Stellar Women In E-discovery

1 https://www.relativity.com/blog/prioritizing-mental-health-pandemic-stellar-women-mary-mack-kaylee-walstad/2  https://edrm.net/2021/05/stellar-women-edrm-crossover-mental-health-podcast/

Oftentimes, our careers don’t follow a linear path. Opportunities may arise that may be completely different than what we expected but may serve us and our goals. This was true for Judge Kimberly Johnson, who went to graduate school to study psychology. Her path changed and led her to law school, ultimately becoming a trial attorney and a judge. In this episode, Mila and I chatted with Judge Johnson on the importance of giving junior attorneys opportunities to argue a case in the courtroom, and why diversity in trial teams is imperative.

For Stellar Women, Mila and I had the great privilege of sitting down with Reade Heredia. Reader shares her tips for success as a leader including gathering feedback from her team on presentations in addition to praising in public and coaching in private. When it comes to imposter syndrome, Reade quoted Maya Angelou and said, “when you know better, you do better.” The best way for Reade to overcome any feelings of self-doubt is through preparation. She prepares for any upcoming obligation and encourages her team to do the same.

Stellar Women had not one, but two special guests on the podcast this month. Exiger’s Global Head of Marketing Kody Gurfein co-hosted with me as we chatted with Meredith Fineman about her book "Brag Better." During our conversation, Meredith details her writing process, how to brag strategically to advance your career, and why we should talk positively about our professional accomplishments. And, she shares why it is important for professionals to know that their accomplishments are worth talking about.

When entering the legal field, Krista Deurmeier had a set plan. She planned to work as a paralegal and then go to law school. That plan changed when she realized the many opportunities that existed in the paralegal profession.In this Stellar Women episode, Mila and I chat with Krista about the opportunities within the field and why we need to stop apologizing.

Stellar Women was excited to welcome Rebecca Grant back to the podcast. If you missed her Stellar Women debut, check it out here.We had the opportunity to connect with Rebecca on her leadership style and how she helps her team navigate their careers, whether that is working flexible hours or taking on a new role on an entirely different team. As a technologist and lawyer, Rebecca also shared why access to justice is important to her and her company, icourts.

That distinction is what Mila and I chat with Relativity CEO Mike Gamson about on our latest episode. Action is really the key word there. Mike shares the moment that launched his journey toward active allyship, how he is an active ally in the tech community, and what a more equitable world looks like to Mike Gamson. 

Let's be real: The past year has been tough. We have been in a pandemic for over a year, and that can take a toll on mental health. The uptick in vaccinations do bring a beacon of hope, and there is something to be said for light at the end of the tunnel. However, many of us are still struggling.In honor of Mental Health Awareness, I joined the Stellar Women podcast as a co-host alongside Mary Rechtoris to talk about these issues in detail. We brought in the ever-fabulous duo from EDRM, Mary Mack and Kaylee Walstad, to discuss how they have navigated this past year and ways we can all help make mental health and wellness a priority for our peers and ourselves.  

#1 Join our LinkedIn group. If you think of the podcast as our way to provide tangible advice for our listeners, the LinkedIn group is a way to provide that two-way communication. Our community is a wealth of knowledge, so we created the LinkedIn group to share tips, check in with each other, and share compelling articles. We also will be including updates to the Stellar Women program, including our next workshop coming up in late June. Please join and invite your friends and colleagues. We also invite our male friends and allies to join the conversation!  #2 Nominate a Stellar Woman. A great part of our Stellar Women program culminates in October when we announce the winner of our Stellar Women Innovation Award. Stellar Women winners include legal tech rockstars, Joy Murao, Stephanie Clerkin, and Kenya Dixon, who elevate the careers of others and pave the way for emerging leaders to make their name in this field. The Innovation Awards are a way to recognize our comrades in the industry who strive for innovat

In this episode, Mila and I chat with Karimah about the video series, her passion for inclusion, diversity, and belonging, and the steps we all can take toward creating a more equitable industry. 

Check out this episode to learn about having transparent conversations with your peers, navigating career changes, and creating and developing diverse teams.

TRANSCRIPTMary Rechtoris: Hey, Stellar Women fans. I'm your host, Mary Rechtoris.Mila Taylor: And I'm your co-host, Mila Taylor. Stellar Women shines a light on female leaders, making their mark in tech. MR: Mila and I are super excited to welcome Debbie Reynolds to the Stellar Women podcast today. MT: Hello, Debbie. Welcome.Debbie Reynolds:Thank you so much. I am so excited to do this. I was dreaming about this. I'm like, oh, I can't wait to talk to you ladies.MT: We are excited to have you. I didn't actually mention this in our chat before this recording. The first time that someone had mentioned your name was when I was trying to put together a mentorship program for the Relativity Academic Program that we have. You were so willing to be involved. It turned out that you couldn't come to Relativity Fest when the mentors would meet the mentees, but you still gave it your all and I always have heard such great feedback about you. So, I'm so excited to be chatting with you today. DR:Oh, yeah, that was great. M

Understanding your value is imperative for professionals today. According to Sonia Chowdhury, doing your research is a key step in having a better grasp on your market value and what you bring to your team and organization.In this episode, Mila and I chat with Sonia about her experience in the compliance world, engaging in conversations with your managers, and mentorship.

For this Stellar Women episode, co-hosts Mila Taylor and Mary Rechtoris chat with Gina O'Neill from Herbert Smith Freehills. Gina highlights the importance of undergoing regular training so you stay current in the latest technical trends and advance your professional development.Having been in the industry for 29 years, Gina also shares how the industry has evolved, and how gender norms have shifted over the years. Check out the episode to hear more!

Mila and I enjoyed our conversation with Heena Bhambhlani about her motivation for entering the legal field and how she is a fierce advocate for her teams. While based in Mumbai, Heena and her team handle e-discovery matters for EY’s clients across the globes. According to Heena, she lets the team’s excellent work speak for itself. Check out this episode to learn about mentoring your teammates and how to champion your team’s works with clients and throughout organizations.

Embracing and celebrating inclusion and diversity is imperative. During this episode, BDO’s Beth Finkle and Corinne Cartwright share why embedding inclusion and diversity into their culture is important for them personally as well as for BDO as an enterprise. Stellar Women chatted with Beth and Corinne on what BDO has done to create a more inclusive and diverse workforce, and how to instill confidence in yourself when you may be the only female in a pitch meeting, or an important client call. We also dove into the importance of mentorship and sponsorship and how these individuals can help shape your career and be your voice in the room.

In this episode, Mary and I were joined by Ellen Blanchard, director of e-discovery and information governance at T-Mobile. Ellen took us through her journey from sports photography to a position on the board of Mother Attorney Mentoring Association.

This year has posed challenges for many in our Stellar Women community. Some have had to navigate remote work with virtual learning, others have had to find new ways to connect with colleagues and loved ones, and many have found new opportunities in the wake of the chaos. This year’s Stellar Women Innovation Award Winner, Kenya Dixon, joined Mila and myself to share what she’s learned about herself this year, connecting with mentors both inside and outside of your industry, and why you should always have a plan (and be OK if that plan shifts in a completely new direction).

Mila and I were really excited to have Betty Nguyen on Stellar Women. In addition to being a DJ and rugby player, Betty is part of our inaugural Relativity Fellows program, which welcomes motivated individuals from overlooked communities to learn with us and on our software. Betty is not one to shy away from taking the path less traveled. She has followed her passion and skillset throughout her life, whether that is becoming a DJ (who met Joe Jonas) to playing professional rugby to ultimately, embarking on a career in tech. Check out this episode to learn how Betty pivoted when life through an unexpected curve her way and she fostered a new path.

For this month’s Stellar Women, Mila and I had a lot of fun catching up with JND eDiscovery’s Rachel Billstein and Heidi Girod. The duo share their takes on mentorship, with Heidi noting that there are often times where people come into your life and present opportunities that can change the course of your future. Tune into the episode to learn about all things sun and moon signs, the importance of giving yourself grace, and tips for navigating these unprecedented times in both your work and personal life.