Women in Law - On The Record

Hosted by Allison Stewart

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106

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Jun 2026

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About the show

An interview-based podcast spotlighting women in the legal field. We will learn how they got to where they are, what lessons they have learned along the way, and what they are doing now to achieve their next goal.

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60 recent

June 3, 20261 hr 2 min

Episode No. 104: Aparna Williams, Chief Legal Officer, Sophos

Today I'm talking with Aparna Williams, Chief Legal Officer of Sophos (a cybersecurity company. Aparna was born and raised in the Washington D.C. area. She attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where she obtained a bachelors degree in English literature and history. She then went on to the University of North Carolina for law school. Through experiences and teachers early in life, the seed to become a lawyer was planted in Aparna's mind from a young age. Her family immigrated to the United States and she is a first generation American, so doing something special with her education was important to her. Aparna took a non-traditional path out of law school, securing her first job in-house during the tech boom. She has remained in-house her entire career, rising through the ranks and making strategic moves along the way. Aparna and I also shared stories about being a mom and a lawyer. Her insight and support was incredibly meaningful to me. It is a great example of why I do this podcast - to shine a light on women lawyers who inspire others. I hope you enjoy.

April 29, 202641 min

Episode No. 103: Rachael Bosch, Founder of Fringe Professional Development

Today I'm talking with Rachael Bosch, Founder of Fringe Professional Development. Fringe helps people learn how to communicate better at work and stems from Rachael's belief that when you improve your communication skills, you also improve your work performance. Fringe PD brings coaching and training to professionals across disciplines and experience levels, and they're dedicated to putting humanity back into workplace environments, providing customized and progressive programming, and helping ambitious, high-achieving professionals excel at work. Rachael has worked inside some of the top global organizations with research-backed performance and coaching tools and that's given her the skills to identify strategic paths to advance teams and individual careers and she integrates that into Fringe's neuroscience backed training and coaching. As someone who has worked in a law firm for nearly 10 years, I was fascinated by Rachael's perspective and ideas. Please enjoy my conversation with her.

March 31, 202644 min

Episode No. 102: Mary Ellen O'Connor, Founder of O'Connor Law PLLC

Throughout her life, Mary Ellen O'Connor has had a passion for standing up for what's right. As the founder of O'Connor Law PLLC, she considers it a privilege to be able to help those in need in the White Plains, Yonkers, and Bronx areas access the benefits that can help them provide for themselves and their families. After earning her Bachelor's of Science from SUNY Albany and her Master's from the College of Mount St. Vincent, Mary Ellen became a teacher. She soon discovered that many of her young students with learning disabilities were unable to access the services they needed to succeed in the classroom. Their parents either didn't know about the resources available or struggled to navigate the legal red tape that was required. Mary Ellen initially hoped that earning her law degree would allow her to be a more effective advocate for children with special needs. Life took an unexpected turn, however. Although Mary Ellen entered law school with the goal of focusing on special education law, she soon became frustrated with the ineffectiveness of the system and how it was being manipulated by the wealthy to provide extra advantages for their children. After an extended period of soul-searching, she channeled her desire to help others into a focus on workers' compensation benefits law and Social Security disability law. Mary Ellen strives to put a client's mind at rest from the very first meeting or telephone call. She draws on her background as a teacher to explain complex concepts without the confusing legal jargon other attorneys use and empower clients to take control of their situation by fully understanding their legal rights.

February 26, 202655 min

Episode No. 101: Denise Haugen, Corporate Counsel, Matheson

Today I'm talking with Denise Haugen, Corporate Counsel at Matheson where she has spent the last nearly 18 years of her career. Prior to that, Denise was in private practice. She attended University of Texas Austin where she obtained a Bachelors in political science. She then obtained her law degree from the University of Houston. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Denise. Our conversation was honest, her responses and insight were thoughtful, and I am confident there are lots of good takeaways for all of you listening.

February 19, 20251 hr 18 min

Episode No. 100 (Part II): Where Are They Now? Featuring D'Lonra Ellis and Iris Chen

Today on Women In Law, I'm sharing Part II of my 100th Episode! I hope you enjoyed Part I where I checked in with Amy Tu and Samantha Monk. In Part II, I will first be speaking with D'Lonra Ellis, Chief Legal Officer of the Oakland Athletics and Adjunct Professor at UC Law. D'Lonra was my first guest ever on the podcast. It was such a thrill for me over 6 years ago to be able to feature her. At the time, she was Associate General Counsel of the team and since then she has climbed through the ranks, tackling all kinds of legal issues covering a wide array of subject matters. D'Lonra has set herself apart from most lawyers in the industry and all while also teaching law students the ins and outs of "sports law" at UC Law. After D'Lonra, you'll hear me speak with Iris Chen. Iris is now the General Counsel of Moloco, which provides machine learning-based advertising solutions to drive growth for businesses of all sizes. Before taking on her first GC role, Iris was Deputy General Counsel at AirBnb and before that VP of Legal at Google where she spent 14 years of her career and where we first met. Iris and I walked through her time at AirBnb and how she gained valuable experience that positioned her for her role at Moloco. Just as she was in our first conversation, Iris is so forthcoming with the best insight and advice to share. I always leave our conversations feeling inspired and encouraged about my career. And this time was no exception. Please enjoy my conversations with D'Lonra and Iris.

January 16, 20251 hr 0 min

Episode No. 100 (Part I): Where Are They Now? with Amy Tu and Samantha Monk

Today on Women In Law, I'm sharing Part I of my 100th Episode! It's been over six years in the making but we are finally here. For this special episode, I wanted to check back in with a few women I've met over the years to see where they are now. In Part I, I'm talking with Amy Tu who I first featured on the podcast in January 2021. Since then, Amy has become the Chief Legal Officer of Target, which is a dream job for her. We chat about what excited her most about the opportunity and how she has enjoyed the culture at Target so far. After Amy, you'll hear me speak with Samantha Monk, Owner of Play Street Museum in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She and I first spoke on the podcast very early on - at a time when she was an M&A associate at Vinson & Elkins in Dallas, Texas and had just had her first son. Since then, she took an in-house role with Greystar Management and in her latest move she decided to start a Play Street Museum, which is an interactive children's museum & indoor play area designed to fuel imaginations. Sam is one of my dearest friends and I am so proud of her for taking on this new adventure. It's right up her alley - using her business savvy to provide a fun, family friendly venue to her community. In fact, while I visited, I had the opportunity to take my family to Play Street and it was awesome. The kids had a blast running all over the place, making slime, pretending to serve ice cream, work at a bakery, run a pet shop, you name it. I loved checking back in with Amy and Sam and hope you enjoy hearing the latest about their career journeys.

January 7, 202522 min

Episode No. 99: Looking Back on Women In Law On The Record

In today's episode, I reflect back on 100 episodes of Women In Law On The Record and share some of my favorite moments, guests, and memories from the last six and a half years.

December 26, 202439 min

Episode No. 98: Leah Mayersohn, Founder and Owner Mayersohn Law Group

Today I'm talking with Leah Mayersohn, founder of Mayersohn Law Group in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Leah has been practicing for 30 years and focuses her practice primarily on criminal law, corporate criminal investigations, and family law. Leah grew up in southern California where she attended UCLA for undergrad. She then moved to Florida to attend the University of Florida for law school and has been there ever since. Upon graduation, and due to the helpful advice of a mentor, Leah's first job post-graduation was as an Assistant State Attorney in Broward County. There, she gained tons of trial experience and was bitten by the courtroom bug. While she considered opportunities with certain firms, Leah decided to hang her own shingle. She founded her law firm nearly 25 years ago and hasn't looked back. She has been able to grow and expand her firm over time and has exciting things on the horizon too. Please enjoy my conversation with Leah. If you want to hear more from Leah or learn more about her practice, visit one of these sites! Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mayersohnlaw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mayersohnlawgroup/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayersohnlaw/ Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mayersohn-law-group-p-a/ Tik-Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayersohnlawgroup Profitable Attorney Connections Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitableattorneyconnections Website: https://www.mayersohnlaw.com/

December 16, 202452 min

Episode No. 97: Ladies Who Law (Samantha Sicola and Haylie Davis)

Today I'm talking to the women behind the "Ladies Who Law" podcast - Samantha Sicola and Haylie Davis. The two together host the "Ladies Who Law" podcast formerly known as the "Ladies Who Law School" podcast. As you'll hear, now as practicing attorneys, Sam and Haylie provide a fresh take on experiences, insights, and practical tips to help you navigate the complexities of the legal profession. Whether you're just starting out in law school or you're a practicing attorney looking to advance your career, Ladies Who Law offers a supportive community and guidance to empower you on your journey. Listen for engaging discussions, inspiring guest interviews, and actionable advice tailored to the unique challenges faced by women in law. When they're not podcasting, Samantha is an attorney practicing employment law and Haylie practices family law. Both are proud dog moms and passionate about looking for the newest trends for lady lawyers. Please enjoy our discussion.

November 21, 202448 min

Episode No. 96: Lisa Roberts, General Counsel, Stax Payments

Today I'm speaking with Lisa Roberts, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Stax Payments. Lisa and I met a couple years ago when we connected through a mutual friend and had coffee over Zoom but this was our first time meeting in person. We had a fantastic discussion about Lisa's background and how she made the strategic moves she has so far in her career. Lisa grew up in St. Croix with her family where she was a competitive swimmer. Her family later moved to California where she would attend Cal State University in Bakersfield and study English Literature. Lisa took some time off between undergrad and law school to figure out what she really wanted to do. When she decided law school was her best path forward, she chose the University of Montana after having had the opportunity to spend time in Yellowstone and recognizing her love for the outdoors. There, she made a mentor in one of her professors who would help her get a job in Atlanta at a boutique firm specializing in real estate deals. Lisa cut her teeth at the firm for 6 years and when she started to have a family, she decided it was time to make a move in-house. As you'll hear, Lisa has taken thoughtful steps towards achieving her goal of becoming a general counsel. She diversified her expertise, continuing seeking out mentorship from others, and capitalized on unique opportunities. She has a great perspective that I loved hearing all about.