Anna McGrane ’10, CEO and Co-Founder, PacerPro
What made you decide to pursue a career in entrepreneurship/venture capital/startups after NYU Law?
Family. From years living in Russia, China, and Latin America, I knew how fragile institutions can be. Then, my brother had a vision for how we might use technology to help strengthen the courts in the US—and I wanted to help.
How did NYU Law prepare you for this career?
On an academic level, NYU Law helped me understand the relationship between attorneys, courts, and civil society. On a personal level, NYU Law kicked my butt. It was an incredible community of some of the brightest people I have met—many of whom were looking at the world outside the box. Learning to keep my head above water there helped prepare me for challenges down the road.
Why do you think lawyers find success in this career path?
Law school trains you to understand and solve problems—the exact skills you need to succeed as an entrepreneur.
What was the biggest challenge you faced as a lawyer in this career path?
Early-stage entrepreneurs sleep on couches, run up their credit cards, and put everything into a dream that statistically is 99 percent likely to fail. If you do that as a lawyer with at least a few years of experience, those risks are being taken when you're in your early to mid-thirties rather than your twenties. From both a personal life and career perspective, that difference matters.
What is the most important thing students should do while they are still in law school to prepare themselves for a career in entrepreneurship, venture capital or at a startup?
One, pay off your law school loans. The early years of being an entrepreneur are rough, and debt can hold you back. Two, consider working at a firm. Experience at a firm will help provide critical training in professionalism and communication (and pay off those loans). Three, NYU is part of an amazing community of technology and business professionals. Make friends—the relationships you build now will support and enrich your journey down the road.
What was the most important lesson you learned in your career thus far?
Everyone else is just figuring it out as they go, too. The more transparent you are about where you are uncertain, the easier it is to break down problems and solve them.