Lawyer Dumps Big Law For Influencer Paycheck

A Harvard and Columbia Law grad walked away from a "Big Law" firm, not for another legal role, but because her side hustle – content creation – was paying more than her prestigious legal career. Enioluwada "Eni" Popoola's story has ignited conversations about traditional career paths versus the booming digital economy, proving that success often looks different than advertised.

The pivotal moment came swiftly for Popoola. On March 17, 2023, just a day after her 28th birthday, she officially resigned from her corporate law firm position. Her decision was not made lightly, but with a "wave of unexpected clarity" that arrived during what she described as the "longest week of her professional life." By March 2023, the brand deals she had already contracted for that year had significantly surpassed her annual salary at the firm, making the choice clear.

Popoola had been actively declining numerous brand campaigns and events due to the demanding obligations of her legal job, hinting at an even greater untapped earning potential she could not pursue while bound by corporate rules. The firm maintained a strict policy against outside work, whether legal or otherwise, a definition that squarely included her growing brand partnerships. Furthermore, firm leadership reportedly expressed concerns regarding her increasing online visibility, creating an untenable situation for the burgeoning content creator.

Her departure from the legal world marked a full embrace of her entrepreneurial spirit. Just five days after resigning, on March 22, 2023, Popoola shared her journey in a viral TikTok video, detailing the reasons behind her career pivot. The video quickly gained traction, resonating with a wide audience grappling with similar career crossroads.

Popoola's path to a legal career was built on a strong academic foundation, starting with an undergraduate degree in Government and Sociology from Harvard University, which she completed in 2017. Following her graduation, she dedicated a few years to teaching 7th-grade U.S. History in Harlem. This experience, surprisingly, helped reignite her passion for fashion and beauty culture, setting the stage for her future endeavors.

It was during her time at Columbia University Law School, which she attended after her teaching stint, that Popoola began cultivating her online presence. In 2017, she started sharing her carefully curated outfits on Instagram under the handle "Eni Given Sunday," a name that reportedly came from a friend's observation of her consistent weekend styling. What began as a personal creative outlet, without any initial business aspirations, steadily grew into a significant platform. By August 2021, she had reached an impressive milestone of 10,000 followers, signaling her growing influence.

As her audience expanded, brands began to take notice and approach her for partnerships. Popoola started accepting these deals, a decision that would ultimately steer her career in an unforeseen direction. In October 2021, while still in her final year of law school, she received her first approach from an influencer agency. By March 2022, a "dream agency" known as Kensington Grey had reached out to her, further solidifying her potential in the digital space. She successfully graduated from Columbia Law School with honors in May 2022 and then passed the Bar exam on October 20, 2022, achieving her long-held aspiration of becoming an attorney. Popoola had openly included her interests in beauty and blogging on her resume and discussed them in interviews, even connecting them to her ability to read contracts and work with brands. However, she acknowledged that the firm was not aware she was earning money from these paid partnerships, which violated their established policy.

In her viral TikTok video, Popoola stated, "I have never hid my interests in beauty and blogging from anyone professionally. It's a line on my resume, it comes up in interviews, I've connected it back to being able to read contracts and work with brands." Reflecting on her decision, she expressed excitement for her new chapter, remarking, "I'm honestly really excited and thankful for the opportunity to turn what feels like something that happened to me into something that happened for me." Her story resonated widely, drawing considerable support across social media platforms. Public figures also weighed in, with Blessing Mukosha, a lawyer and host of the "Law & Hip Hop" podcast, discussing Popoola's decision in April 2023. Mukosha highlighted the unique challenges faced by creatives, particularly Black women, in professional industries where creative pursuits are sometimes viewed with "suspicion and hostility," especially when balancing multiple income-generating endeavors.

Popoola's narrative is a potent illustration of a broader societal shift, where digital content creation and influencer marketing have evolved into increasingly viable and lucrative career paths. This trend directly challenges traditional notions of professional success, which often prioritize established corporate structures over individual creative entrepreneurship. The financial potential of this field is undeniable; reports indicate the influencer marketing industry, valued at $8 billion in 2019, surged to an estimated $13.8 billion by 2021, showcasing its rapid expansion and economic impact.

Since her departure from the law firm, Popoola has fully embraced full-time content creation, a path she has now pursued for three years as of May 2026. She has expanded her content beyond her initial Sunday style posts to include beauty tutorials, diverse fashion content, and detailed styling breakdowns. This new career affords her the creative freedom and flexible schedule that the demanding "Big Law" environment could not. Her personal style, once constrained by corporate expectations, is now reportedly "fuller, more expressive, and far more representative of who she actually is." As of April 2026, she had partnered with at least 20 brands on Instagram, including major names like Clinique, TJ Maxx, and Maybelline New York. Furthermore, she is reportedly curating a collection with a large retailer, slated for release in early 2025, signaling her continued growth and influence.

Popoola has reflected on her evolving definition of success, stating, "I once had a very rigid definition of success—Ivy League degrees, a prestigious job title, esteemed awards—all things that were essentially forms of recognition based highly on image and perception. Success is getting to the place where I am not beholden to a particular job or deal that I know won't make me happy just because I have no other options." Her experience underscores the growing tension between established corporate career paths and the evolving nature of work, particularly for individuals striving to integrate their creative passions with their professional lives. Her story continues to resonate with many who are navigating career changes, confronting imposter syndrome, and redefining personal and professional fulfillment in the digital age.