International Trademark Association Rolls Out ‘The Women’s LeadershIP Initiative’ to Empower Women and Advance Professional Development

New York, New York—March 6, 2020—The International Trademark Association (INTA) today unveiled “The Women’s LeadershIP Initiative” to foster the development of strong leadership skills for women in the intellectual property (IP) field and empower them to advance their careers to the next level.

The rollout of the initiative coincides with International Women’s Day, March 8, which celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while also issuing a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. This year’s theme is, “An equal world is an enabled world.”

The Women’s LeadershIP Initiative will look at how INTA can further support and add value to its members and other stakeholders today and in the future. It will involve a variety of elements, including workshops promoting the exchange of views among women on issues such as gender parity, career development, and work-life integration; and the formation of networking and educational events and targeted content to foster women’s talent and professional growth. In addition, social media campaigns will share the experiences and celebrate the achievements of women in IP.

The initiative aligns with the priorities of INTA 2020 President Ayala Deutsch, as well as the Association’s long-term commitment to diversity and inclusion and other aspects of corporate social responsibility. In line with INTA’s strategic plan, the Association will grow The Women’s LeadershIP Initiative beyond this year, into a sustained program that actively champions women as leaders in IP.

Among her priorities, Ms. Deutsch has established a Presidential Taskforce that will explore how to be an “all-star IP practitioner”—regardless of gender. The Women’s LeadershIP Initiative goes a step further, addressing ways to reverse underrepresentation and career development and leadership gaps for women in IP globally. 

“INTA’s new women’s initiative comes at a pivotal time, when we can leverage the long overdue focus on gender equality that’s emerging from all different business sectors and all different parts of the world,” said Ms. Deutsch, Executive Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at NBA Properties, Inc., based in New York. “By joining together to support women and advocate for change,” she continued, “we can help women reach positions of leadership that are well-deserved both for their own professional advancement and to make sure we are helping women unlock all that they can contribute to the intellectual property field.” 

In announcing The Women’s LeadershIP Initiative, INTA emphasized that while acknowledging gaps, it is also important to recognize inclusivity and the significant accomplishments of women in the industry. For example, at the Association itself, the number of women in leadership positions is notable: since 2000, 10 INTA presidents, including Ms. Deutsch, have been women; and currently, 5 of the 6 Officers of the Board of Directors, 15 of the 30 members of the Board, and 31 of the 70 committee chairs and vice chairs are women.  

To mark the start of the project, the latest episode of INTA’s podcast, Brand & New, to be posted March 8, features an interview with Ms. Deutsch. Future episodes will highlight other women in IP.
 
About the International Trademark Association
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and related intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation. Members include more than 7,200 trademark owners, professionals, and academics from 187 countries, who benefit from the Association’s global trademark resources, policy development, education and training, and international network. Founded in 1878, INTA is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Brussels, Santiago, Shanghai, Singapore, and Washington, D.C., and representatives in Geneva and New Delhi. For more information, visit inta.org.