Welcome to the fourth episode of Creating the Connection, a podcast brought to you by The Stephen James Partnership.
In this episode, our host Samuel Clague sits down with Monica Risam, Former Group General Counsel at Lombard International Group, to explore her inspiring journey and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
Monica’s path was anything but ordinary. From studying in Washington, D.C., to stepping into the high-pressure world of Wall Street, she faced an industry that lacked visible role models for someone like her. Yet, she didn’t just navigate these challenges - she used them as fuel to propel herself forward. Her rise through the ranks of the legal and financial sectors wasn’t just about skill; it was about resilience, carving out space, and advocating for change.
Monica doesn’t shy away from the tough questions. She opens up about the challenges of navigating corporate law as a non-white woman and the pivotal moments that shaped her path - moments of triumph, setbacks, and reinvention. She shares how mentorship, gratitude, and an unwavering belief in creating opportunities for others helped her turn adversity into fuel for success.
If you’ve ever wondered how to find the right mentors, build a supportive network, or carve out a space for yourself in an exclusive industry, Monica’s advice is unmissable. Her story is more than a career roadmap - it’s an inspiring call to action to rethink what success looks like and to open the doors for others to follow.
Tune in to Creating the Connection for a candid, empowering conversation that will leave you inspired to take your next step, no matter where you are in your journey.
Timestamped guide:
01:15 - What initially interested you in a career in the legal sector?
02:03 - Where does your interest in financial services come from?
03:15 - Where does your interest in social mobility come from?
05:08 - When you were starting out in your career, what were some of the challenges that you faced?
06:33 - What were some of how you overcame adversity?
07:30 - Do you think there's a particular point that set you on the course for where you are now, and if so, what was that?
08:50 - How did you kind of find mentors?
10:35 - How would you say other senior legal professionals in Financial Services can foster a culture of mentoring and support for their staff?
11:40 - What are you most passionate about in your career
12:20 - What do you see as the biggest barriers within the legal industry
14:00 - What message of encouragement would you like to share with our audience?
Connect with your host, Samuel Clague: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-clague-32911723/
Connect with your guest, Monica Risam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-risam-a7534b/
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Explore more about The Stephen James Partnership here: https://thesjp.co.uk/
And discover SJP's Search and Advisory arm here: https://stephenandjames.co.uk/
