Meet Kie Wagner, the one-woman team behind PR and Media Relations at MBT Marketing. She specializes in the storytelling aspects of media and works closely with Lodestar Technology. Much of Kie’s experience comes from the firearms and outdoor industries. After studying History and Anthropology in college, her first job happened to be at SOG Specialty Knives & Tools. In just three months, Kie quickly developed a passion for the industry and became the product knowledge specialist while managing key clients – from big box retailers to international customers and more.
After leaving SOG Specialty Knives and Tools, she continued her career at GLOCK. “I was fortunate to have incredible mentors, first at SOG and later at GLOCK, who taught me not just about the industry, but the fundamentals of business. I brought to the team my experience with building relationships, communicating with integrity, and my passion to never stop learning,” Kie writes. Because there were few women holding leadership positions in the firearms industry then, Kie didn’t have many female mentors. “Watching that evolve over the years and seeing more women helping shape the future of the industry has been one of the most rewarding changes I’ve witnessed.”
Since her time at SOG and GLOCK, Kie has worked for several marketing and outdoor companies. She didn’t grow up around firearms and writes that she built her career in the industry “completely by accident.” Because of her unexpected work trajectory, she can claim responsibility for introducing her family to shooting. Kie says “Lunch and Range Day,” is always a family-favorite day to spend together and takes place at least once every three months. “Not exactly what you’d expect from a Pacific Northwest history buff who didn’t discover this passion until my early 20s,” Kie writes.
Away from work, Kie is passionate about empathy and curiosity. As a single mom, her goal is to raise her six-year-old son, Coyote, to be a “kind, curious, thoughtful human who knows how to critically think and make informed decisions for himself … If I succeed at that, everything else feels secondary.” She makes the most of their time, and she’s dedicated to providing a fun and nurturing childhood, from plenty of time spent outdoors to cooking meals together each day. Kie also is an avid traveler. She’s visited all but three states and approximately 20 countries. She loves to learn about history, the outdoors, local culture and food and especially people on her adventures. Kie says, “Swapping travel stories and experiences with people I meet continuously enriches my understanding and the lens through which I see the world.” Read on for this dedicated woman’s answers to our six Gal Gab questions, and check out what motivates her.
What does a typical day in your work life look like?
Most days I research potential partnerships and build media strategies. Building data-oriented pipelines that correlate with sales strategies is a key component. Other days I’m speaking with engineers, CEOs, content creators, or editors about how we can work together. The common thread is storytelling, relationship-building and helping good ideas find the audiences that need them.
My favorite part of PR is finding unexpected connections between people and communities who genuinely have something to offer one another. The best media relationships aren’t transactions, they’re collaborations. Public Relations has an enormous potential to positively impact the world.
There’s usually an unreasonable amount of coffee involved. My espresso machine is probably the coworker I rely on most.
What is the #1 piece of advice you would give women wanting to enter the industry?
Don’t spend your energy trying to fit in.
Your perspective is valuable precisely because it isn’t identical to everyone else’s. The industry doesn’t need more copies of the same voice – it needs people willing to ask different questions, challenge assumptions and recognize opportunities others might miss.
Just as importantly, advocate for other women. Celebrate one another’s successes, make introductions, share opportunities and recognize that progress isn’t a competition. Listen, when another woman succeeds, cheer loudly. There is plenty of room at the table if we’re willing to pull up another chair.
What motivates you?
My son reminds me every day that curiosity is a choice.
Children ask “why?” constantly, and somewhere along the way adults stop. I’m determined not to.
One of my mantras is, “If you’re not learning, you’re not living.” Whether it’s history, communications, conservation, or firearms, there’s always something new to discover — and that’s what keeps me excited about getting up every morning.
What is the most unexpected thing you’ve learned while working in this industry?
That we have far more in common than we sometimes think.
Early in my career, some colleagues affectionately dubbed me the “gun-totin’ hippie.” We didn’t always agree politically or philosophically, but we respected one another, listened and found common ground. I think my background in anthropology – and the opportunity to travel extensively both nationally and internationally – has shaped how I approach people and communication.
I’ve learned that understanding someone doesn’t require agreeing with them. Most people aren’t looking for a fight; they’re looking to be heard. Curiosity is a far better bridge than judgement.
What is your favorite product in the outdoor or shooting market right now?
Easy – the Lodestar LNK9.
I’ve worked around firearms for nearly two decades, but after becoming a mom, I made a personal decision not to keep one in my home. For me, the risk outweighed the threat.
The LNK9 is the first firearm that’s genuinely changed that calculus.
What excites me is I see a firearm that meaningfully addresses the concerns keeping many people, especially parents, from bringing one into their homes. I believe it has the potential to expand firearm ownership among people who have traditionally felt the risks outweighed the benefits.
As someone who has lived on both sides of that conversation, I find that incredibly compelling.
Let’s have some fun … what weapon would you use to battle a giant?
A wand.
I’m still waiting on my Hogwarts’ acceptance letter, so until then, I’ll put my faith in magic over muscle.
Follow Kie Wagner on LinkedIn.
Madeleine Golob, formerly “Anna,” is our intern at the “Women’s Outdoor News,” and manages the “Gal Gab” column. She also pens features and takes care of our Pinterest activities. Madeleine is a high school student who loves to write, read, study her family’s genealogy and play any musical instrument she can get her hands on. She also enjoys working Action Pistol matches while her parents compete and dreams of becoming a historian and writer. View all posts by Madeleine Golob
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