Earlier this month, Proskauer was a proud participant in Student Leadership Network’s Cool Careers, Potential Paths day at their Young Women’s Leadership School of Manhattan. At the event, Firm volunteers, including lawyers and business staff, shared their education and career paths with a class of high school seniors. Our panelists discussed how choices they made shaped their successes and failures along the way, and talked about the importance of mentorship, soft skills, teamwork, participating in college activities, and the need for hard work and balance in one’s life. Brad Ruskin, co-chair of the Firm’s Sports Law Group has been a member of Student Leadership Network’s Board since 2014 and Board Chair since 2023.
The following are observations from two of the Proskauer volunteers:
Andrea Anaya, Communications Coordinator
What made this experience so meaningful was the shared sense of purpose. No one hesitated to offer advice, share insights, or open doors where they could. These young women are growing up in environments where opportunities like this might not naturally come their way, and yet here is an organization built to change that. I’ve had moments in my own education and career where I missed out on opportunities—not because I wasn’t interested or capable, but because I didn’t know they existed. That’s why I care deeply about conversations like this—because people don’t know what they don’t know, and sometimes, a single conversation can change the course of someone’s journey. The more we cultivate environments where young women feel seen, supported, and informed, the more we build a future where opportunities are open to all and not defined by one’s background.
Dorehn Coleman, Law Clerk
Walking into the school immediately took me back to my high school experience, heightening my sense that Proskauer’s participation was important. Hearing from and seeing a young female corporate lawyer as a teenager would have left a lasting impression on me. As someone who worked between undergrad and law school, I conveyed to the students that their path need not be linear, nor does it have to mirror that of others. I was overjoyed when a few of the students asked for my contact information at the end of our panel; I take pride in giving back to the community and aspire to become the mentor and resource that I wish I had growing up.
