Don’t Be Afraid to Pivot: An Interview with Evan Golinsky
First, tell me a little bit about your professional trajectory since leaving Penn. How has it matched what you imagined you’d be doing? What has surprised you?
Just before graduation, I landed my dream job in the mailroom at United Talent Agency (UTA) in Los Angeles. This formative experience was everything I had looked forward to, meeting incredible peers and mentors and learning how Hollywood moves from inside one of the most connected firms in the business. Each day presented new opportunities to grow, from learning how to pitch movie scripts to observing how relationships move the business.
A great surprise came when one of my mentors (a Penn alum) offered me an opportunity to join the Forest Road Company. I had not sought a career change, but I took the chance to pivot into the realm of media and entertainment private equity and film financing, learning from my mentor, a pioneer in the industry. Working at a dynamic firm like Forest Road has significantly shaped my business acumen.
Today, I work in the legal department at William Morris Group (WMG) in New York City. Working with this talented team of attorneys on matters that shape the entertainment business has solidified my long-held interest in pursuing a law degree and career in the legal realm of Hollywood.
How did your academic and extracurricular experiences at Penn prepare you for what you’re doing now? What’s something you could only have learned on the job?
Penn gave me both the academic framework and extracurricular exposure to enter the industry with confidence:
- Courses such as The Art and Business of Film contextualized the entertainment ecosystem and pointed me in the direction of my future roles.
- Negotiations in Wharton helped me build a robust skillset and perspective on deal-making that I see play out every day.
- Auditing Entertainment Law Transactions at Penn Carey Law furthered my interest in the legal framework and prepared me for my current role at WME.
- Extracurricular experiences, including speaker sessions with the Wharton Undergraduate Media & Entertainment Club, introduced me to important names across the business.
- Positions of leadership I held across Penn organizations taught me what it means to be a part of a team and manage high-stakes projects.
Working across these firms made it clear that this is a business of relationships. It is crucial to approach everyone with respect and positivity and to consider the various perspectives that people bring to the table. This is how you truly succeed on the job.
While at Penn, you had an internship at major talent agency CAA, with funding from Penn Live Arts and Platt Performing Arts House. Can you talk about how the support from these Penn programs impacted your experience?
Support from Penn Live Arts and Platt Performing Arts House is what made my internship experience possible. This assistance helped me cover necessary living expenses as I moved across the country to LA, and it allowed me to focus on doing my best work at the firm. Furthermore, engaging with the network that these organizations cultivate for students and alumni alike helped me build relationships with incredible people at all levels, many of whom remain part of my professional community.
You’ve talked about wanting to offer support to students with similar interests now that you are an alum. Do you have a mentor or mentors with whom you can discuss your interests and next steps? What do you think a mentor relationship can provide that is different from other professional resources?
I am so fortunate to have mentors — from Penn professors and alumni to industry executives — who I can rely on to discuss my interests and strategize the next steps in my career. I care deeply about paying it forward in the form of mentoring students with an interest in entertainment. Being a resource Career Services and Penn Live Arts can introduce to interested students is quite fulfilling.
The entertainment business can be difficult to navigate at the beginning, and having mentors to provide guidance and support has been so helpful. From my experience, entertainment careers do not follow a strict path — there is no "one size fits all” — so mentors’ advice eases the angst around making career moves that feel uncertain or risky. I also believe that mentorship works best at multiple levels. Executives and established professionals offer life lessons, wisdom and high-level connections which come with age and experience. Young professionals offer recent knowledge and personal insights on starting out in this rapidly changing industry.
What advice would you give to Penn students interested in careers in arts, culture, and entertainment?
- Stay informed - read the trades (Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, etc.) and constantly watch/listen to/read content that interests you.
- Relationships matter - build genuine relationships with mentors and peers, talk to everyone, and stay in touch!
- Have an opinion - be prepared to articulate your opinion/taste while keeping an open mind to differing perspectives.
- Take risks - this industry is all about storytelling, and oftentimes the greatest stories come from taking leaps of faith. Do not be afraid to pivot.
What’s your next adventure?
Law school (and finishing the TV show I am writing with my best friend).
We invite you to learn more about our Arts & Entertainment Career Connections internship program and the growing list of opportunities available to Penn students.
Leah Falk is the Director of Education & Engagement at Penn Live Arts.
