Not Your Average DEI Podcast

Jocelyn Armstrong joins JSL’s Chief Diversity Officer, Vickie Hubbard, for the eighth episode of Not Your Average DEI Podcast! In this episode, Vickie and Jocelyn discuss attrition and retention, the difference between mentorship and sponsorship, and so much more!

Jocelyn M. Armstrong, Esq. is the Director of Inclusion and Outreach at the Ohio State Bar Association (Ohio Bar). She leads programming and integration of inclusion, diversity, and equity in association culture. Additionally, she oversees outreach to new lawyers and law students as well as OSBA member committees and sections.

Jocelyn is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and broader community. Prior to joining the OSBA, Jocelyn worked as district director for Ohio’s 3rd Congressional District. She was also the Assistant Executive Director and Diversity Coordinator at the Columbus Bar Association. As a volunteer leader, Jocelyn was a member of the African American Law Alumni at Capital University Law School and served as President of the John Mercer Langston Bar Association (2015).

Jocelyn, admitted to the Ohio Bar in 2009, is a native of Toledo, Ohio. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Max M. Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University and a Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School.

While at Capital University Law School, Jocelyn received the Dean’s Scholarship, Class of 2006 Scholarship, and the Dean’s Public Service Award. Jocelyn remains active in the Capital community as a member of the Law Alumni Association Board and is a frequent panelist for prospective and new students. In 2016, Jocelyn received the Alumni Outstanding Service Award. 

Jocelyn also serves as a board member of Bridgeway Academy and an advisory board member for Breaking Bread: Let’s Talk. She is active in her church community including serving as a former member of the New Salem Baptist Church Trustee Board. When she’s not in meetings, Jocelyn enjoys yoga, reading, traveling, and producing the Inscribing Inclusion podcast.

Virginia Essandoh joins JSL’s Chief Diversity Officer, Vickie Hubbard, for the seventh episode of Not Your Average DEI Podcast! In this episode, Vickie and Virginia discuss the obstacles affecting the progression of DEI in the legal industry and effective strategies for overcoming those obstacles.

Virginia Essandoh serves as Ballard Spahr's Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer. She sits on the Management Committee and Expanded Board and is responsible for overseeing, implementing, and providing strategic leadership to Ballard Spahr's diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Working closely with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, Virginia advises and collaborates with firm management, including Department Chairs, Office Managing Partners, and administrative professionals to implement the firm's diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic goals and inspire the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion into firm culture. 

Before joining Ballard Spahr, Virginia was senior consultant at Altman Weil, Inc. In this capacity, she assisted in developing and implementing diversity and gender initiatives and strategies in private law firms and corporate legal departments, advised on organizational and management structures for law firms and corporate legal departments, and facilitated law firm strategic planning, client satisfaction, strategic marketing, and management structure analysis for her clients.

Vanessa Watson joins JSL’s Chief Diversity Officer, Vickie Hubbard, for the sixth episode of Not Your Average DEI Podcast! In this episode, Vickie and Vanessa discuss Vanessa's decision to join the legal industry, the importance of mentorship and sponsorship to young lawyers, and the issue with retention at law firms.

Vanessa Kaye Watson is the Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel for Consumer Solutions at Mastercard.  In this role, Vanessa manages a global team of attorneys responsible for Network and Digital Payment Services, Blockchain & Digital Currencies, Foundry, Consumer Products for Issuers, Acceptance Solutions, Segment and Fintech Solutions and Optimization and Economics.

Prior to her current role, Vanessa served as lead counsel for a few groups: Franchise, Public Policy, Compliance and New Customer Types, North America region of Mastercard’s Data and Services business, Services Lead for North American Markets, and global partnership counsel for Data and Services. 

Before joining Mastercard in 2011, Vanessa was a senior associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges. Vanessa graduated from Fordham University School of Law and is a member of both the New York and New Jersey State Bar.

In addition to her day job, Vanessa enjoys and has spent her entire legal career giving back through not-for-profit board memberships, volunteerism, and mentoring.  

Darius Treadwell joins JSL’s Chief Diversity Officer, Vickie Hubbard, for the fifth episode of Not Your Average DEI Podcast! In this episode, Vickie and Darius discuss Darius’ experience as a legal recruiter, what diverse legal professionals are looking for in a law firm, and Vickie and Darius’ excitement over the launch of jurisADVANCE.

Darius has 20+ years of executive recruiting experience specializing primarily in the legal industry. Darius has been a key contributor at JURISolutions Legal (JSL) for nearly 15 years. His focus has been on assisting top law firms and leading corporations across the country with lateral Partner/Associate placement, practice group acquisition, and all levels of in-house corporate counsel placement. He has experience filling non-legal executive searches for government and public transportation entities. Darius started his executive recruiting career at a financial recruiting services firm focused on the banking, brokerage, and investment management arena. Before entering executive recruiting, Darius worked as an insurance/reinsurance industry specialist in the financial services practice group of a global professional services network. Darius received his B.S. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Finance and his M.B.A. from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Business Administration. Darius is a former Co-Chair of the Penn Alumni Diversity Alliance and a former Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania Black Alumni Society.

Adrienne Fox joins JSL's Co-Founder/President & CEO, Cindy Towers, for the fourth episode of Not Your Average DEI Podcast! Adrienne and Cindy discuss the expansive field of legal procurement, the importance of trust in this area, and the key difference between price and value.

Adrienne Fox is a Director of Global Category Management for Legal Services at Novartis, a global leader in pharmaceuticals. As a seasoned procurement professional, Adrienne has spent 7 years in a dedicated role with legal, focused on delivering value and efficiency in legal spend management at local, global, and cross-functional levels. As a strategic business partner to legal, her mission is to drive change and improve the sourcing, engagement, pricing, and firm relationship management processes with law firms and legal services providers. Adrienne has been involved with DEI for many years, as a Supplier Diversity Council representative and champion, as a mentor to suppliers, and representing Novartis at supplier diversity events. She is also a chairperson of Disability Mentoring Day at Novartis, an annual event in support of local NJ high school students geared to build confidence and provide students with learning opportunities about career options after graduation. Prior to procurement, Adrienne worked as a paralegal and compliance manager. Adrienne received a B.S. in Administration of Justice & English from Rutgers College, an ABA approved Paralegal Certificate, and an M.A. in Corporate & Organizational Communications from Farleigh Dickinson University in NJ.

Sela Garcia joins JSL's Chief Diversity Officer, Vickie Hubbard, for the third episode of Not Your Average DEI Podcast! Sela and Vickie discuss the importance of representation, Sela's experiences within the legal industry so far, and the importance of mentorship.

Sela Garcia is a first year civil-defense attorney with Paul Garcia & Associates. She is from and currently works in San Antonio, Texas. Sela attended Texas Christian University (TCU) for undergraduate and The University of Memphis for law school. In law school, Sela was a member of the Moot Court Board and participated in various groups like street law and alternative spring break pro bono programs. Currently, her firm is a member of NAMWOLF and focuses primarily on civil defense litigation in the central Texas area. However, her casework has recently taken her all over Texas, from the panhandle to the coast. She is involved in San Antonio Young Lawyer’s Association (SAYLA), and the Emerging Leaders Initiative of NAMWOLF. In the immediate future, her goals include working more with the San Antonio Legal Services Association on pro bono cyberbullying cases under the new Texas David’s law and getting more involved with her local Bar Association.

Wesley Bizzell joins JSL's Chief Diversity Officer, Vickie Hubbard, and JSL's Chief Diversity Consultant, John Perella, for the second episode of Not Your Average DEI Podcast! In this episode, Wesley, John, and Vickie discuss Wesley's role in moving the needle in diversity within the legal industry, DEI metrics, and why legal may be behind.

Wesley Bizzell (Wes) serves as Senior Assistant General Counsel and Managing Director of Political Law & Ethics Programs for Altria Client Services. Overseeing a comprehensive compliance system covering the regulation of government affairs, Wes provides advice on political law compliance for more than 75 jurisdictions. Previously, he was an attorney in Winston & Strawn LLP's Federal Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs Practice Group. Wes is extremely active in promoting diversity and inclusion within the legal industry and corporate communities. He is a founding member and serves on the steering committee for Altria's LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group (ERG) and is the immediate past president of the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association. He has been named by London's Financial Times and Yahoo Finance as one of the 100 Worldwide OUTstanding Leading LGBT+ Corporate Executives, and Chambers and Partners also named him the 2019 LGBT+ Equality Lawyer of the Year. In 2021, he was appointed to serve as a commissioner for the American Bar Associations' Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Commission.

JSL's President & CEO, Cindy Towers, joins JSL's Senior Relationship Manager, Vickie Hubbard, for the first episode of jurisADVANCE's podcast, Not Your Average DEI Podcast. In this episode, Cindy and Vickie cover Cindy's background, why the time to address DEI in the legal industry is now, and what else jurisADVANCE has planned.