Alan Tarter, Managing Partner, Tarter Krinsky & Drogin

What are some of your proudest recent achievements? I am proud of two professional development programs we built at the firm: the GOAL program and the Pipeline program.

One of our first employees, Tanya Duprey, started with us many years ago as a secretary. From the beginning, Tanya demonstrated a tremendous appetite for learning and growth. As our firm evolved, she took on new responsibilities and positions. Every step of the way, we supported Tanya through continuing education, training and professional development. Today, Tanya is our firm administrator and recently served as President of the Association of Legal Administrators—New York City. Tanya may not realize it, but she was the inspiration for our GOAL program (which stands for Go Out and Learn and Lead). The GOAL Program enables every team member at the firm to pursue a professional goal or learning objective each year, and the firm supports the GOAL economically or otherwise. Recent examples of GOALs undertaken by our colleagues include becoming a mediator, publishing a book, becoming a certified fraud examiner, improving executive presence and public speaking, and fitness and wellness goals, among others.

Our Pipeline program is a business development initiative we began in 2017. This program provides participating lawyers with the critical skills they need to generate new business and develop stronger professional relationships. Each month, we meet to brainstorm leads, discuss tactics and outreach, and report on progress and roadblocks. I'm proud to see my co-workers generating new business through this initiative.

What does it mean to be a leader? There are so many qualities that define a leader, but here are a few that come to mind:

• Support and motivate your team members to become their best professional selves and to grow personally, professionally and as an organization.
• Allow colleagues to take measured risks and make mistakes. This is how people learn and grow.
• Always tell the truth. Trust is critical.
• Be optimistic. Successful organizations have an optimistic mindset.

Name a lawyer or mentor whose leadership inspired you. I was fortunate to have worked for two amazing lawyers early on in my career, Alan Weil and Mary Ann Villari, at my first firm, Battle Fowler (now known as Paul Hastings). Mary Ann taught me the fundamentals of transactional law and the importance of professionalism at the very highest level. Alan showed me how to follow the business needs of clients and to embrace, learn and help develop legal and business practices in new areas. I have also always been inspired by my father, who taught me the value of relationships and whose entrepreneurship was contagious.

How are the business and profession of law changing, and how should lawyers adapt for the future? The business climate of today, including our industry, is more competitive than ever. We should proactively support our clients as they chart new paths. This may result in lawyers taking on different roles and responsibilities. As organizations, we need to be agile and open to modifying our structures to accommodate these evolving needs.

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? Continue to proactively learn about your area of law, yourself, your clients and the world around you every single day. Become a resource to others through what you know and how you can help them. Don't be afraid to be your authentic self.