Joyce Hampers ’67
Been There, Done That: After serving as Massachusetts Commissioner of Revenue, then US Assistant Secretary of Commerce in Washington, DC, she returned to Boston in 1994 and opened G2O Spa + Salon on Newbury Street. Bold Idea: Putting a variety of beauty and wellness services under one roof was a novel concept then. Reflections: “What has taken me aback is how hard it is to be successful,” says Hampers, though she credits her business achievements to her legal background for “giving me the ability to think logically and rationally to solve problems.”
Socheat Chea ’91
Career: Himself a child refugee from Cambodia in 1975, Chea runs an immigration firm in Duluth, Georgia, doing litigation and family, civil rights, and business law. Gratification: “What I find most satisfying is making a difference in people’s lives. From engineers to researchers to asylum seekers and undocumented aliens, you are exposed to so many issues. You go home feeling very humble. Jump In: He says it’s a great time to enter the immigration law field. “Whether you’re a seasoned or new practitioner, we are all facing novel issues because of the political climate.”
Stas Gayshan ’09
Incubator: He is managing director and founder of CIC Boston, part of a global company that supports startups. Recognition: The Boston Globe named him one of the “most innovative people” in Massachusetts. Inspiration: “I love the madcap creativity of being an entrepreneur.” Just Do It: “There’s no one path to entrepreneurship, but being comfortable in the world of innovation means appreciating the incredible pace of change all around you, and engaging in what others may consider risky activities. For the entrepreneur, the biggest risk is standing still. Once you internalize that, you’re on your way.”
Sara Orozco-Ovalle LLM ’14
Public Service: She started as a civil court law clerk in her native Colombia, became legal advisor to the country’s Comptroller General, then chief of staff at the Colombian National Mining Agency, tasked with developing the mining sector within the parameters of social and environmental sustainability. Going Global: Working or studying abroad “will give you tolerance and a broader mind,” she says. “My experience in the USA and at BC Law School taught me things you don’t just find in books.”
Gina Signorello ’92
Career: She joined Hewlett Packard Enterprise in 1999 in Palo Alto, California, and is today senior vice president and deputy general counsel. Satisfaction: She thrives on the mix of legal and business matters, partnering with clients, and leading a team of “fantastic” attorneys and other professionals. Advice: “Learn as much as you can about the relevant business. As an in-house attorney, the more you know about the business, the more value you’ll bring to your clients.”
Larry Levi Sandigo ’11
Avocation to Vocation: He began as a volunteer with Arizona’s Florence Project, which provides free legal and social services to detained immigrants, and is now on staff as pro bono manager. Challenges: “Every day we meet people who have suffered persecution and are seeking asylum, people who have been torn from their families and denied due process, and many are deported. It’s heartbreaking and infuriating.” Inspiration: Despite the high stakes and severe consequences, he says that immigration “attorneys can make a difference in every single case.”
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