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Comedian Sarah Cooper On Bringing Humor to Any Career

May 10, 2022
Sarah Cooper, a comedian and author known for her viral lip-sync videos, discusses her journey from corporate digital design at Yahoo and Google to the world of comedy. She shares how humor helped her manage team dynamics and the risks of leaving a stable job behind. Cooper reflects on her TikTok fame during the Trump era and the challenges of transitioning to television, particularly as a woman of color in a male-dominated field. She emphasizes the power of humor in navigating absurd corporate and political landscapes while hinting at her upcoming memoir.
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ANECDOTE

Quitting Google

  • Sarah Cooper quit her job at Yahoo to pursue acting, but returned to the corporate world after struggling financially.
  • She later left Google to focus on writing, realizing it was a bigger risk to stay than leave.
INSIGHT

Comedy as Career Advantage

  • Cooper's comedic nature and lack of overt ambition paradoxically helped her in the male-dominated tech industry.
  • Being perceived as non-threatening made her more palatable for promotion.
INSIGHT

Satirizing Corporate Culture

  • Cooper's books satirized corporate absurdities, like mimicking leaders' behaviors without understanding.
  • Her work encourages authenticity and direct communication in the workplace.
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