Best Virtual Bar Challenge Podcasts (2024)

1
Breaking Boundaries: Miyako Ikuta on Patience, Perseverance, and Becoming a Global Lawyer 52:57

3h ago52:57

52:57

Miyako Ikuta is a partner at Kitahama Partners in Tokyo registered to practice in France, New York, and Japan. Miyako shares her journey across multiple countries and legal systems and discusses her diverse roles, including serving as an auditor and outside director. and shares valuable tips for preparing for board roles. Additionally, she delves i…

1
Navigating Maritime Law: A Journey around the world to Japan with Gillian Musgrave 51:02

13d ago51:02

51:02

Gillian Musgrave is a seasoned lawyer with a rich background in maritime law and marine insurance. Gillian shares her journey from qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales to working internationally in London, Italy, New York, Singapore, and now as an in-house consultant in Tokyo. We go on a voyage of discovery into the depths of a truly fasc…

1
265: Building a Sparkling Soda Fireworks Store?!? | 🎉 Mark Lazarchic of Serenity Ventures 1:15:20

29d ago1:15:20

1:15:20

Mark Lazarchic is the CEO of Serenity Venture Group. He describes himself as a serial entrepreneur with eyes always open. Mark is the owner of multiple successful startup businesses in very competitive markets. Mark has spent the last 10 years being amazed at the level of mediocrity accepted by the public in business. At all levels... This Episode …

1
Leading with Empathy: Toshimi Itakura's vision for a thriving legal team 51:57

1M ago51:57

51:57

If you are at a crossroads and wondering if you should give up on that dream that hasn’t come true yet, then this is the episode for you. Toshimi Itakura is the General Manager of the Legal Department at Sojitz Corporation. Toshimi shares her inspiring career journey over more than 20 years and her professional experiences in the United States and …

1
Becoming the heroine of your journey: From assistant's assistant to legal powerhouse - Seizing opportunities and overcoming challenges with Hiroko Miyazaki 1:03:41

2M ago1:03:41

1:03:41

Hiroko Miyazaki is a legal luminary who has made her mark across various prestigious roles in Japan's corporate legal landscape. From her modest beginnings as a part-time law firm assistant to her ascent to Managing Director at 3M Japan, Hiroko's journey is a testament to the power of resilience and growth mindset. She opens up about her strategies…

1
264: From Clothing Manufacturer, to Franchise Owner, to Starting the Tint World Franchise | Ex-CEO of Meineke, Charles Bonfiglio, shares his Journey 🚗… 1:21:14

2M ago1:21:14

1:21:14

Charles J. Bonfiglio is the Franchise Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Tint World. The company is a privately owned franchise chain of independent retail window tinting, mobile electronics, auto accessories and appearance centers. As the lead executive of Tint World, Charles is responsible for all functions related to the development and leader…

1
A blue ocean journey as in-house counsel and legal pioneer in Japan with Akiko Kawaguchi 1:07:25

3M ago1:07:25

1:07:25

Dive into the inspiring journey of Akiko Kawaguchi, a true pioneer in the Japanese legal world. Akiko shares her groundbreaking path of becoming the first Japanese qualified lawyer at Mitsubishi Corporation. In this episode, Akiko reflects on the historical events that shaped her pursuit of justice and logic, her courageous leap into the blue ocean…

1
Small Seasons, Big Impact: Building a legal practice that you love in Japan with Saki Nakahara 59:01

3M ago59:01

59:01

Saki Nakahara joins us to share her story of finding her way to starting her own practice in the perfect area for her. We hear about how she spent a lot of time on the qualification she thought she should achieve because it was more difficult. However that experience then went on to become part of a strong foundation for her true calling. If you ar…

1
Embracing change in law: Olga V. Mack's insights on technology, personal branding & thought leadership 1:19:03

4M ago1:19:03

1:19:03

I am thrilled to welcome Olga V. Mack, a renowned contributor to thought leadership on law and tech to the Lawyer on Air podcast. Olga takes us on a captivating journey, sharing her experiences from integrating art, science, and law to her impactful presence on LinkedIn and the evolution of her own podcast, "Notes to My Legal Self." Join us as we d…

1
263: Using Real Human Connections to Achieve Exceptional Success... Doug Brown of CEO Sales Strategies 1:59:52

4M ago1:59:52

1:59:52

Doug C. Brown is the CEO of CEO Sales Strategies and a Sales Revenue and Profit Growth Expert. He has led client award-winning and high-performance teams as well as pioneered profitable development programs for companies. He has advised companies such as Intuit, CBS Television, Procter & Gamble, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Nationwide, Embassy Suites, In…

1
Making Partner in a Big Four Japanese Law Firm with Madoka Shimada 51:11

4M ago51:11

51:11

Madoka Shimada is Partner at Nishimura and Asahi, one of the “Big Four” law firms in Japan. You might have heard some things about what it’s like to work there but Madoka shares some of the innovations and how she has carved out a unique career for herself with her interesting combination of qualifications. If you enjoyed this episode and it inspir…

1
Bridging Borders: The Diplomatic Lawyer in Japan with Kaori Oka 1:00:21

4M ago1:00:21

1:00:21

From her early days of wanting to be a diplomat and instead becoming a lawyer, Kaori Oka is now the diplomatic founder of Oka Fortuna Law, a law firm based in Tokyo. We follow Kaori’s exciting career path and see how time and time again she created and asked for opportunities to have the experiences she wanted not only in her career but also in her…

1
Exploring Legal Ops in Japan: An inspiring career path in law and tech with Vivien Clancy 58:18

5M ago58:18

58:18

Vivien Clancy has a wealth of experience in the legal operations space which she brings to her current position in the Tokyo office of Herbert Smith Freehills. Vivien’s adventures and zest for life have all contributed to her fascinating career experiences. It goes to show that all experiences lead you to that next iteration of your career. If you …

1
262: From Single Mom Flipping Burgers to a Powerhouse in Venture Capital | Olga Maslikhova of The J Curve 1:18:39

5M ago1:18:39

1:18:39

Olga Maslikhova is the founder and host of The J Curve, the podcast about Latin America tech ecosystem builders. Olga is also a successful tech investor. She aims to share insights and stories from the region's most influential entrepreneurs, investors, and experts. She also leverages her network and knowledge as a member of a global community of w…

1
Working in-house and at a law firm concurrently in Japan with Yuka Yamada 58:08

5M ago58:08

58:08

Yuka Yamada has taken on an exciting adjacent working path in addition to being General Counsel, Head of Legal and Compliance at Mercedez-Benz Finance Japan, she is also Counsel at GI&T Law Firm. This is really an unusual opportunity and yet another way to do law differently. We are thrilled to bring you this episode to hear more about how Yuka is …

1
Using your law degree without being a lawyer at top companies in Japan with Tomoko Konishi 42:08

6M ago42:08

42:08

If you have finished your law degree but are not sure if you want to work as a “lawyer”, you might consider going to an in-house role such as Tomoko Konishi has done. Tomoko has had a truly varied career so far and is now working in corporate governance. With a law degree you really are able to serve society from all kinds of angles, this time Tomo…

1
Mari Hiraizumi: Redefining corporate legal leadership and board membership in global corporations 59:04

6M ago59:04

59:04

Mari Hiraizumi is a trailblazer in Japan. Not only is she the General Counsel and Executive Director for her organisation, but has been able to take on another external board role at the same time. This is truly groundbreaking with this trio of roles! If you are an in-house legal counsel and you are aiming for a board role at another company and wo…

1
261: Buying a Business at a Great Price! Over 30 Years of Biz Buying & Selling - Richard Parker of Diomo Corporation. 3:11:55

6M ago3:11:55

3:11:55

Richard Parker is the founder of Diomo Corporation – The Business Buyer Resource Center and author of the How To Buy A Good Business At A Great Price series. Richard has purchased thirteen of his own businesses and has been an advisor and broker to small business buyers and sellers for over three decades. He has written and been featured in more th…

1
Thriving in law in the Japanese eDiscovery industry with Anitha Henderson 1:06:15

7M ago1:06:15

1:06:15

Anitha Henderson is an eDiscovery attorney in Japan. Anitha shares her journey from studying law to navigating a fulfilling career that intertwines with her passion for Japanese language and culture. From her experiences in the JET program to her love for communication in Japanese, Anitha's story is one of perseverance, adaptability, and embracing …

1
Behind the scenes of mergers and acquisitions: Perspectives of an M&A Lawyer in Japan with Kotoe Oshima 52:42

8M ago52:42

52:42

Kotoe Oshima is an M&A associate at Shearman and Sterling's Tokyo office. Kotoe shares her international background and passion for advising Japanese companies on complex global transactions. Join us as Kotoe discusses the positive nature of Japanese companies, the importance of women in business, and her own journey of finding purpose in her work.…

1
Navigating remote international work and work-life balance challenges with Sawako Ohgi 1:01:10

8M ago1:01:10

1:01:10

Sawako Ohgi is the General Manager in the Strategic Legal Unit at JERA Co. From living overseas in a variety of countries as a child to managing a team remotely from the UK, Sawako's story is one of resilience, leadership, and determination. Join us as we delve into Sawako's in-house career path, her advice for in-house counsels, and her passion fo…

1
260: From Rabbi School to Supply Chain Innovator. How Izzy Rosenzweig is Saving Customers Time & Money with Portless! 1:18:32

8M ago1:18:32

1:18:32

Izzy Rosenzweig is the Founder and CEO of Portless, a company that fulfills e-commerce orders directly from China to their client’s customers' front doors, massively improving lead times, decreasing shipping costs, and lowering import tax fees. Born from a family that has a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Izzy discovered his passion for business at …

1
Driving change in diversity and inclusion in Japan through ESG: Insights from Louisa Gaoua 46:20

9M ago46:20

46:20

Louisa Gaoua shares her journey to be working in ESG and compliance in Japan. She also opens up about her personal journey of developing a stutter as a teenager and how she was able to overcome it. You might be surprised by what she learnt from this life challenge and how it has become part of her success story. Tune in to hear her inspirational st…

1
Creating fairness in the legal landscape of an organisation: Insights from Kenji Tagaya 1:14:53

9M ago1:14:53

1:14:53

Kenji Tagaya joins Lawyer on Air as a very welcome male guest, fan of the show and ally of women working in the law in Japan. Kenji is General Counsel at Jera and shares his own lived experience of being a minority and how he uses that experience to help empower others. In addition to his career, Kenji is very active in volunteer activities and we …

1
259: How this Innovative Business is Unlocking Minds... 🤯 The Psychedelic Journey of Dylan Beynon & Mindbloom 🌻 2:01:25

9M ago2:01:25

2:01:25

Dylan Beynon is the Founder and CEO of Mindbloom. Dylan grew up in a family that was torn apart by mental illness. He lost both his mother and sister to severe mental illnesses, addiction, and eventually overdose. For years he struggled to process the impact these losses had on him. It was not until 2009 that Dylan began the healing process when he…

1
The journey of Akiko Kikuchi: From private practice to leading an award-winning legal team 1:01:59

10M ago1:01:59

1:01:59

Akiko Kikuchi is a skilled general counsel with over two decades of experience in the legal industry. In this episode, we delve into the challenges of creating a career at a time when it was unusual to hire university graduate women in Japan. Akiko shares the benefits of building a strong team and how to get through the career challenges that might…

1
The power of listening: Insights from Sayaka Ohashi, Lawyer and Advocate 59:47

10M ago59:47

59:47

Sayaka Ohashi, a legal counsel specialising in employment law, shares how her experience of raising three children and listening to what they have to say, has greatly improved her practice in employment law. She also encourages male lawyers to embrace child-rearing as it can make them better professionals. Her reasons are a little different from wh…

1
258: From a Successful Exit to Closing a Company... & Biking His Way Back on Top | The Story of Mike Peregudov of Whizz 1:19:04

10M ago1:19:04

1:19:04

Mike Peregudov is the CEO and Co-Founder of Whizz, an E-bike rental service company for delivery riders. Mike has had diverse work experience, holding several high-level positions in the past. Prior to Whizz, Mike was a General Partner at S16VC starting in 2020. And from 2014 to 2020, he founded and served as the CEO of Yandex Chef, which was later…

1
Creating a career in cross culture communication and the IP legal industry in Japan 54:37

11M ago54:37

54:37

Catherine interviews Yasuko Tanaka, a patent attorney, IP business consultant and founder of her own firm S-Cube Corporation. Yasuko shares how her own learning through lived experience of cross cultural communication in IP have led her to become a leader in this field in Japan. We explore her advice for people considering starting their own firm a…

1
257: Using Science & Tech to Create a Sweet Solution (Ali Wing of Oobli) 1:23:23

11M ago1:23:23

1:23:23

Ali Wing is the CEO of Oobli, a food-tech company that is aiming to introduce sweet proteins to everyone. Their mission is to make an impact on the world by introducing sweet proteins as a much healthier alternative. The sweet protein was derived from an Oubli plant found in West Africa and Southeast Asia, which inspired the name Oobli. There is a …

1
From briefs to boardrooms: How lawyers can climb the corporate ladder in Japan with Alkis Kotzampasis 1:09:07

12M ago1:09:07

1:09:07

Catherine invites legal recruiter Alkis Kotzampasis back to the podcast, to share his insights from his new position as Principal of Page Executive at Michael Page. They delve into the most effective ways to work with a recruiter and what to prepare for those interviews as well as the trends that are now affecting the market in Japan. This is must-…

1
256: Solving Sexual Health Issues thru Good Vibrations... Soum Rakshit of MysteryVibe 1:55:15

12M ago1:55:15

1:55:15

Soumyadip Rakshit is the CEO and Co-Founder of MysteryVibe, which is an award-winning world leader in medical devices for sexual health. Soum created MysteryVibe to address one of the biggest personal challenges - keeping the ‘mystery’ in the bedroom, especially after major life events like childbirth, menopause, cancer treatment or surgery. To mak…

1
Embracing career challenges and enjoying the journey with Aya Saito 1:17:18

1y ago1:17:18

1:17:18

In this episode, Aya Saito, shares her journey from a kind of identity crisis to finding her style and authentic self in a unique role. Her career challenges became accomplishments that she even enjoyed! I’ve not heard of any guest so far in six seasons refer to their challenges in this way. Through the power of conversation, Aya uncovers these gem…

1
Always go for the best: Taking legal career opportunities head on with Naoko Matsuzaki 1:12:01

1y ago1:12:01

1:12:01

Naoko Matsuzaki, a Managing Director at KPMG, shares her reflections on defining moments in her career, including how working with clients and colleagues can lead to offers to take up amazing study and job opportunities. Naoko has come across many challenges in her career, not to mention trying to start her career in the “hiring ice age”! But she a…

1
255: The Future of Skin Care through AI with Estonian Founder - Anastasia Georgievskaya of Haut.AI 1:23:44

1y ago1:23:44

1:23:44

Anastasia Georgievskaya is the CEO and co-founder of Haut.AI, an Estonian AI-powered skin analytics SaaS platform delivering uniquely personalized skincare recommendations and diagnostics for retail and skin wellness applications. Haut.AI is a leading European AI company delivering hyper-personalized skincare and beauty experiences. Backed by its b…

1
Self branding through kindness and thoughtfulness for your successful career in law with Akiyo Inoko Hewett 1:04:37

1y ago1:04:37

1:04:37

You are going to love this episode featuring one of the biggest fans of Lawyer on Air and a successful lawyer in her own right, Akiyo Inoko Hewett. Akiyo got my attention with her thoughtful and insightful post on LinkedIn; little did I know that she was a big LOA fan! In addition to being an avid listener, she has forged a career for herself as a …

1
Grab opportunities in your legal career or create them yourself with Asako Ouchi 56:54

1y ago56:54

56:54

Asako Ouchi takes us on an amazing journey through her career so far - you will need to hold onto your seat for this one! Tokyo, London, Shanghai, Tokyo, Asako created opportunities for herself to get what she wanted from her career and she did not let her circumstances get in the way of at least asking. Often this approach turned into an opportuni…

1
254: How a Ukrainian Waiter in Dubai, Facing Overwhelming Challenges, Evolved to an eCommerce Titan (Anatoliy Labinskiy of GSM Growth Agency) 1:33:24

1y ago1:33:24

1:33:24

Anatoliy Labinskiy is the Founder of GSM Growth Agency, an eCommerce growth agency that helps brands grow to 6–7 figures in revenue. He is a self-made entrepreneur, family man, eCommerce expert, and holder of 4-time Two Comma Club awards. His life story exemplifies how everything works against you when it comes to success. Starting as a waiter in a…

1
Looking for a board role? Lifting the lid on the black box of board roles in Japan with Catherine O’Connell 40:16

1y ago40:16

40:16

Catherine O’Connell has the microphone spotlight switched on her in this episode. Hear more about what it has been like for Catherine has taken to get herself to where she is today on the Independent Audit & Statutory Board of Fujitsu and nominated as Independent Audit and Supervisory Board Member at Toyota Motor Corporation. Catherine shares how h…

1
From pharmacology to international patent lawyer in Japan with Mami Hino 1:00:30

1y ago1:00:30

1:00:30

Mami Hino was enjoying her career in pharmaceuticals until it was made clear that she would need to leave the company after marrying someone from the same industry but a different company. This set Mami on a path to retrain as a patent lawyer, learn English to be able to study in the US to get to where she is today. It’s an astounding story of turn…

1
253: Surviving a Storm at Sea & Reflecting on Past Startups via Brett Martin of Kumospace (The Innovative Virtual Office Platform) 1:08:15

1y ago1:08:15

1:08:15

Brett Martin is President & Co-Founder of Kumospace, the virtual office platform where teams show up, as well as Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Charge Ventures, a pre-seed-focused venture fund based in Brooklyn, NY. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School, where he teaches data analytics and technology strategy. This Ep…

1
Balancing career and sporting achievements with Tomo Greer Foreign Associate and Ironman Triathlete 57:07

1y ago57:07

57:07

Today’s episode carries a content warning for sexual harassment. We don’t go into detail, but if this is a difficult topic for you, please skip minutes 31 to 35 of the episode. Tomo Greer wanted to be a professional athlete but came to find her way as both a lawyer and an athlete. It turns out you can do both! Tomo’s story of finding her way to bec…

1
Japan qualified or foreign qualified lawyer? Yui Ota-Barclay shares her experience 59:21

1+ y ago59:21

59:21

Becoming a “Bengoshi” (Japan qualified lawyer), did not suit Yui Ota-Barclay so she took a chance to become a foreign qualified lawyer instead. In this episode, Yui shares her unique path to becoming an associate at Norton Rose Fulbright based in Tokyo. This is another diverse story of how things can work out for you even though it might not be on …

1
252: This Military Spouse takes Training 💪... to a Virtual Level | Molly Rose Speed of Virtual Assistant Management 1:08:57

1+ y ago1:08:57

1:08:57

Molly Rose Speed is the founder of The Virtual Assistant Academy, a certification for the best Virtual Support Staff in the country, and the owner of Virtual Assistant Management, a placement agency for entrepreneurs in need of top virtual assistant talent for organizations. Her expertise is in online business, systems, and outsourcing. Molly is a …

1
Civil and common law international arbitration in action in Japan with Carlotta Bruessel 1:06:17

1+ y ago1:06:17

1:06:17

Carlotta Bruessel brings her fascinating experience of qualifying in both civil law and common law to Japan in the area of international arbitration. This is a story of an unusual career path in the law which is so important to hear. Carlotta is also passionate about connections and collaborations so it is exciting to see her idea to form a club to…

1
Pivot to unlock your career potential with Andrea Sanada Ng 59:21

1+ y ago59:21

59:21

We are thrilled to bring you Andrea Sanada Ng to share her unique story of becoming a lawyer and finding her own way to a happy career after pivots and turns. We don’t always have the perfect conditions or information when making choices about our careers but Andrea shows us that things can work out, even when you think they won’t. If you enjoyed t…

1
251: How an Employee Strived for Ownership in his $20MM Tech Company... Lubo Smid of STRV 1:02:51

1+ y ago1:02:51

1:02:51

Lubo Smid is the Co-Founder and CEO of STRV. Lubo is a tech entrepreneur with a passion for cutting-edge technology and an adventurous lifestyle. He has co-founded STRV, a design and engineering company, that built products for prominent startups like Tinder, The Athletic or Citizen and well-established brands like Microsoft or Barry’s. This Episod…

1
What you need to know about joining the Japan legal market in 2023 with Sam Inohara 1:07:09

1+ y ago1:07:09

1:07:09

From time to time I invite an ally of women lawyers in Japan onto the show, and someone I would love you to meet is Sam Inohara. Even though he did not graduate from a top 10 law school, he has created a unique career path in Japan, culminating in his present position as Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright Tokyo office. In this episode, he explains wh…

1
Leveraging volunteer opportunities to sustain your legal career with Marose Pereira 55:36

1+ y ago55:36

55:36

Marose comes from a family of inspirational women and she will definitely inspire you with her outlook on life and how she has made the most of opportunities that have presented themselves to her. Marose shares with us how her outside activities are actually a way to improve her knowledge and network in her chosen area of arbitration. If you enjoye…

1
250: From Years of Being a W-2 Employee to Becoming A (Non-Food) Franchise King - Jon Ostenson of FranBridge Consulting 57:13

1+ y ago57:13

57:13

Jon Ostenson is the Founder and CEO of FranBridge Consulting, a top 1% Franchise Consultant in the US, and frequent contributor on franchising across a variety of outlets and publications. Jon is a multi-brand franchisee himself, and along with his business partners, he has great operators leading these ventures. As a result, he is able to commit o…

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Virtual Bar Challenge Podcasts

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