In this episode of Real Talk, Leah R. Duggins, legal counsel and administrative director for the Litigation Department; Patti Scott, Lowenstein's director of professional development; and Sarah Scott, Lowenstein's associate general counsel, join Megan Monson and Diane Moss to share their personal career trajectories and illustrate that no legal career is alike. From conventional pursuits to partnership or pivots to non-practicing roles, the guests' career stories support that there are multiple ways to leverage a law degree. The guests offer advice to listeners at a career crossroads on listening to their gut and making career decisions without placing undue emphasis on traditional expectations or outside opinions.

Speakers:

Megan Monson, Partner, Executive Compensation, Employee Benefits
Diane Moss, Counsel, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital
Leah Duggins, Legal Counsel Administrative Director, Litigation
Sarah Scott, Associate General Counsel
Patti Scott, Director of Professional Development

In this episode of Real Talk, Megan Monson chats with Lowenstein attorneys Melissa K. Parres and Bonnie E. Schipper about the valuable, transferrable skills women learn from playing competitive sports. Melissa and Bonnie share their personal team sports experiences from childhood to present day and how such experiences honed skills in leadership, teamwork, collaborative competition, and self-advocacy that they leverage in their careers as corporate attorneys.

Speakers:

Megan Monson, Partner, Executive Compensation, Employee Benefits
Melissa K. Parres, Counsel, Mergers & Acquisitions
Bonnie E. Schipper, Associate, Corporate

In this episode of Real Talk, hosts Rachel Moseson Dikovics and Alessandra M. Moore sit down with Karen Kessler, powerhouse CEO of Kessler PR Group, to explore her remarkable journey from a young professional penning cold networking letters to a trusted advisor leading one of the nation’s premier crisis communications firms. Karen shares how she built her firm from the ground up, discusses the nuances of managing public perception at the intersection of law and media, and offers advice ranging from the art of strategic networking to maintain perspective when balancing work and personal lives.

Speakers:

Rachel Moseson Dikovics, Counsel, White Collar Defense Group
Alessandra M. Moore, Associate, White Collar Defense Group
Karen Kessler, Chief Executive Officer, Kessler PR Group

In this episode of "Real Talk," hosts Megan Monson and Rachel Moseson Dikovics talk with Alessandra M. Moore about mentorship and sponsorship – inspired by the lyrics of the Wicked song “Popular” – by sharing their own experiences on both sides of each role. They emphasize the importance of building relationships with individuals who will publicly vouch for you and privately guide you and offer advice to junior professionals who want to build their mentorship and sponsorship relationships.

Speakers:

Megan Monson, Partner, Executive Compensation, Employee Benefits
Rachel Moseson Dikovics, Counsel, White Collar Criminal Defense
Alessandra M. Moore, Associate, White Collar Criminal Defense

In this episode of “Real Talk,” host, Megan Monson, partner in Lowenstein Sandler's Executive Compensation Employment and Benefits Practice Group, talks with Robin Goldfischer, senior vice president and general counsel at Valley Health System, about her career path, how she manages her own work-life balance, and the importance of knowing when you don’t know the answer. Robin says that her 40 years of experience in the practice of law has taught her many important lessons, including that learning is a continuous process, there is value in being kind, and professional women must advocate for each other.

Speakers:

Megan Monson, Partner, Executive Compensation, Employee Benefits
Robin L. Goldfischer, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Valley Health System, Inc.

In this episode of Real Talk, host Megan Monson chats with Patricia A. Barbieri, Esq., Special Advisor at Daiichi Sankyo, about her career path from paralegal to general counsel and all the steps in between. As she contemplates her upcoming retirement, Pat shares the lessons she has learned along the way and offers advice on ignoring negative self-talk, making (and learning from) mistakes, and being nimble when life goes differently than you initially planned.

Speakers:

Megan Monson, Partner, Executive Compensation, Employee Benefits
Patricia A. Barbieri, Esq., Special Advisor, Daiichi Sankyo

In this episode of “Real Talk,” Lowenstein lawyers Megan Monson, Nicole Fulfree, and Rachel Moseson Dikovics discuss the Surgeon General’s recent advisory titled “Parents Under Pressure,” which described the state of American parents’ mental health as “an urgent public health issue.” They share their own experiences in trying to balance the demanding roles of woman, attorney, and mother, and offer advice to working parents and their employers.

Speakers:

Megan Monson, Partner, Executive Compensation, Employee Benefits
Nicole Fulfree, Partner, Bankruptcy & Restructuring
Rachel Moseson Dikovics, Associate, White Collar Criminal Defense

Today on “ Real Talk,” Rachel Moseson Dikovics, Amanda K. Cipriano, Brianna M. Ferrante, and Jessica I. Kriegsfeld discuss what law firm life looks like to associates who joined the practice of law during or after COVID. Lawyers who graduated law school in 2020 and after describe the challenges of returning to the office, including practicing time management, forming relationships with potential mentors, and balancing both working from home and being in the office. They also talk about the benefits of hybrid schedules and the importance of technology in effectively navigating the modern workplace.

Speakers:

Rachel Moseson Dikovics, Associate, White Collar Criminal Defense

Amanda K. Cipriano, Associate, White Collar Criminal Defense

Brianna M. Ferrante, Associate, Mergers & Acquisitions

Jessica Kriegsfeld, Associate, Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits