NON-MEMBER MARCH WWBA NEWSLETTER

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Paying it Forward for National Mentoring Month
from page 1
mentoring, while offering practical guidance
on achieving effective mentoring relationships,
i.e. relationships in which a
mentor listens and helps a mentee see the
qualities that may best help the mentee
succeed towards a chosen career goal,
and where a mentor is motivated by the
opportunity to connect with their mentee
and to offer guidance to newer members
of the profession. The panel discussed best
practices for developing mentor relationships
- be that through a formal mentoring
program, or organically by being on the
lookout for those more experienced attorneys
whose work and career you admire
Melissa Andrieux
On February 1, 2024,
Dorf Nelson & Zauderer LLP,
a national law firm based in
New York, hosted and cosponsored
the WWBA’s Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion
Committee’s program entitled
“Empowering Professional
Women: Navigating
the ’Yes’ Dilemma, Overcoming
Guilt, and Mastering
Work-Life Integration.”
as well as being cognizant of coworkers
who take an active interest and offer an
open door indicating their willingness to
listen and answer questions.
Speakers also addressed the difference
between sponsorship and mentorship, describing
how their individual careers have
been supported by both sponsors and
mentors. Sponsors were described as mentors
who also go a step further to sing your
professional praises to their own network,
i.e. your “hype man” (or “hype woman”
as the case may be). Speakers answered
questions from the audience, including
questions on how to maintain positive relationships
when leaving a job and how
to encourage young mentees to find confidence
in their work.
The program was the first in the
WWBA’s new continuing series on
mentorship and sponsorship and received
overwhelmingly positive feedback. It even
sparked some new mentor relationships.
Those who were unable to attend should
stay on the lookout for the next program in
the series.
Anyone interested in serving as a mentor
is encouraged to contact the co-chairs
of the Westchester Women’s Bar
Association’s Mentor Program (Christine
Paska, Sherry A. Bishko, and the Honorable
Kim Berg). ◗
WWBA Program Tackles Work-Life Integration
The well-attended event featured
a thought provoking
and engaging discussion led
by Emily Rentas, a Mental
Health Professional, Coach
and Educator, and moderated
by Melissa Andrieux.
WWBA members Jacqueline
Hattar, Melissa Andrieux
and Stephanie Melowsky
serve as co-chairs of the
Westchester Women’s Bar
Association’s Diversity, Equity
and Inclusion Committee.
Before and after the main
program, there was ample
opportunity for members to
network while having a light
lunch. The audience was
mostly women (with the exception
of DNZ partners and
allies Jonathan Nelson and
Jon Dorf) which cultivated a
refreshing atmosphere of
women supporting women.
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Emily Rentas created a supportive
space that encouraged
open and honest sharing
among the attendees, free
from judgment, about the
challenges we, as professional
women, face professionally
and personally. At the
end, we felt empowered and
ready to implement the tips
and strategies Emily Rentas
provided to achieve work-life
integration. ◗
Stephanie Melowsky, Emily Rentas,
Melissa Andrieux
Melissa Andrieux, Emily Rentas
Page 4
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News