1-on-1 with Theo Epstein

This conversation will explore Theo's unique career path, his tenures as General Manager of the Boston Red Sox and President of Baseball Operations with the Chicago Cubs, and his influential role at the Major League Baseball league office. He will describe how data influenced him at each stage of his career and how his approach to data-informed decision-making evolved over time. The session will conclude with questions from the audience.

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.