CLASS OF 2021
Widening the talent pool
The IP industry could be doing more to promote gender equality but women in the industry need to share their experiences and ‘sell’ the profession to young people, says Fiona McBride of Withers & Rogers.
Why is it important for women to be involved in the IP industry?
It’s important that more young people, women and men, have a career in IP on their radar. The industry needs talented people of all genders, sexual orientations and backgrounds to reflect the needs of society and to play a role in supporting innovative companies in bringing their inventions to market.
In the past, women have had less exposure to the IP industry due to their comparatively low take-up of science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses.
As a BSc degree is typically required to train to become a patent attorney, the volume of male applicants often exceeds those of women. However, this has changed in the last five or so years, and many more women are now opting for engineering and other science degrees, which is opening the door to a career in IP to more graduates each year.
IP firms need access to more talented young people who can play a role in strengthening global economies by helping companies of all sizes to commercialise their innovations and protect their brands.
Do you think COVID-19 has affected how women view their careers?
There are few aspects of life that have been untouched by the COVID-19 pandemic and IP has certainly been a conversation point over the past year, particularly in relation to the global race to develop safe and effective vaccines.
The switch to remote working has placed extra pressure on many parents with children at home as they try to juggle childcare responsibilities with a full-time career. For some working mothers, this has been an extremely challenging time, particularly if they have had to take on more responsibility for their child’s home schooling too.
On a positive note, many workplaces have changed for the better. At Withers & Rogers for example, we have adopted more agile and flexible working arrangements which allow employees to start earlier or finish later to accommodate childcare or other commitments, and the option to work from home remains for everyone.
While there are core hours when we need to be available for our clients, this way of working allows individuals to work out the best routine for themselves.
”In the past, women have had less exposure to the IP industry due to their comparatively low take-up of science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses.”
Fiona McBride, Withers & Rogers
Could the industry do more to encourage women to consider a career in IP?
The industry is evolving and organisations such as IP Inclusive are supporting this process, but there’s always more that could be done.
Young women need more exposure to jobs in specialist areas such as IP protection, whether that’s through career fairs, school visits or work experience placements. When I was studying at university, I discovered an interest in IP by chance, while working at a pharmaceutical company in Switzerland.
I was assigned to the IP team for a few weeks and got involved in registering trademarks for a new drug treatment. I found the work fascinating and when I returned to the UK to finish my degree, I decided to find out more.
Through our established links with schools and universities not just here in the UK, but close to our offices in France and Germany too, Withers & Rogers is committed to giving more young people a taste of a career in IP.
How important is it for firms to promote gender diversity?
It is very important to promote diversity in general, including gender diversity. Not only will this help to create a fairer world for all, I believe it can bring commercial benefits too, because businesses will have a richer and more diverse talent pool to select from.
A workplace with different perspectives can also help to bring out the best in people. This is why promoting diversity is firmly at the top of the corporate agenda at our firm.
Did you experience any challenges as a woman in IP?
We have come a long way, but in the early days of my career I felt that as a working mother, I couldn’t get away with doing things that my male colleagues would do.
Some of the men I worked alongside would think nothing of taking some time off to attend school events such as sports or open days, whereas I felt that flexing my hours to do this would damage my career prospects. This wasn’t fair and it shouldn’t have happened.
The flexible working policy we have in place at Withers & Rogers has been in place for many years and our culture is wholly supportive of the needs of all working parents, regardless of gender.
How do you feel about being a role model?
Being a role model is important in all walks of life and it’s no different in the IP industry. At Withers & Rogers, I work alongside many inspiring women and their presence is helping to attract more female candidates.
Women in senior-level positions need to understand that sometimes just being there and getting to the top is enough to make a difference. They are role models by virtue of their gender and their achievements, but they can do more by sharing their experiences too.
”A workplace with different perspectives can also help to bring out the best in people.”
Professional women can also come together to support each other. While remote working over the past year, a women-only network has been established at our firm by a small group of like-minded employees to share any challenges they might be facing in their professional and/or personal lives.
Such informal gatherings are supporting women at a grassroots level and promoting wellbeing too.
Who inspired you to develop a career in IP?
I was lucky in that I had many positive experiences of working with highly skilled people who were willing to give up their time to support and encourage me.
My first full-time job as a trainee trademark attorney was in-house at a private company where I worked alongside a brilliant IP strategist, who was experienced in advising the firm’s board in how to build a robust IP portfolio, comprising trademark registrations, registered designs, patents and everything in between.
He provided much of my early training and encouraged me to “always consider the big picture”. This is a mantra that I have carried with me throughout my career when advising clients in many different industry sectors.
How will you measure your own success in promoting gender equality?
It is not easy to measure success in this area and Withers & Rogers is already doing a great deal to promote diversity, including gender diversity. When I became chair of the firm earlier this year, I told the partnership that I wanted to take this mission forward and strengthen our culture further.
I want to create a workplace where anyone can succeed regardless of their background, gender, ethnicity or orientation. This is not only important to me, it is vital for the young people in our schools and universities who embody our future.
Fiona McBride is chair and partner at Withers & Rogers where she heads the firm’s trademark group. She can be contacted at: fmcbride@withersrogers.com
Images, from top: Shutterstock / M.Moira, fizkes, Rosemarie Gearhart, fizkes