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From adversity to advocacy: A biracial Black and White adoptee's journey to social justice leadership with Luke Liss Pro Bono Partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (Ep. 170)

Career Unicorns - Spark Your Joy

Release Date: 02/18/2025

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Career Unicorns - Spark Your Joy

  This week, I’m so excited to share a podcast with one of my former clients, Jaymon Ballew.  Jaymon is Senior Counsel for The Major League Soccer and a first-generation college and professional graduate.  He shares his experiences navigating corporate America as a Black man, the importance of understanding the unwritten rules of the professional world, and how our work together helped him get clarity and land his dream job in sports.    In this podcast, we do a deep dive into: How to reconnect with your true passions when you feel lost. How to build support...

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Career Unicorns - Spark Your Joy

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Career Unicorns - Spark Your Joy

  Disclaimer:  Tiffany Obeng would like our listeners to know that the views expressed in this podcast are her own and my own views, and not that of any referenced organizations.  This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship, and you should consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. Tiffany Obeng is a lawyer, a change-maker, and a children's book author on a mission to tackle diversity in the workplace. Seeing the daunting statistics highlighting...

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of Luke Liss and the host, and do not represent the views of any referenced organizations.

 

Join us for a powerful conversation with Luke Liss, Pro Bono Partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, as he shares his inspiring journey from adversity to advocacy.  Episode 170 delves into Luke's personal experiences as a biracial (Black and White) adoptee, his path to becoming a social justice leader, and his vision for pro bono work.

 

Luke opens up about the impact of his unique background on his sense of belonging and purpose. He recounts his challenges, including almost dropping out of high school, and how he overcame them to graduate from Stanford Law School.  He emphasizes the crucial role of mentorship in his success and shares insights on fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace that goes beyond mere compliance.

 

This episode explores:

 

  • Overcoming adversity: Luke's story of resilience and how he transformed challenges into motivation.

  • The impact of adoption and racial identity: Luke's reflections on his personal journey as a biracial adoptee and its influence on his advocacy work.

  • The power of mentorship: How early mentorship shaped his path to success and the importance of finding mentors.

  • Pro bono and social justice leadership: Luke's journey to becoming Pro Bono Partner at a top Am Law 50 law firm and his passion for social justice.

  • Career development and leadership: Tips for positioning yourself for leadership roles and confidently asking for what you deserve.

 

Tune in to hear Luke's remarkable story of resilience, leadership, and advocacy, and gain valuable insights on making a difference in the world.

 

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