Great Women in Compliance

Lisa Fine and Hemma Lomax

For a long time, compliance was perceived as a part of the larger legal world. Today, compliance is its own profession—a place where people work tirelessly to make the world a better place, one where doing the right thing is the standard for everyone. There are a lot of amazing and inspirational women who have helped the compliance field develop into what it is today, and women are joining this field every day. They are leading the work on cutting-edge issues and breaking barriers for women. Join Hemma Lomax and Lisa Fine as they talk with women in compliance who are making a difference. This podcast is part of the Compliance Podcast Network.

  1. 2d ago

    Paula For the People: Let Go to Reach Further

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

    Paula For the People: Let Go to Reach Further

  2. Jul 15

    Culture is What Happens When No One is Watching

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

    Culture is What Happens When No One is Watching

  3. Jul 8

    Seeing Compliance from Every Angle with Billy Jacobson

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

    Seeing Compliance from Every Angle with Billy Jacobson

  4. Jun 10

    Raising the Bar on Compliance Training

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

    Raising the Bar on Compliance Training

  5. Jun 3

    Wildly Effective, 10 Years Later

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

    Wildly Effective, 10 Years Later

  6. May 27

    Designing The Rooms Where Leadership Happens

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

    Designing The Rooms Where Leadership Happens

  7. May 15

    Compliance Week 2026 Highlights with Nick Gallo

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

    Compliance Week 2026 Highlights with Nick Gallo

  8. May 6

    DOJ’s New Fraud Division: Practical Insights for Compliance Professionals

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

    DOJ’s New Fraud Division: Practical Insights for Compliance Professionals
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About

For a long time, compliance was perceived as a part of the larger legal world. Today, compliance is its own profession—a place where people work tirelessly to make the world a better place, one where doing the right thing is the standard for everyone. There are a lot of amazing and inspirational women who have helped the compliance field develop into what it is today, and women are joining this field every day. They are leading the work on cutting-edge issues and breaking barriers for women. Join Hemma Lomax and Lisa Fine as they talk with women in compliance who are making a difference. This podcast is part of the Compliance Podcast Network.

Information

  • Creator
    Lisa Fine and Hemma Lomax
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    318
  • Rating
    Clean

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