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Into the Chair - Tales from Chief Compliance Officers

Into The Chair, Tales from Chief Compliance Officers: The Journey of Maria D’Avanzo

Welcome to the latest edition of the Compliance Podcast Network: Into the Chair: Tales from Chief Compliance Officers, which details the journey to and in the role of a Chief Compliance Officer. How does one come to sit in the CCO chair? What skills does a CCO need to navigate the compliance waters in any company successfully? What are some of the top challenges CCOs have faced and how did they meet them? These questions and many others will be explored in this new podcast series. Into the Chair: Tales from Chief Compliance Officers is a COMPLY podcast hosted by Tom Fox and is a production of the Compliance Podcast Network. In this inaugural episode, I visit with Maria D’Avanzo.

Maria D’Avanzo is a seasoned professional in the legal and compliance field, with a career that has spanned from litigation to estate work to compliance. Maria’s perspective on adaptability and continuous learning in legal and compliance roles is rooted in her own career trajectory, which has seen her successfully transition from being a litigator to opening her own law practice, and eventually becoming a compliance officer. She believes the key to success in these roles is the willingness to learn new skills and take on new challenges, even outside one’s comfort zone.

Maria also underscores the importance of transferable skills such as analytical and research abilities, critical thinking, and the capacity for advocacy and persuasion, which she honed as a trial lawyer and have been instrumental in her compliance career. Join Tom Fox and Maria D’Avanzo in this episode of the Into the Chair podcast as they delve deeper into the importance of adaptability and continuous learning in legal and compliance roles.

Key Highlights:

·      Maria’s transformation into a compliance officer

·      Navigating the Legal Field: Learning and Advocacy

·      Advocacy skills and the value of compliance

·      Navigating Compliance Challenges in Regulated and Non-Regulated Corporate Sectors

Resources:

Maria D’Avanzo on LinkedIn

COMPLY

Tom Fox

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FCPA Compliance Report

FCPA Compliance Report – Maria D’Avanzo on the Intersection of AI, ChatGPT and Compliance

Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest-running podcast in compliance. In the latest episode of FCPA Compliance Report, Maria D’Avanzo from Traliant returns to discuss the intersection of AI, ChatGPT, and compliance. The recent Federal Trade Commission investigation into OpenAI serves as a reminder of the importance of staying up to date on the latest developments in the field of AI technology and the potential implications of such developments. With AI and Chat GPT being powerful tools that can automate processes and generate content, organizations must implement AI Policies and Training to ensure these technologies’ safe and responsible use. AI Compliance Training is necessary to educate employees on the risks posed by AI technology and to guarantee that their compliance program is robust and effective. Organizations must create a comprehensive policy and provide ongoing training to ensure AI’s safe and responsible use.

Key Highlights:

  • AI and Chat GPT Consequences
  • AI Policy and Training
  • Creating a Policy
  • AI Compliance Training
  • FTC OpenAI Investigation

Resources:

Maria D’Avanzo on LinkedIn

Traliant

Tom Fox

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FCPA Compliance Report

FCPA Compliance Report – Maria D’Avanzo on Investigations

Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest-running podcast in compliance. In the latest episode of FCPA Compliance Report, Maria D’Avanzo from Traliant returns to discuss the essential role of outside counsel in FCPA investigations and the challenges that a CCO may face. They believe having trusted counsel with business acumen and commercial knowledge is vital, especially when discovering potential violations outside the initial scope of the investigation. Maria shares her experience working with the CEO and chair of the audit committee and offers excellent tips for compliance professionals learning to trust their gut. The speakers also discuss the importance of self-disclosure and equally applying disciplinary actions across different jurisdictions in misconduct cases. This explosive discussion is full of insights, advice, and best practices, making it a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their organization’s compliance standards. You won’t want to miss it!

Key Highlights:

  • Managing Whistleblower Complaints: Next Steps and Importance of Outside Counsel
  • FCPA Investigation Best Practices
  • Navigating investigations outside of the initial scope
  • Navigating Compliance Decision-Making
  • Internal Disciplinary Processes and Corporate Compliance
  • Supervised learning and DOJ cooperation challenges
  • The decision (or not) to self-disclose

Resources:

Maria D’Avanzo on LinkedIn

Traliant

Tom Fox

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FCPA Compliance Report

FCPA Compliance Report – Maria D’Avanzo on Corporate Whistleblower Response

Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest-running podcast in compliance. Join Tom Fox, the host of FCPA Compliance Report, as he visits with Maria D’Avanzo, from Traliant. Maria shares invaluable insights on how companies can think through their whistleblowing policies and protocols, stressing the importance of triage in the whistleblowing process. She also reveals how they created a triage document to manage complaints of violations within the company and maintained consistency in the investigation process across different geographical areas and business units. Maria emphasizes the need for transparency and communication in dealing with situations of retaliation for whistleblowers and educating senior management on the value of whistleblowers in improving compliance programs. This episode is a must-listen for building effective whistleblowing policies and protocols. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from a seasoned compliance expert. Tune in now!

 Key Highlights:

  • Protocol for handling whistleblowing in companies
  • Internal investigations and handling complaints in a company
  • Whistleblowing and Compliance Strategy
  • Effective Whistleblower Investigation and Non-Retaliation
  • Whistleblower Communication and Transparency

Resources

Maria D’Avanzo on LinkedIn

Traliant

Tom Fox

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LinkedIn

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FCPA Compliance Report

FCPA Compliance Report – Maria D’Avanzo on Privacy Issues in the US and Beyond

Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest-running podcast in compliance. Join Tom Fox, the host of FCPA Compliance Report, as he speaks with Maria D’Avanzo, Chief Evangelist Officer at Traliant about privacy issues in the US and around the world. Discover the challenges businesses face due to the lack of national law in the US, with multiple state laws led by California. Compare this to the EU, where GDPR has been in place since 2018, and similar laws have been implemented in other countries such as Singapore, Australia, and Brazil. Learn how GDPR has changed the way businesses handle privacy by making it a part of business processes. Discover the importance of consulting with a good outside counsel, especially for global privacy policy implementation.

Explore how to handle cybersecurity incidents and disclosure of information, as regulations on this topic are still developing. Hear from Maria on how to address these incidents internally and the importance of an incident response plan. Find out how collaborating with the Chief Information Security Officer is crucial in developing a specific plan for these incidents, including a group effort from various departments.

Hear about instances where organizations share confidential information or data, leading to legal backlash and damage to reputation. This section discusses the Tesla case and suggests a broader conversation about company culture may be necessary to prevent such privacy infringements. Don’t miss out on this insightful podcast and tune in now to get important insights into privacy and cybersecurity from two industry experts!

Key Highlights

·      The Evolution of Privacy Issues Post-GDPR

·      Navigating Privacy Laws and Meeting Legal Standards

·      Cybersecurity Incident Disclosure Decision Making

·      Importance of Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan

·      The Impact of Sharing Sensitive Information

Resources

Maria D’Avanzo on LinkedIn

Traliant

Tom Fox

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LinkedIn

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FCPA Compliance Report

Incorporating EHS and Safety in an ESG Program

Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest-running podcast in compliance. Are you interested in learning about the overlooked importance of safety in ESG? Host Tom Fox and his guests from Traliant, Andrea Foster Mack and Maria D’Avanzo delve into this topic in the latest episode of the FCPA Compliance Report. Learn how prioritizing safety can lead to cost savings and become a major differentiator for corporations in talent acquisition and retention. The trio also discusses how EHS professionals can reduce risk by implementing hazard awareness training and preventing discrimination. Furthermore, they emphasize the value-add that safety can offer to organizations in terms of corporate governance and brand recognition. Tune in to hear the experts share their insights on how ESG and EHS align under the sustainability cause and how innovative business and management decisions can lead to environmental sustainability.

 Key Highlights

·      ESG and Safety Culture within Organizations

·      The Importance of Safety in Talent Retention

·      Corporate Governance and Safety in Organizations

·      The Importance of “E” in ESG Reporting

·      ESG and its Role in Elevating Brands

·      Managing Chemical Hazards and ESG Standards

 Here are three tips to consider when incorporating safety into your ESG strategy:

1. Communicate safety policies and performance to stakeholders, such as investors and customers, to build trust and enhance reputation.

2. Use safety data to identify improvement opportunities, mitigate risks, and promote continuous learning and innovation.

3. Develop partnerships and collaborations with other organizations and industries to address safety challenges and share best practices.

Resources

Andrea Foster Mack on LinkedIn

Maria D’Avanzo on LinkedIn

Traliant

Tom Fox

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Great Women in Compliance

Maria D’Avanzo – The Chief Evangelist Officer

Welcome to the Great Women in Compliance Podcast, hosted by Mary Shirley and Lisa Fine. In today’s episode, the Great Women in Compliance podcast delves into training and learning with Maria D’Avanzo, who is the Chief Evangelist Officer for Traliant.  Prior to joining Traliant, Maria was the Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer for Cushman & Wakefield.

Like Lisa, many of you may be wondering what a “Chief Evangelist Officer” does in compliance, and Maria’s role is one which is more often seen in tech companies, where there is a person who is dedicated to improving the customer experience in all areas, from product development to customer servicing, using her perspective as an E&C officer.

She shares some of what she has learned from customers and her views on trends and current issues, including the use of AI and best practices.  She also talks about her experiences in financial compliance, and may be the first podcast guest who holds NASD Series 24, 7, and 63 licenses.

You can find the Great Women in Compliance Podcast on the Compliance Podcast Network (CPN) where you can find several other resources and podcasts to keep you up to date in the Ethics and Compliance world. You can also find the GWIC podcast on Corporate Compliance Insights (CCI) where you can learn more about the podcast, stream prior episodes and catch up on Mary’s monthly column “Living Your Best Compliance Life.”

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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FCPA Compliance Report

Maria D’Avanzo on the 2023 ECCP

Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest running podcast in compliance. In this special edition, sponsored by Traliant, I visit with Maria D’Avanzo Chief Evangelist Officer at Traliant to discuss the 2023 Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs. We discuss the DOJ’s guidance on financial incentive programs and highlight the importance of cross-functional collaboration in establishing effective compliance programs. What are some of the challenges of implementing clawbacks for employees who engage in misconduct? We consider some of the risks involved when a company decides to file a lawsuit against an executive for clawback. Finally, they touch on the need for proper communication of the compliance message beyond legal and compliance departments. Join Tom Fox and Maria D’Avanzo as they dive deep into the future of corporate compliance programs. Don’t miss this informative and eye-opening episode.

 Key Highlights

·      Evaluating Corporate Compliance Incentive Programs

·      Establishing Compliance Programs in Companies Facing DOJ Allegations

·      Incorporating Compliance Ethics and Clawbacks in Business

·      Lawsuit Consequences for Companies & Executives

·      DOJ Elevating Corporate Compliance Programs

·      Effective Communication for CCOs

 Notable Quotes

“Certainly the timing of any type of any attempt to claw back the compensation, the board needs to be concerned about what’s the right time? What’s the right process? And are we going to open ourselves up?”

“There’s also language about non-financial incentives. And here, once again, nothing really new that companies are supposed to take doing business ethically.”

“I’m not quite sure why a company without resolving the loss, the investigation, either internally or especially with the DOJ, would file a lawsuit against an executive in order to claw back the compensation.”

“Is your investigation completed? Or is it ongoing. I’m not sure how you would win in a litigation if you have not established the basis for the breach of contract.

Resources

Maria D’Avanzo on LinkedIn

Traliant

Tom Fox

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Corruption, Crime and Compliance

Episode 251 – Training and Corporate Culture: Interview of Maria D’Avanzo, Chief Evangelist Officer, Traliant

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Does compliance training have to be boring? Our guest explains how your organization can make compliance training engaging and fun for your employees.

Maria D’Avanzo is the Chief Evangelist Officer at Traliant. Maria provides key insights on corporate ethics and compliance training programs. Maria describes how to take your training program to the next level and tailor the content to deliver training on important issues based on your company’s risk assessment..

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The Compliance Life

Maria D’Avanzo – To Traliant and Beyond

The Compliance Life details the journey to and in the role of a Chief Compliance Officer. How does one come to sit in the CCO chair? What are some of the skills a CCO needs to success navigate the compliance waters in any company? What are some of the top challenges CCOs have faced and how did they meet them? These questions and many others will be explored in this new podcast series. Over four episodes each month on The Compliance Life, I visit with one current or former CCO to explore their journey to the CCO chair. This month, my guest is Maria D’Avanzo. We discuss Maria’s journey from a real estate and small business lawyer to compliance, then CCO chair, and now as the Chief Evangelist Officer at Traliant.

In this concluding episode, Maria discussed how she used the tools and skills she learned to move to a Traliant, where she is well positioned to help compliance professionals gain insights into their programs and help them better appreciated how Traliant can support their efforts. She is working with  with Traliant’s executive team as we not only develop new products but also enhance our existing offerings by listening tours with customers,  customer advisory councils and expounding on training’s role in speak-up culture.

Resources

Maria D’Avanzo LinkedIn Profile

Traliant.com