EP 57 From Suits to Stories: Creating Your Own Opportunities with Sarah Feingold

Sarah Feingold does not shy away from creating her own opportunities. 

Born an artist, Sarah Feingold decided the best way to protect creative folks like herself was to go to law school. She then cannonballed into the position of Etsy's first attorney and 17th employee.

For over nine years she helped Etsy scale from an inconspicuous startup to a publicly traded company. After that, she drove Vroom forward as its first General Counsel. 

Tune in to to hear how Sarah masterfully pitched her way into becoming the very first Attorney at Etsy, carving a unique path in the online marketplace world. 

Through sheer determination and a willingness to knock on doors, Sarah thereafter embarks on a teaching career as an adjunct professor at NYU, demonstrating that sometimes, forging your own path is the key to unlocking unanticipated doors of success.

We also delve into Sarah’s exploration of the art of playwriting and theatre, a passion she channels through Dirty Legal Secrets, a play based on true startup lawyer stories. 

Join us for an inspiring conversation that will not only illuminate the power of creating your own opportunities but also shed light on the exciting interplay between seemingly disparate worlds. 

Sarah Feingold's story is a testament to the potential for innovation and growth when you dare to merge your passions, push the boundaries of your career -  and simply dare to make the ask.

Highlights:

6:23 How Sarah pitched her way into becoming Etsy’s first ever attorney

7:37 Advice for aspiring in-house lawyers 

8:29 Key takeaways from her time at Etsy 

9:51 Specific actions she took that made her an obvious candidate for the role

13:24 Tips on landing a board role

14:24 How she landed her role as an adjunct professor at NYU 

16:50 Learning how to navigate imposter syndrome 

19:29 The story behind Dirty Legal Secrets 

26:24 Why we all need to learn to be specific with our asks 

28:01 Even if you love your job, interview for other roles at least once a year?! 

30:15 Her golden advice to exploring other career paths

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