On this week’s episode of the Digital and Dirt podcast, Ian sits down with Monica Ellingson, Executive Partner and Sports Entertainment Practice Lead at IBM Consulting, to discuss how technology, data, and AI are transforming the sports fan experience and why storytelling, personalization, and trust remain at the center of innovation.
Podcast Breakdown
00:00 – 05:08 Meet Monica Ellingson & an AI-First Mindset
05:09 – 15:12 Career Roots in Media & the Rise of the Interactive Fan
15:13 – 24:51 Accuracy Over Speed, Brand Trust & Data-Driven Storytelling
24:52 – 34:36 In-Venue Experiences & Behind the Scenes at the US Open
34:37 – 50:25 Serve Quality, Likelihood to Win & Making Complex Data Simple
50:26 – 56:51 The Masters App, Faster Innovation & Personalization Without Overstepping
56:52 – 59:22 Community, Connection & What’s Next for Sports Tech
