Early Influencers: “My mother and aunt who were deprived of a formal education in Cape Verde, and Mrs. Nancy Maguire, my fifth grade teacher in South Boston, who convinced me that even I—a poor girl from Cape Verde, Africa—can become a lawyer.” Takeaway from US District Court Clerkship: Pay close attention to details. Legal Practice: Complex commercial litigation at Atlanta’s McGuireWoods. Georgia on My Mind: Sworn into the Georgia state bar by mentor, friend, and BC Law alumnus Judge Thomas Cox ’87. Things Happen for a Reason: A wrong turn onto LA’s skid row streets inspired her to create Project 5K, making and passing out 5,000 sandwiches to skid row’s homeless in one year.