Virtual Water Cooler Chat

Virtual Water Cooler Chat

Welcome to VPG’s Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast, a platform that features professionals across a variety of industries and promotes growth mindset principles, with a central pillar of championing the achievements of women. Our conversations explore a wide spectrum of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, creating a vibrant mosaic that enriches our collective understanding and strengthens our commitment to growth and empowerment. For inquiries, please reach out to hello@vpgateway.com

Episodes

June 2, 2025 41 mins

This episode features Kevin McNish, managing member of the Maine law firm McNish, PLLC. Kevin represents clients in  inter partes reviews, post-grant reviews, ex parte reexaminations, and other proceedings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. With first-chair experience spanning more than 90 IPRs and other post-grant proceedings, he has been repeatedly recognized as one of the most prolific and effective post-grant pra...

Mark as Played

This episode features Josepher Li, a partner at the Newport Beach, California-based IP litigation firm, Armond Wilson LLP.

Josepher has a robust IP litigation practice spanning nationally in federal courts and before the U.S. Patent Office. An MIT-trained engineer, he has litigated patent, trade secret, and copyright cases involving all types of technologies. In 2024, Benchmark Litigation selected Josepher to its “40 & Under” l...

Mark as Played

This episode features Phong Dinh, Assistant General Counsel at Microsoft, where he leads a patent team supporting Microsoft’s Cloud and AI businesses, including worldwide patent portfolio development, IP counseling, M&A transactions, IP licensing, open-source usage, and strategic partnerships for Microsoft.  He also leads the company’s Standard Essential Patent (SEP) strategies with internal and external stakeholders, including...

Mark as Played

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast features Dr. Sudipta Dasmohapatra. Senior Associate Dean of MBA Programs and Professor of the Practice in Business Analytics in the Marketing area at Georgetown's McDonough School of Business.  

Dr. Dasmohapatra launched Georgetown’s Master's in Business Analytics program in 2021 and brings extensive expertise in data science, focusing on applications in marketing and healthcare. Wi...

Mark as Played

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast features Arthur Uratani, Director of Marketing and Outreach at Bookoff McAndrews, PLLC.

Arthur spends his life doing what brings him joy. He relishes connection and promoting the people, things, and causes he takes an interest in. As a Marketing Director at the law firm of Bookoff McAndrews, he handles professional development coaching, branding, graphic design, presentations, pitch...

Mark as Played

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Eva Kalivas-Krieger, Founder and Board Member of Empower Women That Rock (EWTR).  

Eva is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary, Certified Plan Advisor Fiduciary through The National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA) and has been a financial advisor since 1990.  

In 1999, Eva co-founded EPIC Retirement Services Consulting, which specialized in qualified retirement plans and was buil...

Mark as Played

This episode features Jason Harrier, Founder and General Counsel of IP Copilot, an AI-driven idea management platform designed to identify and facilitate the sharing of the best ideas within organizations. His mission is to empower innovators by streamlining the process of idea discovery and collaboration.    Prior to joining IP Copilot, Jason was the Head of IP at Plaid, a pioneering fintech company that provides essential infrast...

Mark as Played

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Sasha Strauss, a brand strategist with over 25 years of experience, defining brands for leading corporations, philanthropies, faiths, and academic institutions. Sasha’s distinct and direct approach to how brands and leadership must communicate is the foundation for his brand strategy consultancy, Innovation Protocol (IP). Their ability to inspire while they inform is why brands lik...

Mark as Played

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Saurabh Gupta, an IP attorney who has represented patent clients before federal district courts, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), and the Federal Circuit. 

Saraubh is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and has litigated patents in a wide variety of technical areas, from pharmaceuticals to consum...

Mark as Played

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast features three Gen Z paralegals, Bijan Khaghani, Crystal Kang, and Theo Ennis, who are currently working on the team at Groombridge, Wu, Baughman, & Stone, LLP, as a step in their journey toward a degree in law. In this conversation, they explore shared experiences, growth in the legal profession, and the value of networking and mentorship in their careers. 

Bijan Khaghani aspir...

Mark as Played

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Alyssa Gangaram, an Illustrator born and raised in Schenectady, New York. She began drawing art inspired by her favorite books in elementary school, studied traditional techniques through middle school, and her digital art journey began in high school. 

At 16, murals for local schools were her step into freelance art. Now, her work is based in storytelling through Illustration, wit...

Mark as Played

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast features Janet Bruins on her personal and professional journey, including how her book, Expecting It All, came to be. 

Janet holds bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Science in engineering from Purdue University. With over fifteen years of experience as a professional engineer, she is a strong advocate f...

Mark as Played

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast features Christopher Y. Chan, who leads a team of over 70 lawyers across Asia as the APAC General Counsel at Jones Lang LaSalle. Prior to his current position, he helped grow e-commerce in Southeast Asia at pioneering companies Lazada Singapore and RedMart. He has clerked for the Hon. Raymond T. Chen at the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and was a patent litigator for F...

Mark as Played

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast episode features Andrew C.M. Cooper, an internationally recognized executive leader and apologist for compassionate business practices.  

Andrew made history as the first Millennial and Black executive to serve as General Counsel of UPS Airlines, the world’s largest logistics airline, with over 20,000 employees operating in 220 countries; his team was essential to the success of Ope...

Mark as Played

Today’s Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast episode features Jonathan Stroud, General Counsel at Unified Patents, LLC.  

In his role at Unified Patents, Jon manages a growing team of diverse and talented attorneys, and oversees a docket of administrative challenges, appeals, licensing, pooling, and district court work in addition to trademark, copyright, administrative, amicus, policy, marketing, and corporate matters.  

Prior to Uni...

Mark as Played

Disclaimer: The content of this discussion is for educational purposes. The opinions expressed here belong solely to Janice Jabido and do not reflect the views of Peloton Interactive.

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Janice Jabido, Managing Director, IP Litigation & Licensing for Peloton Interactive. Peloton uses technology and design to connect the world through fitness, empowering people to be the best versi...

Mark as Played

Today’s episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features McNeal Maddox, an independent brand consultant and former Group Director of Brand Strategy at Innovation Protocol, a Los Angeles-based brand strategy consultancy.  

Legends and stories have always intrigued him, but understanding the deeper meaning contained within them has driven McNeal’s creative focus for years. As a student at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, he...

Mark as Played

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Megan F. Raymond, Partner, Groombridge Wu Baughman & Stone, LLP.  

Megan is one of the top 50 women in Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) trials, representing clients in over 100 post-grant proceedings to date. She also tries patent cases in federal district courts and in the International Trade Commission and argues appeals before the Federal Circuit. 

Ranked in Chambers USA...

Mark as Played

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Franklin Chu, a senior associate at Gemini Law LLP.  

Franklin holds a Chemical Engineering degree from the Cooper Union (New York, NY) and is licensed to practice in Washington state, Texas, and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Prior to joining Gemini Law, Franklin was an associate in the PTAB Practice Group of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (Sea...

Mark as Played

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Ellyar Y. Barazesh, Senior Associate in the Intellectual Property group at Baker Botts, residing in the Austin, Texas office 

Ellyar's practice focuses on patent prosecution and counseling, post-grant proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and patent litigation. He has significant experience working with clients in a wide range of technology areas, including c...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    True Crime Tonight

    If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.

    24/7 News: The Latest

    The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.