IMG Media Head of North America runs a conversational gamut with Leaders Editorial Director James Emmett.

"This was way too much fun," said Hillary Mandel, politely, as the recording of this podcast drew to a close. And she was right. Mandel is one of the most engaging agency figures in the game.

As Head of North America for IMG Media, Mandel is tasked with the marketing and distribution tens of thousands of hours of sports content every year. Our conversation took place in IMG's Hell's Kitchen office, soon to be vacated for new, combined digs in Flatiron, at the end of May this year, on the eve of the Copa America Centenario, for which IMG had distributed media rights internationally.

Her landmark deals include Wimbledon's move to ESPN in the US, and the Open Championship's tie-up with NBC.

The wide-ranging discussion covers the impact of these deals, plus:

- IMG as a content business

- The new WME ownership era

- Scandal and how to guard against malpractice

- The NHL's opportunity to catch up with its international ambitions

- Gender equality in the sports industry and the responsibility to create balanced working cultures

- The nuts and bolts of deal-making, and how to keep people onside

- New York, New York- where to go, what to eat, and who to see

Leaders Week takes place this year from 4th to 7th October at Stamford Bridge in London. The Leaders Sport Business Summit will run from 5th to 6th October, and Leaders Meet: the Game Changers takes place on 7th October. www.leadersinsport.com