Leadership Coaching
The Leadership Initiative provides leadership coaching for law students and law school staff who are involved in building leadership capacity in other law students, including students occupying leadership roles in student organizations, Davis Polk Leadership Fellows, Innovation Grant recipients, student mentors and peer coaches, teaching assistants, and students leading projects requiring leadership skills.
Coaches with substantial and varied experience supporting leadership development in the public and private sector are available to meet individually or in groups with students and staff to help them maximize their own impact and the impact of others.
If you would like to meet with either of our Coaches, please don't hesitate to send us an email at [email protected]. You can also contact Eunice Hong at [email protected].
"In my experience, the most meaningful part of the Leadership Initiative was getting to connect with mentors who were truly willing to invest their time, energy, and focus into helping me achieve the growth and success of my project." - Kori Cooper, Fellow 2019-2020
Leadership Coaches
Richard is an adjunct professor at Columbia Law School, where he co-teaches the Lawyer Leadership practicum. He is also the Deputy Executive Director at the Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools at New York University (Metro Center), where he provides support and strategic assistance to Metro Center’s community organizing/engagement and school transformation programs.
Before joining the Metro Center, Richard ran the New York office for Brown University’s Annenberg Institute for School Reform and was Director of the Institute’s Community Organizing and Engagement Division. Before Annenberg, Richard was the Director of National Technical Assistance at New York University’s Institute for Education and Social Policy and the Co-Executive Director of the National Coalition of Advocates for Students, a nationwide network of child advocacy organizations that work to improve the access of quality public education to student populations who have traditionally been underserved by public schools.
Richard received his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and his B.A. from Brown University.
Warren is an Experienced Practitioner in Residence at Columbia Law School. He previously served as a Hiring Partner at Davis Polk, and, in the derivatives group, helped to develop the firm’s structured product practice. He has extensive experience both leading complex cross-border transactions for sophisticated clients and recruiting and preparing law students to be successful lawyers. He has helped summer and full-time associates successfully navigate law firm life; develop and execute individual career strategies; build the capacity to work effectively on teams; learn to interact effectively with clients, partners, peers and others; and understand how to form and nurture strong professional networks.
Marissa Zalk is the Director of Graduate Student Affairs at Columbia Law School, where she works closely with law students as an advisor and coach. Prior to joining Columbia, Marissa practiced law at Levine Lee LLP and served as a judicial law clerk in the Southern District of New York. Marissa is a certified executive and organizational coach, having completed the Columbia Coaching Certificate Program (3CP) through Columbia Business School and Teachers College. As a coach, Marissa believes that law students are creative and resourceful, and can learn about themselves by reflecting on their experiences in the presence of a supportive and respectful thought-partner. She works with law students to set goals and contemplate possibilities which encourage individuals to move beyond present limits.