The Legal Inclusion Team

In this episode, Laurent Masson, an Intellectual Property and Technology lawyer with over 30 years of experience and now leading Global Commercial Legal for Boston Consulting Group, shares his approach to advancing diversity and inclusion for a team of 85 lawyers based in 26 countries with more than 30 nationalities. Laurent discusses why he believes that diversity and inclusion is not a program, and why DEI should be naturally embedded in our way of working and made an integral part of who we are as a team, how we operate, and how we respect and interact with one another. It all starts by creating a safe environment based on company values and hiring the right people with the right mindset. The outcome is a workplace where everyone feels they belong.

Tom Langefeld, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, discusses the importance of empathy as a commercial lawyer leading a diverse transactions team within a multinational organization. Tom also shares some pivotal moments early in his career when he recognized empathy as the primary catalyst for building relationships based on trust and for creating spaces where coworkers feel empowered and valued.

A conversation with Sepideh Smith, CDW’s VP Assistant General Counsel for Employment & Ethics.  Sepideh shares her story as we discuss the concept of Intersectionality, the idea that people are not linear, and how intersectionality shows up in her practice as an employment lawyer. 

In this episode, Dr. Nancy Lai, a business strategist and innovator and a recovering particle physicist by training with over 20 years of business experience, shares her reflections on DEI and the growth mindset as an Asian-American woman in business.  She offers her thoughts on the importance of getting diverse perspectives, how to measure success and achievement, and the need to address structural and systemic injustices.  She reminds us to be confident in ourselves and to learn from each other's experiences.

In this episode, we’re talking about leadership with Shannon Toolis, CDW’s VP and Deputy General Counsel.  During the conversation, Shannon shares her approach to building and leading diverse teams. We’ll discuss the power of proactively seeking out and developing talent with diversity being top of mind.  As well as the importance of empowering team members to safely show up as their authentic selves and to confidently offer their unique ideas and perspectives for better outcomes.

In this episode, we speak with Diversity Lab, a leading organization dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the legal profession. We discuss their work to increase the number of minority lawyers in the workforce, promote diversity in law firms, and create a more inclusive legal environment. CDW believes that Diversity Lab is doing important work, and we are excited to share their insights with our listeners.

Nature teaches us that there is more than one story to each of us!  We all matter and all of our differences matter!  We need each other in order for this thing called life to work!. In this episode, Suzette Carty, CDW Head of ESG is taking us to the great outdoors as she shares how nature has inspired her career journey along with some of the not so obvious lessons on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that we can learn from Nature.

In this episode, Lorraine van Barthold shares her thoughts on and whether women actually need to work harder to achieve equality and to gain advancement within the legal profession and we also discuss the responsibility that women have to lift-up other women along the way. She also shares her perspectives on imposter syndrome - is it real or merely an imaginary label designed to hold us back?

In this episode, Genner Herman discusses how volunteering together helps foster inclusivity within the Legal Team. Genner views volunteering as a great way to give back to the community as well as an opportunity for team members to learn about each others differences, cultures and perspectives, build relationships, and develop a sense of shared purpose. This can lead to a more inclusive and productive work environment.  We hope this discussion inspires our listeners to consider being of service to others as part of their team's approach to DEI.

Leslie Davis shares NAMWOLF's work to promote the growth and development of minority and women-owned law firms.  Leslie shares the benefits of hiring women and minority-owned law firms, the challenges they face, and how NAMWOLF is working to advance diversity in the legal profession.

This episode explores the justice gap and the work of Paladin, an organization dedicated to providing legal assistance to those who face the greatest barriers to justice. Gil Cubia talks with Paladin’s CEO and cofounder, Kristen Sonday.  Kristen is considered a thought leader on Legal tech and the complex realities of the justice gap.  She’s also an entrepreneur committed to improving access to justice. We learn more about Kristen during the discussion as she shares the impact of Paladin’s work, the challenges that still exist in the justice system, and how we can all get involved in the fight for justice.

In this episode, we travel across the pond to speak with Joshua Williams, Senior Corporate Counsel based in CDW’s UK office and a member of CDW's Legal Inclusion Team. Joshua shares his candid perspectives about DEI and as a practicing lawyer in the UK and talks about the opportunities and challenges facing the legal profession in its efforts to advance diversity. The conversation reinforces the idea that although we are in different parts of the world, we are similar in our desire for diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces.

In this episode, Gil Cubia talks with Sally Shi, the Chair of CDW's Legal Inclusion Team and Senior Manager Corporate Counsel. Sally shares her inspiring story of personal commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, which evolved from her time growing up in a remote village in China, where bias towards women was the norm. She attributes her success to the advocates and sponsors who encouraged her to pursue her education and her career beyond the boundaries of Asia all the way to Switzerland and ultimately here in the United States. Tune in to hear more about her journey and the impactful relationships she has formed both within her family and within her profession.

In this episode, Clay Ullrick, CDW’s Director of Global Ethics and Compliance, speaks candidly about how his appreciation of the value of mentoring drives him to serve as a mentor to others.  Clay shares how he had formal and informal mentors that helped him navigate professional challenges, provided access to information and opportunities, and inspired him to believe in what’s possible.

In this episode, CDW’s Director of Compliance and Ethics, Gil Cubia, and Joi Bourgeois, Kirkland’s Global Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, interview Kirkland corporate partner and DEI leader, Michelle Kilkenny. Michelle offers unique insights as one of the only senior women partners in PE and what it is like to lead on women’s leadership and equity and inclusion issues in Big Law. Gil chimes in from an in-house vantage point and an energetic conversation ensues.

In this episode, Lenora Ausbon-Odom, the Chief Talent Development and Inclusion Officer of DLA Piper, shared the importance of supporting one another in becoming better people and the importance of doing good in the world, and how early exposure to these ethical principles help nurture an openness to different cultures and ideas that shape an unique approach to DEI.

In this episode, Maria Melendez, Sidley Austin LLP’s global Chief Diversity Officer, shares how a global mindset, inclusivity awareness and impactful relationships have helped her advance diversity and inclusion.

In this episode, Kristin Malek, CDW’s Director of Business Diversity, shares her personal story and how her commitment to advancing marginalized communities has evolved into her fabulous role of mentoring and coaching diverse suppliers.

In this episode, Tamara Fletcher, CDW’s Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion shares about CDW’s 15 years of evolution in diversity, equity, and inclusion, along with the pillars of CDW’s current strategy for this important field which emphasizes its culture, talent, and business model.

In this episode, Justin Sobey, SVP and General Counsel for Sirius Computer Solutions which was acquired by CDW last December, shares how Sirius has developed a pathway and pipeline for a more diverse supply base. Additionally, Justin provides insights on how the cultural similarities of CDW and Sirius will facilitate Sirius’ future diversity, equity and inclusion journey.

In this episode, David Oskandy, CDW’s Vice President and Deputy General Counsel shares why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are critically important for an international growth strategy. David provides insights for leveraging different perspectives when working in an international context and how that strengthens outcomes.

In this episode, Rick Kulevich, CDW’s General Counsel and Corporate Secretary shares the Legal Team's vision for a more inclusive culture along with the team's Diversity and Inclusion strategy. Rick provides insights for leveraging the internal legal team as well as using the power of the company's law firm partners to make measurable progress.