Why São Paulo?

In the bustling heart of São Paulo, finding moments of peace is essential. In this episode of Why São Paulo, Emily chats with Natalhia Cuturic, a yoga instructor at Vidya Yoga, about creating balance in a fast-paced city. They explore hidden sanctuaries like bookstores and parks, the kindness of Paulistanos, and the joy of slowing down. Whether you're a local or visiting, this episode is packed with insights on how to recharge and connect with the soul of São Paulo.

🌿 Highlights:

Natalia’s favorite peaceful spot in the city: Martins Fontes Bookstore on Paulista Avenue 📚

The warmth and kindness of Paulistanos—how they embrace newcomers

The importance of slowing down in a city that never stops

How yoga and meditation help balance urban chaos

The power of human connection in friendships and family life

Tune in for a heartwarming conversation that captures the magic of São Paulo!

The bustling streets of São Paulo and New York City share a familiar energy, but their business cultures couldn't be more different. What drives professionals to thrive in both cities?

For professionals considering international career moves or doing business in Brazil, understanding the nuances between American directness and Brazilian relationship-building could make or break your success.

In this episode, you will gain authentic insights about work-life dynamics in São Paulo versus other global cities, learn practical tips for navigating cultural differences in business settings, and discover why São Paulo is considered the powerhouse of Latin America.

Join Emily Witt and Mônica Ramos Machado as they share their firsthand experiences navigating professional life between São Paulo and major global cities.

Topics Discussed:

Have you ever wondered how to build authentic connections in a city of over 11 million people? In this heartwarming episode of Why São Paulo, host Emily Witt sits down with Eiki Sasaki, a lifelong Paulista who transformed from a self-described introvert into a community builder through his work with Talk Talk Speaking Club. Listeners will discover the magic of Parque da Aclimação, learn practical strategies for meeting new people in São Paulo, and gain insights into how diversity shapes Brazil's largest city. From finding hidden park gems to joining vibrant language exchange communities, this episode reveals how anyone can create meaningful connections in São Paulo. Press play to uncover how this dynamic city brings people together in unexpected ways.

Topics Discussed:

Summary

In this debut episode of Why São Paulo, Marcela Levy shares her personal experiences and insights about living in São Paulo, Brazil. She discusses her favorite local spots, the cultural identity tied to different regions in Brazil, and the importance of family and community. Marcela also reflects on the vibrant literary scene in São Paulo, the arts and culture that thrive in the city and offers advice for newcomers. Additionally, she highlights her work as a children's book author, emphasizing the significance of storytelling in her life.

Takeaways

Ever wondered what makes São Paulo, Brazil, a magnetic force for creatives and innovators worldwide? Host Emily Witt takes a bold step away from her successful legal podcast to immerse herself in the pulsating heart of South America's dynamic metropolis. Widely regarded as a cultural hub, São Paulo is home to world-class art galleries, a thriving music and nightlife scene, and a culinary landscape that reflects the city's incredible diversity. In this special announcement episode, Emily shares her vision for 'Why São Paulo?' - a new podcast that promises to uncover the soul of this incredible city through intimate conversations with its people and exploration of its unique spaces. Listeners will gain authentic insights into Brazilian culture, discover hidden gems of São Paulo's urban landscape, and understand what makes this city a global hub of creativity and innovation.

Ever wonder how a big law career can align with your passion for making a difference? This episode's guest is Jamie Schafer who explains her path to fulfillment and the advice she has learned along the way.  Jamie is a Partner in Perkins Coie’s White Collar & Investigations practice as well as the International Transactions & Trade practice. She is also a co-chair of the firm’s Sports industry group. Jamie represents entities and individuals in complex U.S. domestic and cross-border criminal and regulatory matters. 

In this episode, learn how to: 

Leverage big law resources for social impact  Build niche expertise in areas you're passionate about  Use pro bono work to develop skills and drive change 

Tune in now to discover how Jamie Schaffer found purpose and made a meaningful impact while thriving in Big Law.  

Topics discussed: 

Jamie's journey to becoming a lawyer  Developing expertise in white collar and international law  Leveraging pro bono work for skill development  Balancing big law demands with personal interests  Using law firm resources for social impact  Importance of mentorship and networking  Adapting to changing work environments  Strategies for career intentionality  Involvement in Scouts and driving organizational change 

Ever wonder how to find true fulfillment in your legal career?

Many lawyers struggle to align their work with their values and desire for a balanced lifestyle.

In this episode, we're joined by Chris Jones, a startup attorney who found his path to freedom and meaning through law. You'll learn how to:

Connect your spirituality to your legal practice Find innovative law firms that support work-life balance Use career breaks to gain perspective and new skills

Listen now to discover how you can transform your legal career into a path of freedom, meaning, and personal growth. Chris shares his journey from big law to entrepreneurship and back to a fulfilling legal practice, offering valuable insights for lawyers at any stage of their career.

Topics discussed:

Have you ever felt a strong sense of purpose but struggled to find a career that aligns with your values?

Many professionals seek fulfilling work that allows them to make a meaningful impact, but it can be challenging to navigate the transition into a different field, especially one as demanding as public interest law.

In this episode you will:

Tune in to this inspiring conversation with Ernie Collette, a dedicated public interest attorney, as he shares his transformative journey and offers invaluable advice for those seeking purposeful work.

Topics Discussed

Natalie R. Birnbaum, Esq. is a healthcare regulatory attorney and a state policy consultant serving at the intersection of sex equity,  healthcare technology & innovation, and reproductive, health, rights, and justice.  She is the owner of the legal & policy consulting company, Repro Solutions, P.C., Of Counsel at Nelson Hardiman, LLP, and co-chair of the New York City Bar Association's Sex & Law Committee.

Wendy Heilbut provides legal solutions and guidance to high-growth companies: bridging the gap between traditional legal service and strategic advice. Along with her team, she supports companies navigating the development of novel intellectual property offerings, complex corporate negotiations, and innovative business developments. She has an innate ability to understand and communicate with parties on all sides. Wendy is well connected in the start-up, investor, and female founder ecosystem of New York City and loves making connections for her clients and contacts. Prior to founding Heilbut LLP, Wendy was the Managing Partner of a boutique law firm as well as an associate at a large global law firm; she also started and ran a non-profit for underserved mothers and worked at a start-up. When not tending to her clients and her team, Wendy is tending to her garden, her children, and her personal wellness.

Wendy was Emily's guest on Beyond the Legal Lens once before: In July, 2022. Listen to that episode here: 

https://beyondthelegallens.libsyn.com/series-2-episode-5-wendy-heilbut-the-intersection-of-law-and-innovation

Eunsoo Choi is a dedicated 3L at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, on her way to becoming a healthcare litigator upon graduating in the Spring of 2024. She has gained valuable expertise both before and during law school. Currently serving as a Judicial Extern at the U.S. District Courts, Eunsoo is gaining invaluable insights into the intricacies of the legal system. She also spent two summers at prestigious firms, Barnes & Thornburg and Reed Smith, where she absorbed the thriving world of big law.

Eunsoo had the pleasure of seconding to Blue Cross and Blue Shield in the summer of 2023, giving her a unique perspective on the intersection of law and healthcare. She also served as an Extern at Walgreens during the Fall Semester of 2022.

Eunsoo's passion for healthcare law is deeply rooted in her personal experiences and her unwavering commitment to advocacy. She aspires to use her legal knowledge to make a meaningful impact, championing the causes she is passionate about.

Solange Hackshaw graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science and a B.S. in Communication Studies in 2021 from Boston University. As a Trinidadian-American immigrant, she is passionate about advocating for marginalized communities and challenging systemic inequities. Solange is currently a first-year law student at Duke University School of Law.

JoAnn Holmes, Esq. (“Jo") is an IP & digital assets attorney, Web3 advisor and founder of Holmes@Law.  She consults with business leaders globally to navigate evolving Web3 legal and regulatory risks, and help clients leverage blockchain technologies into revenue ecosystems. 

With expansive experience as Outside General Counsel to international brands and tech companies, Jo has overseen multi-billion dollar intangible asset portfolios spanning more than 150 countries.  And, she’s consistently closed lucrative agreements with IP innovators like Disney, Microsoft and the NFL.  

Jo serves on the inaugural Blockchain Law for Social Good Center board, and is featured among the global Top 100 Women of the Future™.  She regularly advises elite accelerators like Techstars, Dapper Labs and the Atlanta Blockchain Center.  Jo has spoken more than 30 times in the US and abroad, delivering pragmatic insights on blockchain law and Web3 revenue strategies for both public audiences, and in private corporate workshops.  

www.holmesatlaw.com

Elise Holtzman is passionate about attorney success and happiness! She is a former practicing lawyer, professional coach and trainer, and the Founder & CEO of The Lawyer’s Edge®, which works with law firms to grow thriving businesses by helping lawyers become better business developers and leaders. 

In addition to hosting The Lawyer’s Edge podcast and speaking frequently for law firms and bar associations, Elise is the creator of the Lawyers Making Rain™ program and the Ignite Women’s Business Development Accelerator. 

Elise earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and her JD from Columbia Law School, where she was a senior editor of the Columbia Law Review and is now a Vice President of the Columbia Law School Association. Prior to founding The Lawyer’s Edge, Elise practiced law in New York City with AmLaw 100 firms Fried Frank and Morgan Lewis.

https://thelawyersedge.com/about-us/meet-elise-holtzman/

Dyllan Brown-Bramble is a NY Biglaw privacy and cybersecurity associate and a Senior Fellow at the Internet Law and Policy Foundry. At his firm, Dyllan maintains an active pro bono practice with a focus on advising low-income entrepreneurs and small businesses. He also serves on the VOLS Pro Bono Advocates Council and the junior board for the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project. While in law school, he was a Tech Law & Policy Scholar, represented clients in the Intellectual Property and Information Policy Clinic, was a research assistant at the Center on Privacy & Technology, and was a teaching assistant for Computer Programming for Lawyers and Legal Communication Design. He also worked as a legal intern at Morgan Stanley and SambaTV and as a fellow at Mount Sinai Innovation Partners and InSITE.

Bree's Personal Story

My roots lie on a corn, soybean, potato, and onion farm in Southeastern North Dakota, where I had the opportunity to manage crop variety and chemistry test plots. Occasionally, I even got behind the wheel of a tractor or combine. Growing up in this environment, I witnessed the remarkable impact of biotechnological, chemical, mechanical, and electrical innovations as they completely transformed not only my family's commercial agriculture operation but also our entire rural community.

As an academic scientist, my journey has taken me on kayaking adventures across the lakes of Minnesota, living and working in the captivating landscapes of Iceland, picking cotton under the blazing Texas sun, and collaborating closely with regulatory officials in Kenya.

I attended law school part-time and worked in various roles throughout the past four years. First, I served as a policy advisor on Capitol Hill. Then, I managed global business development for an antibody discovery contract research organization. Concurrently, my journey in patent prosecution began at an IP boutique firm and then most recently continued in big law.

Outside of work, my rescue dog, Kai, and rescue horse, Rico, keep me active outdoors. I also enjoy engaging in various forms of physical activity, including yoga, [solid core], and Pure Barre. My love for holistic personal and professional development continuously drives me to keep learning and growing. I am also passionate about studying nutrition, and during COVID, I completed my Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Certificate.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/breevculek/

Principled and approachable, Amy Kluesner is a trusted advisor who cares deeply about the clients she serves. She offers comprehensive advice to healthcare providers and private equity funds, providing counsel to public and private entities on mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, corporate governance matters and associated healthcare regulatory requirements. She identifies and mitigates risk, navigates organizations through growth and change and collaborates closely with business leaders to resolve complex legal issues. Amy’s industry know-how, coupled with her joyful personality, enable her to effectively and efficiently close deals. Before joining Barnes & Thornburg, Amy served as general counsel for a dental support organization (DSO) and for a private equity-backed healthcare company. She is adept at providing outside general counsel services to growing portfolio companies, particularly with regard to mergers and acquisitions and regulatory compliance in the DSO space. Amy also spent several years in private practice as a transactional attorney, representing domestic and global companies as both acquirers and sellers in asset and stock M&A deals. She is skilled in coordinating all aspects of a transaction and efficiently moving transactions from the initial letter of intent stage to closing.

My guest this week, Ashleigh Giovannini, partners with domestic and international health care, digital health, health care innovation and life sciences businesses at all stages of development, to build solid legal and regulatory compliance foundations while balancing risk tolerance and acceleration toward strategic business goals.

Additionally, she helps her clients devise creative approaches to complying with state, federal and international privacy and cybersecurity frameworks for health and other sensitive data and partners with a wide array of businesses to develop and negotiate unique data, technology and health care services contracts to optimize growth.

As a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), Ashleigh has a clear understanding of emerging privacy and security issues in the health care industry. With this knowledge, Ashleigh makes it a point to deeply immerse herself in the business models of her clients to help them establish sustainable consumer trust while maximizing growth potential.

Ashleigh values mentorship and has made it a personal mission to uplift up and coming professionals in the fields of law, digital health and health care innovation, and data privacy and cybersecurity.

She is especially passionate about raising awareness for neurodivergence in the workplace. In her free time, Ashleigh enjoys resistance training, travel, antiquing, and crafting. She is in constant pursuit of new knowledge and is currently learning calculus and Italian.

You can connect with Ashleigh on LinkedIn where she shares insightful commentary on emerging issues in tech, health care, data privacy and security, and Artificial Intelligence. 

Learn more about Emily's work helping lawyers find their dream careers at her website, or on her LinkedIn profile. 

  Bethany Corbin is an attorney, activist, and advocate seeking to revolutionize women’s health through powerful thought leadership, strategic business and legal guidance, and educational/policy advocacy. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs transform the way society thinks about human health by disrupting and enhancing the “standard” model of healthcare delivery.Overcoming her own women’s health experience, Bethany understands first-hand the challenges women face navigating a healthcare system that consistently dismisses and diminishes their pain. She’s actively working to break down social taboos and stigmas that attach to women’s health while enhancing respect for women’s privacy and autonomy. Bethany’s passion and activism make her a leading voice on women’s health innovation, femtech, and data privacy. She recently launched Feminnovation, Revolutionizing Women’s  Health Through Advocacy, Education & Consulting, and you can also find her on her website. 

Learn more about Emily's work helping lawyers find their dream careers at her website, or on her LinkedIn profile. 

Mysty Blagg is a second-career healthcare advocate that brings over twenty years of prior healthcare industry experience into the practice of law. She offers clients a unique and valued perspective derived from her previous careers as a health care compliance investigator, Medicaid appeals specialist, and a registered dental hygienist. Mysty has a passion for healthcare innovation and advises clients on regulatory, reimbursement, licensing, and litigation matters in the healthcare industry.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mystyblagg/

Learn more about Emily's work helping health tech and life sciences lawyers find their dream careers at her website, or on her LinkedIn profile. 

Richard Hughes, IV, JD, MPH, is a partner at Epstein Becker Green where he provides legal and strategic counsel to biopharmaceutical and other clients with a particular emphasis on vaccines, prevention, and early intervention. 

He is also a professorial lecturer in law at The George Washington University Law School where he teaches vaccines and preventive services law. 

Richard returned to EBG last year after serving Vice President of Public Policy at Moderna during the COVID-19 pandemic and as Managing Director at Avalere Health where he built and led the Vaccines Team. He previously held roles with Merck and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, and as a gubernatorial appointee to the Arkansas State Board of Health. 

As a nationally recognized vaccine thought leader, he has led many efforts to expand access to vaccines and preventive services and improve public health outcomes.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardhughesiv/

Learn more about Emily's work helping health tech and life sciences lawyers find their dream careers at her website, or on her LinkedIn profile. 

Jeremy Muhlfelder is the Head of Legal Operations & Legal at VRChat (a leading social VR platform).  Jeremy’s interest in entrepreneurship started at a young age where he took relevant courses that helped develop his interest in cutting edge technology.  He began his legal career at Wilson Sonsini in their Corporate and Fintech Groups, which provided fantastic training for his current role.  In this episode we discuss his trajectory from BigLaw to in-house and getting involved with the business side of his company (a dream career for many folks).  We learn about his current projects and the ways he is building community.  It’s a conversation you don’t want to miss. 

Learn more about Emily's work helping health tech and life sciences lawyers find their dream careers at her website, or on her LinkedIn profile. 

Joshua is a certified professional coach that specializes in helping high-achieving professionals that struggle to stay fit or stay confident become stronger mentally and physically. After being a high school teacher, followed by five years of working as an associate at a big law firm in New York City, Joshua has identified and understands why high-achieving individuals struggle and how best to support them.  In this episode, we discuss his pivot from lawyer to life coach and the incredible advice he provides for his clients’ journeys, often based on his personal experiences. 

This conversation was recorded on August 26, 2022. Veronica McFall is the Director, Northeast Corridor Engagement at Cornell University. She is also a children's book author, and in 2020, she published her first children's book,A Visit to The Bahamas from A to Z. Veronica is a graduate of Colgate University and Teachers College, Columbia University. She resides in New Jersey with her husband, and they have three adult children. For more information about Veronica, please visit her website veronicamcfall.com 

About Emily:

https://www.whistlerpartners.com/team/emily-witt

Andy Dale is General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer of Alyce, Inc. a B2B gifting and engagement platform.  Andy leads all legal affairs including data privacy, strategic partnerships and corporate compliance.  He has led the legal, privacy and compliance functions at SessionM which was acquired by Mastercard in 2019 and dataxu. Inc. an advertising technology company which is now owned by Roku.  Andy was also an in-house lawyer at TD Ameritrade, worked in a corporate law firm and clerked for a judge in Baltimore.  Andy received his BA from Colgate University, his JD from University of Baltimore and holds the IAPP’s CIPP/US and CIPP/E certifications. 

Evan Bienstock provides counsel and guidance to companies in all stages of their life cycles, from the seed of an idea to its execution and funding, and eventual exit. He works closely with founders, investors, boards and entrepreneurs across a wide range of technologies.

Evan has handled and negotiated hundreds of venture capital and private equity financings for those providing and seeking capital. In addition, he is well-versed in corporate governance, securities laws, and mergers and acquisitions and regularly advises clients through complex exit transactions. And with a home in Brooklyn's DUMBO neighborhood (a nexus for many tech startups), Evan’s roots are firmly planted in the New York City startup community.

About Emily:

https://www.whistlerpartners.com/team/emily-witt

Rita Sheth is a lawyer, writer and entrepreneur. She founded MERCURY DASHA a phygital fashion and art brand that creates fashion for real life and the metaverse in 2021. She continues to practice law as a dispute resolution lawyer, and also shares her experiences and insights on her personal development and coaching platform, The Many Sides, through which she aims to help women like herself maximize their potential.

https://www.whistlerpartners.com/team/emily-witt

Edited and Produced by Mark McDonald. Launch your podcast at  https://yourbusinesspodcast.net

Robert Ingalls calls himself a  "recovering attorney". He's  also a professional speaker and the founder of LawPods,   one of the first podcast production agencies for law firms. At LawPods, Robert and his team help some of the premier law firms in the world launch and grow branded podcasts that build relationships and drive revenue. Robert's path to Podcast Producer to the Am Law 100 was anything but direct. For years he battled anxiety from the pressure, long hours, and constant conflict of a litigation career. When he was finally ready to throw in the towel, he had no idea what to do next. With no business/marketing background and only a love for podcasts he discovered while creating a podcast for his law firm, Robert decided to see if lawyers would pay him to help them launch podcasts. With very few takers in the early days, Robert spent two years in a corporate banking gig, grinding nights and weekends to finally bring LawPods to life.. 

As a speaker, Robert frequently speaks on topics including Positioning Your Firm Podcast for Success, Prioritizing Mental Health, Entrepreneurship, and Law Office Technology. In his spare time, he enjoys teaching podcasting at community events, spending time with his wife and daughters, and skateboarding/snowboarding. 

https://www.whistlerpartners.com/team/emily-witt

Edited and Produced by Mark McDonald. Launch your podcast at  https://yourbusinesspodcast.net

Noeli Serna is the Founding Attorney of Serna Legal Services, a corporate law firm that offers Illinois Latine-owned businesses and Latine entrepreneurs corporate legal services in English and Spanish. Noeli's firm incorporates businesses; drafts, reviews and negotiates contracts; and advises clients on their business’s ongoing legal obligations as they scale and grow. Before starting her own law firm, Noeli worked as in-house corporate counsel at an international company, where she counseled the business on a large variety of corporate matters such as commercial contracts and everyday legal questions. Prior to working as in-house counsel, Noeli also practiced transactional banking law in the Chicago offices of two international law firms. Noeli also worked in her family’s restaurant since the age of five, which contributed to her interest in business and appreciation for excellent customer service. Her formative years in the family business eventually led her to the practice of corporate law and have positioned her well to represent and advocate for Latine business owners.

https://www.whistlerpartners.com/team/emily-witt

Edited and Produced by Mark McDonald. Launch your podcast at  https://yourbusinesspodcast.net

Joseph George is an experienced, Supreme Court certified mediator and qualified arbitrator, who specializes in complex disputes. Mr. George has worked on all kinds of matters including cases involving commercial and business disputes, breach of contract, negligence, construction disputes, landlord and tenant disputes, cannabis disputes, employment discrimination claims, beauty product defects, and disputes as well as all other tenants of beauty industry disputes. 

He can be reached at his firm George & George ADR Group 

http://www.georgeandgeorgeadr.com as well as by email at general@georgeandgeorgeadr.com.

https://www.whistlerpartners.com/team/emily-witt

Edited and Produced by Mark McDonald. Launch your podcast at  https://yourbusinesspodcast.net

  Aliza Shatzman is the President and Co-Founder of The Legal Accountability Project, a nonprofit aimed at ensuring that as many law clerks as possible have positive clerkship experiences, while extending support and resources to those who do not. Aliza earned her BA from Williams College and her JD from Washington University School of Law. After law school, Aliza clerked in DC Superior Court during the 2019-2020 term. In March 2022, Aliza submitted written testimony for a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing about the lack of workplace protections in the federal judiciary, detailing her personal experience with gender discrimination, harassment, and retaliation by a former DC judge.    Aliza regularly writes and speaks about judicial accountability. She has been published in numerous forums, including the UCLA Journal of Gender & Law, the NYU Journal of Legislation & Public Policy, Above the Law, Law360, Slate, Ms. Magazine, and Balls & Strikes.   About Emily:

https://www.whistlerpartners.com/team/emily-witt

Edited and Produced by Mark McDonald. Launch your podcast at  https://yourbusinesspodcast.net

  Don Schmincke is the author of the Best-Selling book The Code of the Executive and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today. He is an Award-Winning Speaker, Researcher, and Founder of the SAGA Leadership Institute and delivered over 1,700 speeches.

About Emily:

https://www.whistlerpartners.com/team/emily-witt

Edited and Produced by Mark McDonald. Launch your podcast at  https://yourbusinesspodcast.net

Isaiah Hardy is a rising 3L at the University of Oregon School of Law. He was born and raised in Sacramento, CA, before heading south to San Diego, where he received his bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Africana Studies, Economics, and Psychology from San Diego State University. During his 1L summer, he was a summer associate at Littler Mendelson P.C., where he had the fortunate opportunity to learn from some of the brightest L&E attorneys in the world. During his 2L Summer (the Summer of 2022), he was a summer associate at Stoel Rives LLP, where he engaged with numerous practice and industry groups, including but not limited to corporate, real estate, L&E, litigation, and health care.  Connect with him on LinkedIn, (https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaiah-hardy-15267915b/) Twitter (@IsaiahHardyy), or Instagram (@Zay.Hardy) to learn more about him and his journey.

About Emily:

https://www.whistlerpartners.com/team/emily-witt

Edited and Produced by Mark McDonald. Launch your podcast at  https://yourbusinesspodcast.net

  Elecia Byrd is a native Texan with a passion for helping others. A member of the firm’s personal injury section in Austin, this talented litigator focuses her practice on automobile accidents, product injuries, traumatic brain injuries, premises liability, dog bites, and more. Elecia finds purpose as a personal injury lawyer, dedicating herself to helping injury victims who cannot help themselves. She takes great pride in her ability to bond with clients and enjoys not only acting as a legal counselor but also helping people with their recovery. Having dealt with very close family loss in the past, Elecia can deeply relate to clients who are suffering from catastrophic injuries or a loss of a loved one. She devotes herself to guiding her clients through their recovery, checking up on them, and making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Elecia graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. After beginning her career as a teacher in the Belton Independent School District, she decided that her true calling was to be a lawyer and eventually earned her Juris Doctorate from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law. During law school, Elecia served as Staff Editor of the Texas Journal on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights, as president of the Thurgood Marshall Legal Society, and as a member of Youth Court, helping at-risk youths from entering the school-to-prison pipeline. She also worked as a student attorney in both the Children’s Rights Clinic and the Domestic Violence Clinic, where she represented clients in court under the supervision of a licensed attorney. It was this experience that solidified her desire to better the lives of individuals through her advocacy skills. Elecia has benefited her industry as a member of the Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Texas Young Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice, and the Austin Black Lawyers Association. In her free time, Elecia enjoys exploring Austin’s various food and music festivals, spending time with her family and her church group, and volunteering once a week with Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid to provide pro bono legal services to those in need. She is also an avid football fan – Go Texans! Go Longhorns!

About Emily:

https://www.whistlerpartners.com/team/emily-witt

Edited and Produced by Mark McDonald. Launch your podcast at  https://yourbusinesspodcast.net

About Emily:

https://www.whistlerpartners.com/team/emily-witt

Edited and Produced by Mark McDonald. Launch your podcast at  https://yourbusinesspodcast.net

Ramya is Associate General Counsel at Bowery Farming, a New York-based startup that is revolutionizing the way food is grown by cultivating crops, without soil, vertically, and indoors. She started this role—in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic—because she is passionate about access to food and combating climate change through innovation. Before this, she spent many years at the New York office of Skadden Arps, where she worked on regulatory enforcement and immigration matters. She received a Bachelor of Science (Honors) at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, where she was a Chancellor’s Scholar, a Masters of Science from the University of Oxford, where she was a Clarendon Scholar, and a J.D. at Columbia Law School in New York, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law. She has also worked for the Burmese non-profit law firm Justice for All, as well as the International Justice Program at Human Rights Watch and the Legal Aid Society of New York.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramyarravishankar/

About Emily:

https://www.whistlerpartners.com/team/emily-witt

Edited and Produced by Mark McDonald. Launch your podcast at  https://yourbusinesspodcast.net

About Emily:

https://www.whistlerpartners.com/team/emily-witt

Edited and Produced by Mark McDonald. Launch your podcast at  https://yourbusinesspodcast.net

Jacob Levy is a neurodiverse career coach & educator teaching jobseekers how to create content to be seen and implement successful search strategies. He supports people with disabilities and small businesses with content creation and finding their desired clientele. 

Jacob has a background in music and special education.  He used those experiences to find a way to create short melodies & videos to aid memory retrieval, behavior management and life skills.  Jacob loves to share his passion by showing his creative side and empowering others to do the same. 

About Jacob:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/searchable4u/

About Emily:

https://www.whistlerpartners.com/team/emily-witt

Edited and Produced by Mark McDonald. Launch your podcast at  https://yourbusinesspodcast.net

Kieran Paul is the Founder, Director, and Legal Career Coach at Gradvantage Partners.  He graduated with a law degree in 2013 from the University of Leeds. Kieran utilized his passion for uplifting others by taking his experiences in law and recruiting to align people with their career goals.  He now works with aspiring attorneys to obtain roles in top law firms and coaches them on how to move up within Big Law. Kieran serves as a mentor and is constantly connecting people, creating valuable support systems. We had a great discussion about his journey and how he is giving back to the legal community.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieranpaul/

https://gradvantage.as.me/

About Emily:

https://www.whistlerpartners.com/team/emily-witt

Jahed Hussain works as Corporate Counsel for Cox Automotive UK & Europe within Digital Retail Solutions. As the world’s largest automotive services organization, Cox Automotive is committed to helping car manufacturers, fleet, and dealer customers meet the significant, bold challenges of the digital transformation era. Jahed supports internal stakeholders across Europe in achieving their local and wider business objectives.  He advises on intellectual property matters, technology contracts, and general compliance work across different business streams. Join me in conversation about his passion for mentorship and support for various initiatives with increasing diversity and inclusivity in the legal sector. We discuss his nontraditional path and how it has allowed him to achieve his career goals.  

About Emily:

https://www.whistlerpartners.com/team/emily-witt

It is a pleasure to have Spencer Klein on the show with me today.  Spencer is one of my oldest friends and we lived across the hall from each other starting at two years old.  

We talk about growing up and the expectations we had for ourselves when it came to our careers.  Ironically, Spencer is the one that went into the movie business and I went into the legal field. His father is a lawyer and my dad has a newfound career as a background actor.   It has come full circle as having a podcast is an outlet for my video production and journalism endeavors.  We discuss our trajectories and Spencer talks about how he uses his business skills regularly as there is more to the movie industry than he realized.  Thanks so much for joining me today on this very special episode.

Zachary Green attended high school Cincinnati, Ohio and went on to Bowling Green State University. He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and was a lieutenant with his local fire department. Zachary is the founder and former CEO of MN8 LumAware/Foxfire. He grew the company from the trunk of his car to over $30MM in organic sales and $5MM in venture funding. Zachary’s new book, Warrior Entrepreneur was released in September of 2021, and in the first few weeks, it launched to bestseller status on Amazon in several categories and countries. He and his family now live in Hilton Head Island, SC.

Elena Anderson-de Lay is an experienced Global Workforce Mobility professional, specializing in employment and academic immigration compliance. She has served countless expatriates and their families relocating to, and from the United States. As Co-founder and Lead Strategist of At Ease Solutions, Elena partners with organizations to design innovative workforce strategies and learning experiences that facilitate collaboration and belonging. She has supported organizations in industries ranging from nonprofits and higher education to Tech and BioPharma. In her spare time, she enjoys connecting with her community and engaging in intense comic book debates.

Clubhouse -  @elenaanderson LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaanderson/ Instagram - @ateasesolutions Twitter (Personal Account) - @lanabugg Twitter (Business Account) - @ateasesolutions

Lisa Caprelli grew up with humble beginnings in the sun city of El Paso, Texas. She is proud of her Latin roots and culture and happy to have realized her dream of living near the ocean today in Huntington Beach, California.  Lisa is a speaker, songwriter and an award-winning author of the unicorn book series, Unicorn Jazz. ™.  Unicorn Jazz series offers social emotional learning (empathy, kindness, love, belonging, believing in others, feelings and more).  She is an author of 17 books., and has produced music videos for kids. Lisa is the producer and director of Unicorn Jazz Presents The Thing I Do - a family show on Amazon TV.  Her quest for studying human behavior and teaching is seen in her author visits, school visits, with kids, parents, educators. She believes in community outreach and volunteers with local children's hospitals and non-profits to share books, stories, songs and activities to help others. Lisa's ambitious and multi-faceted perspective inspires people all around her to live a life of purpose.  As a writer, educator and leader she is called upon for storytelling while fostering perseverance, imagination and inspiration. She enjoys teaching young minds the power of possibilities be it: elementary schools, teens, educators, parents, counselors, librarians and more.

Marcela Levy is a Partner at the law firm Mannheimer, Perez e Lyra, a proud working parent of twins, and a dear friend/workout buddy. She received her LL.B. from the Catholic University of Rio De Janeiro in 2008 and received her LL.M. in 2012 from Columbia University in New York City where she also met her husband.  Our first encounter was in 2012 in a midtown conference room, when she was on secondment at the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. We talk about her journey starting with her keen awareness of how she wanted to raise a family, her transparency with her employer about fertility, and the lessons she learned balancing her career with the things she loves (family being one of them).

Dr. Kathryn Owler has become passionate about finding ways to experience more fun and enjoyment at work after her ‘dream job’ turned into a nightmare. She channeled her despair & disappointment into academic research – distilling the secrets of remarkable workers who’ve had fun at any job they’ve ever had! Kathryn is now the director of The Happiness at Work Coach. Her mission is to provide people that are bored, frustrated or unhappy in their jobs with easy-to-follow (empirically proven) steps that they can take immediately to achieve joy and purpose at work.  Join me today in conversation with Kathryn!

In this week’s episode of Beyond the Legal Lens, I sit down with two of my close friends from childhood, Liz ‘Paoli’ Case and Cori ‘Tuckman’ Gordon. Liz is the Director/Coach for the Yellow Jackets Women’s Lacrosse Team in Virginia.  Liz graduated with a B.S. and Masters Degree from George Mason University where she played Division 1 Collegiate Lacrosse.  Cori is currently VP Strategic Sales at Activate and graduated from Arizona State University.  We talk about everything from the importance of the games we played growing up as children (this includes making prank calls) and the way the workplace has changed since we first started.   

Stuart Grant, based in Delaware, is an internationally recognized business leader, litigator and legal investor. Prior to founding Bench Walk Advisors, he co-founded and served as Managing Director of Grant & Eisenhofer P.A., which grew under his leadership and capital investment into one of the world’s most formidable plaintiff advocacy firms. He retired from Grant & Eisenhofer in 2018 to devote his professional time to Bench Walk Advisors.

In addition to his work with Bench Walk Advisors, Mr. Grant is an owner and breeder of thoroughbred racehorses. Mr. Grant’s horses race under the stable name The Elkstone Group and often train at Camden Training Center.

Mr. Grant also devotes his time to philanthropic endeavors. Mr. Grant and his wife, Suzanne B. Grant, formed the I Could Do Great Things Foundation in 2009 to support a range of social initiatives related to education and projects that strengthen communities in Delaware where the couple are primarily based.

Anjie Vichayanonda is the CEO/Founder of Leg Up Legal, a company that provides a prelaw mentoring platform and mobile app to connect prospective law students with attorney mentors. Prior to founding Leg Up Legal, Anjie practiced trademark and copyright law in Washington, D.C., and in Dallas, Texas. Anjie has worked in both boutique firms and BigLaw and served clients ranging from entrepreneurs and small businesses to Fortune 100 companies. She currently is Of Counsel to Andrea Sager Law PLLC. As a first-generation Asian American Lawyer, she is a passionate DEI advocate and strong proponent of mentoring in the legal profession. 

Brandie Mask is a 2012 graduate of Yale Law School and a BigLaw Attorney currently living in Texas.  We connected over two years ago and planned a podcast episode about taking a sabbatical way before I even had a podcast.  In fact, that conversation was an encouragement to start a podcast. I remember thinking, "I told Brandie that I was going to host one, and so I did!"

Years later, we discuss how integral traveling is to her continued success as a lawyer.  We reflect on how her experiences abroad gave her the confidence to leave BigLaw and not be afraid to re-enter it.  

Many of us have had time to think during this pandemic about life beyond the insular world of BigLaw. Hopefully, this episode will inspire you to take a big trip if you are remotely considering it.  Or perhaps even work 'remotely' from another country.

Hmm, How Do We Keep Employees Happy?  

The answer can be a lot simpler than we think.  That's what I learned in this week's episode of Beyond the Legal Lens when I spoke with someone who truly loves her job and the mission of her company. 

Stephanie Singer is a Communications Specialist at Mercy Medical Angels (a non-profit that helps save lives with medical transportation for those in need).  We discuss her trajectory and the reasons why her work environment is such a positive place for her.  If organizations took more of these messages below to heart, I think we'd have much happier people out there (and I'd be out of a job :).  

Love Everyone For Who They Are (my favorite answer)Allow Room For Creativity Showcase and Appreciate Every Step of the WayIf One Task Doesn't Work, Try Another or Help Improve by Offering Continuing Education Ask About Passions Don't Be Afraid To Celebrate  Don’t Feel Like You’re Stuck in The Office (volunteer together, or have staff outings like going to a baseball game).

In short, it comes down to treating the employees as individuals with dignity.  Sounds pretty easy, right? Let's Do It.

Born and raised in Miami, Florida Richard Garzola has always been passionate about serving his community using education and policy. Having served multiple regional and national social justice organizations Richard balances his time between work and school by seeking solutions to everyday problems. Richard is a former student-athlete (football) and alum of Florida State University as well as a political candidate for City Commission. In his career before law school, Richard has served as a communications director, press secretary, and legislative manager. Currently, a rising 2L law student at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical (FAMU) College of Law.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to take an outside educational program?  Whether it be learning a new skill such as martial arts, music, photography, yoga, or pilates, there is always something gained from signing up for a course. Debby Van Wickler, Alison Nunez, Jillian Ocasio and I teamed up for this episode to discuss what our Pilates Certification taught us about being a professional.

We did not know each other going into the class, but after six months of intense instruction, we came out of it as close friends and professional mentors to one another.  The skills we acquired continue to teach us to this day and we can’t imagine a world without ever having met.  Join us as we talk about what we learned about business from our teacher training.

In this episode, I speak with Ted Yang (13-time Serial Entrepreneur, Author, MIT Engineer and Recovering hedge fund guy) and Matt Caruso (Director, Corporate Communications, Corporate Reputation and Digital Engagement at KPMG). The three of us went to the same elementary school together (Cherry Lane), and Matt Caruso’s house was right around the corner from mine.  After graduating high school, we took separate paths and reunited on the podcast for the first time since we last saw one another as teenagers.  

We discuss our impressions of each other when we were in school and how we exemplify the traits we had as children.  Growing up, Matt loved game shows, current events and developed his passion for storytelling.  Ted always wanted to start companies, even when he was playing games in the classroom.  Matt even tells us the story about how his grandfather predicted Ted’s future.  We share our insights about what we’ve learned about ourselves, which is that a lot of who we are results from what we dreamt about as kids.

Sharon L. Hadden is the founder of Content Planning Company, a marketing education consultancy established to work with women-led businesses of all sizes. Sharon holds a masters in Integrated Marketing Communications, and for the last decade, Sharon has helped small businesses and corporations leverage the power of digital marketing, including government and Silicon Valley tech organizations. She's an advocate for women's economic empowerment and strongly believes putting more women in positions of power and entrepreneurship is essential to global economic growth. Connect with Sharon on Instagram @contentplanningcompany or visit her website at contentplanningcompany.com.

Angela Han is a lawyer and a life coach. She helps lawyers get results by transforming blindspots into strengths. She is also the host of the Fit to Practice podcast, where she interviews lawyers on what it means to be fit to practice.

Alex holds a BBA in Marketing and a JD from Texas A&M University and Texas A&M University School of Law, respectively. She has been actively practicing as an in-house counsel since then. Her practice includes sports law, employment and corporate law, along with advising companies on their specific needs. She has been an in-house counsel for a famous sports family, a multinational company, various startups, and most recently, a professional sports team.

Along with being an attorney, Alex has worked remotely for USA TODAY Sports Media Group's NFL Wire sites since 2016 as a journalist and content producer. She provides her unique perspective on all things NFL including national anthem policies, sports betting, DE&I, and was the first female to be hired by the NFL Wire sites.

She hosts a podcast, Your Potential for Everything, that delves into topics ranging from networking to entrepreneurship to goal setting. She is a multipotentialite and interviews guests that have the ability to shift from industry to industry and be successful in all of them. She is the author of the Your Potential for Everything book series currently available on Amazon. She also provides strategic consulting to businesses and individuals to gain clarity, precision, and confidence in their decision-making in the most complex situations so they can realize their potential for everything and have more time to do what they love.

In addition, Alex also created a goal-setting course that officially launches on May 10th and it is a self-paced course. https://bit.ly/3xCH1AE

Schedule a consultation at yourpotentialforeverything.com to learn more about her services.