LexOrbis recently organised the 17th session of the American Intellectual Property Law (AIPLA) Women in IP Global Networking Event 2024 in India. The event was held across five vibrant cities, including New Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Hyderabad, and was an echoing success. This year’s theme was “Cultivating Leaders”, and the series of events in different cities witnessed esteemed panellists and registered attendees from various backgrounds and industries coming together to share their valuable opinions, thoughts, and suggestions on leadership and mentorship. Over 370 people attended the events, including lawyers, entrepreneurs, academics, and corporate professionals, making it a truly diverse and inclusive event. The event was a great opportunity to network and learn from each other’s experiences and challenges in the fast-evolving world of intellectual property law.
The experts on the panels had thorough discussions about the meaning of cultivating leaders, and it’s the current professional hemisphere. They also talked about the significance of social and environmental factors in building more leaders, the role of policymakers in ensuring equal benefits for all members of society, the biggest obstacles faced by women professionals and ways to overcome them, as well as how to measure success beyond economic indicators. Additionally, the panellists explored the role of women in supporting each other, how to increase their participation in leadership roles, how organisations can contribute to cultivating women leaders, and the incentives needed to encourage them.
Event Highlights
New Delhi | April 18, 2024 | India Habitat Centre
The New Delhi chapter on April 18, 2024, started off with a welcome note and theme address delivered by Ms. Manisha Singh, Managing Partner at LexOrbis, featuring eminent guest speakers, including Dr Malathi Lakshmikumaran, Executive Director and Practice Head at Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan; Ms. Bithika Anand, Founder and CEO of Legal League Consulting; Prof. (Dr. ) Alka Chawla, Professor-In-Charge at CLC; Ms. Shilpi Jha, Senior Commercial Specialist & IP Policy Advisor-South Asia at USPTO; and Ms. Himanshi Kharb, Assistant Controller of Patents & Designs at Indian Patent Office. The session was moderated by Ms. Gauri Kumar, IP Law & Policy Expert.
During the engaging and thought-provoking discussions, each participant shared their unique personal journey, detailing the obstacles they had faced and triumphed over. They also offered insightful perspectives on how the intellectual property ecosystem is evolving for women, both in India and around the world. The group also discussed the exciting and diverse opportunities that women are now fortunate to have, as well as the critical role that mentorship and networking play in cultivating future women leaders.
From L to R – Dr Malathi Lakshmikumaran, Prof. (Dr. ) Alka Chawla, Ms. Himanshi Kharb, Ms. Bithika Anand, Ms. Shilpi Jha, and Ms. Gauri Kumar
Pune | April 19, 2024 | JW Marriott Hotel
The Pune chapter of the event on April 19, 2024, had the stage set off with a welcome note and theme address delivered by Ms. Manisha Singh, Managing Partner at LexOrbis. The event was graced with the presence of esteemed guest speakers such as Dr. Nitin Shukla, Principal Scientist & Head IPR Group at National Chemical Laboratory; Dr. Niti Dewan, Patent & Trademark Attorney, Head of Patents & Business Development at R K Dewan & Co.; Ms. Smita Raktawan, Lead-Prosecution, IP & Engineering, FRS Services at Tata Consultancy Services; and Ms. Ahna Agrawal, Officer-Intellectual Property Rights at Uno Minda Limited. The thought-provoking session was moderated by Ms. Harshada Wadkar, Senior Manager – BD & Tech Transfer (Emerging Tech) at IKP Knowledge Park.
During the panel discussion, each of the panellists shared their unique leadership journeys and the challenges they encountered along the way. They provided detailed insights on how to navigate barriers and biases, including strategies to overcome them and ways to advocate for oneself.
The discussion also delved into the importance of building a supportive ecosystem, both at work and in personal life, to achieve personal and professional growth. The panellists emphasised the value of having mentors and sponsors who can guide and support one’s career advancement.
From L to R – Ms. Ahna Agrawal, Ms. Smita Raktawan, Dr. Nitin Shukla, Dr. Nitin Dewan, and Ms. Harshada Wadkar
In addition, the emerging trends and opportunities in intellectual property (IP) were discussed, including the latest developments and challenges in the field. The panellists also highlighted the importance of networking and how it can help individuals make meaningful connections, learn about new opportunities, and advance in their careers. Overall, the panel discussion was insightful and informative, providing attendees with a wealth of knowledge and guidance on how to succeed in their careers.
Ahmedabad | April 22, 2024 | Hyatt Regency
On April 22, 2024, LexOrbis hosted the third chapter of the event in Ahmedabad, which welcomed on stage renowned guest speakers, including Ms. Gopi Jatin Trivedi, Senior Partner at Y.J. Trivedi & Co.; Ms. Dipmala Mathapati, Assistant Registrar of Trademarks and GI at the Trademarks Registry, Ahmedabad; Dr. Maryam Kaveshgar, Assistant Professor at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Ahmedabad University; and Ms. Shaina Shah, Director of the International Centre for Entrepreneurship & Career Development. The session was moderated by Ms. Nidhi Buch, Associate Professor at Gujarat National Law University.
From L to R – Ms. Nidhi Buch, Ms. Dipmala Mathapati, Ms. Gopi Jatin Trivedi, Dr. Maryam Kaveshgar, and Ms. Shaina Shah
During the session, the speakers provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by women innovators in their journey towards intellectual property (IP) and leadership roles. They also highlighted the importance of nurturing and mentoring women innovators to help them overcome these challenges and achieve their milestones. The discussion covered various aspects of the IP journey, including the challenges of securing funding, navigating the patent application process, and dealing with legal issues.
The speakers also emphasised the need for greater support for women innovators and shared success stories of women who had overcome these challenges to become successful leaders in their fields. Overall, the session was informative and inspiring, providing valuable insights into the experiences of women innovators and the importance of supporting them on their journey towards success.
Chennai | April 24, 2024 | Taj Connemara
Chennai had the stage set on April 24, 2024, featuring distinguished guest speakers such as Ms. Mahalakshmi Balasubramaniam, Deputy Controller of Patents & Designs; Ms. Priya Menon, Journalist & Founder; Ms. Baminee Viswanat, Global General Counsel; Ms. Divya Abhishek, FICCI FLO Chennai’s Chairperson and moderator Ms. Sudha Ramalingam, Senior Advocate & Women Activist.
From L to R – Ms. Sudha Ramalingam, Ms. Mahalakshmi Balasubramaniam, Ms. Baminee Viswanat, Ms. Divya Abhishek, and Ms. Priya Menon
During the discussion, the panellists focused on the importance of fostering a supportive ecosystem that would help women in the field of intellectual property (IP) to thrive. The conversation revolved around the need for effective mentorship programs that would help women develop their skills and competencies and provide them with the guidance necessary to navigate the professional landscape.
The participants also highlighted the importance of finding a balance between career aspirations and personal life commitments, as this is crucial for achieving sustained professional growth. Overall, the conversation was a productive one, and the audience left with a better understanding of how to build a more equitable and supportive environment for women in IP.
Hyderabad | April 25, 2024 | Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre
The series of events concluded in Hyderabad on April 25, 2024, with eminent guest speakers Ms. Karuna Sree Yenishetti, General Manager at HETERO LABS Ltd.; Dr. Divya Singh, Business Development and IP Officer at CSIR-CCMB; Ms. Swati Tata, Executive Officer, IPR South, CII Telangana State Office; Ms. Nirupa Vijayumar, Lead, Programs and Accelerator at CIE IIIT Hyderabad; Ms. Anuradha Barua, Manager-Admin & Paralegal at IKP PRIME, IKP Knowledge Park and moderator Dr. R. Kalapana Sastry, Managing Director at AgHub setting the theme of the day.
From L to R – Dr. Divya Singh, Ms. Swati Tata, Dr. R. Kalapana Sastry, Ms. Nirupa Vijayumar, Ms. Anuradha Barua, and Ms. Karuna Sree Yenishetti
The panellists shared their unique journeys, both personally and professionally, during the discussion. They emphasised the need to support, mentor and empower one another and encouraged women to take the lead in their careers. The speakers highlighted how determination and perseverance can help overcome any obstacles that come in the way.
Moreover, they pointed out that the traits of leadership are not exclusive to men anymore, and women can be just as effective as men in leadership roles. Overall, the panel discussion was an inspiring and informative session that left the audience feeling motivated and empowered.
The unwavering enthusiasm and boundless passion exuded by both the esteemed panellists and the enthusiastic attendees played an indispensable role in the seamless organisation and resounding success of the prestigious event. Their collective efforts and fervour brought together a group of remarkable women who are truly admirable and made the event a truly memorable experience. The firm reaffirms its unwavering dedication to advancing women’s leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion and anticipates more such endeavours geared towards cultivating women leaders within the IP sphere.
The GI Products Exhibition, which was organised by Haath Ka Bana, was an exceptional addition to the event, and it played an instrumental role in the firm’s efforts to promote the works of local artisans. The exhibition showcased a wide range of locally made handicrafts, including textiles, pottery, jewellery, and other decorative items, and it drew the attention of both locals and visitors alike.
Overall, the event was a resounding success, with the participants and distinguished panellists sharing their valuable insights, opinions, beliefs, and suggestions on how to cultivate future leaders. LexOrbis remains committed to continuing its efforts to promote local artisans and support their growth and development, and it looks forward to future opportunities to engage with the community and inspire new generations of leaders.