Joan Lynch(I)
- Producer
- Production Manager
- Executive
Joan Lynch is an Emmy award-winning television and film executive with a unique background in network news, entertainment, and sports development, production, and management. She served as the Vice President and Executive Producer of the Content Development group at ESPN as one of the few women in a senior role running a development department at a major sports media company, tasked with producing original content for placement throughout ESPN's vast media assets.
Along with overseeing the production and launch of ESPN's groundbreaking documentary series 30 for 30 Lynch oversaw the creative development of scripted content, news and analysis shows, unscripted series such as the World Series of Poker, Sport Science, RISE UP, E:60 and SportsNation, and digital features as well as sports-related LIVE events such as the New Year's Eve program New Year No Limits. Outside of programming for the network, Joan worked directly with national brands like Toyota, Jim Beam, Red Bull, Levi's and countless others to develop and produce content that grew the advertising spends on ESPN significantly year over year.
Joan's other accomplishments ESPN's first Primetime Emmy Nomination, two Peabody Awards, Television Academy Honors Award, NAMIC Vision Award, multiple Sports Emmy Awards, Diversity Award, Women in Telecommunications Signature Accolade Award, two Gracie Awards for Excellence, multiple CableFAX Awards, Web Marketing Association's Standard of Excellence WebAward, Columbia School of Journalism "Innovative Presentation of Information" Award, and multiple Webbies. Lynch was named to the list of Most Powerful Women in Cable in 2011.
Lynch is also a co-founder of Equal Edge Entertainment with world famous elite athlete Robbie Maddison. The company's docuseries and live events reveal the science, strategy, and untold stories behind sports history's most unforgettable moments. By offering a fresh perspective, they invite fans to connect with the emotion and brilliance that drive the world of sports, beyond just the spectacle.
She founded the production company Scéal Films in 2018 which produced domestic and international documentaries.
Lynch has also served as Chief Content and Programming Officer for WorkingNation since 2015. WorkingNation is a journalism and film unit that exists to expose hard truths about the looming unemployment crisis and bring the country together through storytelling around solutions for a changing economy. Lynch built and oversees a team of journalists and Academy Award-winning directors and producers who create a wide range of compelling stories and programming to highlight the issues. Through their pioneering multi-platform content model, stories developed by the WorkingNation team are strategically released by national distribution partners to their audiences. To date, WorkingNation has released content with CNN, CNBC, Forbes, Fortune, Time Inc., PBS and many others.
Prior to ESPN Joan Lynch spent 10 years prior at ABC News and Yahoo as a development executive in both digital and network television. While at Yahoo, Lynch launched the first live broadband channel for financial news and subsequently built and launched the ABC News 24hr live digital news channel. Lynch co-founded the social impact media company WagTree in 2012, a company specializing in the identification, development and distribution of new shows, business concepts, talent and branded content.
Lynch's influence extends beyond her company via several organizations. The proud daughter of a US Army Vietnam War helicopter pilot, she is passionate about issues involving active or former military and their families. She served on the executive board of the MVAT Foundation and as an advisor to the veteran mentoring platform HeroesLinked for 5 years. Over the past 20 years, she has done numerous international humanitarian trips throughout the world to help provide training and homes for the needy. She also serves on Board of Directors for Animation Libation Studios, designed to get animation graduates opportunities within the entertainment field.
Lynch is a graduate of Fordham University and splits her time between California and Arizona.
Along with overseeing the production and launch of ESPN's groundbreaking documentary series 30 for 30 Lynch oversaw the creative development of scripted content, news and analysis shows, unscripted series such as the World Series of Poker, Sport Science, RISE UP, E:60 and SportsNation, and digital features as well as sports-related LIVE events such as the New Year's Eve program New Year No Limits. Outside of programming for the network, Joan worked directly with national brands like Toyota, Jim Beam, Red Bull, Levi's and countless others to develop and produce content that grew the advertising spends on ESPN significantly year over year.
Joan's other accomplishments ESPN's first Primetime Emmy Nomination, two Peabody Awards, Television Academy Honors Award, NAMIC Vision Award, multiple Sports Emmy Awards, Diversity Award, Women in Telecommunications Signature Accolade Award, two Gracie Awards for Excellence, multiple CableFAX Awards, Web Marketing Association's Standard of Excellence WebAward, Columbia School of Journalism "Innovative Presentation of Information" Award, and multiple Webbies. Lynch was named to the list of Most Powerful Women in Cable in 2011.
Lynch is also a co-founder of Equal Edge Entertainment with world famous elite athlete Robbie Maddison. The company's docuseries and live events reveal the science, strategy, and untold stories behind sports history's most unforgettable moments. By offering a fresh perspective, they invite fans to connect with the emotion and brilliance that drive the world of sports, beyond just the spectacle.
She founded the production company Scéal Films in 2018 which produced domestic and international documentaries.
Lynch has also served as Chief Content and Programming Officer for WorkingNation since 2015. WorkingNation is a journalism and film unit that exists to expose hard truths about the looming unemployment crisis and bring the country together through storytelling around solutions for a changing economy. Lynch built and oversees a team of journalists and Academy Award-winning directors and producers who create a wide range of compelling stories and programming to highlight the issues. Through their pioneering multi-platform content model, stories developed by the WorkingNation team are strategically released by national distribution partners to their audiences. To date, WorkingNation has released content with CNN, CNBC, Forbes, Fortune, Time Inc., PBS and many others.
Prior to ESPN Joan Lynch spent 10 years prior at ABC News and Yahoo as a development executive in both digital and network television. While at Yahoo, Lynch launched the first live broadband channel for financial news and subsequently built and launched the ABC News 24hr live digital news channel. Lynch co-founded the social impact media company WagTree in 2012, a company specializing in the identification, development and distribution of new shows, business concepts, talent and branded content.
Lynch's influence extends beyond her company via several organizations. The proud daughter of a US Army Vietnam War helicopter pilot, she is passionate about issues involving active or former military and their families. She served on the executive board of the MVAT Foundation and as an advisor to the veteran mentoring platform HeroesLinked for 5 years. Over the past 20 years, she has done numerous international humanitarian trips throughout the world to help provide training and homes for the needy. She also serves on Board of Directors for Animation Libation Studios, designed to get animation graduates opportunities within the entertainment field.
Lynch is a graduate of Fordham University and splits her time between California and Arizona.
