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Great Women in Compliance

Great Women in Compliance: Jane Norberg – What’s New with Whistleblowing

In today’s episode, Lisa Fine speaks with Jane Norberg, a partner at Arnold & Porter. Jane is also the former Chief of the Office of the Whistleblower at the SEC, and she is one of the people who built that office into what it is today, both as Chief and before that, Deputy Chief. She is one of the leading voices on the whistleblower process, and an advisor to organizations in building best practices for organizations to address concerns.

In March, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco announced a pilot program to compensate whistleblowers who report “significant corporate or financial misconduct” of which the DOJ was not aware. Jane talks about the SEC program and how it has succeeded. She also explains the similarities and differences between the not-yet-enacted DOJ program and the SEC program. Jane provides her perspective and insight as to why she thinks there is a delay from the DOJ as the initial 90 days have passed and how funding, staffing and other factors may contribute.

Jane and Lisa also discuss the SEC reporting process, how tips come in globally from over 100 countries, and the importance of the Whistleblower program to deter and stop wrongdoing.  This goes along with the statistics that indicate that 80% of whistleblowers raise concerns internally, most frequently to the person’s manager most often go to management, not to the Ethics and Compliance teams or the helplines. To that end, Jane provides practical advice to make sure that E&C teams are providing the right training for managers to identify issues and raise them appropriately.

Supporting ethical decision-making is critical for every organization, but providing training to those who may hear concerns is a key component of that. While practitioners think about this for company culture, Jane provides insight on the larger picture of how our internal work is related to the larger scope of whistleblower reporting.

Topics Include:

  • Jane’s integral role as Chief of the SEC Office of the Whistleblower
  • The DOJ pilot whistleblower program and the SEC program and the distinctions
  • Global Impact of the SEC Whistleblower Program
  • Practical advice for E&C professionals building and managing hotlines

Resources

Join the Great Women in Compliance community on LinkedIn here.

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Everything Compliance

Everything Compliance: Episode 136 – The Great Women in Compliance Edition

Welcome to the only roundtable podcast in compliance as we celebrate our second century of shows. In this episode, we have a very special group of guest panelists and one special guest host—some of the great women in compliance.

In this special episode, Everything Compliance is by Kristy Grant-Hart, and the guest panelists include Karen Woody, Karen Moore, Lisa Fine, and Hemma Lomax.

1. Karen Woody takes a deep dive into the current evolution of Caremark in Delaware. She raves about her alma mater, UVA, making the college baseball World Series and about this special GWIC-inspired edition of Everything Compliance.

2. Host Kristy Grant-Hart shouts out to Rachel Rodgers, author of We Should All Be Millionaires, and her call to action for women to lead more in politics, business, and entrepreneurship.

3. Karen Moore explores whether Boeing will be prosecuted under its current DPA. She sends sympathies to the family of John Barnett, the Boeing whistleblower who died.

4. Lisa Fine takes a deep dive into the recent acquittal of Mike Lynch in his criminal case for the sale of Autonomy to HP. In her Raves and Rants segment, she has two raves. First to all the Dads out there, Happy Father’s Day!  Her second is Compliance Week, retiring EIC Kyle Brasseur for his tenure at Compliance Week.

5. Hemma Lomax goes into a deep rant about compliance training. She raves about Everything Compliance for its first Great Women podcast and Jiminy Cricket, whose signature phrase is “Let your conscience be your guide.”

 

The members of this special episode of Everything Compliance are:

Karen Woody is one of the top academic experts on the SEC. She is also the co-host of the award-winning podcast, The Woody Report.

Karen Moore is an Adjunct Law professor at the Fordham School of Law.

Lisa Fine is a co-host of the award-winning Great Women in Compliance.

Hemma Lomax is a co-host of the award-winning Great Women in Compliance.

The host of this special episode of Everything Compliance is Kristy Grant-Hart, founder of Spark Compliance and co-host of the award-winning podcast 2 Gurus Talk Compliance.

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Great Women in Compliance

Great Women in Compliance: Beth Colling – Common Sense and Compliance

Welcome to the Great Women in Compliance podcast on the Compliance Podcast Network, sponsored by Corporate Compliance Insights.

In this episode, Lisa speaks with Beth Colling, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer at CDM Smith. Beth joined organizations after they had to address a significant regulatory change or investigation, and she worked to operationalize and then maintain a compliance program. Lisa and Beth specifically talk about how, as issues inevitably arise, compliance officers will get the resources they need to make and implement changes, but over time, memories fade, and the attention and resources may diminish. Beth provides her insight on this.

Beth uniquely evaluates her work and program by “firing herself” on Friday and re-hiring herself on Monday to examine it with new eyes. After the past several years, with the pandemic and hybrid work, this review became even more relevant. This leads to a discussion of “common sense,” not just within a compliance program but also in terms of personal responsibility and how employees rationalize bad behavior.

One of Beth’s (and Lisa’s) childhood heroes was “Wonder Woman,” and Beth may be Wonder Woman. Outside her work, she coaches young adults to enjoy running, and by the end of 2024, she will have completed 5 of the 6 “World Marathon Majors.”

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Blog

The Power of Mentorship in Compliance

Lisa Fine and Ellen Hunt recently hosted Melanie Sponholz, recently honored as Compliance Week’s 2024 Mentor of the Year, and Margarita Derelanko, Senior Director of Compliance at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, on an episode of the Great Women in Compliance podcast. They had a lively discussion about mentorship, featuring some of the most influential voices in our field. Melanie and Margarita share a mentor-mentee relationship that exemplifies the value of mutual growth and support in our profession.

Mentorship in compliance is more than just guidance; it’s a two-way street that fosters growth and learning for mentors and mentees. Melanie highlights this beautifully, noting that she knows as much from Margarita as Margarita does from her. This reciprocal relationship underscores a fundamental truth about mentoring: an ongoing exchange of knowledge, experience, and support.

Ellen echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the compliance community’s open, sharing nature. In a profession where continuous learning and adaptation are crucial, connecting, sharing, and learning from others is invaluable. Whether through LinkedIn connections, conferences, or casual conversations, every interaction holds the potential for growth and learning.

One of the most critical skills for any mentor is the ability to listen. Ellen stressed that understanding what the mentee needs is paramount. Whether they are seeking career advice, expertise in a specific area, or simply a supportive ear, a good mentor listens first and provides guidance tailored to those needs.

Margarita added that an impactful mentor must be fully present during interactions. This means dedicating undivided attention to the mentee and fostering deep, meaningful conversations that can lead to significant insights and growth. For mentees, being open-minded and receptive to feedback is equally important. Actual progress comes from incorporating the advice and perspectives shared by mentors.

Authenticity and confidence are foundational qualities that mentors should possess. Melanie highlighted the importance of mentors who are comfortable in their skin and genuinely interested in lifting others. This positive energy not only makes mentoring relationships more enjoyable but also more effective.

Lisa shared a personal reflection on the value of vulnerability in mentorship. Early in her career, she found it challenging to relate to mentors who always presented a perfect facade. Only when mentors began sharing their fears and failures did she realize everyone faces challenges. This openness fosters a deeper connection and gives mentees a more realistic view of their journeys.

In today’s interconnected world, mentorship doesn’t have to follow a traditional path. Margarita noted that mentors can be found in various ways, including blogs, newsletters, and virtual interactions. Compliance professionals like Kristy Grant-Hart and Amy Barnard Bahn, who frequently share their expertise online, serve as mentors to many without formal relationships.

This flexibility in mentorship avenues is a testament to the compliance community’s adaptability. Whether through structured programs or informal exchanges, the opportunities to learn and grow are abundant. Ellen related the value of building a diverse network of mentors, akin to having a “kitchen cabinet” of advisors for different aspects of one’s career and personal development.

For those seeking mentors, taking the initiative to reach out is crucial. Melanie encouraged professionals not to be bold and to ask for a virtual coffee or a quick chat. Specificity in your request—highlighting what you admire about their work and what you hope to discuss—can make the approach more effective. Most people in our field are willing to share their knowledge and experiences, especially when approached with genuine interest and respect.

Mentorship is also about fostering confidence. Margarita highlights how influential mentors can instill a sense of belief in their mentees, helping them recognize and harness their potential. This confidence is essential in a field like compliance, where the ability to stand firm in your decisions and actions can have significant implications.

Ellen iterated on the need for safe spaces in mentoring relationships. Whether you are navigating a difficult situation at work or seeking to improve your skills, having a mentor who provides honest feedback in a supportive manner is invaluable. These safe spaces allow growth without the fear of judgment, enabling mentees to tackle challenges head-on.

It is clear that mentorship in compliance is not just about passing down knowledge—it is about building relationships that foster mutual growth, support, and inspiration. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your career, there is immense value in seeking and providing mentorship.

The bottom line is you need to take action: reach out to someone who inspires you, whether it’s through LinkedIn, a professional network, or an email. Build your kitchen cabinet of mentors and be open to the diverse perspectives and experiences they bring. Remember, the compliance community thrives on collaboration and support; there is always room for one more connection.

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Compliance Week Conference Podcast

Compliance Week 2024 Speaker Preview Podcasts – Lisa Fine Chairs the Women in Compliance Brunch N’ Learn

In this episode of the Compliance Week 2024 Speaker Preview Podcasts series, Lisa Fine discusses the panel she will chair at Compliance Week 2024, “Women in Compliance.”Some of the issues she will discuss in this podcast and her presentation are:

  • Getting on Boards
  • Mobility for women in compliance and beyond
  • Seeing old friends and making new ones at Compliance Week 2024

I hope you can join me at Compliance Week 2024. This year’s event will be held April 2-4 at The Westin Washington, DC, Downtown. The line-up for this year’s event is first-rate, with some of the top ethics and compliance practitioners around.

Gain insights and make connections at the industry’s premier cross-industry national compliance event, offering knowledge-packed, accredited sessions and take-home advice from the most influential leaders in the compliance community. Back for its 19th year, join 500+ compliance, ethics, legal, and audit professionals who gather to benchmark best practices and gain the latest tactics and strategies to enhance their compliance programs. Compliance, ethics, legal, and audit professionals will gather safely face-to-face to benchmark best practices and gain the latest tactics and strategies to enhance their compliance programs, among many others, to:

  • Network with your peers, including C-suite executives, legal professionals, HR leaders, and ethics and compliance visionaries.
  • Hear from 80+ respected cross-industry practitioners who are CEOs, CCOs, regulators, federal officials, and practitioners to help inform and shape the strategic direction of your enterprise risk management program.
  • Hear directly from panels on leadership, fraud detection, confronting regulatory change, abiding by cross-border rules and regulations, and the always-favorite fireside chats.
  • Bring actionable takeaways to your program from various session types, including cyber, AI, Compliance, Board obligations, data-driven compliance, and many others, for you to listen, learn, and share.
  • Compliance Week aims to arm you with information, strategy, and tactics to transform your organization and career by connecting ethics to business performance through process augmentation and data visualization.

I hope you can join me at the event. For information on the event, click here. As an extra benefit to listeners of this podcast, Compliance Week is offering a $200 discount on the registration price. Enter the discount code TFOX2024 for $200 off.

The Compliance Week 2024 Preview Podcast series is a production of the Compliance Podcast Network. Compliance Week is the sponsor of this series.

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Great Women in Compliance

Great Women in Compliance – Lisa Beth Lentini Walker on Compliance Career Connections

Welcome to the Great Women in Compliance Podcast. Today Lisa Fine visits with Lisa Beth Lentini Walker on her career in compliance and how compliance career connections can help one’s journey in compliance.

Lisa Beth Lentini Walker is a renowned figure in the ethics and compliance field, currently serving as the Associate General Counsel, Corporate Legal and Assistant Secretary at Marqeta, and the CEO and founder of Lumen Worldwide Endeavors. With a rich background as a securities lawyer and a Chief Compliance Officer, Lisa Beth has a unique perspective on ethics and compliance. She believes in the power of values and intentions in shaping one’s professional journey and emphasizes the importance of networking and connections in the compliance industry. Her philosophy revolves around putting values into action and helping organizations align their actions with their ethical principles. She has made a significant impact in the field through her work and the Compliance Career Connection, a platform she started to support and connect professionals in the field. Join Lisa Fine and Lisa Beth Lentini Walker on this episode of the Great Women in Compliance podcast to learn more about her insights and experiences.

Key Highlights:

  • Lisa Beth’s Impact on Ethics and Compliance
  • Lisa Beth’s Journey in Ethics and Compliance
  • Embracing Pauses for Personal Growth and Success
  • Aligning Choices with Core Values and Goals
  • Designing a Fulfilling Life Through Reflection

Resources:

Join the Great Women in Compliance community on LinkedIn here.

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Great Women in Compliance

Great Women in Compliance – The State of the Profession

As we move towards the end of 2023, and after the major conferences of the year, it seemed like a good time to reflect on the state of the profession.  Gwen Hassan, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer at Unisys and host of the #HiddenTraffic podcast, and Kim Yapchai, member of the Board of Directors for DirectWomen and former Senior Vice President, Chief Environmental, Social and Governance Officer at Tenneco joined Ellen Hunt and Lisa Fine talk about where the ethics and compliance profession has been, where we are today, and where we are going.  They discuss what makes them optimistic, and what gives them pause.

The Great Women in Compliance Podcast is on the Compliance Podcast Network with a selection of other Compliance-related offerings. GWIC is also sponsored by Corporate Compliance Insights, where we have a page where you can hear every episode. If you are enjoying this episode, please rate it and/or provide a review.

Corporate Compliance Insights is a much-appreciated sponsor and supporter of GWIC, including affiliate organization CCI Press publishing the related book; “Sending the Elevator Back Down, What We’ve Learned from Great Women in Compliance” (CCI Press, 2020). If you enjoyed the book, the GWIC team would be very grateful if you would consider rating it on Goodreads and Amazon and leaving a short review.  Don’t forget to send the elevator back down by passing on your copy to someone who you think might enjoy reading it when you’re done, or if you can’t bear parting with your copy, consider it as a holiday or appreciation gift for someone in Compliance who deserves a treat.

If you enjoyed the book, the GWIC team would be very grateful if you would consider rating it on Goodreads and Amazon and leaving a short review.  Don’t forget to send the elevator back down by passing on your copy to someone who you think might enjoy reading it when you’re done, or if you can’t bear parting with your copy, consider it as a holiday or appreciation gift for someone in Compliance who deserves a treat.

You can subscribe to the Great Women in Compliance podcast on any podcast player by searching for it and we welcome new subscribers to our podcast.

Join the Great Women in Compliance community on LinkedIn here.

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Blog

GWIC Roundtable: The Importance and Challenges of Compliance in Corporate America

The compliance profession plays a crucial role in ensuring ethical practices and maintaining regulatory compliance within corporate America. In a recent episode of the Great Women in Compliance Podcast, Lisa Fine and Ellen Hunt, a former Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, chief Audit Officer and Chief Privacy Officer, and currently Principal Consultant and Advisor with Spark Consulting;  hosted Gwen Hassan, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer at Unisys (and host of the award winning Hidden Traffic podcast) and Kim Yapchai, currently a board member of Direct Women, which is a nonprofit focused on promoting women to be public company board members and expert in a variety of corporate areas including ESG, corporate governance, M&A, compliance and Supply Chain. They discussed the importance and challenges of the compliance profession in today’s corporate landscape.

One of the key challenges highlighted by Yapchai is the struggle for recognition and resources within organizations. Compliance professionals often report to the General Counsel (GC) rather than the CEO, which can hinder their ability to have a seat at the table and influence decision-making processes. Additionally, limited access to data and budget constraints can further impede the effectiveness of compliance programs.

Yapchai see Compliance 1.0 as “being the police. Compliance 2.0, looking at culture and working with HR. Compliance 3.0 I think is really the type of ESG role that I had in my last role and reported to the CEO as part of the executive leadership team.” She believes this is another step in the compliance function being changed. It has moved to “to revenue protector, brand protector incorporating know and it is the people that drive everything. And all of this leads to better profits, it’s better risk management.”

To overcome these challenges, the speakers emphasize the need for compliance professionals to build key relationships, understand the nuances of the business, and effectively communicate the value of compliance programs. Hassan suggests that speaking the language of the business, using terms like return on investment (ROI), and showcasing the financial impact of compliance efforts can help gain traction and support from the C-suite and the board. By demonstrating the value of compliance in dollars, compliance professionals are more likely to capture the attention of business leaders who think in terms of profit margins and ROI.

The speakers also stress the importance of continuous growth and adaptation in the compliance profession. As the business landscape evolves, compliance professionals must stay abreast of new challenges, such as ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and AI (Artificial Intelligence). They need to actively seek opportunities to expand their roles beyond traditional compliance functions and become revenue protectors and brand protectors. By incorporating culture and working closely with HR, compliance professionals can contribute to better risk management and overall profitability.

However, the speakers caution against complacency and the risk of devaluing the work of compliance professionals. Hassan believes that if the profession fails to grow and adapt, it could contribute to the moral decline of corporate America. Compliance professionals have a unique opportunity to shape the values and impact of organizations, not just in terms of financial success but also in making the world a better place for all stakeholders. By embracing a holistic view of what a company represents, compliance professionals can help drive positive change and ensure ethical practices.

Hassan went on to say she has ‘tempered optimism’ for the compliance profession. She believes that employees know what our intent and what we are trying to do. She notes that the compliance profession has “done herculean work in some particularly crazy times, especially over the last ten to 15 years.” Yapchai agreed and related that “when I started, the concept of a compliance officer and a compliance function was something that was brand new and really a heavy lift when talking to companies about compliance because it was almost unheard of to have a separate compliance department and a separate compliance team and report into the board.” In many ways compliance was seen as an  “offshoot of what the law department was already doing” but there has been much improvement in that view.  The status of the profession has been elevated and there are now colleges and law schools that are now teaching separate programs in compliance. This means that Gen Z and Millennials are studying compliance as a specific degree.

Creating a supportive community, or what the speakers refer to as a “Blue Zone,” is also crucial in combating the stress and loneliness that can come with the compliance profession. It helps people live longer and healthier, but the concept that you can create your own right with your surroundings and the way your daily habits and other things you can create your own. All of the speakers feel that it is important for ethics and compliance professionals to have their blue zone or their network or their support group by connecting with peers and sharing experiences, compliance professionals can find support and inspiration to navigate the challenges they face.”

In conclusion, the compliance profession in corporate America is of utmost importance in ensuring ethical practices and regulatory compliance. However, it faces challenges such as limited resources, lack of recognition, and the need to continuously adapt to a changing business landscape. By building relationships, understanding the business, and effectively communicating the value of compliance programs, compliance professionals can overcome these challenges and contribute to the success and ethical standing of their organizations.

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Great Women in Compliance

Great Women in Compliance – SCCE Recap…and GWIC’s plans for Q3

Welcome back to the Great Women in Compliance podcast. Today’s episode was recorded by the full GWIC 2.0 team, Lisa, Hemma, Ellen Hunt, and Sarah Hadden, during the Society for Corporate Compliance and Ethics conference (CEI) in Chicago. It was a fantastic event, and all four women valued the opportunity to connect with friends and meet some new people as well. The episode was recorded before Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco spoke, but all were looking forward to hearing that.

In this episode, each one of the group mentioned some highlights from the beginning of the conference and their advice about how to get the most out of the SCCE (or any conference). They also discussed things that they are looking forward to discussing on the podcast this fall – in particular, Ellen mentioned how to make the investigation process better for reporters and people involved in investigations, and Sarah is excited to bring her perspective as a business leader and publisher to the discussions.

The Great Women in Compliance Podcast is on the Compliance Podcast Network with a selection of other Compliance-related offerings. GWIC is also sponsored by Corporate Compliance Insights, where we have a page where you can hear every episode. If you are enjoying this episode, please rate it and/or provide a review.

Corporate Compliance Insights is a much-appreciated sponsor and supporter of GWIC, including affiliate organization CCI Press, publishing the related book, “Sending the Elevator Back Down, What We’ve Learned from Great Women in Compliance” (CCI Press, 2020). If you enjoyed the book, the GWIC team would be very grateful if you would consider rating it on Goodreads and Amazon and leaving a short review.  Don’t forget to send the elevator back down by passing on your copy to someone who you think might enjoy reading it when you’re done, or if you can’t bear parting with your copy, consider it as a holiday or appreciation gift for someone in Compliance who deserves a treat.

If you enjoyed the book, the GWIC team would be very grateful if you would consider rating it on Goodreads and Amazon and leaving a short review.  Don’t forget to send the elevator back down by passing on your copy to someone who you think might enjoy reading it when you’re done, or if you can’t bear parting with your copy, consider it as a holiday or appreciation gift for someone in Compliance who deserves a treat.

You can subscribe to the Great Women in Compliance podcast on any podcast player by searching for it, and we welcome new subscribers to our podcast.

Join the Great Women in Compliance community on LinkedIn here.

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Great Women in Compliance

Great Women in Compliance 2.0 – A New Era

Welcome to the Great Women in Compliance Podcast, co-hosted by Lisa Fine and Hemma Lomax.

GWIC is back to start the 2.0 era! We are very excited to be back, and to start out our new format and hear your views. One consistent thing about the GWIC community is how much you all accomplish and that happened with Lloydette. As you will hear, Lloydette has been offered an amazing government appointment. One of the downsides is that she needed to re-evaluate some of her public commitments. It made the most sense for her to step down from GWIC. During the hiatus, the inaugural Women in Compliance Summit took place, and it was a huge success. Hemma has also been a guest of the podcast (Episode 145), and an advocate of “Sending the Elevator Back Down, “ and was already helping behind the scenes.

We are thrilled to have Hemma as a co-host, and Ellen Hunt of Spark Compliance and Sarah Hadden of Corporate Compliance Insights as part of the GWIC team and supporting our larger discussions. All four of us will be in Chicago at the SCCE CEI the first week in October, and then the 4 of us will recap the conference for the October 10 episode and to officially kick off this semester.

You can subscribe to the Great Women in Compliance podcast on any podcast player by searching for it and we welcome new subscribers to our podcast.

Join the Great Women in Compliance community on LinkedIn here.