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Tanya N. Blocker, President, Association of Black Women Attorneys

Q: What are some of your proudest recent achievements?

A: I would be remiss if I did not list receiving this Distinguished Leadership Award from the New York Law Journal as among one of my most gratifying recent achievements. Being the youngest, both in age and experience, among my cohort of luminaries and change leaders receiving this award is not lost on me. I would also add to the top of that list the successful collaboration with Christian Louboutin for ABWA's Empowerment Series—a series designed to promote thought-provoking and candid conversation as well as change the narrative about women attorneys of color. Moreover, the galvanizing and formation of the Women's Leadership of Color Collaborative under my stewardship to celebrate, inspire, and promote women of color in leadership roles is also a recent achievement for which I am most proud.

Q: What does it mean to be a leader?

A: Leadership is not a spectator sport; rather successful leadership to me is service by example. A good leader must be selfless and have the ability to both execute as well as manage, listen as well as communicate effectively, and manage complexities all while fostering growth and inspiring others.

Q: Name a lawyer or mentor whose leadership inspired you.

A: While this may sound trite, Michelle Obama is absolutely at the top of my list alongside my mother. Both women are uninhibited by others' perceptions of them and continuously place others before themselves. Embodied in them are attributes of integrity, resilience, perseverance, juxtaposed with traits of authority, empathy, strength and the ability to inspire—all attributes I ascribe to and seek to emulate.

Q: How are the business and profession of law changing, and how should lawyers adapt for the future?

Tenets of the law are challenged constantly, and in some instances rightfully so. Rather than adapt, I encourage lawyers to play an active role in the change where appropriate. Lawyers should never cease growing, learning and evolving. We should continue to strive for excellence never underestimating our impact while keeping the integrity of the law as our benchmark. This combination, to me, is a recipe for success.

Q: What is the best advice for someone considering a career in law, or someone already in the profession who is seeking to make a greater impact?

A: A healthy dose of fearlessness is key to having a great impact. Attorneys should be open to taking strategic risks with the understanding that while disappointments are inevitable, discouragement is a choice. We must not allow failure to deter us—for failure develops endurance, endurance strength of character, and strengthen of character hope.