Paul DePodesta

Paul DePodesta has made a career of evaluating, measuring, and assigning value to talent, as documented in Michael Lewis’s book, "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game." The "Moneyball" methodology has become a pivotal strategy for leaders in various sectors seeking innovative approaches to revamp inefficient systems.

The "Moneyball" methodology has significantly impacted industries ranging from Wall Street and Fortune 500 companies to sectors like government and healthcare. DePodesta's insightful presentations draw parallels between baseball and fundamental business operations, highlighting the similarities with lessons from the world of professional sports and talent recruitment. He elucidates how organizations can utilize "big data" to develop actionable analytics strategies, thereby enhancing their competitive edge. Participants in his sessions gain advanced techniques for optimizing operational systems, boosting overall performance, and enriching customer experience.

After earning his degree in economics Cum Laude from Harvard College, DePodesta gained experience in the Canadian Football League and the American Hockey League. He started his major league career with the Cleveland Indians Baseball Club as an intern in Player Development. Quickly progressing, he became the advance scout for the Major League team and, within two years, was promoted to Special Assistant to the General Manager.

DePodesta's tenure as Assistant General Manager of the Oakland Athletics from 1999 to 2003 saw the team achieve the best winning percentage in baseball (392-255). Under the management of DePodesta and GM Billy Beane, the Athletics, despite one of the lowest payrolls, outperformed richer teams like the New York Yankees during his final four seasons. This success was partly due to their innovative approach to team building, which involved re-evaluating entrenched practices in baseball management.

In his initial season as Oakland’s Assistant GM in 1999, the Athletics recorded their first winning season in seven years, which kicked off a streak of four consecutive playoff appearances, including three American League West Division Titles. Despite receiving an offer to become the youngest General Manager in Major League Baseball history from the Toronto Blue Jays, DePodesta declined.

Formerly holding notable positions such as Executive Vice President of the San Diego Padres and General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, DePodesta led significant turnarounds, including guiding the Dodgers to a Division title and a playoff victory in 2004. In 2010, he joined the New York Mets as Vice President of Player Development and Amateur Scouting, playing a crucial role in the team's first World Series appearance since 2000.

In December 2012, DePodesta was appointed to the board of directors at Sears Holdings, valued for his strategic data analysis capabilities. By January 2016, he had ventured into the NFL, taking on the role of Chief Strategy Officer for the Cleveland Browns, where he implements optimal decision-making strategies for the team.

Additionally, DePodesta contributes to academia as an Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics at the Scripps Translational Sciences Institute. He resides in southern California with his family.