In the world of sports media, few have had a career as varied and illustrious as Neal Pilson. Pilson was the president of CBS Sports for 13 years, but the path that led him there, which started with law school and brought him to the world of sports media, was not anything Pilson could have planned. His experiences shaped not only his career but also his philosophy on leadership and life.
Pilson was a lecturer in Columbia’s M.S. in Sports Management program for 17 years until retiring from full-time teaching in Spring 2024. He was instrumental in shaping the program, and he was generous in imparting his wealth of knowledge to the next generation of industry professionals.
When asked what he enjoyed most about teaching, Pilson’s answer is simple: giving back.
While stepping back from full-time teaching, Pilson plans to continue offering his expertise in shorter lecture series, focusing on current events and his wealth of untapped stories from decades at the pinnacle of sports media.
A Winding Career Path
Pilson attended Yale Law School and then joined a small New York law firm where he practiced for eight years until an unexpected opportunity through his political connections in Westchester County landed him a position at Metromedia, a television company that owned several stations, including what would later become Fox’s flagship Channel 5 in New York.
At Metromedia, Pilson negotiated contracts—not in sports but in entertainment. He produced programming for three networks, CBS, ABC, and NBC, gaining an extensive understanding of the television industry and connecting him to key network executives. One of those connections was with CBS’s head of business affairs, who eventually offered a job at CBS Sports. This move would shape the rest of his career.
"Careers are not a straight line,” Pilson said. “They go in zigs and zags, and I tell my students that they have to be adaptable.”
Each position Pilson took built upon the last, gaining a set of skills that guided him forward. His legal acumen and leadership style were instrumental in helping CBS negotiate partnerships for numerous high-profile sports events. Beyond CBS, Pilson transitioned into a role as a consultant, working on major sporting events like the Rose Bowl, the Kentucky Derby, and advising leagues such as the National Football League and Major League Baseball. He’s also been a key figure in sports litigation, serving as an expert witness on several high-profile cases.
Giving Back in the Classroom
Pilson’s passion for sharing his knowledge shaped his role as a lecturer in Columbia’s M.S. in Sports Management program. In the classroom, he emphasized the importance of developing a broad skill set—what he calls "granular skills"—that will eventually attract major opportunities. "Most leadership in the U.S. is taught by finding a successful leader and then trying to identify the attributes of that person," he says. "I do it the other way. I teach from the bottom up."
Pilson’s approach focused on preparing students for the moment when they are recognized for their abilities and placed in an authoritative role. “It doesn’t have to be as the president of a company,” he notes. “It could be leading a small department of two, three, or five people. But that changes your career.” He taught students how to make decisions, manage people, and evaluate options with the goal of equipping them with the tools to navigate the complexities of a career in the sports business.
In reflecting on his career, Pilson highlights the importance of self-awareness. "The motto of my college was 'self-knowledge,' and that's what I focus on in the first two weeks of my course. I want students to take an introspective look at themselves because you can’t run other people until you can run yourself."
Reflections on An Incredible Career
From orchestrating groundbreaking deals like the 1979 Daytona 500 and multiple Olympics for CBS, Pilson has had a front seat to the transformation of the sports media landscape. Because of this, he also encouraged his students to become well-versed in current events across various sports, seeing knowledge of industry trends as essential to their professional development.
Pilson also emphasized to students the importance of attention to detail in communication, from knowing where to sit in a meeting to understandinging how to navigate delicate negotiations. He encouraged students to treat his classes as business meetings, stressing the importance of professional behavior and active participation. During the pandemic, he even taught his students how to translate this behavior to virtual meetings–body language, voice modulation, and engagement–aiming to prepare students for the modern workplace. In his view, mastering such seemingly small details can be critical to career success.
Pilson was a passionate and experienced educator who leveraged his rich history in sports media to give his students a competitive edge. His focus on practical skills, professional etiquette, and staying informed on industry trends has made him a respected figure both in the classroom and in the broader world of sports management.
About the Program
The Columbia University M.S. in Sports Management provides students with a comprehensive curriculum and access to sports industry practitioners and influencers. Students acquire skills in areas such as entrepreneurship and innovation, global sports management, facility and event management, and sports law and ethics.
