Ninja Connector: The varied career of alumna Stephanie Gilliard '97

Stephanie (Waters) Gilliard ’97 describes herself as a “ninja attorney.”

Agile, adaptable, and willing to embrace new challenges, Gilliard has applied her problem-solving skills and knack for communicating with people from all walks of life to varied positions throughout her career, from the special victims unit of a New York City prosecutor’s office to a Virginia racetrack. She now leads legal, compliance, and governance  for the Intuitive Foundation, a private foundation formed by Intuitive, a medical device company that specializes in providing minimally invasive robotic systems to treat patients worldwide. 

Gilliard first became interested in practicing law as a child when a friend mentioned that she wanted to become a lawyer. “I had no idea what a lawyer was, but if [she] was going to be a lawyer, I was going to be a lawyer,” she recalls. (Gilliard is still in touch with the friend, who is an accountant.) 

As an undergraduate English major at SUNY Albany, Gilliard engaged with the Albany Law alumni in the community and was impressed by the caliber of attorneys the school produced. In particular, she recalls meeting an alumnus who practiced medical malpractice law who shared that, with each new case and industry, attorneys have an opportunity to reinvent themselves as a subject matters. 
Gilliard still takes that advice to heart, stating that, “Learning a new area of the law continues to be exciting and never gets old. I am now well-versed in several areas, including criminal law and procedure, administrative law, government, corporate, healthcare, life sciences, and nonprofit law, all of which has contributed to my strength as a general counsel.” 

Advocating for clients
Ninjas are tenacious, and Gilliard uses that tenacity to advocate. “I'm a born advocate and ensuring fairness is central to how I approach every role,” she says. “Legal training sharpened my ability to fight for people, while balancing legal, business, and ethical considerations.” 

At Albany Law, Gilliard used that drive to advocate in her work with the Postconviction Remedies Project. Although she enjoyed the hands-on work for real clients, she didn’t enjoy answering phones so much, one of her many work-study jobs that helped cover expenses. She laughingly recalls Professor Mary Lynch telling her, “Stephanie, don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m glad you’re becoming an attorney, because you’re an awful receptionist.” 

Early in her career, Gilliard worked in the Sex Crimes & Special Victims Bureau of the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office in Staten Island, New York. In that role, Gilliard shared, “one of the best aspects of my position was interacting with the complainants, and providing undivided attention as I listened to their statements, in order to build my case.” I The work reinforced her ability to listen carefully, assess facts holistically, and advocate effectively on behalf of vulnerable populations.

Contracts and connections
Gilliard worked for a time at a firm but missed the direct client contact of the DA’s office. A friend suggested she apply for a position with the City of New York. Working with the city’s oversight procurement agency allowed her to deepen her expertise in contracts. She also used her knack for connecting with people to help explain complex legal and operational requirements to sub-contractors. This position marked the beginning of a sustained focus on contractual work, kicking off the next phase of her career.

For several years, Gilliard worked in the healthcare industry before taking a chance on a position with the thoroughbred horse racetrack Colonial Downs. There, she helped bring the dormant racetrack back to commercial operations and casino-style gaming to the Commonwealth of Virginia, boosting the economy significantly. Naturally, one of her favorite parts of the job was traveling the state, meeting people in cities and small towns. During that time, she also helped to develop  the company’s charitable giving program. When the business was sold to Churchill Downs, this experience helped her transition to the next endeavor. 

Since 2022, Gilliard has served as senior legal counsel for philanthropy and corporate secretary of the Intuitive Foundation. The role combines the full scope of her experience—managing governance, negotiating contracts, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting grantmaking that advances research and community programs. . She continues to connect with roles throughout the company, from senior leaders to program staff, translating complex legal requirements into practical guidance that drives impact.

As Gilliard progressed in her career and moved across state lines, she wasn’t able to stay in touch with fellow Albany Law alumni in person. That changed as the law school began celebrations for its 175th anniversary, which is taking place in 2026. After donating to the anniversary campaign, the alumni office reached out to her. Through those conversations, she suggested hosting an alumni event in Richmond, Virginia, where she is now located. The reception took place May 5.

“I strongly believe in reaching back, showing up,” said Gilliard. “If I can be of help to any law student or fellow alum in any way, I am committed to doing that.”  No doubt she will use her adaptability, tenacity, and interpersonal skills to open doors and create pathways for others to follow.