LIYA DJAMILOVA
Owner & Attorney
Liya leads with resilience, advocating for the immigrant community by proactively ensuring access to resources and legal support. Her team provides pro bono services through webinars, clinics, and consultations.
Reflecting on the last year, what new quote, book, or piece of advice has most influenced you as a woman leader?
Take the lead in helping the community. Your community may not even be aware of the help they need, can use, or have access to—unless you show them. Don't wait for them to ask; offer it up yourself.
If you had to choose a single word that captures your current approach to leadership, what would it be and why?
Resilience.
The year 2025 brought yet another wave of challenges to the immigrant community. The only way to get through is with resilience, and I have to lead the way for my clients.
How have you and your team continued (or adapted) your efforts to give back to the community over the past year? Please share a specific recent initiative or story that you’re especially proud of—what was the impact, and how did it shape your leadership?
My team and I continue to participate in pro bono work, including webinars, clinics, and consultations for immigrants who cannot afford a lawyer.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, which woman—past or present—continues to inspire your work as a community leader, and why?
Rosa Parks. Just imagine how scary it must have been to take that seat on the bus. Still, she did it, knowing the consequences. You hit the wall with your head, and the wall wins—until it doesn’t. So here we are, waiting for a bus to come so we can take our seat on it.
What challenges and opportunities do you foresee for women leaders in your field or community over the next year, and how are you preparing to meet them? If you had to give one piece of advice to a woman stepping into a leadership role today, what would it be?
It’s not going to be easy. Does that mean you shouldn’t do it? Actually, quite the opposite—you absolutely should. That way, you can at least say you did your best.