ESPN CEO Jimmy Pitaro On Bringing The Huddle Mentality To Leadership Meetings

Long before Jimmy Pitaro brought sports to the masses as the chairman of ESPN, he learned all about leadership by playing football in high school and as a wide receiver at Cornell University.

But if you ask him what he misses most about his playing days, it’s not the competition or the glory—it’s the huddle. Why? Because the huddle is where you come together, make decisions, and leave aligned.

In a recent episode of the Corporate Competitor Podcast, Pitaro talked about how he applied what he learned in the huddle to his work at ESPN. 

“When people ask me what I miss about sports, I always go back to the huddle,” Pitaro shared. “The group of guys in my senior year in high school, we went through so much together. That bonds you and it makes you feel part of something.”

Today, Pitaro still looks forward to huddling with his teammates—this time in the boardroom. His weekly staff meetings at ESPN serve as “huddles,” where he fosters collaboration and ensures every team member has a voice. “We follow the model: Discuss, debate, decide and align,” he said of his approach. “First off, I want to make sure that people are heard, that our leaders have the forum to speak up.”

As much as Pitaro values the collaborative spirit of the huddle, he also emphasized the importance of breaking the huddle with alignment. Whether on the field or in the office, every player on the team needs to run the same play. “That’s probably the most important component of this whole thing,” Pitaro explained. “Once the decision has been made, then the time for debating or challenging is over. If not, then the whole thing comes crumbling down.”

In this podcast episode, you will learn:

• The importance of balancing ambition with excellence. Demonstrating outstanding performance in your current role is just as crucial as sharing your long-term goals.

• The role of personal passion in professional success. Discover how growing up in a Yankees-obsessed family ignited Jimmy Pitaro’s love for sports and how that passion continues to shape his leadership at ESPN.

• How to communicate career goals effectively. Being open and transparent about your aspirations can pave the way for new opportunities and career growth.