Maureen P. Holland of Cozen O'Connor. Courtesy photo

Maureen Holland, Cozen O'Connor

What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

The best is hard to say, but an excellent piece of advice I received recently was this: know the difference between a mentor and a sponsor—and make sure you have both. Attorneys like myself, who identify as members of groups historically underrepresented in the legal profession, tend to be over mentored but under sponsored. As valuable as it is to have mentors to provide advice, feedback, and support, it is equally important to have sponsors who can lift us up in more public ways—through client introductions, nominations for promotions or other recognitions, board position referrals, and public praise of excellent work. I am very fortunate to have wonderful sponsors and mentors.

If you didn't become a lawyer, what career path would you have pursued?