Now is the time for all of us to think of ourselves as entrepreneurs in residence, designing the future of compliance.
In this episode of the Great Women in Compliance Podcast, GWIC co-host Hemma Lomax speaks with Kathy Zhu, Co-Founder and CEO of Streamline AI, about her journey from big law to in-house legal at DoorDash to launching her own legal tech company.
They discuss the importance of adopting an entrepreneurial mindset within compliance and legal departments, the journey of building innovative solutions like Streamline AI, and how addressing workflow pain points can revolutionize the industry. Kathy shares her personal journey, practical tips for aspiring entrepreneurs, and insights on leveraging technology to optimize legal operations for the future.
Kathy’s story is a testament to the power of entrepreneurship as a service. Tune in to hear how frustration became innovation, why compliance leaders are uniquely positioned to design the future of our field, and how each of us can become a tech influencer inside our organizations.
You’ll hear:
• Why compliance leaders should see themselves as entrepreneurs in residence.
• How Kathy turned workflow chaos into a scalable AI-driven product.
• Practical ways to start experimenting with tech and influence the next generation of compliance.
This conversation is a powerful reminder that the future of compliance isn’t something we wait for — it’s something we create.
Guest Bio: Kathy Zhu
Kathy Zhu is the Co-Founder, CEO, and General Counsel of Streamline AI, a workflow intelligence platform transforming how in-house legal and compliance teams manage intake, triage, and operational efficiency.
Kathy began her career at Wilson Sonsini, advising startups and emerging companies on incorporations, financings, and IPOs before moving in-house. At Medallia and later as the first commercial counsel at DoorDash, she experienced firsthand the growing pains of legal and compliance operations at scale. Frustrated by inefficiencies, she hacked together her own solutions — an experiment that became the foundation for Streamline AI.
Today, Kathy leads Streamline AI in its mission to empower compliance and legal teams to operate as strategic business partners, supported by data, automation, and seamless integrations. She is also an advocate for women in leadership and brings lessons from her passions, such as scuba diving and meditation, into how she leads with calmness and clarity under pressure.
Resources & Links:
• Learn more about Streamline AI: https://www.streamline.ai.
• Kathy’s WSJ/SpotDraft interview: https://www.spotdraft.com/blog/counselcorner-doordash-agc-to-streamline-ai-ceo-kathy-zhu
• Alumni spotlight: Wilson Sonsini – Kathy Zhu - https://www.wsgr.com/en/insights/alumni-spotlight-kathy-zhu-co-founder-ceo-and-general-counsel-streamline-ai.html
• Watch Kathy’s podcast episode: Being a Business-Minded Lawyer (YouTube) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG45yT-F5jI
• Follow Kathy on LinkedIn: Kathy Zhu - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-m-zhu/.
Podcast Recommendations:
• How I Built This with Guy Raz: https://bit.ly/3JXpmhS
• Lenny’s Podcast with Lenny Rachitsky: https://www.youtube.com/@LennysPodcast
Book Recommendation: Three Horizons Framework by Bill Sharpe: https://www.amazon.com/Three-Horizons-Patterning-Bill-Sharpe/dp/1911193864 See less -
