This episode features a conversation with Joanne Molinaro. Joanne is a partner in Foley’s Chicago office. She is a member of the firm’s bankruptcy and litigation practice groups. Joanne reflects on her decision to go to law school—a decision that was sparked by a job as a professional resume writer. She shares about her experience attending the University of Chicago, how she learned of Foley, and how the firm supported her on her path to partnership. Joanne also discusses her many interests outside of legal practice, including marathon running and her unexpected success on the social media platform TikTok.

This episode features a discussion with Christopher Swift. Christopher is a partner in Foley’s Washington, D.C. and New York offices. He is a member of Foley’s Government Enforcement Defense & Investigations Practice Group focusing on national security and international law. Christopher reflects on growing-up in New Hampshire and his family’s roots reaching back to Colonial America. He discusses the path that led to his extensive academic credentials, including a Masters and Ph.D from Cambridge. Christopher also explains his unique international legal practice and provides fantastic advice to aspiring lawyers on the importance of listening and asking the right questions, especially for those aspiring to be international lawyers.

This episode features a discussion with Anjali Desai. Anjali is Foley’s in-house attorney coach, providing executive coaching services to Foley attorneys. In this conversation, she reflects on her legal career and her decision to leave practice to become an executive coach. Anjali also explains what executive coaching is, why every lawyer can benefit from a coach, and the importance of being intentional in creating a future that you want.

This episode features a discussion with Stephen Jones. Stephen is an associate in Foley’s Dallas office where he is a member of the litigation practice group with a focus on bankruptcy and restructuring. Stephen shares about growing up in Texas and Ohio. He reflects on the jobs he had after high school and his decision, a number of years later, to return to college and eventually law school. As a brand new associate, Stephen also shares detailed advice on how he managed to navigate, and excel, in law school. He also provides great advice on studying for the bar exam as well as the importance of being present.

This episode features a discussion with Emily Weber. Emily is Managing Partner of Foley’s Denver office and a member of the firm’s health care practice. Emily reflects on her nontraditional legal path—one that started with her having difficulty finding a job, but due to her own tenacity eventually securing an in-house role at a hospital. Emily discusses her eventual transition from in-house counsel to outside counsel at a law firm. She also provides wonderful insight on the importance of attorneys being authentic in their business development efforts and on how law students can navigate a difficult job market

This episode features a discussion with Sonal Agarwal. Sonal is an associate in Foley’s Madison office where she is an intellectual property attorney focused on patent prosecution. Sonal shares about growing up in India and coming to the U.S. for graduate school. She discusses her decision to pursue patent law instead of staying on a more traditional career path for an electrical engineer. Sonal also reflects on life as a law student when she had two young children and was commuting between Madison and Chicago and provides great advice on how to succeed in law school.

This episode features a discussion with Vi Tran. Vi is an associate in Foley’s Houston office where she is focused on complex commercial litigation. Vi reflects on moving frequently during early childhood as her parents, recent immigrants from Vietnam, worked hard to establish a life in the United States. She shares about becoming a single-mom as a college student and the affect that had on her professional path. Vi also provides excellent advice on navigating the law school application process as well as how to break large goals in to small achievable steps.

This episode features a discussion with Larry Perlman. Larry is a partner in Foley’s Miami office focused on labor and employment. Larry shares about his former life as an internal medicine doctor and reflects on why he decided to leave medical practice to become a lawyer. He shares about the parallels between medical practice and his employment practice. And, Larry provides advice on the importance of finding the time to ask yourself the hard questions.

This episode features a discussion with Senayt Rahwa. Senayt is a senior counsel in Foley’s Washington, D.C., office where she focuses on finance, with an emphasis on the energy sector. Senayt shares about her parents moving to Denver, Colorado, from Ethiopia during the civil war. She reflects on her difficulty transitioning to law school and provides some great advice to law students on how to adjust to a new way of thinking and learning. Senayt also talks about the time she spent in-house and how Foley enticed her to return to a law firm.

This episode features special guest Michelle Silverthorn. Michelle is a former law firm attorney turned diversity and inclusion expert. Michelle shares about how growing-up in majority Black environments in Jamaica and Trinidad crafted her understanding of race and self-worth. She reflects on her path to law school and her decision to leave practice to focus on diversity and inclusion education. Michelle also talks about her new book, Authentic Diversity, and provides actionable tips on how organizations and individuals can create inclusive people-centric workplaces.