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

Today on "Real Talk," Megan Monson , Nicole Fulfree , and Sarah Cole address the dos and don'ts for women attorneys seeking to develop effective management skills, emphasizing the critical role of emotional intelligence in legal practice. In addition to sharing their personal experiences and opinions on the most effective management styles, the hosts explore some of the hurdles women in law face i...

On today's episode, Rachel Moseson Dikovics , Amanda K. Cipriano , Claire Dronzek , and Lauren Russell discuss Gen Z's perspective of young lawyers on issues such as work-life balance, organizational values, and mentorship. They talk about how COVID impacted attorneys' priorities, and their opinions on flexible schedules, partnership, and the moral values of prospective employers. They also addres...

Today on " Real Talk ," hosts Megan Monson , Nicole Fulfree , and Rachel Moseson Dikovics are joined by Joann S. Lublin , Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, former management news editor and current regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal , and author of two books on executive women's leadership: Earning It: Hard-Won Lessons from Trailblazing Women at the Top of the Business World , and Pow...

Today on "Real Talk," hosts Megan Monson and Diane Moss are joined by  Carol Sutton Lewis, a former practicing attorney who now hosts and produces the award-winning podcast, 'Ground Control Parenting.'  Lewis describes how her legal skills have enhanced her role as a podcaster and parenting expert, and how being a parent has influenced her career and her outlook on life; she encourages listeners t...

In today's episode of "Real Talk," Megan Monson , partner in Lowenstein Sandler's Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice, speaks with her colleagues Diane Moss , counsel in Lowenstein's Emerging Companies & Venture Capital group, and Lynda A. Bennett , Chair of the firm's Insurance Recovery group, about how lawyers can cultivate their brands so that they stand out amongst competitor...

In this episode of "Real Talk," the hosts talk with Deirdre Stanley, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of The Estée Lauder Companies, about her career: how she decided to go in-house, her role in the merger between Thomson and Reuters, and her passion for business strategy. Deirdre also addresses the importance of diverse voices having "a seat at the table;" of developing and nurturing...

In this episode of "Real Talk," the hosts share their experiences as junior associates and what they wish they had known before starting their careers in Big Law. They offer tips on jumpstarting your career as a summer associate, managing your docket, and how to lay down a foundation for a long and satisfying career.  Speakers: Nicole Fulfree , Partner, Bankruptcy & Restructuring Department Chandr...

In this episode of "Real Talk," the hosts talk with Diana Ingallinera Faillace about taking time off from the practice of law, and how to facilitate a smooth return to your career. They emphasize maintaining one's network and technological skills, as well as the importance of confidence and communicating one's entire skill set—not just in legal services but in areas such as time management, organi...

In this episode of "Real Talk," Nicole Fulfree and Amanda Cipriano talk with Lowenstein associates Mikayla Berliner and Markiana Julceus about judicial clerkships, including the benefits they gained from their respective experiences and the challenges of transitioning from chambers to private practice. The hosts discuss the ways their clerkships helped to expand their networks, review the differen...

In this episode of "Real Talk," Lowenstein associates discuss their pre-law school careers, and how that work experience has enhanced their practices. Partners Megan Monson, and Nicole Fulfree welcome associate Amanda Cipriano as host and guests, associates Pati Candelario and Rachel Moseson Dikovics, who all describe their respective experiences of joining the workforce after graduation vs. going...

In this episode, the hosts continue their discussion about how to give and receive criticism constructively. They outline a recommended approach to giving criticism in ways that are appropriate and honestly aimed at a positive outcome, and they explain the benefits of the "praise/criticism sandwich." They also provide some tactics for receiving criticism without appearing defensive, noting that it...

In this special episode of "Real Talk": Lowenstein's Women's Initiative Network podcast, host Megan Monson is joined by co-host Lowenstein Tech Group counsel Diane Moss and special guest Sheila Bridges , founder of Sheila Bridges Design and Sheila Bridges Home. With a client list that has included luminaries like former President Bill Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris, and celebrities such...

In this episode of " Real Talk ," Megan Monson , Nicole Fulfree , Rachel Moseson Dikovics , and Audrey G. Ogurchak discuss how hard it is to both give and receive criticism, and why defensiveness seems to be felt so strongly—especially amongst women in the legal world. The hosts address perfectionism, strategies to prepare for hard conversations, and what role criticism play s in both the business...

Megan Monson , Nicole Fulfree , and Rachel Moseson Dikovics , continue their discussion with Debra Lancaster , Executive Director of the Center for Women and Work and Kirsten Scheurer Branigan , Managing Partner of KSBranigan Law P.C., about the ongoing disparity between genders in the upper echelon of leadership roles in private law firms. The panelists explore ways to improve the situation by tr...

Megan Monson , Nicole Fulfree , and Rachel Moseson Dikovics are joined by Kirsten Scheurer Branigan , managing partner of KSBranigan Law P.C ., and Debra Lancaster , executive director of the Center for Women & Work at Rutgers University, to discuss the Center's recently published study, Women in Private Law Firms Slow Progress on Equality of Promotion and Compensation, which finds that women lawy...

On this episode, the hosts of "Real Talk" address the guilt that women in careers with long hours often feel about missing out on personal social occasions like date nights or school events. How do you explain to loved ones who are not in the legal profession why you have to cancel at the last minute, or why you are up all night working on a pressing client issue? How do you prioritize, how and wh...

Lowenstein litigator Jennifer Fiorica Delgado joins hosts Megan Monson , Nicole Fulfree , and Rachel Moseson Dikovics to discuss how working parents are recovering from the pandemic. They describe the challenges of raising small children while working remotely;  how coming into the office can sometimes (paradoxically) provide relief; and the realization that COVID 19 did not cause problems with ch...

Megan Monson , Nicole Fulfree , and Rachel Moseson Dikovics continue their discussion about why women lawyers are leaving the profession with Laura Leopard, Founder and CEO of Leopard Solutions, whose research found that women are not satisfied with law firm culture that typically serves white, male attorneys and similar clientele. The speakers propose ways to improve law firm cultures, such as by...

In Part I of a two-part discussion, hosts Megan Monson , Nicole Fulfree , and Rachel Moseson Dikovics talk with Laura Leopard, Founder and CEO of Leopard Solutions, about the surprising results of a recent survey on why women attorneys are leaving the practice of law. Overwhelmingly, respondents said it was neither COVID nor childcare concerns that were driving them away, but rather a lack of job...

In this episode of "Real Talk", hosts Megan Monson , Nicole Fulfree , Rachel Moseson Dikovics , and Amanda K. Cipriano discuss the factors that contribute to burnout culture in the legal profession, the reasons women may be more prone to its consequences, and some practical suggestions for how to identify and address burnout in your organization. One study found that 53% of women in the workplace...

In this episode, the hosts interview Esosa Ighodaro Johnson and Regina Gwynn, the co-founders of Black Women Talk Tech  a collective of passionate Black women tech founders that aims to identify, support and encourage Black women to build the next billion dollar business. The guests share the stories of their own careers; the challenges women (and specifically black women) encounter in the startup...

On this episode of Real Talk: Lowenstein's Women's Initiative Network Podcast , Megan Monson , Nicole Fulfree , Rachel Moseson Dikovics , and Amanda Cipriano continue their conversation on pregnancy and related issues in the workplace, including maternity leave, reengaging after leave, and why men should take paternity leave. Speakers: Megan Monson , Partner, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensa...

On this episode of the Women's Initiative Network Podcast: Real Talk, Megan Monson , Nicole Fulfree , Rachel Moseson Dikovics , and Amanda Cipriano focus on challenges that female professionals encounter in the workplace related to pregnancy, such as miscarriage, infant loss, and pregnancy complications; how to navigate these issues in a professional setting; and returning to work and reengaging a...

On this episode of "Real Talk,"  Megan Monson ,  Nicole Fulfree , and  Rachel Moseson Dikovics  welcome Lowenstein alumna and now Senior Employment Counsel at Thompson Reuters  Lauren Hanson  in a discussion of work/life "integration." They provide tips for finding a way to pursue both professional success and a fulfilling personal life, as well as approaches to managing the stress that comes from...

In this episode of "Real Talk," hosts Lynda A. Bennett , Nicole Fulfree , and Rachel Moseson Dikovics discuss the findings of a recent survey in American Lawyer , which indicated that women as a whole are much more dissatisfied with their law firms than men. Although issues surrounding pay disparity show signs of improvement, many women lawyers still perceive there to be significant gender bias in...