Beyond Skin Deep: Presence, Style and Power 

Join The Advancement Initiative for an evening of style and substance at M.M.LaFleur Bryant Park designed to provide an opportunity for members and friends to connect, get to know one another, and elevate their presence and professional style. All tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the door. Doors will open at 5:30 for networking and shopping, with a panel discussion beginning at 6:15pm.

A female founded and woman-led small business, M.M.LaFleur is a fashion brand built on a core belief: when women succeed the world is a better place. After a brief presentation on M.M.LaFleur’s brand, product, and styling offering, as well as current most-loved silhouettes and fabrics for fall, guests will mingle with one another over drinks and light bites, and receive mini consultations with our expert styling team to find the perfect pieces to round out their cool-weather wardrobes. All guests will receive 20% off their purchases that evening.

This evening is generously cosponsored by the Association of Black Women Attorneys (ABWA)

10% of proceeds from the evening will be donated to Bottomless Closet.

Ms. Vanessa Thomas is an accomplished legal professional with extensive expertise in employment law, and currently serving as Assistant General Counsel at Johnson &Johnson. In this role Vanessa consistently provides strategic counsel on employment-related matters, offering innovative solutions, fostering employee engagement, and effectively mitigating litigation risks. 

Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, Vanessa held key roles as Senior Associate General Counsel and Associate General Counsel at Northwell Health, where she advised various stakeholders on matters ranging from board governance and acquisitions to employee relations. Her contributions extended to restructuring the board of trustees, supervising junior attorneys, and ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks. 

Vanessa’s legal career began at prestigious firms, Hogan Lovells and Proskauer Rose LLP, where she honed her skills in litigation and labor and employment law. Notable achievements include successfully defending employers in complex litigation, counseling employers during collective bargaining negotiations, and publishing in the New York Law Journal. 

Vanessa holds a J.D. from Duke University School of Law, where she was honored as a merit-based scholarship recipient. Additionally, she earned her B.A. cum laude in Sociology from Princeton University. Vanessa’s commitment to excellence, combined with her strategic and creative thinking, continues to drive her contributions in the dynamic field of employment law.

Robin represents clients across the nation in a broad range of complex commercial litigation and high-profile disputes, including fraud, anti-corruption, consumer protection, mass tort and product liability, cybersecurity and data privacy litigation and investigations, insurance, contractual disputes, and financial and securities litigation. She regularly advises clients in conducting sensitive internal investigations and represents clients who are subject to state or federal regulatory investigations.

With substantial trial experience in federal, state, and appellate courts, Robin has a deep knowledge in commercial, government-facing, and appellate litigation, as well as strategic counseling in high-stakes cases, anti-discrimination matters, and investigations.

Throughout her tenured career, she has represented companies and executives in white-collar investigations, securities disputes, bankruptcy proceedings, complex litigations, regulatory enforcement actions, and gone before government agencies. Additionally, she’s an experienced leader and has led a team of attorneys in response to insider trading and antitrust investigations.

Renada Williams joined Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. as Vice President, Head of Legal, at the tail end of 2022. Providing strategic advice and counsel regarding intellectual property, complex commercial agreements, employment matters, corporate compliance, and governance. In 2023, her role was expanded to include the management of human resources where she serves as a strategic partner to the President on all things people and culture. Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. is an e-commerce apparel and fashion brand with a purpose-driven business model. With over 40 years in business, the brand remains committed to using its platform to create social impact.

Before joining KCP, Renada served as Associate General Counsel at The Vitamin Shoppe. While there, Renada managed the trademark portfolio, provided strategic advice and counsel to business units, and managed a junior attorney.

In addition to her professional pursuits, Renada serves the legal community by volunteering on the board of the New Jersey Women's Lawyers Association. In recognition of her professional and community involvement, she was honored by the Executive Women of New Jersey as a 2022 Salute to the Policy Makers Honoree.

Anna Maria Tejada is Assistant General Counsel, Employment Law at S&P Global. She previously worked as a partner at major law firms representing employers, attorneys, school boards, parents and municipalities in state and federal courts as well as in administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Division on Civil Rights and the Office of Administrative Law.

Prior to her successful career in private practice, served as an Equal Justice Works Fellow for the Education Law Center where she assisted in enforcement proceedings of the landmark decisions of Abbott v. Burke. Ms. Tejada served as an Appellate Clerk for the Honorable John E. Wallace, Jr., now retired, from the Supreme Court of New Jersey and interned in law school for the Honorable John W. Bissell, United States District of New Jersey.

Ms. Tejada frequently participates in mentoring programs for inner city youths in her home town of Passaic, as well as other locations in New Jersey. Among her many leadership roles, Anna Maria previously served as president of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey and the Executive Women of New Jersey.

Natalya G. Johnson, Esq. is a skilled corporate counsel with expertise in employment strategies, litigation, and impactful community leadership. Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, she represented private and public sector clients in federal and state litigation and trial matters. Natalya co-founded the Advancement Initiative (AI) in 2017. AI’s objective is to harness the strength of personal and professional networks to foster mentorship and opportunities in law and business. Natalya currently serves as President of the Garden State Bar Foundation, Inc. (GSBF) and Past-President of the Garden State Bar Association (GSBA).  A proud alumna of Cornell University and Cornell Law School, Natalya previously served on the Executive Board of Directors of Cornell Law School’s Alumni Association and the President’s Council of Cornell Women.  

Committed to pro bono service, Natalya started her legal career as an attorney fellow with Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ). In 2024, she joined the Board of Trustees of Public Media NJ, the operator of NJ PBS.  

  Natalya has been widely recognized for her professional and community achievements. She was named a 2020 Professional Lawyer of the Year honoree by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law. She was also named a ROI-NJ 2022, 2023, 2024 Influencer Women in Business and Power lists and recognized by the Executive Women of New Jersey as a 2022 Salute to Policy Makers honoree. The African American Chamber of Commerce of NJ and the South Asian Bar Association of NJ honored Natalya with Community Partner Awards in 2023. Recently, the New Jersey Law Journal recognized Natalya as the 2023 Attorney of the Year.  

A dynamic and sought-after speaker, Natalya is often called upon to lead workshops, seminars and panels on topics such as women in inclusive leadership, business, communication, the practice of law, non-profits, mental health and faith.