Leslie McGreevy

Director of Analytics Operations at Excel Sports

“Thank you, Leslie McGreevy, for sharing your journey and insights with us! As the Director of Analytics Operations at Excel Sports, you’ve built an inspiring career in sponsorship valuation and data storytelling. From helping grow a start-up later acquired by Excel Sports to navigating male-dominated spaces in sports analytics, your resilience and expertise truly stand out.

Leslie reminds us of the importance of mentorship, networking, and building deep expertise—especially for women working to break barriers in the industry. Beyond her role, she’s a dedicated mom of two who manages work-life balance with time-blocking, prioritizing family, and always looking ahead with goals like creating a youth sports app.

Your story is both motivating and encouraging for women aspiring to lead in sports business.”

– Zara

Please describe your role & responsibilities at that position?

Valuate Sports Sponsorships

What did you study in college and how did your educational background shape your career in the sports industry?

Economics in Undergrad and Masters in Analytics. I use more of the Masters degree to help with my analytical day to day work and finding insights in big datasets.

Can you share the key milestones in your career that led you to your current position in the sports industry?

Integral person in a start-up that Excel sports bought a few years ago.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in the sports business, & how have you overcome them?

I was the only woman at the start-up and also find myself going to sports analytics conferences and being part of a small % of women attending. It’s hard to not have anyone to talk too. I have found other mentors in other fields to talk too.

​Balancing a career is demanding. How do you manage a work-life balance? What strategies have worked well for you?

Time-blocking & weekly planning, Batching similar tasks, Automating and delegating and Prioritizing family.

How important is mentorship for women in the sports industry? Have you had mentors or role models who played a significant role in your career and can give some details?

Mentorship isn’t just “nice to have” in sports, it can be career-making, especially for women in an industry that’s long been male-dominated. A strong mentor or sponsor brings you into rooms you wouldn’t otherwise enter, gives you honest feedback on your skills and style, and models how to navigate both the business and the office politics. I have had some help with finding my worth and ways to stick up for myself and getting raises. Work-life strategies have been helpful. Being a mother and trying to balance work and being present with my children.

In a male-dominated industry, do you feel women are given equal opportunities? What steps do you think can be taken to promote gender equality in the sports industry?

While we’ve made real progress in recent years, the playing field in sports still isn’t level. In my experience, women aren’t yet given truly equal opportunities. Still a huge leadership gap. I see it in my own company. Pay disparities is still from talking with a bunch in the industry is still a problem. Some steps could be: Have C-suite leaders publicly commit to gender targets, Use “blind” screening tools for resumes and rotate interview panels so candidates aren’t judged by a single gatekeeper, conduct annual, third-party compensation reviews, and Pair high-potential women with senior leaders (both men and women) who will actively champion their careers.

What aspects of your work in the sports industry do you enjoy the most? What parts do you find the most challenging ?

Data storytelling: Turning raw numbers into clear, actionable insights that drive decisions in real time for these brands in their sports sponsorships. I think just dealing with a male dominating industry and at my own workplace is still challenging.

What advice do you have for young women aspiring to build a successful career in the sports industry?

Cultivate a Strong Network, Build Deep, Relevant Expertise and Seek Out Mentors & Sponsors

What is your long-term personal goal that you still want to achieve both business wise and personal?

Would love to create an app in the youth sports world and try to work on a new position at my company for some change.

Any fun facts or interesting things you’d like the world to learn about you? Favorite food, hobbies, pet peeves, etc.?

I like spaghetti with meat sauce and pizza(I actually like pepperoni and pineapple!), 2 kids( 6 and 5 yo).