Growing up, Sunday night meant one thing for Madison O’Brien ’20 and her family: gathering around the television to watch sports. Those evenings sparked her fascination with sports television.
At the time, a career in sports television felt far out of reach. But O’Brien has never shied away from pursuing ambitious goals.
O’Brien followed in her father’s footsteps at Lehigh. She made the most of her time on campus by exploring different interests, starting in theatre before eventually falling in love with journalism at The Brown and White — a publication she still reads to this day. Along the way, mentors like Matt Veto, teaching associate and faculty advisor at the newspaper, encouraged her to keep developing her talent and pursue the career she envisioned.
Before long, O’Brien found herself working on the Tokyo Olympics and traveling the country to cover some of the biggest events in sports.
While working for the Golf Channel at NBC Sports, she unexpectedly moved from the features department to the studio. At first, the transition didn’t excite her. But quickly, she saw the change for what it was: a chance to learn more from a talented team. She immersed herself in every aspect of television production, learning everything from the control room and highlight production to field operations and live broadcasts.
“Saying yes to everything really helped me in my career,” she says. “I wouldn’t have the opportunities I have today if I hadn’t.”
Those experiences proved invaluable when she and her husband, Jack O'Brien ’20, moved to South Carolina, and O’Brien transitioned to freelance work. Although the move felt like a leap of faith, the connections and relationships she built kept her schedule full.
One opportunity led her to Vox Media, where she served as associate producer for seasons three and four of Netflix’s Full Swing, a documentary series following the world’s top golfers on and off the course.
“The field team films the day-to-day lives of the golfers, and the post production team helps create the narrative,” O’Brien explains. “We give direction to the field team based on the storylines we’re developing. I had to watch hundreds of hours of footage and pick out the best bites and moments, balancing an authentic look into people’s lives while creating something entertaining. It’s fun to put together a story that encapsulates what the audience wants to see.”
No two days look the same.
In addition to her work on Full Swing, O’Brien continues to produce for NBC Sports. She travels to tournaments, and produces teases — short, scripted segments that open broadcasts. For the Golf Channel studio, she field produces, works closely with on-air talent, and edit produces.
Most recently, she traveled to England to work on The Open Championship.
“My parents are the best, and they’ve always told me I could achieve whatever I set my mind to,” O’Brien says. “I’m lucky to have an amazing support system in them and my husband. Everything I do is to make them, and myself, proud.”
While O’Brien shows no signs of slowing down professionally, the next chapter of her life will bring a different kind of adventure: She and O’Brien are expecting their first child. Her schedule may look a little different, but her ambition remains unchanged. One day, she hopes to produce a tease for the Super Bowl.
“Work hard, and volunteer for any opportunity that comes your way,” she advises. “Enthusiasm will take you far in this industry.”
