Great Women in Compliance

Епизоде

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  Setbacks, Second Acts, and A Return to Purpose 16.09.2026 38мин

  Sarah Hadden sits down with Cindy Hennessy for a candid, funny, and deeply human conversation about career loss, reinvention, and what can happen when the next chapter of your life isn’t the one you planned. Cindy talks openly about being laid off late in her career—and refusing to let her employer call it “retirement”—and the long “hallway” between that ending and the unexpected opportunity that eventually brought her full circle to mission-driven work at Make-A-Wish. Along the way, Sarah and Cindy talk about resilience, the luxury and importance of waiting for work that aligns with your values, the surprising gifts that can come from rejection, and the power of writing to help us make sense of difficult experiences. There’s also an emotional-support Pomeranian, a lifelong love affair with the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, and a reminder that sometimes joy, hope, and a willingness to laugh at yourself are pretty good tools for navigating whatever comes next. Takeaways: Losing a job can be deeply personal—especially when work has been an important part of your identity—and there’s no reason to sanitize the experience or pretend it didn’t hurt. Cindy describes the uncertain period after a major life disruption as “the hallway”: one door has closed, the next hasn’t opened yet, and sometimes the only way forward is simply to live through the space in between. A late-career transition can also create an opportunity to get much more intentional about what you want—including the freedom to say no to work that doesn’t align with your values. Cindy’s path back to Make-A-Wish, where she had worked 25 years earlier, wasn’t something she carefully engineered. In fact, she initially wasn’t sure she wanted the job—a good reminder to stay open to possibilities that don’t look quite right at first. Mission matters. After years of interesting but sometimes less personally aligned work, Cindy talks about the joy of using her experience to serve an organization whose purpose she deeply believes in. Writing has been one of Cindy’s lifelong tools for processing difficult experiences. She shares her experience with the 100-Day Reckoning, a structured writing practice that helped her step outside a painful situation and find greater perspective, kindness, and understanding. Reinvention doesn’t necessarily mean chasing another bigger title. Cindy is deliberately thinking about how to do meaningful work while also making more room for travel, friends, family, writing, Mahjong—and eventually a life that isn’t organized around a W-2. And finally: Never give up on the Wienermobile. Cindy certainly hasn’t.
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  AI, Compliance & Thinking Outside the Box 09.09.2026 38мин

  AI is a key topic for all of us these days, and for ethics and compliance professionals, it is a challenge and an opportunity. In this episode, Lisa Fine and Hemma Lomax speak with Mara Senn, founder and CEO of Ethakos, and Audrey Harris, Managing Director at Affiliated Monitors; both have deep experience across investigations, enforcement, in-house compliance, and monitorships. We focus on what AI means for compliance – from how it is changing how companies operate to how it can help us work smarter while keeping humans in the AI loop. They share insights from their experience on many topics, including: Moving beyond AI as a time-saving tool and thinking bigger about how it can transform compliance. Why compliance needs to understand the business, its systems, and its data. The risks of staying safely inside the “compliance box.” How better data and AI can help compliance see risk differently—and connect the dots. Why tech and data skills are becoming essential for the next generation of compliance professionals. Finding the balance between innovation and risk management. This is a great discussion for novice AI users and experienced professionals alike. 
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  Beyond the Balance Sheet: Ethics Lessons from Australia’s Accounting Scandals 12.08.2026 39мин

  For this #GWIC roundtable episode, Lisa Fine and Ellen Hunt spoke with two renowned experts, Francine McKenna and Ursula Schmidt, about what Ethics & Compliance professionals should learn from recent accounting firm scandals in Australia. Listen in as our guests help us unravel: why similar scandals keep happening, how the incentives and pressure at play in these scandals are universal, the important role that culture plays, how auditors and others should live up to their professional standards, and why we still ignore those that bring issues forward. There are lessons in these scandals for every #Ethics and #Compliance professional on how to improve your culture and program. A huge thank you to Francine and Ursula for sharing their insights, expertise, and wisdom with us.
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  Curiosity at the Complexity Café 05.08.2026 40мин

  Career journeys are rarely linear—and sometimes our most valuable lessons come from the unexpected turns. In this episode of Great Women in Compliance, co-host Dr. Hemma Lomax sits down with Amybeth Garcia-Bokor to explore a career spanning public service, legal and compliance leadership, and an inspiring pivot from law to baking before returning to the profession with a renewed perspective. Together, they discuss how curiosity, resilience, and thoughtful leadership help compliance professionals navigate increasing complexity while building trust and enabling better decisions. Key Takeaways: Why judgment is one of the most important capabilities in modern compliance. How an unconventional career path can strengthen leadership and perspective. The evolution of compliance from enforcement to strategic business partnership. Building cultures where curiosity, learning, and open dialogue thrive. Leading confidently through ambiguity without sacrificing integrity. Preparing compliance programs—and ourselves—for a future shaped by constant change and AI. Bio Amybeth Garcia-Bokor is a leader who helps organizations navigate complexity, build trust, and make sound decisions where strategy, governance, and innovation intersect. Her career spans government, private practice, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit organizations, giving her a distinctive perspective on how organizations grow, manage risk, create lasting value, and innovate responsibly in rapidly evolving environments. She currently serves as Senior Vice President of Legal and Compliance at Emergent, where she helps shape the governance of the emerging global market for forest carbon finance.
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  GWIC x Everything Compliance - Summer 2026 29.07.2026 54мин

  We are back with another GWIC x Everything Compliance crossover, with Hemma and Lisa joining Kristy Grant-Hart and Karen Moore to talk about what’s on their minds and the compliance news of the day. They discuss everything from Scoular Company entering into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement and paying over $10m for FCPA violations, lessons for Ethics & Compliance professionals from the World Cup, the resolution of the allegations against Alibaba and AUS Merchant Services, and what we can take from the leaked draft of the EU’s New Public Procurement Regulations. And, of course, it wouldn’t be Everything Compliance without the rants and raves.
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  Paula For the People: Let Go to Reach Further 23.07.2026 28мин

  What does it look like when your job title and your soul are perfectly aligned? For ethics & compliance officer Paula Young, the answer has always been simple: it’s about the people. In this conversation, Paula Young and Sarah Hadden dive into what it really means to lead with humanity—how she earned the nickname “Paula For the People,” why she believes compliance is less about rules and more about winning hearts and minds, and what it took for her to stop being the person everyone handed work to and start being the person everyone looked to for vision. A moment that has stayed with me is Paula’s story of a mud run she almost didn’t do. Standing at the base of a wall, covered in mud, holding on with everything she had—until her cousin screamed from the top, “You have to let go.” What she learned in that moment has carried her through divorce, reinvention, and every transition since. We also talk about her work with Junior Achievement; her involvement with What Moves Her—a community that empowers women in leadership; and where she finds herself now: in a season of listening, learning, and gathering the courage for whatever comes next. This episode begins cold—no introductions, no small talk—just Paula, at her most authentic, telling us exactly why she loves what she does. Enjoy.
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  Culture is What Happens When No One is Watching 15.07.2026 28мин

  Culture is one of those topics in ethics and compliance that everyone talks about—but it’s also one of the hardest things to define and even harder to build. At Compliance Week, Lisa Fine discussed this with Amy Schuh, partner at Morgan Lewis; Kilby McFadden, Managing Director and Head of Investigations at KPMG; and Michael Ortwein, Chief Compliance Officer and Assistant General Counsel at GM. Today, Amy and Kilby continue the discussion with Lisa Fine and Sarah Hadden. They start by discussing what they see as a strong compliance culture. As Kilby says, it’s what happens when no one is watching. The conversation focuses on how organizations move beyond policies and training to build trust, encourage employees to speak up, and empower leaders to make ethical decisions—even when those decisions are difficult. Amy and Kilby share practical insights from years of experience leading investigations and advising organizations, discussing who really owns culture, how companies can create trust in the reporting process, and why relationships with the business matter just as much as policies and procedures. They also explore the challenges of building a consistent culture across global organizations and offer ideas for strengthening culture even when resources are limited. They also include key takeaways for compliance professionals, such as the importance of listening, staying curious about the business, and building relationships before issues arise, and each shares one “myth” about Ethics & Compliance they think should be debunked.
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  Seeing Compliance from Every Angle with Billy Jacobson 08.07.2026 31мин

  On this episode of Great Women in Compliance, Lisa is joined by a true “Great Gentleman in Compliance,” Billy Jacobson. Billy has been a leader in Ethics and Compliance for many years, as a prosecutor, a former DOJ Fraud Section leader, Chief Compliance Officer at Weatherford, and at private law firms, now as a co-founder of Jacobson Lopez,  a boutique law firm helping clients navigate ABAC, anti-money laundering, fraud, investigations, and compliance. Lisa and Billy discuss what he has learned from these varied roles and apply this to how compliance professionals should navigate today’s evolving enforcement environment. He also shares his reasoning as to why organizations should remain committed to strong programs regardless of enforcement trends and the challenges of maintaining resources in a changing business climate. Billy is an expert in the internal investigation space and shares his view on how AI and technology are reshaping internal investigations, why human judgment remains essential, and the importance of balancing efficiency with relationship-building across an organization. This episode is not only helpful in thinking about your programs and the current global enforcement environment, but also a reminder that you never know when you meet people—Lisa met Billy in student government in her first semester of college, and they are now talking about ethics & compliance years later.
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  Raising the Bar on Compliance Training 10.06.2026 32мин

  What makes compliance training actually work in 2026? It has come a long way from the days when simply having a training program was considered enough. In this episode, Lisa talks with Kirsten Liston, CEO and Founder of Rethink Compliance, to discuss how expectations for compliance training have evolved over the past two decades and what organizations should be thinking about today. Kirsten discusses her experience in the compliance learning space and shares insights from her recent white paper, “Raising the Bar: A New Standard for Compliance Training.” She reflects on the best ways to create training that is engaging, relevant, and capable of driving real impact in organizations of any size. Kirsten and Lisa discuss the growing focus on engagement and effectiveness, the challenges of reaching global audiences while maintaining consistency, and the importance of helping employees understand why ethics and compliance matter rather than focusing on the rules. They look ahead to the role AI plays now and will play in the future of compliance learning and why, even as technology advances, human-centered communication remains essential. This conversation offers both a look back at how the field has changed and practical insights for compliance professionals seeking to ensure their training programs continue evolving to meet their unique organizational needs.
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  Wildly Effective, 10 Years Later 03.06.2026 21мин

  Author and compliance professional Kristy Grant-Hart on the 10th anniversary of her book.  Sarah Hadden sits down with Kristy Grant Hart to discuss the 10th anniversary edition of her influential book, How to Be a Wildly Effective Compliance Officer. They explore how the compliance profession has evolved over the past decade — from a rules-and-regulations mindset toward a more human-centered approach grounded in influence, resilience, storytelling, and leadership. They also dig into some of the book’s more debated ideas, including personal branding, visibility, networking, and whether being “wildly effective” requires becoming an influencer. Along the way, they tackle burnout, resilience, AI’s rapidly expanding role and why human judgment remains irreplaceable. This is a candid and energizing conversation about what it really takes to thrive in compliance today — and why the future of the profession is bright.
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  Designing The Rooms Where Leadership Happens 27.05.2026 50мин

  This week on Great Women in Compliance, Hemma Lomax sits down with Meredith Anastasio, Managing Director of the Emerging Technology Division at Opal Group, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, emerging technology, governance, and the power of designing meaningful dialogue. Meredith’s career journey has taken her from law to executive leadership and strategic convening, where she now creates high-impact forums that bring together leaders across compliance, governance, AI, technology, and business. Her work focuses on building spaces where complex ideas can be explored honestly, collaboratively, and with practical impact. Meredith shares why she believes compliance and governance professionals are uniquely important in moments of rapid technological change, and why thoughtful conversations matter more than ever in the age of AI. She and Hemma discuss the difference between simply organizing events and intentionally designing environments where leaders can challenge assumptions, wrestle with complexity, and move industries forward together. The conversation also explores Meredith’s legal background, her passion for leadership development, and her belief that compliance work remains one of the most meaningful and influential professions inside modern organizations. Topics include: Meredith’s journey from lawyer to leadership strategist The vision behind Opal Group’s emerging technology initiatives Why governance and compliance conversations matter now The role of human judgment in increasingly automated systems Designing rooms where meaningful leadership conversations can happen About Meredith Anastasio: Meredith Anastasio, J.D., MSEL, is the Managing Director of the Emerging Technology Division at Opal Group. She leads conferences and executive forums focused on AI, governance, leadership, and emerging technologies, bringing together cross-functional leaders for deeper, more collaborative conversations about the future of business and society. Meredith also serves as the Founder and CEO of MAEvents, LLC, and has a background in law and executive leadership. 
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  Compliance Week 2026 Highlights with Nick Gallo 15.05.2026 20мин

  Team #GWIC and the #GWICfam were out in full force at the 2026 Compliance Week conference in Washington, DC.  Nick Gallo, a Great Gentleman in Compliance, was gracious enough (or agreed when he was “voluntold”) to be our roving reporter, asking people about their conference highlights, practical takeaways, and about AI in compliance, as that was one key event focus. The episode also highlights the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and authentic connections in our community, and Compliance Week is such a great reminder of that. From discussions about everything from culture to analytics to celebrating Joe Murphy’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the conference reinforced both the rapid evolution of compliance and the generosity of the people working in it. You will hear the themes of friendships, learning, and shared purpose that continue to define the compliance community from our friends and colleagues.
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  DOJ’s New Fraud Division: Practical Insights for Compliance Professionals 06.05.2026 44мин

  In this episode, Lisa and Ellen speak with Leigha Simonton and Jennifer Beidel, former prosecutors and now partners at Dykema Gossett. They discuss the changes in the U.S. Department of Justice, focusing on the National Fraud Enforcement Division and shifts in enforcement priorities. They discuss the spotlight on fraud involving federal funds, especially in healthcare, PPP loans, and other government programs. They discuss the new structure of the criminal fraud division and how that may change the government’s approach to prosecuting cases. At the same time, they also note that many experienced prosecutors and agents have left the DOJ, creating a gap between stated priorities and capacity and expertise. Leigha and Jennifer also provide practical guidance for ethics and compliance professionals.  They confirm that a risk assessment is critical and that any company that received federal funds, such as PPP loans, should remain vigilant for possible exposure under the current enforcement trends. Even with these changes, they reiterate that effective, well-tested compliance programs do matter if the U.S. government is considering (or engaging in) prosecution. A proactive program—not the tick-the-box type—demonstrates implementation and remediation, increasing the likelihood of a declination. This is a great episode for those of us trying to understand the US DOJ’s current enforcement landscape amid uncertainty.
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  Risk as a Leadership Discipline: Lessons from Internal Audit 29.04.2026 47мин

  Guest Bio: Michelle Wagner is Vice President and Head of Internal Audit at DocuSign, where she leads global audit strategy and helps the organization strengthen governance, risk management, and internal controls while supporting a culture of integrity and accountability. With more than 25 years of experience across consulting and industry, Michelle has held leadership roles at Deloitte, Costco, and SAP, where she led large audit portfolios, built high-performing teams, and drove governance and risk transformation initiatives across complex global organizations. Michelle is known for her practical, people-centered approach to risk leadership and for translating complex risk insights into clear, actionable guidance. She is passionate about mentoring emerging leaders and helping organizations move from reactive risk management to proactive, insight-driven decision-making. Show Notes: Risk is often framed as technical work, but at its core, it is deeply human. In this episode of Great Women in Compliance, Dr. Hemma Lomax sits down with Michelle Wagner, Head of Internal Audit at DocuSign, to explore how curiosity, empathy, and partnership help organizations manage risk more effectively and build stronger ethical cultures. Michelle shares insights from a career spanning consulting and global leadership roles, reflecting on the moments that shaped her leadership philosophy and the lessons she has learned about influencing without authority, building trust, and helping teams see risks as opportunities to improve rather than problems to avoid. Together, they discuss the evolving role of internal audit, the importance of collaboration across risk functions, and how emerging technologies such as AI can help leaders identify patterns and generate insights while reinforcing the need for human judgment. This conversation is a reminder that great risk leaders don’t just protect organizations — they help them succeed. Episode highlights: Why risk management is fundamentally a leadership discipline Lessons from moving from consulting to executive leadership roles What makes an internal audit function truly valuable How audit, compliance, and business teams can partner effectively The role of curiosity and psychological safety in surfacing risks Michelle’s perspective on AI and the future of risk management Leadership lessons from mentoring and building teams
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  Culture Check: Are Your Speak Up Channels Effective? 22.04.2026 30мин

  Ever wish you could benchmark your Speak Up channels against more than volume, types of issues raised, and time to close?  The Speak Up Self-Assessment (SUSA) was designed to help you go deeper by assessing organizational infrastructure—including reporting channels, confidentiality safeguards, follow-up processes, and governance of whistleblowing systems. In this roundtable episode, we speak with guests:  Professor Jessica McManus Warnell Dr. Mary Gentile  Allison Narmi  about the work they are doing to bring a free, anonymous diagnostic tool to self-assess speak-up channels. Building on the work done in the EU, our guests today are members of the project team that has developed an American version of the tool, with support from the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership. Link to the EU version here – https://edhec.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eleMjkHraHzw6Hk U.S. version coming soon.  
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  Clarity, Confidence, Results: Women Over 50 at Work 15.04.2026 32мин

  In this episode, Sarah Hadden and Caveni Wong explore the unique strengths women over 50 bring to today’s workplace—and why those strengths are often overlooked. Drawing on a career that spans consulting, sales, and ethics & compliance leadership, Caveni reflects on the power of experience, the value of judgment and relationship-building, and the kind of leadership that doesn’t rely on title or authority. They talk candidly about nonlinear career paths and what it means to reach a stage where you can choose what’s next with clarity and confidence. Along the way, they find an unexpected metaphor in sourdough bread—patient, resilient, and built over time—much like the careers and capabilities we develop across decades.
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  Pretty in Pink: Inside the World of Women Fraudsters 25.03.2026 37мин

  Listen in to hear from two renowned fraud experts, Kelly Paxton & Professor Kelly Richmond Pope, talk about pink collar crime: What is it Why it happens How to spot it and What we can do to stop it  With our guests, Sarah Hadden and Ellen M. Hunt, explore whether there are differences between women and men fraudsters, what tools are available or may become available in the future to detect fraud before it happens, and whether biases or preconceived stereotypes hinder our ability to prevent and identify pink-collar crime.   Hear from two of the most experienced fraud professionals by tuning in on your favorite podcast platform, on Corporate Compliance Insights, and the Compliance Podcast Network.
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  SCCE ECEI 2026 - Berlin Highlights 18.03.2026 22мин

  Lisa Fine and Ellen Hunt were at the SCCE ECEI in Berlin earlier in March and asked some members of the #GWIC community to share their experiences and insights from the event. They asked people to reflect on something that stood out from the presentations, a takeaway to apply when they return home, and something memorable to them. And, no surprise, the answers were insightful and thought-provoking. Their reflections highlighted themes including the growing importance of behavioral science, third-party risk, and AI, as well as creativity and engaging our audience. Everyone mentioned the sense of community - from conversations over lunch to reconnecting with global peers, both inside and outside the sessions. Whether it was hallway discussions, shared meals, or cultural experiences in Berlin, the conference underscored the energy and innovation that come from the global ethics and compliance community, as well as the meaningful relationships built in person at the event.
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  Reflections on Investigations, Culture and the Future 11.03.2026 22мин

  In this episode of Great Women in Compliance, Lisa Fine speaks with Becky Rohr, Chief Compliance Officer and Head of Investigations at Ericsson. Becky talks about how her career journey led her to join Ericsson during a monitorship to strengthen their investigations function. To do that, she focused on conducting fair, thorough, and efficient investigations, enhancing investigator training, and improving processes for collecting and reviewing digital evidence within a global organization. This led to her being named Chief Compliance Officer at Ericsson and to the benefits of integrating investigations and compliance.  Not only did this lead to the continued evolution of their compliance function, but it also connected hotline reports, investigations, and remediation by using creative approaches to reinforcing ethics at Ericcson. Lisa and Becky also discuss how the Ericcson team has addressed workplace misconduct globally, sustaining compliance improvements after a monitorship ends, and the importance of leadership communication in maintaining a strong ethical culture. The conversation also touches on culture change, addressing workplace misconduct globally, and how organizations can sustain strong compliance programs even after regulatory oversight ends. Finally, Becky reflects on her decision to leave Ericsson and take a “power of the pause” moment before deciding on her next chapter—an approach that highlights the value of reflection and intentional career choices.
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  Resilience is a Muscle You Can Build 04.03.2026 28мин

  In this episode of Great Women in Compliance, Lisa Fine talks with Trish Ashman, Senior Director of Ethics & Compliance (AMEA & APAC) at Cushman & Wakefield, about resilience, integrity, and knowing when it’s time to move on. Trish shares her journey from private practice in London to Singapore and into the Ethics and Compliance space. Trish was at Wirecard and then at Twitter, both of which had her working through two major corporate crises – the fraud at Wirecard and the ownership change at Twitter. Trish candidly shares her experiences and lessons learned from both of those roles. At Wirecard, she stayed to support employees during the collapse, focused on fairness and doing what she could to make a difference. At Twitter, after the acquisition dramatically reshaped the company and its compliance function, she considered whether she could still meaningfully influence ethical decision-making and if this role aligned with her values. This episode is an honest conversation about ethics and compliance as a calling, resilience as a muscle, and how these experiences shaped Trish and helped her become resilient and find a role where she would thrive.