a fit, authentic success herself, and conveys high energy in the following topic areas:
"The many comments and critiques we received in regard to our recent national convention overwhelmingly confirm that a significant contribution to its success was your address at our Opening General Session for an audience of 1100. The audience's reaction clearly demonstrated that your address unleashed hope and optimism that each person has the power to overcome obstacles and challenges and reach new heights personally and professionally. I especially appreciated your personal interest in our members, staying on long after your memorable speech, answering questions responding to their concerns, and signing autographs. It was a remarkable and unique occasion, and I was particularly glad to have witnessed it. Any of us who heard you that day would recommend you highly as a speaker at other professional association conferences. Thank you!" - Janet M. Treichel, PhD, Executive Director NBEA (National Business Education Association) "Some people change business, but you've changed the WORLD. You have a very powerful message and were the hit of our annual conference. The students and other speakers were fascinated. Thank you, and thanks also for interacting with our students in individual workshops!" - Patricia Moody, PhD, Dean, College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, University of South Carolina
"What you've done for women's fitness is just tremendous, and your speech at the Stonyfield Strong Women Summit was riveting--inspirational with true life stories and motivating with future predictions. The audience just loved you, and by the way, you are one of my personal heroes, too! Thank you!" - Miriam E. Nelson, PhD, School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University and the author of "Strong Women Stay Young," "Strong Women Stay Slim", "Stong Women Eat Well", and "Strong Women, Strong Bones"; convenor, Stonyfield Stong Women Summit; mountain climber, marathoner, mother. "You've sure changed a lot of women's lives here in Minneapolis! We are taking your clinic concept to other areas of the state and are reaching hundreds more women. Your fitness message is critical-Heart Disease is Women's Number One Killer and you are motivating them to help prevent it. Thank you so much!" -- George Kroeninger, Executive Director, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation.
"It's been a week and people are still stopping me in the street and telling me how much they loved your speech! You were great-not only as a speaker, but spending time interacting with all our runners. Please come back!" Mike Zajczenko, Race Director, Around the Bay Race, Hamilton, Ontario "Thank you so much for being a spokesperson for the inaugural MORE Marathon, the first marathon for women over 40. The women here love you, and look up to you….you and Grete are the Rock Stars of this sport!" - Susan Crandell, former Editor in Chief, MORE Magazine "You are still far and away my all-time favorite professional athlete to work with!" - Drew Wathey, President & Owner, SportsLink Public Relations & Marketing Phoenix, Arizona
"You were a fabulous speaker at our annual awards banquet! You had the audience enthralled with your colorful stories of the past and your wise insights into the future. We are thrilled to have you as the first female recipient of the Emil Zatopek award for your contributions to 50 Plus Fitness.Thank you!" - Ray Stewart, Vice President, Programs, 50-Plus Fitness "Hey girl, we should make you an Honorary Gerontologist!" Walter M. Bortz II, M.D., former President, American Geriatrics Society; author of "Dare to Be 100" and "We Live Too Short and Die Too Long". (Other specific speaking references supplied on request). TO ENGAGE KATHRINE AS A SPEAKER, PLEASE CONTACT: Speaking Availability and Clients Client list submitted on request. TV Commentaries Switzer also works as a TV commentator. She has worked for all major networks and covered the Olympic, Commonwealth and Goodwill Games; World and National championships; Olympic Trials; 27 Boston, 19 Pittsburgh, 15 New York City, and 13 Los Angeles Marathons, as well as hundreds of local road races. In 1997 she won an Emmy Award for her commentary for Los Angeles. Here are the highlights of her TV commentaries:
HERE ARE SOME SPECIFICS THAT DETAIL KATHRINE SWITZER'S BACKGROUND IN VARIED FIELDS: Business Background Having been denied many athletic opportunities herself, Switzer's original goal of establishing opportunities in women's running first emerged in a big way when she created the Avon International Running Circuit for cosmetics giant Avon Products, Inc. over 20 years ago. This worldwide series of women's events and Switzer's tireless lobbying were instrumental in making the women's marathon an official event in the Olympic Games. The first women's Olympic marathon was 1984. The Avon program also revolutionized global social and cultural thinking as it opened the door for public acceptance of women's sports in many countries where few, if any, existed before. (In 2003, Switzer was awarded the Pioneer in Sport Management Award by the University of South Carolina's School of Sports and Entertainment Management for the creation of this innovative program.) As the then-Director of Sports and Public Relations, Switzer also was responsible for Avon's sponsorship of all the company's sports sponsorships when they reached a new height in the 1980s with over $9 million annual budget. At this time, the company was the title sponsor of Women's Championship Tennis, the developmental Avon Futures Tennis circuit, the World Figure Skating Championship, the Women's International Bowling Congress Championship and miscellaneous equestrian and track and field events in addition to the Avon International Running Circuit. These programs were mostly discontinued in 1986 and Switzer left Avon to pursue other business options through her own company, AtAlanta Sports Promotions, Inc. which she had established in 1982. A decade later, in 1997, in one of the more amazing turn-arounds in sports sponsorship, Avon decided to return to its sponsorship of women's running. With Switzer again at the helm as Program Director, the company rebuilt the program under the banner of Avon Running- Global Women's Circuit, with an aim of giving women around the world an accessible means of fitness and health through running and walking programs. The program was launched in 1997 in 15 countries with a starting budget of $5 million. However, in 2002, like many companies, Avon downsized its operations and sponsorships, including Avon Running. Avon's sponsorship of women's running today is limited to the global portion of Avon Running, which continues in nine countries. As president of AtAlanta Sports Promotions, Switzer continues to advise these various countries in a consulting capacity. In 2002, RYKA, the women's performance athletic footwear company, launched Take Fitness to Heart, its own series of women's running and walking events, and named Switzer as Director of Women's Health and Fitness, where she served as a spokesperson and advisor for the company through 2003. Switzer received both her BA (dual degree in journalism and English) and her MA (in Public Relations) from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications. She is married to Dr. Roger Robinson, professor, author and noted age-group runner. The couple divide their time living in New York City and Wellington, New Zealand. Kathrine continues to run six miles a day. For a list that includes business milestones, please see "Life Highlights" on the home page Sports Background Kathrine Switzer will always be best known as the woman who challenged the all-male tradition of the Boston Marathon and became the first woman to officially enter and run the event. Her entry created an uproar and worldwide notoriety when a race official tried to forcibly remove her from the competition. Three decades later, the incident continues to capture the public imagination and is, in part, the reason Switzer has dedicated her multi-faceted career to creating opportunities on all fronts for women. Switzer has run 35 marathons, won the 1974 New York City Marathon and in 1975 was ranked 6th in the world and 3rd in the USA in women's marathon. After a successful athletic career, she turned her attention to the creation of women's opportunities in sport, a sports marketing career, communication, and motivating others in both fitness and business. Switzer has also received numerous citations and awards for her efforts in advancing sports opportunities for women, including a New York State Regents Medal of Excellence and the Billie Jean King Award from the Women's Sports Foundation for her contribution to sports. She was named "Runner of the Decade" and one of four "Visionaries of the Century" by Runner's World magazine, and an Honor Fellow from the National Association of Girls and Women in Sports. In 1998 she was one of the five inaugural inductees into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame, and in 2000, the Road Runners Club of America honored her with the Fred Lebow Award for contribution to women's running. In 2003, she was awarded the prestigious Abebe Bikila Award by the New York Road Runners for her worldwide contributions to running and was inducted into the International Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame. She is also in the Halls of Fame at Syracuse University, Lynchburg College, and the Road Runners Club of America. Switzer received both her BA (dual degree in journalism and English) and her MA (in Public Relations) from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications. She is married to Dr. Roger Robinson, professor, author and noted age-group runner. The couple divide their time living in New York City and Wellington, New Zealand. Kathrine continues to run six miles a day. Fitness Background Kathrine Switzer has been an athlete all her life, beginning as a runner at age 12, then playing field hockey and basketball through high school and also, along with lacrosse, at the collegiate level. At Syracuse University in the 1960s, there were no inter collegiate sports for women, so Switzer ran unofficially with the men's cross country and track teams. It was there she became a marathon runner, and found her true athletic calling. In addition to being a champion of women in their push for equality in the sport of running (detailed above) Kathrine also became a champion runner, winning the New York City Marathon and several others, and posting a then world-ranked time in the 1975 Boston Marathon. She has run 35 marathons and hundreds of other shorter races all over the world. (see sports details, above and also Life Highlights, Home page). At 57, she takes her fitness very seriously by still running every day, averaging about 6 miles a day and entering an occasional race for fun. She wears the same size clothes she wore when she was 16, making her closets a ridiculous mess. She has not run a marathon in many years, but has not dismissed that as a future possibility. ("After 35 marathons, I sort of feel like I've done it!" she says.)
Of particular interest to Kathrine is the profound effect exercise has on longevity. It is a statistical fact that people are living longer, but Kathrine's aim is for people to live those longer years in better health, rather than experience a sad and incapacitated decline. She believes exercise is critical to making this happen, and lectures from the heart and with numerous examples of ways to make it happen and pioneers who have shown the way. Kathrine herself is an authentic example.
You can contact Kathrine through the contact page and we suggest you check Kathrine's public calendar to see if a preferred date is open. |
