Time Out: Quick Q&A With Sports Tech Leaders - WiST Board Member Elizabeth O’Brien
Elizabeth O’Brien, WiST Board Member, Program Director of Sports and Entertainment Partnerships, IBM
About Elizabeth: Elizabeth O'Brien manages the strategy and marketing that drive IBM's global partnerships, including the Masters, ESPN fantasy football, US Open, Wimbledon and the Grammy Awards. Elizabeth is passionate about bringing IBM's technology innovation and solutions to bear, creating world class experiences for fans, media and players while driving measurable business results for IBM and their partners.
Elizabeth received her BA from Middlebury College where she was a member of the ski patrol and later got her MPS from New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program. Originally from New York, she has also lived in Paris and Colorado. Elizabeth truly loves all sports and participates in many with varying levels of mastery.
1. What’s your favorite part of your job?
The creative process and collaboration across many disciplines to create amazing experiences for fans, partners and clients. In the end, the camaraderie that develops across a broad team of diverse talents is tremendously satisfying and energizing.
2. What’s your favorite thing about being on the WiST board?
The non stop positive energy from Marilou, the board members, the Fellows, and everyone involved with WIST. It is humbling to be around so many amazing people and I learn every time I have a WIST encounter.
3. If you could be a professional athlete in any sport, what would it be?
Alpine skiing-- freeskiing on unconventional terrain. Also I used to love windsurfing and miss that-- but I am not sure if anyone does that anymore.
4. What is your favorite sports tech wearable, for your own personal use? OURA, Whoop, Garmin, Apple Watch, etc.
A combination of my Apple watch and Oura ring. I am 'Whoop curious' but have not gone there yet.
5. Which talent would you most like to have?
I would love to be a great singer.
6. What is your favorite live sports memory?
Sitting with the families of the NY Giants as they won the Superbowl in 2012. Also, the bittersweet experience of being at Serena Williams' final professional match.
7. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Everything to do with my kids.
8. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“It is what it is.”
9. What is your most treasured possession?
My photos.
10. Where would you like to live?
Chamonix
11. Who are your heroes in real life?
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
12. If you could wear only one jersey for the rest of your life, what jersey would you wear?
Any team USA jersey, and also a NY Giants jersey for laundry day when I am washing the team USA jersey.
13. What are your go-to game/match foods and beverages, in-stadium and at home?
Guacamole and sushi but not together.
14. What motto are you known for?
I am not known for the motto but I try to live by a few:
1- "Nevertheless she persisted"
2- "Je ne m'arreterai jamais"
15. What is your favorite sports tech partnership or sports tech integration?
My favorite sports tech partnerships are of course those that our team at IBM works on — the Masters, Wimbledon, the US Open, and ESPN fantasy football, all using AI to create meaningful experiences and insights to fans, coaches and players.
I am also personally fascinated with the increasingly robust and granular insights that wearables are offering to everyone-- from pros to the rest of us-- and how we will be able to connect that data in a meaningful way to our healthcare decisions and providers going forward.