Intellectual Property: A Multi-faceted Career for the Naturally, Multi-disciplined Woman10 October 2012 by Ms Mamue Kamm MSc Systems Eng.; BSc (Hons) Electronic & Electrical Eng.
The author is currently an IP & Business freelance consultant, with several years of indepth knowledge, application, and appreciation of IP, both nationally and internationally. Her present focus being within IP consulting and strategic asset management. All viewpoints expressed are solely hers.
As women we seem to have the uncanny ability of juggling several balls at the same time, in career, marriage and motherhood, amongst others.In this article I portray a career in Intellectual Property (IP) as a niche area that, when properly accessed can suit a myriad of talents, personalities and aspirations.
IP in itself is a hub for several key skills and career arenas. These cover a broad range that extends from scientific & technological, legal, to business and financial. A career in IP most times requires a holistic knowledge of, and focus within these areas, and in tandem.
This discourse is meant to illustrate how a successful IP career can be pursued from different angles and to suit the evolving perspectives of a woman IP practitioner. It is neither an exhaustive treatise on the dimensions of IP career choices, nor of its professional ‘players and champions’.
The challenge in an IP career, for a woman, not only lies in gaining academic and professional nous, but in seeking ways to utilise these coherently and in whatever sphere one chooses.
There is a leaning, in this account, towards the Patent IP professional1, as this person’s remit usually encapsulates all aspects of intellectual property to include the scientific/technological areas as well. It not an attempt to denigrate or detract from the professionalism or other, of the status of the non-scientific IP professional. Furthermore, it draws largely from the author’s personal experience and observation.
Several young women training in Science and technology-based higher education are not aware of a career in Intellectual Property2. It seems to appeal to a ‘rare beast’ , who is happy to work hard in blending together what could be considered quality disparate careers in their own standing, viz, Science (including engineering and technology), and Law. However, the rewards are multi-fold as they extend and stretch the already analytical and qualitative mind, into becoming even more discerning and attuned to the “wider scheme of things” within innovation, business and finance.
The journey seems arduous attimes, but it opens up to a wealth of possibilities. A career in the prosecution and protection of Intellectual Property rights of all genre, is riveting enough and offers great fulfilment, generally. The hours are long, it necessitates rigorous learning to draft patent claims under the supervision and guidance of a patent attorney/agent ( most times a partner at the firm)3, and one is still required to study for and sit professional postgraduate exams, with most of the lectures being after a long day’s work. It tests one’s mettle, especially as it is generally not too conducive to the needs of a career mother with young offspring.
But the skills gained are invaluable and could open up several avenues, and all still within the aegis of IP. It could lead to a registered IP agent/attorney status with sight of partnership in prestigious Patent & Trademark firms; it could lead down the path of an international career in the regulation and harmonisation of the IP laws of several countries; it could lead to a career in litigation in an area of law which has become very fashionable in our knowledge-based society; it could lead to a career in IP advisory and consultancy paramount to SMEs and Technology Transfer firms, etc; or to a career in the commercialisation and monetisation of Intellectual Capital (that is IP and other ‘related business rights’such as customer lists, etc.) It offers a vast choice of possibilities, that tie-in nicely with other ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ skills gained along the way. ‘Hard’ skills such as business and financial knowledge and collaborating ‘soft’ skills such as negotiation and client relationship management.
In a nutshell, IP is a most challenging, versatile and rewarding career for a woman, as its mere essence seems to suit our innate multi-disciplined and multi-faceted approach to all aspects of our lives.
1. A scientific qualification being a pre-requisite for patent work, not so for trademarks, copyright,etc. However the patent practitioner usually does work in these latter areas too.
2 The author married into a family of inventors and started her career in IP as a young mother of a toddler.
3 A nod always to the first Partner I worked for – a gentleman of great patience and kindness.
The author is currently an IP & Business freelance consultant, with several years of indepth knowledge, application, and appreciation of IP, both nationally and internationally. Her present focus being within IP consulting and strategic asset management. All viewpoints expressed are solely hers.
As women we seem to have the uncanny ability of juggling several balls at the same time, in career, marriage and motherhood, amongst others.In this article I portray a career in Intellectual Property (IP) as a niche area that, when properly accessed can suit a myriad of talents, personalities and aspirations.
IP in itself is a hub for several key skills and career arenas. These cover a broad range that extends from scientific & technological, legal, to business and financial. A career in IP most times requires a holistic knowledge of, and focus within these areas, and in tandem.
This discourse is meant to illustrate how a successful IP career can be pursued from different angles and to suit the evolving perspectives of a woman IP practitioner. It is neither an exhaustive treatise on the dimensions of IP career choices, nor of its professional ‘players and champions’.
The challenge in an IP career, for a woman, not only lies in gaining academic and professional nous, but in seeking ways to utilise these coherently and in whatever sphere one chooses.
There is a leaning, in this account, towards the Patent IP professional1, as this person’s remit usually encapsulates all aspects of intellectual property to include the scientific/technological areas as well. It not an attempt to denigrate or detract from the professionalism or other, of the status of the non-scientific IP professional. Furthermore, it draws largely from the author’s personal experience and observation.
Several young women training in Science and technology-based higher education are not aware of a career in Intellectual Property2. It seems to appeal to a ‘rare beast’ , who is happy to work hard in blending together what could be considered quality disparate careers in their own standing, viz, Science (including engineering and technology), and Law. However, the rewards are multi-fold as they extend and stretch the already analytical and qualitative mind, into becoming even more discerning and attuned to the “wider scheme of things” within innovation, business and finance.
The journey seems arduous attimes, but it opens up to a wealth of possibilities. A career in the prosecution and protection of Intellectual Property rights of all genre, is riveting enough and offers great fulfilment, generally. The hours are long, it necessitates rigorous learning to draft patent claims under the supervision and guidance of a patent attorney/agent ( most times a partner at the firm)3, and one is still required to study for and sit professional postgraduate exams, with most of the lectures being after a long day’s work. It tests one’s mettle, especially as it is generally not too conducive to the needs of a career mother with young offspring.
But the skills gained are invaluable and could open up several avenues, and all still within the aegis of IP. It could lead to a registered IP agent/attorney status with sight of partnership in prestigious Patent & Trademark firms; it could lead down the path of an international career in the regulation and harmonisation of the IP laws of several countries; it could lead to a career in litigation in an area of law which has become very fashionable in our knowledge-based society; it could lead to a career in IP advisory and consultancy paramount to SMEs and Technology Transfer firms, etc; or to a career in the commercialisation and monetisation of Intellectual Capital (that is IP and other ‘related business rights’such as customer lists, etc.) It offers a vast choice of possibilities, that tie-in nicely with other ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ skills gained along the way. ‘Hard’ skills such as business and financial knowledge and collaborating ‘soft’ skills such as negotiation and client relationship management.
In a nutshell, IP is a most challenging, versatile and rewarding career for a woman, as its mere essence seems to suit our innate multi-disciplined and multi-faceted approach to all aspects of our lives.
1. A scientific qualification being a pre-requisite for patent work, not so for trademarks, copyright,etc. However the patent practitioner usually does work in these latter areas too.
2 The author married into a family of inventors and started her career in IP as a young mother of a toddler.
3 A nod always to the first Partner I worked for – a gentleman of great patience and kindness.
