Members

Nickole currently serves as Chief Business Officer of Words + Pictures, an award-winning production company that has created some of the most acclaimed nonfiction storytelling of all time. There she leads growth strategy and drives new businesses through strategic partnerships, developing owned IP, and bridging Words + Pictures best-in-class premium storytelling with new distribution platforms and formats.

Previously, Nickole served as the Chief Growth Officer and Executive Committee member of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group. There she was charged with IP diversification strategy and the development of Cirque du Soleil’s B2B brand; specifically responsible for expanding Cirque’s business through strategic partnerships, licensed brand extensions and scaled media, through the creation of Cirque Studios (TV, Film & Music).

Prior to joining Cirque du Soleil, Nickole spent time with AEG Worldwide where she headed the Global Portfolio division and oversaw the business development for AEG’s collection of global properties. As such, she engineered creative revenue-driving achievements for AEG’s top music festivals (Coachella & Stagecoach), naming rights of world class facilities (Crypto.com Arena & LA Live), and for storied sports franchises (LA Lakers, LA Kings & LA Galaxy). Previously, she held various roles at Topgolf during their hypergrowth era where she built multiple teams and at IMG where she oversaw the business development needs for IMG Golf. She began her career as a talent agent with IMG Golf, where she was fortunate enough to manage top talent including LPGA star, Michelle Wie.

Connor Schell is the founder and CEO of Words + Pictures, a production company based in New York City. Previously, Schell spent 17 years at ESPN and The Walt Disney Company, where he served as executive vice president of content for ESPN and co-created the Emmy, Oscar, and Peabody Award-winning 30 for 30 documentary series. Schell is a 16-time Emmy Award-winning producer, including Best Documentary Series for the 2020 cultural phenomenon, The Last Dance. Schell also produced the Academy Award- and Peabody Award-winning film O.J: Made in America. Since founding Words + Pictures in 2021, Schell has produced acclaimed documentary films and series such as Super League: The War for Football, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, Celtics City, and Court of Gold. Schell also founded Full Day Productions, Words + Pictures’ live events arm, which has produced renowned live events, specials, and cultural moments such as the NFL Pro Bowl Games, The ESPY Awards, The Oscars Red Carpet for ABC, and Netflix’s first two live sports events, The Netflix Cup and The Netflix Slam.

Libby Geist is responsible for overseeing all documentaries and docuseries at Words + Pictures. Prior to joining W+P, Libby worked as the vice president & executive producer of ESPN Films and Original Content, overseeing all projects under the ESPN Films banner including “30 for 30,” docuseries, podcasts, and short films, as well as original content on ESPN+. During her 12 years at ESPN, she pushed the company’s long-form storytelling to new heights, launching “30 for 30 Podcasts,” creating “Nine for IX,” and serving as the executive producer of such groundbreaking projects as The Last Dance and O.J.: Made in America, which won an Academy Award in 2017. A three-time Peabody Award winner, Libby has spent her entire career in documentary film, from the trenches at Shoot the Moon Productions, to development executive and producer at ESPN, and now, executive producer at W+P.

Aaron Cohen is the Chief Creative Officer at Words + Pictures and Full Day. Aaron is one of the most decorated writers and producers in the documentary and sports television space, winning 32 Emmys and a Peabody Award, including the Dick Schaap Award for Outstanding Writing at the Sports Emmys nine times. He’s long been at the forefront of the growing field of documentary and docu-reality programs in sports, beginning with his groundbreaking work on the boxing series 24/7 for HBO, and continuing on with dozens of critically acclaimed and award-winning documentaries and docuseries at ESPN, HBO, NBC, Netflix, and more. In the live space, Aaron has also worked on the broadcasts of the biggest events in sports and entertainment, including 12 Olympic Games, five Super Bowls, and more than a dozen ESPY Awards.