Leigh Ernst Friestedt

Leigh Ernst Friestedt is the Founder and CEO of Equity IX, LLC and SportsOgram.  Equity IX is a digital media sports company that specializes in analyzing issues with sports in education: early recruiting, NCAA rules, sports injuries and Title IX.

Prior to forming Equity IX, Leigh was a Mergers & Acquisitions investment banker on Wall Street at Lazard, GE Capital, DLJ and Bowles Hollowell Connor.  Leigh has over twelve years of M&A experience advising major companies across all sectors with a specialty in media.Leigh received a law degree from Vanderbilt University and served on the Board of Advisors.  Leigh is a graduate of Brown University where she played on the Varsity Lacrosse Team earning First Team All-New England and Academic All-Ivy honors.  A graduate of the Holton-Arms School, Leigh served on the Board of Trustees and was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame as a four-sport athlete.

Leigh helped the NCAA and Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (“IWLCA”) pass landmark early recruiting legislation in lacrosse.  Leigh’s article, Early Recruit: The Role of Sports in Education, analyzed key issues with early recruiting and documented female student-athletes featured in a film to lobby the NCAA.  Additionally, Leigh is an Associate Producer for the film Grey Lady and an Executive Producer for the film The Sweet Life which premiered at the LA Film Festival in 2016.

Leigh has photographed, filmed and authored articles covering the top lacrosse events: NCAA Final Four, ACC, Ivy League, Big Ten and Big East Championships.  Leigh has also covered many of the top high school and club girls lacrosse tournaments, Under Amour All-America and US Women’s Lacrosse Tournament.  Additionally, Leigh has photographed the NYC marathon, US Tennis Open and sailing regattas on Nantucket.