Harken, Inc

Social Media Intern | Summer 2025

Digital graphic promoting a boating contest with images of a sailboat, real person adjusting sail, and a man inspecting equipment on boat, alongside a package of boating kit items.

At Harken, Inc., I played a key role in revamping the Harken Blockheads program, helping shape the future of the brand’s youth sailing initiative. I served as the Blockhead Brand Manager, assisting with creative direction, content planning, and cross-platform marketing efforts.

In this role, I developed a sustainable content calendar. I executed a cohesive brand strategy aligned with company goals and key engagement metrics, driving consistent growth and strengthening the program’s digital presence.

Throughout my internship, I had the opportunity to participate in global marketing meetings and product naming sessions, gaining valuable insight into international brand positioning and long-term strategic planning. I worked closely with product designers, video editors, and copywriters, collaborating across teams to ensure the Blockheads program remained cohesive, impactful, and aligned with the Harken brand.

My responsibilities included writing marquee content for the Harken website, producing editorial content for harkenblockheads.com, and conducting a comprehensive Blockheads brand analysis to inform the direction of the website and the overall initiative.

Celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first Blockhead to the island, featuring a large sailboat on the water, with two people holding a sign and a QR code for a sailing race. The image includes large numbers indicating distances: 21 miles sailed, 33 miles, and 3 Blockheads to the island. The background shows sailboats on the water and a circular emblem celebrating the anniversary.
Collage of images from a Blokheads event featuring children participating in sailing activities. Top left shows two girls smiling at a dock with sailboats in the background. Top right shows a boy sailing a small sailboat on a lake. Bottom left shows a group of children at a tent with Blokheads branding, engaging with event materials.

In July, I traveled to Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, with the Harken Blockheads team for the 2025 ILYA Opti and X Boat Championships. During the event, more than 60 new Blockheads joined a community of over 270 junior sailors, where we introduced and promoted our youth sailing initiative to the broader ILYA audience. We focused on sharing the program’s mission, platform, and core values while building meaningful connections with young sailors.

While based on Lighthouse Island, we hosted three interactive contests, including two competitive boat-naming challenges where sailors campaigned for their selected names, as well as a timed bowline-tying competition featuring both traditional and flying bowlines.

This experience was incredibly rewarding and reinforced my passion for youth engagement, brand storytelling, and fostering community through sailing.