I interviewed Yvette Ostolaza | Chair-Elect of Sidley Austin’s Management Committee on Tuesday, August 17th, 2021.

We discussed several topics such as:

• Her Family Immigration Story from Cuba
• The Benefit of Sales and Journalism experience 
• Her Response to Leadership Opportunities 
• The Lateral Move that involved 50 attorneys 
• Why Sidley Austin felt like Home 
• Maintaining an Active Docket while leading the Firm
• 3 Trends to Watch 
• Advice: Act Like an Owner + Public Speaking + Be a Lifelong Learner 
• Boards look for P&L Experience 
• DE&I Positioning 
• Family & Love for Texas

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Links referred to in this episode:

• Yvette Ostolaza | Firm Website Biography
• Yvette Ostolaza | LinkedIn Profile
• Sidley Austin | Firm Website
• Yvette Ostolaza | Chambers USA Profile
• Texas Lawyer 2020 Trailblazer List Feature | Pages 16-17
• The American Lawyer 2021 South Trailblazers List

I interviewed Debbie Read | Managing Partner of Thompson Hine on Thursday, June 3rd, 2021.

We discussed several topics such as:

• Analytical Thinking
• Choosing Thompson Hine 
• Family Values that Formed Her
• Rising to Meet High Expectations
• Innovating to Meet Client Needs 
• Changing Lawyer Behavior is Hard 
• SmartPaTH, Thompson Hine's Service Delivery Approach
• Servant Leadership Creates Success for the Firm
• Reading Recommendation

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Links referred to in this episode:

• Deborah Read | Firm Website Biography
• Deborah Read | LinkedIn Profile
• Thompson Hine | Firm Website
• Thompson Hine Innovation Survey 2020
• The American Lawyer Feature on Mandatory Budgets at Thompson Hine
• Thompson Hine Innovation Webpage
• Lifetime Achiever: Charles Queenan | The American Lawyer
• Altman Weil | Law Department Surveys
• Different: Escaping the Competitive Herd | Youngme Moon

I interviewed Pia Flanagan | Chief Operating Officer at CEO Action for Racial Equity on Tuesday, June 1st, 2021.

We discussed topics such as:

• Starting her Career at Deloitte in NYC
• Why Representation Matters 
• Adding Value and More Career Advice
• Becoming Partner at Baker McKenzie
• Listening to Mentors & Going In-House 
• Why You Should Keep Raising Your Hand 
• Leadership that Makes You Better 
• The Work of CEO Action for Racial Equity
• Adopting Before Pandemic Begins
• Reading Recommendations

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Links referred to in this episode:

• Pia Flanagan | LinkedIn Profile
• CEO Action for Racial Equity | Website
• For Black Executives Like Pia Flanagan, The Fight For Racial Equity Is Personal | Huffpost Article
• Tim Ryan | LinkedIn Profile
• Baker McKenzie | Law Firm Website
• MassMutual | Website
• MassMutual's Business Resource Groups
• Roger Crandall | LinkedIn Profile
• Mark Roellig | LinkedIn Profile
• Dominic Blue | LinkedIn Profile
• Sonya Olds Som | LinkedIn Profile
• Bisa Butler | Artist's Instagram
• Karen Powell | Artist Profile
• The Black Tax: The Cost of Being Black in America | Shawn Rochester
• Educational Policy Institute | Website
• Bipartisan Policy Center | Website
• Brookings Institution | Website
• Mission-Driven Leadership: My Journey as a Radical Capitalist | Mark Bertolini

I interviewed Nancy Lieberman | Retired Partner at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom on Wednesday, April 21st, 2021.

We discussed several topics such as:

• Graduating from law school at 22
• Creating M&A Law in the 80s 
• Becoming Skadden’s Youngest Partner
• Supportive Environment as a Female Attorney
• Traits Partners look for in Associates 
• Tips for Negotiating 
• Deal Stories with Carl Icahn
• Ski Accident & Beating the Odds
• Dad’s Inspiration 
• New Yorkers to Cure Paralysis

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Links referred to in this episode:

• Nancy Lieberman | LinkedIn Profile
• Nancy Lieberman | Skadden Website Bio
• Nancy as Adjunct Professor | Columbia Law School
• The Indomitable Nancy Lieberman | NYU Law Magazine
• 2013 Dealmakers of the Year | The American Lawyer
• Grit and Determination are Lawyer’s Keys to Remarkable Career | University of Chicago
• New Yorkers to Cure Paralysis | Website
• Joseph Flom | Wikipedia
• Carl Icahn | Wikipedia
• United States Steel | Website
• The Last Days of Drexel Burnham | Fortune Article
• Financial Villians: Where Are They Now? | Ivan Boesky featured
• Evergy | Company Website

I interviewed Lori Lorenzo | Managing Director at Deloitte on Friday, April 9th, 2021.

We discussed several topics such as:

• Her Journey in BigLaw
• How Career Services Affirmed what She Loved to Do
• Focused on real DE&I Impact 
• The Unspoken Importance of Relationship Building
• Lots of Career Advice for Job Hunters 
• Deloitte’s free Programs for CLOs and Deputy GCs 
• BigFour being Well-Positioned for the Legal Industry
• Recommended Books 
• Blended Family 
• Weight Lifting

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Links referred to in this episode:

• Lori Lorenzo | LinkedIn Profile
• Lori Lorenzo | Deloitte Website Bio
• Dewey & LeBoeuf | The Collapse by The New Yorker
• Florida Coastal School of Law | Website
• University of Miami School of Law | Website
• Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) | Website
• Marcy Cox | Assistant Dean at University of Miami
• Valerie Jackson | LinkedIn Profile
• National Organization for Workplace Diversity (NOW Diversity) | Website
• Robert Grey | LCLD President
• American Bar Association
• Kenji Yoshino | LinkedIn Profile
• Next Gen Academy | Chief Legal Officer Program | Deloitte
• Caste: The Origins of our Discontents | Isabel Wilkerson
• Malcolm Gladwell | Author's Website
• Overwhelmed: Work, Love, & Play When No One Has the Time | Brigid Schulte
• Quiet | Susan Cain
• Drive | Daniel Pink
• Dean Koontz | Author's Website

I interviewed Chris Lewis | General Counsel at Edward Jones on Friday, March 26th, 2021.

We discussed several topics such as:

• Civil Rights Heroes
• Betting on Yourself 
• Being Intentional with DE&I 
• Joining Edward Jones & 10x the Legal Dept 
• SIFMA & The Buttermilk Group
• Leadership Inspiration 
• St. Louis & his Community Involvement
• From Jamaica to NY
• Recommended Books on the Black Experience

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Links referred to in this episode:

• Chris Lewis | LinkedIn Profile
• Chris Lewis | Edward Jones Website Bio
• Edward Jones | Website
• Thurgood Marshall | US Courts Website
• Constance Baker Motley | US Courts Website
• Charles Hamilton Houston | NAACP Feature
• Civil Rights Law Society | Columbia Law School
• Kristen Clarke | Lawyers Committee Feature
• Jim Tricarico | Duane Morris Feature
• National Association of Minority and Women-Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) | Website
• Securities Industries and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) | Website
• Beth Dorfman | LinkedIn Profile
• Penny Pennington | LinkedIn Profile
• Walter Mosley | Author's Website
• Marlon James | Macalester College Bio
• A Brief History of Seven Killings | Marlon James

I interviewed Norman Wain | General Counsel, Chief of Business Affairs at USA Track & Field on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021.

We discussed several topics such as:

• Having Passion in his Legal Career
• Learning the Business of Sports
• The Road to General Counsel
• The Importance of Networking
• US Soccer History
• Leadership & Culture Building 
• Public Speaking Advice
• Fostering Success through Energizing Your Team
• Using Analytics to Drive Business Decision Making
• Parenting 5 Kids

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Links referred to in this episode:

• Norman Wain | LinkedIn Profile
• USA Track & Field | Website
• Rick Davis | Society for American Soccer History Feature
• Major League Soccer | Website
• The Finish Line | Website
• The Family Man | IMDb
• United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee | Website
• Anti-Doping US Agency | Website
• The US Center for SafeSport | Website
• The Winner Within: A Life Plan for Team Players | Pat Riley
• Success is a Choice | Rick Pitino
• The Oz Principle | Roger Connors, Tom Smith, & Craig Hickman  
• Crucial Conversations | Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, & Ron McMillan
• The First 90 Days | Michael Watkins

I interviewed Deanna Sheridan | General Counsel, Vice President, & Corporate Secretary of Spartan Race on Friday, February 5th, 2021.

We discussed:

• Having Psychological Safety in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives
• Keeping Spartan Race Afloat During COVID 
• Acquiring & Integrating Tough Mudder
• How Diversity Strengthens an Organization 
• Learning from Joe de Sena, Founder & CEO of Spartan 
• Spartan: More than an Obstacle Race 
• Girls Rock Campaign Boston
• ONCE Boston
• Reading Recommendations
• Dance Parties at Home

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Please share your feedback for the show, who I should interview, and the topics that interest you right now. 

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Links referred to in this episode:

• Deanna Sheridan | LinkedIn Profile
• Spartan Race | Website
• Erin Sutton | LinkedIn Profile
• SHE Summit | Event Website
• Tough Mudder | Website
• Howrey Law Firm | Wikipedia Site
• Winston & Strawn | Firm Website
• Ropes & Gray | Firm Website
• Hinckley Allen | Firm Website
• Norwesco | Company Website
• Darren Braham | Former GC of Spartan Race
• Joe de Sena | Spartan Race CEO & Founder
• Stewart Hirsch | Strategic Relationships | Coaching
• Hugh Merryweather | Former CEO of Spartan Race
• Girls Rock Campaign Boston | Website
• ONCE Somerville | Website
• Alexandra Carter | Ask for More: 10 Questions to Negotiate Anything
• Erik Larson | The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz

I interviewed Megan Belcher | Senior Vice President, General Counsel, & Corporate Secretary on Friday, November 20th, 2020.

We discussed several topics such as:

• Transferring Success to Others 
• Drinks Among Friends in Omaha, NE 
• Launching a Womens’ GC Mastermind 
• The Position of Power & Privilege and Welcoming Others at the Table 
• Having a Professional Development Plan
• The Magic of Scoular 
• Impacting Rural Communities 
• A Passion for Corporate and Personal Marketing and Branding 
• Preparing for Board Service 
• Leadership is Connecting and Collaborating 
• COVID with kids, a puppy, and an RV

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Links referred to in this episode:

• Megan Belcher | LinkedIn Profile
• Megan Belcher | Scoular Leadership Bio
• Scoular | Company Website
• Drinks Among Friends Feature | BC Law Magazine
• R-3 100 List- Next Generation of Women General Counsel | Inside Counsel Magazine
• Ann St. Peter | Global Prairie | Purpose Driven Marketing
• Women in the Workplace 2020 Survey | McKinsey
• Center for Women in Law | Website
• Direct Women | Website
• Paul Pautler | LinkedIn Profile
• Paul Mass | Scoular Leadership Bio
• Armchair Expert Podcast
• The Daily by NY Times Podcast
• Second Life Podcast

I interviewed Michael Moradzadeh | Founding Partner & CEO of Rimon Law on Friday, November 6th, 2020. 

We discussed several topics such as:

• Growing up in Silicon Valley and the Transition to NYC
• Beginning of His Career at Ropes & Gray
• Innovating the Law Firm Business Model
• First 3 Years of Rimon
• Definition of Great Leadership
• Benefits of Non-Attorney Ownership
• Family Life During COVID

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Please share your feedback for the show, who I should interview, and the topics that interest you right now. 

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Links referred to in this episode:

• Michael Moradzadeh | LinkedIn Profile
• Michael Moradzadeh | Rimon Co-Founder | Firm Bio
• Rimon Law | Website 
• Yaacov Silberman | Rimon Co-Founder | Firm Bio
• Jim Collins | Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap & Others Don't
• Josh Green | Mentor | LinkedIn Profile
• Gerald Davis | Gilgamesh
• Leon Kass | The Beginning of Wisdom