Women @ RopesTalk

Conversation with Jan Sbarbaro, Lyric

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 09:42:25 -0400

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk hosted by IP transactions and licensing partner Megan Baca, IP transactions partner Emily Karlberg returns for another engaging conversation, this time with Jan Sbarbaro, the chief legal & compliance officer and corporate secretary of Lyric, a platform-based healthcare technology company, committed to simplifying the business of care by preventing inaccurate payments and reducing overall waste in the healthcare ecosystem. They discuss Jan’s impressive 30-plus-year career in the legal field, her transition from litigation to in-house roles, and her current responsibilities at Lyric. Jan shares valuable insights on navigating career challenges, the importance of self-confidence, and balancing a demanding career with family life.

Conversation with Katy Motiey, Extreme Networks

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:04:56 -0500

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk hosted by health care and data partner Christine Moundas, IP transactions and licensing partner Megan Baca is joined by Katy Motiey, the chief legal, administrative and sustainability officer at Extreme Networks. Katy shares her inspiring journey from her early life experiences during the Iranian Revolution to her multifaceted career in the legal industry. She discusses her new book, Imperfect, which is based on her mother's quest for equality and their family's struggles against the patriarchal customs of Iran. Katy also delves into her role in driving corporate social responsibility and sustainability initiatives at Extreme, offering valuable insights for aspiring leaders and authors.

Conversation with Veronica Lei, Eli Lilly

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 11:06:09 -0500

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk hosted by health care and data partner Christine Moundas, litigation & enforcement partner Sarah Walters is joined by Veronica Lei, the associate vice president and assistant general counsel for Eli Lilly's Diabetes Alliance. Veronica shares her diverse career journey from being a federal prosecutor to her current role at Eli Lilly, discussing her experiences in litigation, internal investigations and business counseling. She also reflects on the importance of balancing professional and personal life and offers valuable advice for aspiring legal professionals.

Conversation with Laura Berner, TRex Bio

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 09:57:27 -0400

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk hosted by health care and data partner Christine Moundas, IP transactions and licensing partner Megan Baca engages in a fascinating conversation with Laura Berner, COO of TRex Bio. Laura shares her unique journey from practicing law at Ropes & Gray to embracing roles in business development and operations within the biotech sector. She discusses her experiences at Genentech, Roche, and Myovant Sciences, shedding light on the transition from legal to business roles and the challenges of working in both large pharmaceutical companies and smaller biotech startups. Laura also offers her perspective on the importance of continuous learning and growth, her approach to decision-making, and her vision as a leader in a preclinical-stage company.

Conversation with Neena Reddy, Blue Owl Capital

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 10:08:44 -0400

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk hosted by IP transactions partner Megan Baca, litigation & enforcement partner Helen Gugel returns for another engaging conversation, this time with Neena Reddy, general counsel of Blue Owl Capital, an alternative asset manager with nearly $200 billion in assets under management. Neena shares her journey from private practice to in-house counsel, detailing the exponential growth of Blue Owl, the challenges and strategies of managing legal affairs for a global firm, and her role in fostering a culture of women supporting women. The conversation also delves into Neena's multifaceted role, her approach to leadership, and her personal insights on work-life balance and the importance of networking in the legal industry.

Conversation with Morgan (Dean) O'Neill, Sound Point Capital Management

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 09:39:34 -0400

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk hosted by health care partner Christine Moundas, capital solutions & private credit partner Jennifer Harris interviews Morgan (Dean) O’Neill, a distinguished portfolio manager and managing director at Sound Point Capital Management. Morgan provides a glimpse into her remarkable journey, tracing her career trajectory from an investment banker at Bank of America Merrill Lynch to her current role overseeing the capital solutions group at Sound Point. The discussion delves into the challenges she has faced, such as unexpected shifts in leadership, and how those moments became pivotal opportunities for personal and professional growth. Throughout the conversation, Morgan emphasizes the importance of adaptability and networking, sharing practical advice on building and maintaining relationships in the finance industry.

Conversation with Jenny Walsh, Sixth Street

Ropes & Gray LLP — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 09:23:39 -0500

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk hosted by health care partner Christine Moundas, capital solutions and private credit partner Alyson Gal interviews Jenny Walsh, a managing director who co-leads the consumer investing team at Sixth Street, a San Francisco-based global investment firm with over $75 billion in assets under management. Jenny talks about her experience building Sixth Street’s consumer investing business, and highlights the collaborative and flexible nature of Sixth Street’s investment approach. The firm’s diverse range of investments in the consumer space—from traditional brick-and-mortar stores to technology-enabled businesses—as well as in sports teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Bay FC, speak to how Sixth Street marries a solutions-oriented approach with bigger picture themes. Jenny discusses the value of mentorship and networking, and what she and Sixth Street are doing to support the next generation of women investors.

Conversation with Marjorie Goux, Rodan & Fields

Ropes & Gray LLP — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 09:54:07 -0500

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by IP transactions partner Megan Baca, capital solutions and private credit partner Alyson Gal interviews Marjorie Goux, chief legal officer at Rodan & Fields. Marjorie shares what it’s like to be CLO at a skincare and haircare company, along with how she prepared to take on the role. She looks back on the “multiple stops” in her legal career, including practicing law at medium- and big-sized firms in London and the U.S. before going in-house to roles at Hewlett-Packard, Clorox and Glad Products. Marjorie describes herself as a “person who looks for opportunities.” Along those lines, she shares helpful networking strategies for lawyers at all stages of their careers.

Conversation with Kelly Gold, CAMP4 Therapeutics

Ropes & Gray LLP — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 11:28:45 -0400

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by health care partner Christine Moundas, health care counsel Leslie Thornton interviews Kelly Gold, chief financial officer of CAMP4 Therapeutics, a Boston-based biotechnology company. Kelly opens up about what keeps her up at night as CFO of an early-stage, venture-backed company on the path to drug development. She describes her career journey from one quantitative field to the next, starting as a mechanical engineer, then moving to Wall Street and health care finance. As someone who has never liked formal networking, Kelly shares her secret to building strong professional relationships.

Conversation with Jennifer Zachary, Merck

Ropes & Gray LLP — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 09:24:32 -0400

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by health care partner Christine Moundas, life sciences regulatory & compliance counsel Beth Weinman interviews Jennifer Zachary, executive vice president and general counsel of Merck. Jennifer describes her unique trajectory from science major in college to associate chief counsel at the FDA to law firm partner and finally to her role as the top lawyer at Merck. She breaks down the differences and similarities between private and public practice, noting that the desire to protect the public health is just as strong in both places, and shares important advice for early career attorneys: work hard, seek out interesting cases, surround yourself with lawyers you admire, and make sure you’re having fun. Jennifer also describes the invaluable roles that mentorship, sponsorship and diversity efforts played in her transition in-house, and talks about the needle-moving diversity initiative she oversees at Merck.

Conversation with Jennifer Chun Barry, Meta

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 09:14:51 -0400

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by IP transactions partner Megan Baca, litigation & enforcement partner Amy Jane Longo interviews Jennifer Chun Barry, associate general counsel in special investigations at Meta. With experience as a federal prosecutor, an SEC trial attorney and an in-house lawyer at a global tech company, Jennifer has had a varied and interesting legal career, and she opens up about her different steps along the way. She shares what initially drew her to trial work and what she’s still learning about building professional relationships today at Meta. Jennifer also talks about how her parents’ journey as immigrants has shaped her approach to life and work.

Conversation with Karna Nisewaner, Cadence Design Systems

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 09:33:24 -0400

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by IP transactions partner Megan Baca, IP transactions counsel Emily Karlberg interviews Karna Nisewaner, the general counsel of Cadence Design Systems. Karna describes her path from engineering student at Princeton to GC at an innovative software company where she can “geek out on technology.” As a leader, she describes her approach to managing teams, including an important lesson learned early in her career. Reflecting on the value of lawyers on business teams, Karna shares some advice about listening, while also recounting how a run for the local school board helped sharpen her business skills.

Conversation with Siobhan Pomeroy, Gilead Sciences

Ropes & Gray LLP — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 09:34:44 -0500

In this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by IP transactions partner Megan Baca, M&A partner Emily Oldshue speaks with Siobhan Pomeroy, vice president of corporate development at leading biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences. With a background in science and an MBA, Siobhan talks about the many business and corporate development roles she’s held across the life sciences industry, including at a medical device firm, smaller biotech companies and larger pharmaceutical companies. She plots her trajectory to her current role as a leader of transaction teams and gives her invaluable perspective on team building. Thinking about her career, she remembers a deal where her personal and professional lives collided, and shares the advice she gives to women colleagues who ask her about work-life balance.

Conversation with Lisa Mango, One Medical

Ropes & Gray LLP — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:05:11 -0500

In this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, Ropes & Gray health care partners Jenn Romig and Christina Bergeron interview Lisa Mango, chief legal officer and general counsel of One Medical, a human-centered, technology-powered U.S. primary care organization on a mission to make quality health care more affordable, accessible, and enjoyable through a seamless combination of in-person, digital, and virtual care services. Lisa talks about the evolution of her career, beginning at a mid-sized law firm and then moving to in-house legal roles at early dot-com and design software companies before starting at One Medical in 2016. In looking back at her career, Lisa encourages junior lawyers to embrace the unknown, reflects on an important mentor, and shares her approach to working and parenting. Finally, she talks about the exciting past few years at One Medical, including the company’s recent agreement with Amazon.

Conversation with Mallory Capasso, Luxury Brand Partners

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 10:15:36 -0400

In this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by IP transactions partner Megan Baca, IP transactions partner Erica Han interviews Mallory Capasso, general counsel and vice president of legal and regulatory at Luxury Brand Partners (LBP), a company that develops and nurtures prestigious, artist-driven beauty brands. Mallory shares her experience moving from a law firm to becoming the only in-house counsel at LBP, where she handles everything from trademark policy to employment issues, corporate work, board work and privacy laws, to running the company’s regulatory department. Reflecting on the keys to success in this multi-faceted role, Mallory emphasizes the importance of communication, staying curious, nurturing a great culture, having mentors and role models—especially seeing other successful women—and having the courage and confidence to bring new ideas to the table and be a changemaker.

Conversation with Katerina Novak, Viking Global Investors

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 09:30:22 -0400

In this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by health care partner Christine Moundas, intellectual property transactions counsel Emily Karlberg interviews Katerina Novak, associate general counsel at global asset management firm Viking Global Investors.

Conversation with Jennifer Wilen, Bombas

Ropes & Gray LLP — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 11:04:24 -0400

In this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by IP transactions partner Megan Baca, data, privacy & cybersecurity partner Fran Faircloth interviews Jennifer Wilen, vice president of legal at Bombas. Jen shares her experience growing the legal team at Bombas from the ground up, and how being in-house counsel compares to her prior roles at a global law firm and a leading investment bank. As a manager, she discusses the importance of empowering team members, which includes allowing others to make mistakes. Jen concludes by talking about the culture at Bombas, which celebrates individuality, and how the company is holding itself accountable on its DE&I goals.

Conversation with Adela Cepeda (Mercer Funds) & Susan Rhee (Jackson National Asset Management)

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 10:07:41 -0500

In this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, asset management partner Paulita Pike speaks with Adela Cepeda and Susan Rhee, two women who have had successful careers in the registered funds industry. Adela is a finance consultant and entrepreneur who serves on the boards of UBS Funds, Pathway Funds and Mercer Funds, where she is chair. Adela also is a co-founder of Angeles Investors, the first investment club focused on funding Latinx startups. Susan is senior vice president and general counsel of Jackson National Asset Management, a Chicago-based asset manager with more than $260 billion in assets. Adela and Susan talk about how they built professional and personal support systems to further their careers, and share advice for how to navigate demanding professions. They also discuss how they approach DE&I as women from diverse backgrounds.

Conversation with Ingrid Zhang, Novartis Pharmaceuticals

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 09:40:19 -0500

In this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by health care partner Christine Moundas, life sciences partner and Women’s Forum co-chair Katherine Wang interviews Ingrid Zhang, president of Novartis Pharmaceuticals China. Ingrid talks about her early interest in health care and why she decided to go to business school. As she reflects on her career path, from consulting to working in the pharmaceutical industry, Ingrid shares her advice for early career professionals, especially why developing a thick skin is so important for growth. She also describes the exciting regulatory changes in China’s health care market, as well as unique aspects of Novartis’s culture.

Conversation with Anne Garcia, The Ohio State University

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 11:43:40 -0500

In this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by IP transactions partner Megan Baca, health care partner Torrey McClary interviews Anne Garcia, senior vice president and general counsel of The Ohio State University. Anne talks about how she moved from private practice to in-house roles in universities. In thinking about the last year and a half, Anne discusses how COVID has affected the university and her team. She also reflects on why she is big on incorporating “action” into her office’s diversity and inclusion efforts, and looks forward to some exciting priorities of Ohio State’s president Kristina Johnson.

Conversation with Kim McCaslin, Bain Capital

Ropes & Gray LLP — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 10:09:26 -0400

In this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, IP transactions partner Megan Baca is joined by Kim McCaslin, a managing director at Bain Capital, for an in-depth conversation around Bain’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals and commitment to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I). As the leader of Bain Capital’s portfolio group in North America, Kim discusses her group’s values-driven focus on growing great companies “in the right way”—with integrity, humility, respect for people, and a focus on citizenship and lasting impact. She breaks down how her group prioritizes ESG-related goals and provides insights about their innovative approach to strengthening diversity and inclusion, both at Bain and its portfolio companies.

Conversation with Cari Robinson, Revlon

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 11:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by litigation & enforcement partner Joan McPhee, counsel Helen Gugel, also of the litigation & enforcement practice, interviews Revlon general counsel Cari Robinson. Cari reflects on the trajectory of her career that spans private practice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and in-house roles at IBM and Revlon. She explains why she pushed herself when she was already comfortable in a job—and how it paid off enormously. She also shares the skills she believes all good attorneys should possess, no matter the sector or practice. Finally, she talks about the importance of embracing challenges in order to grow and learn.

Conversation with Cris Rothfuss, Sarepta Therapeutics

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 13:02:01 -0400

In this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by IP transactions partner Megan Baca, life sciences partner Hannah Freeman interviews Cris Rothfuss, senior vice president of corporate transactions and deputy general counsel at Sarepta Therapeutics, a global biotechnology company focusing on rare diseases. An engaging storyteller, Cris talks about her unusual career trajectory, involving stops in private practice, academia and the biotech industry. She also shares her approach to mentoring—in her mind, a two-way street. And in thinking about leading teams, Cris reflects on a time in her life when her leadership skills were truly tested: when she orchestrated a 5,000-mile, three-month cross-country bike ride called The REAL Ride with four other riders to raise money for local schools.

Conversation with Tamarah Belczyk, Audax Group

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 12 May 2021 12:57:39 -0400

In this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by IP transactions partner Megan Baca, private equity partner Chau Le interviews Tamarah Belczyk, Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel at Audax Group, a leading middle-market alternative asset management firm. Tamarah starts by sharing the most exciting recent developments in debt financing products and legal knowledge management tools. In thinking about what attracted her to the law, Tamarah makes a case for how English majors are well suited to contract drafting. Tamarah also talks about the advantages of diverse teams, specifically in the field of private equity, and gives advice on how to succeed as a woman in a male-dominated field (hint: it doesn’t involve changing your personality).

Conversation with Shana Cappell, PepsiCo

Ropes & Gray LLP — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 09:17:33 -0400

In this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by health care partner Christine Moundas, co-chair of the firm’s anti-corruption and international risk practice María González Calvet interviews Shana Cappell, senior director and chief anticorruption/investigations counsel at PepsiCo. Shana talks about the differences between being in-house and outside counsel, comparing her current role to the years she spent in private practice. She shares PepsiCo’s approach to compliance and how she ensures that colleagues don’t see compliance as the department of “no.” In thinking about her own career, she reflects on how the practice of law has changed over the past 20 years.

Conversation with Jane Appleby, Advocate Aurora Health

Ropes & Gray LLP — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 09:40:50 -0500

In this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by intellectual property transactions partner Megan Baca, health care practice group co-leader Debbie Gersh interviews Jane Appleby, associate general litigation counsel at Advocate Aurora Health. Before attending law school, Jane spent nearly a decade traveling with and homeschooling her twin daughters. After earning her law degree from Marquette University Law School, she took on litigation work at a boutique litigation firm and at Quarles & Brady before being recruited in-house at Advocate Aurora. Jane discusses her fascinating and unconventional career path, her egalitarian approach to leadership, and how Advocate Aurora has responded to the work-from-home, health and wellness challenges brought on by the pandemic. She also offers advice to those pursuing non-traditional career paths and reflects on her love of nature and the outdoors.

Conversation with Ilana Kukoff, Cognition Builders

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 09:46:11 -0500

In this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, partner Laura Hoey interviews Ilana Kukoff, founder and CEO of Cognition Builders. In this inspiring conversation, Ilana talks about how she stumbled onto the idea for Cognition Builders, an education team that immerses itself with families to help resolve social, emotional, behavioral, intellectual and other needs. She shares some wisdom from the book she co-authored titled Say This, Not That (To Your Teenage Daughter), including dispelling the idea that discipline is a bad thing for children. Ilana also talks about what traits she looks for when hiring, why women shouldn’t be afraid to tout their own accomplishments, and how to approach difficult conversations. To top it all off, Ilana’s working on a new television show that will be entirely based on Cognition Builders, which is expected to begin pre-production early next year.

Conversation with Louise Dumican, The Carlyle Group

Ropes & Gray LLP — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 09:32:39 -0400

In this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by partner Christine Moundas, partner Amanda Raad interviews Louise Dumican, the Managing Director and Head of Legal (Investments) for the Americas at The Carlyle Group. Louise started her legal career at a global law firm, where she first discovered her passion for private equity. That passion led Louise to a secondment opportunity at Carlyle, where she has worked for over 10 years. Amanda talks with Louise about her career path and why saying “yes” has been such an important part of her trajectory. Louise also shares how recent diversity & inclusion initiatives at Carlyle have had measurable results for the better.