Virtual Water Cooler Chat

Be Victorious with Eva Kalivas-Krieger | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast — Empowering Voices (Episode 72)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Eva Kalivas-Krieger, Founder and Board Member of Empower Women That Rock (EWTR).  
Eva is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary, Certified Plan Advisor Fiduciary through The National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA) and has been a financial advisor since 1990.  
In 1999, Eva co-founded EPIC Retirement Services Consulting, which specialized in qualified retirement plans and was built around providing clients with excellence, principle, integrity and care (EPIC). Then, in 2014, Eva co-founded Global Retirement Partners (GRP), a hybrid RIA tailored for the specific needs of independent, retirement plan advisors. EPIC and GRP were acquired by HUB International Northeast, in 2019, with Eva staying on as Senior Vice President of Retirement and Private Wealth through 2024.  
In 2024 Eva founded EWTR (www.womenrock.world), a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a robust network of female executives and fostering meaningful mentorships. She serves as a member of Alma Bank’s Board of Directors, is actively involved at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City, and is a member of Leadership 100 (a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance the Orthodox Faith and the life-giving legacy of Hellenism in America), Women in Pensions, Beta Gamma Sigma, the Golden Key Honor Society, and the Hellenic American Women’s Council and the American Women of Greece.  
Eva was named as one of The National Association of Plan Advisors top Defined Contribution (DC) Advisor Teams in 2024 and 2022, as well as being listed as one of their Top Women Advisors in the “Captains” category* every year between 2020 and 2024, acknowledging her contribution to the retirement industry and for bringing excellence to the profession every year.  
Eva supports the Athletic Program at UC Davis and Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF). She is the author of the book I Get Knocked Down – A Woman’s Survival Guide to Business and Life, originally published in 2008 and currently available on Amazon.  
Eva lives in New York with her husband, Bob, and their daughter, Nikolette. 
Connect with Eva on LinkedIn.
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 

Founder’s Insight with Jason Harrier | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast — Empowering Voices (Episode 71)

This episode features Jason Harrier, Founder and General Counsel of IP Copilot, an AI-driven idea management platform designed to identify and facilitate the sharing of the best ideas within organizations. His mission is to empower innovators by streamlining the process of idea discovery and collaboration.  Prior to joining IP Copilot, Jason was the Head of IP at Plaid, a pioneering fintech company that provides essential infrastructure for sharing financial information. In this role, he developed and implemented strategic IP initiatives that strengthened the company's IP position and was the legal lead for Plaid's AI initiatives, establishing its cross-functional AI Task Force and Enterprise AI Policy.   Before his tenure at Plaid, Jason served as Chief Patent Counsel at Capital One, where his team successfully built a robust patent program over four years, establishing the largest patent portfolio among financial institutions. His team not only enhanced Capital One's intellectual property strategy but also cultivated a culture of innovation within the organization, growing the inventor community from under 200 all-time inventors to over 1,500 active inventors.  An accomplished speaker, Jason frequently shares his insights on patent program growth, innovation discovery, inventor engagement and recognition, enterprise AI usage policies, and the emerging opportunities of AI in the IP profession. With a commitment to recognizing innovation and protecting valuable ideas, Jason continues to be a thought leader in the intersection of technology and intellectual property.
Connect with Jason on LinkedIn. 
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 

Own Your Story with Sasha Strauss | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast – Empowering Voices (Episode 70)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Sasha Strauss, a brand strategist with over 25 years of experience, defining brands for leading corporations, philanthropies, faiths, and academic institutions. Sasha’s distinct and direct approach to how brands and leadership must communicate is the foundation for his brand strategy consultancy, Innovation Protocol (IP). Their ability to inspire while they inform is why brands like Nestlé, PayPal, LEGO, Google, Disney, and Korn Ferry have called on their consulting and thought leadership since 2006.
While running IP as CEO, Sasha has been a professor for 18 years, concurrently teaching brand strategy at UCLA, USC, and UCI business schools. That coursework, coupled with IP’s client work for innovators, directly impacts Sasha’s impassioned keynote speeches at the world’s largest conferences. 
Connect with Sasha on LinkedIn. 
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 

Bench to Bar: From Science to Law with Saurabh Gupta, Ph.D. | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast – Empowering Voices (Episode 69)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Saurabh Gupta, an IP attorney who has represented patent clients before federal district courts, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), and the Federal Circuit. 
Saraubh is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and has litigated patents in a wide variety of technical areas, from pharmaceuticals to consumer electronics to social media applications. 
He received his J.D. from Georgetown Law, where he was a Founding Staff Editor of the Georgetown Law Technology Review, his Ph.D. in Biological Engineering from MIT, his master's degree in electrical engineering from Princeton, and his bachelor's in technology from the Indian Institute of Technology. 
In 2010, Saurabh’s Ph.D. thesis was awarded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Grand Challenges research award of $600,000, as one of the five most innovative solutions to pressing global health problems that year. It involved designing and delivering genetic circuits (including CRISPR) to tackle microbial infections. 
Connect with Saraubh on LinkedIn. 
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 

Youth Wisdom Unveiled with Paralegals of Groombridge Wu Baughman & Stone, LLP | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast – Empowering Voices (Episode 68)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast features three Gen Z paralegals, Bijan Khaghani, Crystal Kang, and Theo Ennis, who are currently working on the team at Groombridge, Wu, Baughman, & Stone, LLP, as a step in their journey toward a degree in law. In this conversation, they explore shared experiences, growth in the legal profession, and the value of networking and mentorship in their careers. 
Bijan Khaghani aspires to become a lawyer committed to advocacy and mentorship. He graduated cum laude from Kenyon College in 2023 with a B.A. in Sociology and learning meaningful lessons during his time at Kenyon in and outside the classroom. 
Throughout his life, community has been central to Bijan’s identity. At Kenyon, he served as Chairperson of the Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Vice President of Student Life, demonstrating his commitment to fostering a more inclusive campus. Beyond academics, Bijan actively organized and fundraised for local and national causes, including New Directions, a domestic-abuse shelter in Knox County, Ohio, and gun-violence prevention organizations across the United States. 
Mentorship is one of Bijan's greatest passions. He believes in uplifting others and fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. Bijan strives to embody these values in both his personal and professional life, mentoring young professionals and building connections within the legal community. As he continues to develop his career, Bijan aspires to become not only a skilled lawyer but also a compassionate advocate, dedicated to empowering others and driving meaningful change. 
Connect with Bijan on LinkedIn. 
 
Crystal Kang supports lawyers in patent litigation cases, which informs and inspires her own aspirations to pursue a career in intellectual property law representing innovators working at the cutting-edge of science and technology. At the University of Pennsylvania, Crystal was a Research Assistant at the Penn Carey Law School’s Center for Technology, Innovation & Competition where she explored the legal implications of advances in quantum technology. She also helped establish PIT@Penn, the first organization of her university dedicated to public interest technology, was a Legal Humanities Fellow at the Collegium Institute, and worked as a Programming & Communications Associate at the Penn Undergraduate Law Journal. 
Passionate about mentorship and outreach, Crystal advises students though events hosted by organizations such as the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics in Pennsylvania and Asian Americas for Equality’s Youth Center in New York. She has also led several projects donating to and fundraising for the Ali Forney Center, a New York-based non-profit organization that provides wrap-around services for LGBTQ+ homeless youth. 
She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Arts & Sciences in 2022 with a B.A. in Physics, summa cum laude, and a concentration in Computer Techniques.  
Connect with Crystal on LinkedIn. 
 
Theo Ennis graduated cum laude from Kenyon College with a B.A. in Philosophy in 2023 and will be starting at The New York University School of Law in August. 
Connect with Theo on LinkedIn. 
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 

Creativity Unleashed with Alyssa Gangaram | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast – Empowering Voices (Episode 67)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Alyssa Gangaram, an Illustrator born and raised in Schenectady, New York. She began drawing art inspired by her favorite books in elementary school, studied traditional techniques through middle school, and her digital art journey began in high school. 
At 16, murals for local schools were her step into freelance art. Now, her work is based in storytelling through Illustration, with a focus on colors, light, and shapes. 
While a student in college studying Art and Business, she is developing work for murals, animated short films, and book Illustrations among other projects. Alyssa is passionate about building worlds and characters in her illustrations, appreciating the intentionally inherent to Entertainment Design for Animation. This also translates to her commercial work- she enjoys exploring ideas with her clients and bringing them to life so their stories can be told.  
When not drawing in her home office, she can be found with her friends at a local cafe trying the newest seasonal latte or at her local church putting together fun events with her peers in the community! 
Connect with Alyssa on LinkedIn.
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 

Expecting It All’s Journey with Author Janet Bruins | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast – Empowering Voices (Episode 66)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast features Janet Bruins on her personal and professional journey, including how her book, Expecting It All, came to be. 
Janet holds bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Science in engineering from Purdue University. With over fifteen years of experience as a professional engineer, she is a strong advocate for STEM education and global experience opportunities for young professionals. Janet has mentored many engineering students, connecting them with underserved communities in Honduras, India, and the Philippines, to address local climate change challenges.  
The birth of her daughter sparked a transformative shift in Janet’s life. Seeing the overwhelming focus on maternal responsibilities and a lack of focus on personal fulfillment for mothers, she now dedicates herself to empowering women to pursue their aspirations. Cultivating personal growth and ambition among women has become her primary mission and Expecting It All guides mothers through the transformative journey from woman to parent, encouraging them to dream beyond self-sacrifice. 
In 2018, Janet earned her Master of Business Administration degree from Georgetown University and now works in corporate finance. She lives with her husband and daughter in Virginia. 
Connect with Janet on LinkedIn.  
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 

Beyond Boundaries with Christopher Y. Chan | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast – Empowering Voices (Episode 65)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast features Christopher Y. Chan, who leads a team of over 70 lawyers across Asia as the APAC General Counsel at Jones Lang LaSalle. Prior to his current position, he helped grow e-commerce in Southeast Asia at pioneering companies Lazada Singapore and RedMart. He has clerked for the Hon. Raymond T. Chen at the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and was a patent litigator for Finnegan Henderson. Chris has industry expertise in tech, transportation, logistics, media, mobile, e-commerce, FMCG, food, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, and commercial real estate. He has been recognized for his work with numerous awards, including NAPABA's Best Lawyers Under 40, the Association of Corporate Counsel's Top 10 30-Somethings, and Asia Legal Business' South East Asia's In-house Lawyer of the Year, and even his law school's Distinguished Recent Graduate of the Year. Chris has diverse background, expertise, and leadership skills from working at an AmLaw 100 firm, in-house MNC, US judiciary, nonprofits, management consulting, and start-ups in Asia and the US.  
Chris is a sought-after speaker on start-up law, intellectual property, leadership, and diversity issues. He has appeared on HGTV's “House Hunters International,” “My First Place," and MediaCorp's "Your Personal Data, Our Responsibility.” Chris is also a recognized leader in his community, having served on the Association of Corporate Counsel Singapore Board, President of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association Washington DC, and its Educational Foundation. Chris enjoys rock climbing, scuba diving, sailing, and hosting at his rooftop craft beer speakeasy in Singapore.  
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn. 
 
Our guest interview is Eli Chan, a third-year undergraduate Biology student at the University of Santa Barbara. Through working as a marketing and business development intern for the past two years at Murgitroyd and RWS, he has gained valuable skills in the communication, technology, and legal fields; having conversations with many experts in corporate and intellectual property law has given him a new passion to find a career in patent law. By studying biology, Eli is hoping that he will be able to apply his background to assist with patent ideas and better understand new inventions with biotech and pharma.  
Eli has been an ADAPT.legal mentee for the past year, enabling him to meet both in-house and outside counsel, and learn about the processes to enter the field and how to succeed. In his free time, Eli enjoys playing basketball, golfing, and reading sci-fi novels. 
Connect with Eli on LinkedIn. 
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 
 
Legal Disclaimer: This video is posted for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. 

The Ethical Imperative with Andrew C.M. Cooper | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast – Empowering Voices (Episode 64)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast episode features Andrew C.M. Cooper, an internationally recognized executive leader and apologist for compassionate business practices.  
Andrew made history as the first Millennial and Black executive to serve as General Counsel of UPS Airlines, the world’s largest logistics airline, with over 20,000 employees operating in 220 countries; his team was essential to the success of Operation Warp Speed, the United States pandemic vaccine relief effort.  
Andrew helps organizations regain and retain high performance through leadership transformation. Published in August 2024, his first book, The Ethical Imperative, was praised for its compelling argument that ethical considerations should be a primary focus for businesses, urging leaders to prioritize social responsibility and long-term sustainability over short-term profits, making it a must-read for executives seeking to navigate modern business with conscience and integrity. 
Learn more about Andrew Cooper here. 
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 
 
Legal Disclaimer: This episode is posted for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. 

The Trust Factor with Jonathan Stroud | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast – Empowering Voices (Episode 63)

Today’s Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast episode features Jonathan Stroud, General Counsel at Unified Patents, LLC.  
In his role at Unified Patents, Jon manages a growing team of diverse and talented attorneys, and oversees a docket of administrative challenges, appeals, licensing, pooling, and district court work in addition to trademark, copyright, administrative, amicus, policy, marketing, and corporate matters.  
Prior to Unified, Jon was a litigator with Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP, and prior to that, he was a patent examiner at the USPTO.  
He earned his J.D. with honors from the American University Washington College of Law, his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Tulane University, and his M.A. in Print Journalism from the University of Southern California.  
In his spare time, Jon enjoys teaching, writing, and speaking on patent and administrative law. 
Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn. 
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 
 
Legal Disclaimer: This video is posted for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.