On today’s episode of the Sports Pundit Innovation Podcast, Leanne is joined by Omer Atesmen, CEO of The Snow League, an emerging global sports property reimagining the future of snow sports.

Omer shares his fascinating journey from Istanbul to California, spanning careers in engineering, business, and ad tech before turning his focus to building one of the most ambitious ventures in winter sport.

In this conversation, Leanne and Omer explore the origins and vision behind The Snow League, which aims to unify snow sports through an entertainment-driven, globally connected league model.

They discuss the operational challenges of launching a new sports property, the role of innovative partnerships, and Omer’s long-term goals around sustainability, athlete development, and global expansion (including the League’s upcoming event in China happening from the 4-6th December).

Timestamps

• 02:00 - Omer’s Background and Journey

• 05:00 - Founding The Snow League

• 22:00 - Building a Sustainable Business Model

• 26:00 - Media Rights and Distribution Strategy

• 34:00 - Challenges and Opportunities in China

• 42:00 - Future Vision for The Snow League

Additional Links

• The Snow League Raises $15 Million to Accelerate Global Expansion

About The Hosts

Leanne Bats is a future of sports architect, blending creativity, technology, fandom, and purpose to shape the industry’s evolution. Having led Innovation at New Zealand Rugby, pioneering emerging technologies to deepen connections with the iconic teams in black and she is now drives transformative initiatives as Head of Digital & Innovation at Sport Waikato. She also authors the newsletter OuterSport, a commentary on the future of sport. Connect on LinkedIn

Andy Marston is the founder of Sports Pundit, a community and media platform for sports and technology executives. Through a weekly newsletter, podcast network, lively group chat, and regular social events, he shares industry analysis and connects leaders across the sector. Alongside Sports Pundit, Andy leads Corporate Venture at athlete-backed venture firm, The Players Fund, where he works with high-profile sports IP such as Como 1907 to design venture strategies and drive innovation initiatives. Connect on LinkedIn

About Sports Pundit

Sports Pundit is a community-driven platform for executives working in sport, built around content, events, and conversation. Through its weekly newsletter, social channels, WhatsApp groups, and podcast network, it connects industry leaders across the globe.

At the heart of the platform is the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, a multi-show lineup created for sports executives, by sports executives. The network features six domain-specific podcasts spanning innovation, marketing, finance, performance, and media, alongside a conversational companion show, The Pitch. Together, they deliver insider perspectives that live up to Sports Pundit’s mission to be “The Voice of the Sports Industry.”

Produced by OH SIX

The Sports Pundit Podcast is proudly produced by OH SIX, a content marketing agency specialising in producing digital and social-first content that connects. Trusted by Premier League clubs, F1 teams, and top brands, OH SIX deliver premium content end-to-end, from ideation, working with talent during production and platform specific content to reach audiences on screen.