Meet Kate Rooney

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kate Rooney. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kate below.

Kate, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is so insidious, particularly for women in male-dominated fields. For me, the realization that I truly belonged came over time, with a combination of experience and preparation. But perhaps the most important piece of it was realizing that I don’t have to be like everyone else–in fact, what makes me special and makes me belong is the fact that I’m not like everyone else. I have something different to offer–we all do–and once I truly embraced that, along with the unique qualities and skills that make me, me, I stopped being afraid that I didn’t belong or wasn’t good enough.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a sports reporter and anchor for a local news station in NYC, Pix11. Sports is a huge passion of mine, and I love getting to share that with other people; when folks share a love for sports, it’s an instant connection and common ground. I view my job as an extension of that: I get to share stories, perspectives, and experiences that fans watching the games at home or even in the stands might not have access to without us reporters.

It’s an incredible time to be a woman in sports, since interest in women’s sports is at an all-time high and more people have started to embrace that female storytellers can add something new and different to the conversation. I love connecting with sports fans not just through my primary medium of local television, but also on social media, where sports broadcasters now have the freedom to share behind the scenes moments and other personal elements that might not make air on television.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The number one most important skill is relationship building. Expressing a genuine interest in and being kind to other people isn’t always the norm, and so people remember it when you do those things. Every job I’ve had in sports was a direct result of someone I knew recommending me.

Another skill I think is paramount in sports journalism is writing. As a sports broadcaster, my goal is to get my information across in a compelling and clear way. I truly enjoy the challenge of writing in a way that is both interesting and accessible, and I think my attention to detail and unique turns of phrase have helped set me apart.

One quality that’s of the utmost importance in both television and sports is being able to adapt on the fly. No one ever knows what the outcome of a game will be, what will happen during that game, what someone might say during an interview. So being able to keep your cool, and being prepared enough that twists and turns don’t throw you, is crucial.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

It might sound cliche, but my parents always made me feel like I could do anything. That I was smart enough, strong enough, capable enough to pursue any career path, while also teaching me that it would take dedication, hard work, and sacrifice to achieve any goals I set for myself. I watched them both work tirelessly in their own careers, and continue their educations and love of learning well into middle-age and beyond. The combination of their belief in me and the example they set of incredible work ethic has been the fuel for me to keep going anytime I’ve felt discouraged or like I was veering off course.

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