INTA’s Women’s LeadershIP Initiative Advocates for Representation, Work/Life Balance at 2023 Workshops

INTA launched the Women’s LeadershIP Initiative (WLI) in 2020 to address gender diversity issues in the intellectual property (IP) space and to help women progress in their careers. The Initiative has maintained a presence at INTA events through workshops and panel discussions aimed at fostering the development of leadership skills for women in the IP field and will host its next workshop at the 2023 Annual Meeting Live+ in Singapore.

On March 23, INTA’s The Business of Data Conference in New York City featured a panel moderated by INTA Vice President Deborah Hampton (The Chemours Company FC, LLC, USA), on “Advancing Women in Technology (STEM): Challenges and Opportunities.”

Ms. Hampton shared her powerful reflections on the intersectionality of gender and race and its many complexities in her opening remarks. Panelist Lisa Knight (AIG, USA) recounted her journey from engineer to patent attorney. She highlighted the importance of being part of a dynamic work group and the role cooperation played as her career advanced.

Lata Setty (How Women Invest, USA) inspired the audience with her discussion of exceptional woman-owned businesses. She described how, in her experience, capital and guidance from other women are crucial for entrepreneurs to believe in themselves.

Reflecting on her experience working in a primarily female team in technology, Nuria López (Daniel Law, Brazil) noted how her past experiences in a predominantly male field were informative. She explained how the support and cooperation of other women not only leads to increased representation but is also changing the field as more women pursue careers in technology.

The WLI will host its next workshop on Thursday, May 18, at the 2023 Annual Meeting Live+. Titled “Shifting the Scales: Creating Allies by Inviting a Balanced and Retainable Support Structure,” the workshop is open to all registrants and is focused on work and life integration.

Ms. Hampton and INTA Past President David Lossignol (Novartis International AG, Switzerland) will kick things off with an update on the WLI’s recent achievements. Mr. Lossignol will moderate a panel discussion featuring a diverse group of women leaders from within the IP field and beyond. Speakers will include Jennifer Jones (Rotary International, USA), LeanIn co-founder Uma Thana Balasingham (VMware, Singapore), Rachel Armstrong (Gowling WLG, United Arab Emirates), and Auma Reggy (McKesson Corporation, USA). The workshop will conclude with a breakout session where the panelists will join registrants as they share their goals and brainstorm action plans.

Registrants of all genders are encouraged and welcome to participate in the workshop and contribute to an important and lively discussion on work-life balance, integration, and how to achieve success … for both women and men!

Register to attend the workshop by searching for the session using Product Code: 2023AM_WIL.