Anna Maria Tejada is a partner at Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck in Hackensack, where she heads the labor and employment group in New Jersey. She founded what's become a very successful Hispanic Bar Association pipeline program at her alma mater, Passaic High School. The program mentors students in the law and other topics, focuses on likely first-generation college attendees, and was expanded more recently to Union City High School. She is active in other Hispanic Bar Association programs, among other organizations, and is co-chair of Kaufman Dolowich's women's initiative.

What's your single best piece of advice for handling a crisis?

Keep calm. Act promptly but not hastily. Allow yourself to examine and evaluate the situation before responding or jumping to conclusions. Assess the facts and distinguish between real information and misinformation. Once you have given yourself time to examine the situation, you will know who to speak with, what to do, and ultimately how to respond to the crisis.

Name a mentor or someone you admire, and why.

My mother, Maria Tejada. She came to this country to provide my sisters and me with the opportunity to pursue the American Dream. She left her home at the age of 21, so that I could later on at the same age of 21 start law school and embark on my own personal journey of becoming an attorney. Thanks to her, I have learned the important ingredients to success: (1) access to education, (2) a strong work ethic, (3) perseverance, (4) being true to yourself and your roots, and (5) never forgetting those who come behind you.

Best advice you ever got…

Don't let anyone or a particular situation define you. Often times, people make incorrect or misguided assumptions about who you are, who you should be, and the types of experiences that you may have from their own biases or experiences. When these encounters occur in a professional setting, initially you are caught off guard, which may lead you to question your qualifications. Never allow others' biases or insecurities to cloud your perspective about your accomplishments. You are the only one who can define who you are or who you want to be. Use these experiences as motivation to continue elevating your profession and achieving your goals.

What has the #MeToo movement meant to the legal profession?

Women fought for the right to vote in 1920 in the United States. Nearly 100 years later, women raise their voices to fight against sexual harassment and sexual assault. Simply put, women are fighting for their rights to be respected. As lawyers, we are in the unique position to shape law and guide policy as to appropriate and acceptable behavior in the workplace and in society with respect to how women are treated and viewed in the workplace.

In 50 words or less, what does the legal profession need to do to improve opportunities for women lawyers?

Invest in the development and advancement of women attorneys by actively sponsoring women from law school and throughout their career path.  Acknowledge that “work-life” balance does not exist and that women with children have to maneuver under a great amount of pressure and responsibility to effectively advance in the legal profession.