SVG All-Stars: Leigh Michaud, Manager, Remote Operations, ESPN

The UConn grad rose from ESPN’s mailroom to become one of its most valuable ops leaders

As the pace of change in sports production shows no signs of slowing, a new class of innovators and decision-makers is shaping the industry’s future. Now in its second season, our SVG All-Stars series spotlights the rising leaders driving that transformation and offers a look at their career paths, leadership philosophies, creative and technological contributions, and vision for what comes next. Each conversation introduces you to the people redefining the workflows, culture, and possibilities of live sports production.

Quantity vs. Quality? At a juggernaut like ESPN, which produces thousands of live sports broadcasts a year, there’s no choosing between the two. Both are made possible by the network’s deep and talented operations team, including Leigh Michaud.

As manager, remote operations, she plays a pivotal role in ensuring that every live event is equipped with the technical resources essential to a seamless broadcast. Over the past decade, her résumé has become loaded with big-time events, such as the College Football Playoff, Little League World Series, the ESPYs, and WNBA All-Star. She has also been part of multiple projects that have won national Sports Emmy Awards, including the 2022 College Football Playoff Championship, which was celebrated for Outstanding Technical Team Remote, and the 2016 College Football Championship, whose Megacast was honored for Outstanding Trans-Media Sports Coverage.

In this edition of SVG All-Stars, Michaud shares her career journey — which began in the ESPN mailroom (a familiar launchpad), how the transition to HDR (high dynamic range) is impacting the ESPN ops team, why inclusion is at the center of her management philosophy, and how simply saying “yes” can be the most valuable thing one can do early in their career.

What are the key responsibilities of your current role?
I currently lead operations across more than 1,500 annual events, including Men’s and Women’s College Basketball; major professional-soccer properties, including the NWSL, La Liga, Bundesliga, FA Cup, and international friendlies; and the ESPYs. College basketball is a recent addition to my portfolio, and I’m excited to collaborate with the college-basketball ops team for the upcoming season.

Leigh Michaud (far right) at the 2024 Heisman Trophy Ceremony in New York City with the operations team of (from left) Kevin Cleary, Spencer Chmiel, BJ Smith, and Tatiana Montalvo. (All photos: ESPN)

In my role, I work closely with stakeholders across production, crewing, remote traffic, mobile units, REMI, and finance, [as well as] vendors and venues, to oversee every operational detail from signal transmission and new-technology implementation to logistics, such as personnel support, credentials, shipping, and site planning. My primary focus is ensuring that all personnel, technology, and logistical elements are aligned and supported to deliver seamless and successful events.

What is one key industry trend that you believe is having a major impact on your organization right now?
One key industry trend having a major impact on our organization right now is the increasing adoption of HDR workflows. Our team recently transitioned from SDR to HDR for the 2025 Little League World Series, where we worked through several technical hurdles during the switch. Now, with my move to college basketball management and working on the ESPN Prime show, I’ll be learning more about 4K as we continue to push forward in image quality and production standards.

As with any shift in technology, it’s crucial to ensure that all components are compatible and thoroughly tested and that technicians and engineers are comfortable with the updated workflows before going to air. This kind of transition requires close coordination across technical operations, engineering, and production teams to ensure our infrastructure is ready.

Michaud visited the Museum of Broadcast Technology in Rhode Island in 2013 shortly after she got her start at ESPN.

One thing about working in TV: we’re always evolving. Whether it’s technology, workflows, or creative ideas, there’s always something new to learn and improve. And that’s what makes it exciting.

What is one core philosophy you try to live by when managing your team/operation?
Inclusion is at the heart of how I lead. I make it a priority to understand my team’s interests and ambitions and to support them whenever possible. I believe in listening actively and saying yes as often as I can.

By creating a culture of openness and shared knowledge — whether it’s tools, ideas, context, or contacts — I aim to empower my teammates to contribute with confidence and collaborate with impact.

What is your favorite event(s) you’ve ever worked?
I’ve had the privilege of working on so many varied and remarkable events all over the map. One standout is the 2017 Special Olympics World Games in Austria. It was my first international production with ESPN. The event was deeply meaningful, from the custom-built venue to the inspirational stories of the athletes we featured. It was an opportunity to collaborate with international vendors and produce an Opening Ceremony from the ground up, all while being part of something that I felt was truly making a difference, not only on our coverage but also on the lives of the athletes and families and mine.

Honorable mentions include the College World Series (CWS), Little League World Series (LLWS), the ESPYs, El Clásico in Barcelona, the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and the College Football Playoff (CFP).

Michaud (right) with ESPN Operations Producer Alice Garrett at a college football game at Eastern Washington in 2016 where Roos Field — and its iconic red turf — was covered in snow.

How did you get started in sports production? What was your first real job in the business?
My journey in sports production began in 2009 when I worked as a coach and camp director. That experience taught me the importance of leadership, clear planning, logistics, communication, and teamwork.

While pursuing my graduate degree in sport management at UConn, which I completed in 2012, I also gained hands-on experience in the industry through internships with the New Britain Rock Cats and the Connecticut Sports Management Group. These early roles gave me a deeper firsthand understanding of event planning, operations, and fast-paced live execution.

In 2013, I took a temp job in the mailroom at ESPN, sorting and delivering mail across campus. That year, I was working seven part-time jobs, including coaching softball and soccer, substitute teaching, directing multiple sports camps, and working in the ESPN mailroom. That time in my life taught me how to prioritize my time and interests and prepared me for the many simultaneous assignments to come.

During my time in the mailroom, while dropping off the mail to different departments, I’d ask if there were any open positions. My opportunity came when I delivered mail to the then ‘Event Operations’ and [Senior Operations Coordinator] Maria Santos mentioned an opportunity with the E3 Ops Team. I applied and, soon after, landed a part-time role as an operations coordinator. That was my first real job in sports-television production, and I’ve been with ESPN Remote Operations ever since.

What one piece of advice do you have for someone just starting their career in this industry?
Say yes. Embrace new opportunities, even and especially the ones outside your comfort zone. You can’t grow if you don’t change.

Michaud (second from right) at the 2025 ESPYs Red Carpet Show in Los Angeles with operations colleagues (from left) Jalen Taylor, Diana MacLeod, Danny Reifert, and Joe Rainey.

I’ve said yes to all kinds of things throughout my career. I’ve put on the mascot costume. I’ve taken part-time jobs. I’ve led committees. I’ve been both a mentor and a mentee. I’ve signed up for leadership classes. I’ve handed mail and credentials to colleagues. I’ve packed my bags and traveled to events on short notice. I’ve pitched lots of ideas. I’ve made uncomfortable cold calls. I’ve asked for help, support, direction, proofreading. Every one of those “yeses” has taught me something, and each one helped lead me to where I am today.

And remember: if someone offers you an opportunity, it’s because they believe you will succeed. If they believe in you, you should, too. When you’re presented a challenge that feels like a stretch, say yes.

To read more of the SVG All-Stars series, CLICK HERE.