Keynote Sessions

Theo Epstein, Senior Advisor, Fenway Sports Group; Three-time World Series Champion Baseball Executive

Theo Epstein is the former President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs, a role he held until 2020. In 2002, he became the youngest GM in the history of Major League Baseball when the Boston Red Sox hired him at the age of 28. Under his leadership, the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004—their first championship in 86 years—and again in the 2007 season. On October 21, 2011, Epstein resigned from the Red Sox to join the Chicago Cubs as their President of Baseball Operations.

During his tenure with the Cubs, Epstein signed a five-year contract extension on September 28, 2016. The Cubs finished the 2016 season with a 103–58 record, the best in MLB and their best since the 1910 season. Their successful campaign continued in the playoffs, defeating the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS, and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, securing their first pennant since 1945 and sending them to the World Series. The Cubs went on to win their first World Series championship since 1908 by defeating the Cleveland Indians in a historic 7-game series.

Epstein graduated from Yale University in 1995 with a degree in American Studies and served as the sports editor of the Yale Daily News. He later earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law while working for the San Diego Padres. His professional speaking topics encompass management, leadership, team building, philanthropy, and sports. In 2017, Time Magazine recognized his significant influence by naming him one of the world's 100 most influential people.

Lauren Poe, Sports Analytics Engineer, ESPN

Lauren Poe is an engineer on ESPN’s industry-leading Sports Analytics team. She and the team create analytical storytelling tools, like the Football and Basketball Power Index ratings used across collegiate and professional sports, and develop products and experiences to support insightful and innovative storytelling.

Before moving to Connecticut to work at ESPN in 2013, the Oklahoma native and University of Oklahoma mathematics graduate started her career by blending her love of sports and numbers as a high school math teacher and coach. While at OU, she represented on the sidelines with the pom squad allowing her to experience memorable sports moments from the sidelines.

Lauren and her husband, John, live in Connecticut with their dog, Watson. The Poe-Parolin family loves to spend their time celebrating Boston and Oklahoma sports – most notable being OU Softball’s NCAA Championships!