Lowenstein Sandler's Women's Initiative Podcast: Real Talk

In this episode of "Real Talk," Megan Monson and Diane Moss are joined by Maria Prince, a board director and senior executive advisor, to discuss her career journey and advice for women interested in pursuing positions on a board of directors. Prince shares how her experience in ESG, supply chain risk, and global operations shaped her path to the boardroom, emphasizing the importance of understand...

In this episode of  Real Talk's  "Coffee Chats with WIN," hosts  Jessica I. Stewart  and  Lauren N. Russell  chat with in-house commercial counsel at PSE&G--and former Lowenstein attorney-- Natalie Dallavalle about career pivots and changing goals. She shares her multiple pivots from private practice to in-house counsel, and from litigation to corporate law. She emphasizes that it's okay for your...

In this episode of Real Talk , Jennifer Fiorica Delgado and Claire Dronzek are joined by Stephanie Argentine , Chief People Officer & Head of Legal Affairs at Centivo, to discuss the art of career reinvention as Argentine shares her career journey: from pivoting within law to HR and weaving together her strengths for a role that encompasses both. Argentine advises looking at your career as a windi...

In this episode of Women's Initiative Network: Real Talk , Melissa Leidl , Lowenstein's Senior Manager of Entry Level Recruiting, joins host Alessandra M. Moore in the first edition of "The Legal Launchpad" a Real Talk subseries featuring candid conversations about careers in law, the legal profession, and what it takes to succeed. Leidl and Moore share expectations and advice for summer associate...

In this episode of Real Talk's "Coffee Chats with WIN," hosts Jessica I. Stewart and Lauren N. Russell chat with Kathryn A. Daniel about the value in positivity and approachability as a junior associate. Kathryn highlights her adventurous spirit through her career journey, studying in Norway for graduate school before pivoting to law, as well as through her personal interests and experiences, incl...

In this episode of Real Talk's "Coffee Chats with WIN," hosts Jessica I. Stewart and Lauren N. Russell chat with Rachel Moseson Dikovics and Mikayla R. Berliner about pivoting from their initial career paths to go to law school. They share the qualities they seek in team members, dabble in advice for women in demanding careers, and, as always, reveal their go-to coffee orders.   Speakers: Jessica...

In this special 50th episode of The Women's Initiative Network: Real Talk , original hosts Nicole Fulfree , Megan Monson , and Rachel Moseson Dikovics are joined by Amanda K. Cipriano to reflect on the podcast's evolution. From standout moments to key takeaways, they explore how authenticity and vulnerability can work to challenge outdated workplace norms and build stronger, more meaningful connec...

In this special episode of Real Talk's "Coffee Chats with WIN," hosts Jessica I. Stewart and Lauren N. Russell chat with the Chair of Lowenstein's Insurance Recovery Group and founder of WIN Lynda A. Bennett . Bennett shares her introduction to insurance law and how WIN has evolved over the last 11 years. She also lends advice on developing your own leadership style, reveals the foundation of ment...

In this episode of Real Talk's "Coffee Chats with WIN," hosts Jessica I. Stewart and Lauren N. Russell chat with Megan Monson and  Laura Cicirelli about their career paths, as they demonstrate that no legal career trajectory is the same. They share their biggest career risks, advice to junior lawyers, and, of course, how they take their coffee—or tea.   Speakers: Laura Cicirelli , Partner, Emergin...

In this episode of Real Talk's "Coffee Chats with WIN," hosts Jessica I. Stewart and Lauren N. Russell chat with partners Julia E. Sanabria and Nicole Fulfree about their career trajectories, career risks, and most importantly, how they take their coffee.   Speakers: Julia E. Sanabria , Partner, Real Estate Nicole Fulfree , Partner, Bankruptcy & Restructuring Jessica Stewart , Associate, Executive...

In this episode of Women's Initiative Network: Real Talk , hosts Jessica I. Stewart and Lauren N. Russell  introduce a new series, "Coffee Chats with WIN," where the hosts invite inspiring women to talk candidly about the choices, challenges, and moments that have shaped their careers. Stewart and Russell chat with Nina R. Rodriguez and Julie Levinson Werner about their career trajectories, career...

In this episode of Women's Initiative Network: Real Talk , hosts Megan Monson , Rachel Moseson Dikovics , and Lauren N. Russell discuss how best to leverage the mid-point in your career when you are no longer junior, but not yet senior. The conversation assesses the expectation to balance roles as both mentor and mentee as well as adjusting to new responsibilities and coming to terms with your own...

In this episode of Real Talk, Julie Levinson Werner , Markiana J. Julceus , and Lauren N. Russell join host Jessica I. Stewart to discuss working with multiple generations in the workplace. They discuss fundamental differences in how generations approach work-life balance, communication methods, and connecting with colleagues both generally and at Lowenstein Sandler specifically. Speakers: Julie L...

In this episode of " Real Talk," host Megan Monson sits down with partner Julia E. Sanabria and Kerry A. Lunz , Lowenstein's Director of Recruiting and Integration, to cover lateral career moves for women in the legal field from both a recruiting and candidacy perspective. Lunz walks listeners through the recruiting and integration processes, highlighting key considerations for candidates making a...

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 par...

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-advoc...

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...

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 off...

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 ye...

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...

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 off...

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 potentia...

  In this episode of "Real Talk,"  Nicole Fulfree , Megan Monson , Julia E. Sanabria , and Rachel Moseson Dikovics tackle the subject of microaggressions: comments or actions that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expose a prejudiced attitude towards a member of a marginalized group. Women who experience microaggressions at work are 4.2 times more likely to feel burned out, 3.3 tim...

This episode of "Real Talk"  features a discussion with Nicole Fulfree , Megan Monson , Kristin V. Taylor , and Rachel Moseson Dikovics about whether the self-promotion gender gap—a concept explored by researchers at Harvard and Wharton—really exists, and to what extent professional women may be disproportionately impacted by its repercussions. The hosts discuss why some women might shy away from...

In this episode of "Real Talk," Amanda K. Cipriano and Rachel Moseson Dikovics speak with Dr. Traci Cipriano, clinical psychologist, formerly practicing lawyer, and a speaker, executive coach, consultant and author, about emotional intelligence and how it can be used as a professional tool. Dr. Cipriano says that emotional intelligence reflects one's ability to recognize, understand, and manage em...