Sophia Schwartz

I serve as Chief Legal Officer at Nextdoor, leading the Legal organization across commercial, corporate, employment, product, litigation, IP, regulatory compliance, policy, and legal operations, with the People organization also reporting into me. I partner with leaders across the company and our Board of Directors on governance, strategy, and the company's biggest decisions. Since joining as Nextdoor's second lawyer, I've helped build the legal function from the ground up, guided the company through its transition to the public markets, and worked closely with teams across the business to navigate complex global legal and compliance matters.I have always been fascinated by how businesses are built, how they evolve, and what helps them succeed through periods of growth and change. As a corporate attorney, I loved working on deals, solving complex problems, and helping clients navigate important decisions. Over time, though, I realized I was just as interested in what happened after the transaction closed. I wanted to be part of building the business, not simply advising it from the outside. That curiosity ultimately led me in-house, and it still shapes how I approach the work today: whether it is a transaction, an executive transition, a governance challenge, a litigation matter, or a significant organizational change, I enjoy bringing people together, tackling complexity head-on, and finding practical paths forward.I have been fortunate to spend my career working alongside entrepreneurs, executives, board members, and operators who are building something meaningful. Those experiences have reinforced my belief that strong organizations are built by smart, collaborative people who are willing to face difficult challenges, learn from one another, and keep making progress even when the path is not always apparent.