Kristen Sonday

Co-Founder, CEO

2016 - Current

Paladin helps legal teams run more efficient pro bono programs while increasing access to justice. We work with Fortune 500s, law firms, and bar associations to increase pro bono engagement and decrease administrative costs. Techstars Chicago Alum joinpaladin.com

Founding Partner

2021

LongJump is a first-check, founder-led fund, based in Chicago, designed to invest in the next generation of founders. We provide capital, connections, and community to help founders take the leap towards building fast-growing, scalable businesses.

Co-Chair, Emerging Leaders Council

2019 - 2023

The Legal Services Corporation’s Emerging Leaders Council will bring together some of the country’s rising leaders to help increase public awareness of the crisis in civil legal aid and the importance of providing equal access to justice to all low-income Americans.

Source Lead

2014 - 2015

At Bridgewater, I led a team within the recruiting department to scale campus recruiting from 5 to 15 primary universities, resulting in the program's highest scoring Investment Associate class. Built out the sourcing function and operations from scratch and co-led a beta rebranding marketing campaign.

Founding Team and Director of International Operations

2011 - 2014

As Director of International Operations (2013-2014): • Led service launch in London, exceeding KPI goals within two months • Cultivated partnerships with UK partners like Uber, Birchbox, YPlan, Audience.io, and 3Beards to raise awareness of UK Launch and drive growth • Managed local PR team to land placements in The Independent, the Guardian, Refinery29, and Marie Claire, among others • Developed and managed the budget for the UK launch and other international entities • Hired, onboarded, and developed training for two UK country heads • Incorporated subsidiaries in the UK, Australia, Brazil, Germany, and France As Director of Operations (2011-2012): • Developed and implemented launch and growth strategy to expand the service from New York to 24 additional U.S. cities, London, and Toronto • Prioritized budget and maintained finances to lead to quick profitability • Successfully managed an operations teams with high performing KPI achievement • Successfully pitched and grew venue database to over 250 partners, contributed a $6MM sales portfolio • Followed media trends and helped pitch appropriate outlets, generating press hits in Marie Claire, Thrillist, Refinery29, and The Huffington Post http://www.joingrouper.com

International Affairs Specialist

2009 - 2012

• Drafted hundreds of international arrest warrants and coordinated the extradition of over 100 fugitives • Increased responses to foreign legal assistance requests by 400% through better coordination with federal and local agencies • Presented training sessions to fifty foreign federal prosecutors • Innovated a foreign evidence certification process to satisfy strict international judicial constraints

Research Assistant

2005 - 2009

• Analyzed voting patterns and demographic trends for Urban Empires: Rise and Fall of Monopoly Government, by Professor Jessica Trounstine • Presented findings on split ticket voting research at the Midwest Political Science Conference in April 2009

Intern

2008 - 2008

Paralegal

2006 - 2007