LESLEY VISSER- on living out her wildest dreams in sports

Lesley Visser is an icon in sports media. She’s an original. She was voted the number one female sportscaster of all time and has a career that’s spanned more than 45 years at CBS Sports, ABC Sports and the Boston Globe. Her list of firsts is exhaustive- first woman in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, first NFL female beat writer, first woman on Monday Night Football, first woman to present the Lombardi trophy at a Super Bowl and first female sportscaster to carry the Olympic torch- to name a few. 

In this in-depth Voices & Visionaries conversation, we cover her Mom’s influence on her career path, the challenge of her early years in the NFL- when there was no locker room access for women, and the transition from Boston Globe reporter to CBS Sports. Lesley discusses inventing the sideline reporter role and becoming the first woman on Monday Night Football. 

Lesley is an epic storyteller and she shares a few anecdotes- an embarrassing Christmas gift she received from Bears quarterback Jim McMahon and her favorite John Madden memory. She talks about where her wittiness comes from and how she’s gracefully navigated ageism in sports media. 

Lesley has covered 35 Super Bowls and 35 Final Fours, the World Series, Triple Crown, Wimbledon, and the list goes on. She’s in six hall of fames and discusses one of her greatest honors. She shares why the passion has always outweighed the struggle and why it’s important to take risks.

To keep up with Lesley, check out her website:
www.lesleyvisser.com