Alias Expert Interviews

Alias Intelligence
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Management

Alias Expert Interviews is a video series focused on practical conversations with leaders who have managed risk, solved complex problems, and made consequential decisions. Hosted by Michael Collins, the series examines the experiences and lessons of executives, investors, legal professionals, security leaders, and subject matter experts from multiple industries. Each conversation moves past resumes and headlines to reveal how experienced professionals approach decisions, lead teams, and respond to real-world challenges. Alias Expert Interviews offers direct insight from professionals who have spent decades managing risk, addressing complex issues, and leading through uncertainty in boardrooms, courtrooms, investment committees, and security operations centers. The series is designed to deliver practical insights that help viewers make better decisions and understand the people behind them.

  1. 3d ago

    Teri Cotton Santos: From Prosecutor to Chief Compliance Officer | Ep 15

    Teri Cotton Santos has spent more than 30 years navigating law, ethics, compliance, and corporate leadership. After beginning her legal career in litigation and criminal prosecution, Teri transitioned into corporate legal and compliance roles at global organizations including Eli Lilly, The Warranty Group, Phillips 66, and HF Sinclair. In Episode 13 of Alias Expert Interviews, host Michael Collins speaks with Teri about her career journey, the evolution of corporate compliance, and why effective compliance leaders must be more than enforcers of rules. They discuss: Teri's transition from prosecutor to corporate compliance executiveThe relationship between ethics, integrity, and regulatory complianceWhy compliance should be a strategic business partnerHow compliance teams work with executive leadership and boardsNavigating regulatory uncertainty and changing enforcement prioritiesBuilding trust in employee reporting and whistleblower programsThe importance of confidentiality, accountability, and ethical cultureHow AI and technology are changing compliance operationsWhy human judgment and relationships remain essentialMeasuring compliance effectiveness and identifying organizational risksThe importance of involving compliance early in business decisionsLessons from Teri's global leadership experience and career developmentThroughout the conversation, Teri makes the case for a more proactive approach to compliance, one that helps organizations understand risk, navigate regulatory complexity, and support business strategy without compromising integrity. It's a conversation about leadership, trust, organizational culture, and the evolving role of ethics and compliance in modern business.

  2. Oct 23

    Michael Reilly: From General Counsel to Board Director | Ep 14

    Michael Reilly has spent more than 35 years navigating corporate law, compliance, global transactions, and executive leadership. After beginning his legal career as a judicial clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals, Michael practiced at Sidley Austin before transitioning into corporate legal roles at Zeneca and Syngenta. He later spent more than two decades at FMC Corporation, ultimately serving as General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary. Today, he serves on the Board of Directors at Wilbur-Ellis. In Episode 15 of Alias Expert Interviews, host Michael Collins sits down with Michael Reilly to discuss the evolution from corporate counsel to executive and board leadership, the complexities of global M&A transactions, and why legal judgment and business understanding are essential to navigating high-stakes decisions. They discuss: Michael's path from law school and litigation to corporate legal leadershipTransitioning from outside counsel to an in-house legal careerWhy understanding the business is essential for effective legal adviceHow general counsel can become strategic partners to executive leadershipManaging legal risk before problems develop into litigation or compliance issuesNavigating geopolitical uncertainty, international sanctions, and global trade regulationsHow FMC approached the decision to exit Russia following the invasion of UkraineManaging reputational risk and public scrutiny in highly regulated industriesThe growing importance of legal cost controls and outside counsel relationshipsHow private equity investment could influence the legal professionThe opportunities and limitations of AI in legal workWhy human judgment and strong writing skills remain essentialBuilding trust with CEOs, boards, and executive leadership teamsFMC's transformative acquisition of DuPont's agricultural assets and the complexity of coordinating more than 40 antitrust approvals worldwideWhy companies underestimate risks when pursuing M&A transactions or entering unfamiliar marketsCareer lessons on curiosity, adaptability, and understanding the business behind the legal issuesThroughout the conversation, Michael shares firsthand lessons from navigating complex international transactions, managing corporate risk, and advising executive teams through consequential business decisions. He also reflects on the importance of identifying blind spots before entering new markets or completing acquisitions, and why even extensive due diligence may not capture every challenge that emerges when a company moves beyond its familiar operations. For Michael, effective legal leadership isn't simply about understanding the law. It's about understanding the business, anticipating what could go wrong, and helping organizations make informed decisions with confidence. Alias Expert Interviews features conversations with experienced leaders navigating high-stakes decisions across law, security, investigations, intelligence, risk, and business. Learn more about Alias Intelligence at https://www.aliasintelligence.com #AliasExpertInterviews #GeneralCounsel #CorporateGovernance #MergersAndAcquisitions #RiskManagement

  3. Oct 16

    Matt Kalinowski: From Big Law to Global Head of Litigation | Ep 13

    Matt Kalinowski has spent more than two decades navigating complex litigation, regulatory challenges, and legal leadership within the financial services industry. Disclaimer: The views expressed by Matt Kalinowski are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Computershare. After beginning his legal career at Morgan Lewis, Matt transitioned in-house at Deutsche Bank, where he worked through a period of significant mortgage-backed securities litigation. He later joined MUFG before becoming Global Head of Litigation at Computershare, a financial services company with more than 11,000 employees worldwide. In Episode 14 of Alias Expert Interviews, host Michael Collins sits down with Matt to discuss the evolution from law firm associate to corporate legal executive, the changing role of in-house litigation teams, and why sound judgment and business context are essential to effective legal leadership. They discuss: Matt's path from a technology startup to law school and litigationTransitioning from Big Law to in-house counselManaging complex litigation and regulatory matters in financial servicesWhy in-house litigation teams do far more than manage outside counselHow smaller legal disputes can reveal larger operational and compliance risksThe role of internal investigations and the challenge of making decisions with incomplete informationHow AI is changing legal productivity, outside counsel relationships, and the billable-hour modelWhy trust and relationships remain difficult to measure but essential to legal leadershipBalancing litigation strategy with business prioritiesThe importance of institutional knowledge and understanding how a company operatesWhy good legal judgment matters more than hours workedDeveloping the next generation of lawyers as technology changes the professionCareer lessons on mentorship, adaptability, and maintaining perspectiveThroughout the conversation, Matt explains how effective litigation leadership extends well beyond responding to lawsuits. It requires anticipating risk, understanding the business, working across departments, and helping executives make informed decisions when the answers aren't always clear. It's a conversation about judgment, trust, risk, and the evolving role of legal leadership in an increasingly complex financial and technological environment.

  4. Sep 25

    Dan Montenaro: From Chief Legal Officer to Business President | Ep 12

    Dan Montenaro has spent more than 25 years moving from legal practice into increasingly broad corporate leadership roles. After beginning his career in law firms, Dan moved in-house with National City Corporation and later HSBC. He went on to serve as Chief Compliance Officer at iQor and Chief Legal Officer at Alorica. Today, he is President of Global Business Services at Alorica, with responsibilities spanning legal, compliance, HR, security, sourcing, and other corporate functions. In Episode 12 of Alias Expert Interviews, host Michael Collins speaks with Dan about the evolution from lawyer to business executive and what he has learned from working on both sides of the outside-counsel-in-house relationship. They discuss: • Moving from law firm litigation to an in-house legal career • How legal training translates into broader corporate leadership • The changing relationship between companies and outside counsel • Why predictability in legal spend can matter as much as lowering costs • Dan's view on changing talent dynamics across large, mid-sized, and smaller law firms • Why he tends to hire lawyers rather than law firms • Where AI can improve legal work and where human analysis remains essential • Why in-house lawyers need to understand how their company makes money • How the Chief Legal Officer role has evolved beyond traditional legal advice • Bringing legal into business decisions earlier rather than after the fact • How executive teams think about risk appetite • The reputational risk created by the companies you choose to do business with • Why judgment, integrity, and practical recommendations matter in corporate leadership Dan also shares lessons from his own career, including how an unexpected move in-house ultimately led him from litigation and legal leadership into the executive team and a much broader role running corporate functions. It's a conversation about law, business, risk, relationships, and what happens when a legal leader learns to think beyond the legal department.

  5. Sep 11

    Roland Cloutier: Leading Security at TikTok, ADP & EMC | Ep 11

    Roland Cloutier has spent nearly four decades working across military service, federal law enforcement, cybersecurity, and global corporate security. After beginning his career in the U.S. Air Force, Roland moved into federal law enforcement and eventually cybersecurity before serving as Chief Security Officer for organizations including EMC, ADP, TikTok, and ByteDance. Today, he advises organizations and security leaders through the Business Protection Group and is the author of Becoming a Global Chief Security Executive Officer. In Episode 11 of Alias Expert Interviews, host Michael Collins speaks with Roland about the evolution of corporate security and what it takes to become a trusted partner to the business. They discuss: • Transitioning from military and law enforcement into the corporate world • Investigating cyber threats and intellectual property theft early in his career • Bringing physical and cybersecurity together • Why modern security leaders need to understand the business • Demonstrating the value of security to executives and boards • Helping the business pursue opportunities rather than simply saying "no" • Managing the pressure of global security leadership • Why CISO tenure can be so short • Navigating geopolitical and internal security challenges • How AI is already changing security operations • The future of cyber and physical security • Developing the next generation of security leaders Throughout the conversation, Roland shares lessons from decades spent building and leading security organizations in rapidly changing environments. It's a conversation about trust, leadership, technology, and why the strongest security functions don't just protect the business. They help it move forward.

  6. Sep 4

    Ben Ostapuk: From Patent Litigator to Chief Legal Officer | Ep 10

    Ben Ostapuk's career has taken him from patent litigation at leading law firms to senior leadership at Intel and, today, the Chief Legal Officer role at Pegasystems. After more than a decade in Big Law, Ben joined Intel's in-house litigation team and spent the next 15 years developing into what he describes as "a business executive who happens to have a legal background." In this episode of Alias Expert Interviews, host Michael Collins speaks with Ben about that evolution and what modern corporate legal leadership requires. They discuss: • Moving from Big Law to an in-house legal team • How the CLO role has evolved beyond traditional legal advice • What boards and executives expect from senior legal leaders • Why great legal teams work shoulder to shoulder with the business • Managing risk without trying to eliminate it • Building long-term relationships with outside counsel • Leading global litigation across multiple jurisdictions • Responding to a $2 billion trial loss at Intel • Navigating disruption across semiconductors, software, and AI • Why preventing bad outcomes makes legal value difficult to demonstrate • Establishing an organization's risk tolerance • The importance of judgment, trust, and international experience • Why human expertise remains critical as AI changes legal work Throughout the conversation, Ben explains how each stage of his career required learning a different way to operate and why the skills that make someone an excellent lawyer are only part of what eventually makes someone an effective Chief Legal Officer. It's a conversation about judgment, adaptability, relationships, risk, and learning how to lead when the answers aren't black and white.

  7. Aug 27

    Andy Tosh: From British Army to Global Security Executive | Ep 09

    Andy Tosh has spent 40 years working in security across the military, public, and private sectors. After beginning his career in the British Army, Andy went on to work with the United Nations and on assignments connected to the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office. His career has taken him into complex environments across Nigeria, Libya, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond. Today, he serves as Vice President of Enterprise Security at Baker Hughes. In this episode of Alias Expert Interviews, host Michael Collins speaks with Andy about the evolution of corporate security, the transition from military to corporate environments, and what it takes to lead a global security function. They discuss: • Andy's path from the British Army to Baker Hughes • Lessons from working in high-risk environments around the world • Why soft skills became essential to his development as a security leader • Moving beyond the traditional "gates and guards" perception of corporate security • Building an intelligence-led, risk-based security function • Why military and law enforcement experience are no longer prerequisites for security careers • Using data to demonstrate the value of corporate security • Understanding the business before trying to manage its risks • The growing importance of geopolitical and physical risk • How AI and technology could change corporate security • Why human judgment remains essential • Building diverse teams and developing future security leaders Throughout the conversation, Andy reflects on four decades in security and how the profession has evolved from a primarily protective function into one increasingly focused on intelligence, risk, business continuity, and enabling organizations to operate safely around the world. It's a conversation about leadership, adaptability, judgment, and what modern corporate security can bring to the business.

  8. Aug 21

    Elisa Garcia: From Energy Analyst to Fortune 500 Chief Legal Officer | Ep 08

    Elisa Garcia's career has taken her from international energy policy to the highest levels of corporate legal leadership. Over more than three decades, Elisa served as the first General Counsel of Domino's Pizza, helped prepare the company for its IPO, and later held senior legal leadership roles at Office Depot and Macy's. Her career has included M&A, SEC investigations, shareholder activism, corporate governance, regulatory matters, and advising executives and boards through periods of significant change. In this episode of Alias Expert Interviews, host Michael Collins sits down with Elisa to discuss what it means to move beyond being the lawyer in the room and become a true business partner. They discuss: • Becoming Domino's first General Counsel • Learning how the business actually makes money • Preparing Domino's for its IPO • Why legal teams shouldn't become the "department of no" • The evolution from General Counsel to Chief Legal Officer • Advising CEOs, boards, and shareholders • Navigating SEC investigations, M&A, and activist investors • Measuring and communicating the value of a legal department • Why listening remains one of the most important leadership skills • Building relationships across the C-suite • The role of luck, risk tolerance, and support systems in building a career • How AI could reshape corporate legal departments Throughout the conversation, Elisa shares lessons from decades spent helping major organizations navigate complex decisions while keeping the legal function connected to the business. Her philosophy is simple: understand what the business is trying to accomplish, understand how it makes money, and help find a responsible path forward.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Alias Expert Interviews is a video series focused on practical conversations with leaders who have managed risk, solved complex problems, and made consequential decisions. Hosted by Michael Collins, the series examines the experiences and lessons of executives, investors, legal professionals, security leaders, and subject matter experts from multiple industries. Each conversation moves past resumes and headlines to reveal how experienced professionals approach decisions, lead teams, and respond to real-world challenges. Alias Expert Interviews offers direct insight from professionals who have spent decades managing risk, addressing complex issues, and leading through uncertainty in boardrooms, courtrooms, investment committees, and security operations centers. The series is designed to deliver practical insights that help viewers make better decisions and understand the people behind them.

Information

  • Creator
    Alias Intelligence
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Alias Intelligence
  • Show Website
    Alias Expert Interviews