From Athlete to Creative Professional: Katie Quinlan's Journey

Breaking into the creative side of sports isn’t easy—but Katie Quinlan made it possible.

Katie, a graphic designer for the Detroit Lions and former student-athlete at Michigan State University, joins me to talk about her journey from college athletics to professional sports design. She shares what it’s really like to navigate mentorship, networking, and creativity in the fast-paced world of the NFL, and the unique challenges and opportunities for women in sports.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How her athletic background shaped her approach to design
• The role mentorship and networking play in building a career
• Staying creative and inspired outside of work
• Building genuine relationships and pitching ideas that matter

Katie’s story is full of insight, honesty, and encouragement—and I can’t wait for you to hear it.

Find more content on:

• The Creative Friends Podcast Instagram
• Your creative friend Cass’ LinkedIn