In honor of our 20th Anniversary, ChIPs is sitting down with leaders across the globe to discuss their work within and outside of ChIPs, how they lean on their network, and how they make an impact in their communities.
Partner, Yetter Coleman LLP
Chapter Leader, ChIPs Texas Chapter
ChIPs Global Summit Committee Member
Member since 2015
The women of ChIPs have taught me a great deal about leadership, resilience and authenticity — traits I’ve found essential to finding my own success.”
“I was a senior associate in Big Law when I participated in the ChIPs Mock Pitch event. I was so impressed by the very accomplished women — general counsel, law firm partners and other senior leaders — who were giving their time to serve as judges and offer feedback to help the next generation of women IP lawyers succeed. I felt the unique ChIPs sense of community from that first event and never looked back.
ChIPs is a special organization. Being a woman in tech is not easy, and being a woman IP litigator comes with its own separate challenges. But having this global community of passionate, highly motivated and supportive women to learn from has been a game changer for me. Seeing other women achieve their own successes — however success looks to them — then reach back to offer a hand to those coming up behind them has been inspirational and empowering.
My ChIPs experiences have been a driving force in helping me grow my network and build the confidence I need to thrive in my career. And I needed that confidence last April when I chose to leave Big Law, where I was comfortable, to join a premier trial boutique to continue to learn and grow my IP trial practice with a group of impressive trial lawyers. I chose to bet on myself, and no matter the outcome it was and will always be the ultimate power move.
The women of ChIPs have taught me a great deal about leadership, resilience and authenticity — traits I’ve found essential to finding my own success. I recognize the value of being real and authentic and leading that way, showing young women lawyers that everything won’t always be perfect — and it doesn’t have to be perfect to have the career you want and a fulfilling life.
Now, I hope to serve as an example of a first-chair trial lawyer who’s juggling family, self-care, work, business development, mentoring and community involvement — an example of a woman who found a way to have it all, just not all at the same time. Without an example of someone doing what you hope to be doing one day, that version of your ‘success’ seems out of reach, impossible even. If I can be that example for even one person, I’ve done my part.”
Contracts Manager & Business Line Attorney
Amazon
Silicon Valley, Innovation Community, and NextGen Community Member since 2024
"I've learned to embrace the principle of 'invent and simplify.'”
“I first became involved with ChIPs when I attended the NextGen Summit. This innovative conference fostered valuable networking and meaningful dialogues. The insights I gained there significantly impacted my personal and professional self-perception.
Early in a career, it’s common to feel distant from highly accomplished women. At the NextGen Summit, I had the privilege of hearing directly from successful women leaders, including general counsels, chief legal officers and business founders. Their stories and advice provided me with strategies to assess my strengths, define my career aspirations and chart a path to achieve them.
I’ve also been fortunate to have female mentors — senior leaders at Amazon and outside of Amazon who have supported me throughout my career journey. These remarkable women have not only shared their expertise and insights but have provided invaluable guidance, helping me navigate complex professional situations and make informed decisions about my career trajectory.
My involvement with ChIPs has reinforced the importance of innovation, especially during times of change and disruption. It has taught me to consistently challenge the status quo and create novel solutions. I’ve developed greater confidence in taking on leadership roles in team projects, recognizing these as opportunities for future growth as a leader.
I serve as a contracts manager at Amazon, while also functioning as a business line lawyer. I manage contracts, offer legal guidance and continually learn from diverse challenges. Over time, these two roles have allowed me to leverage my individual strengths. I’ve learned to embrace the principle of “invent and simplify” by looking beyond immediate challenges to identify core business needs. Rather than accepting problems at face value, I developed a habit of questioning assumptions and seeking innovative solutions that align with broader business objectives.
For 2025, my focus is on personal and professional growth. I now make a conscious effort to connect with colleagues across genders and cultures, even if just for a few minutes each week. This simple change has significantly impacted how I’m perceived and enriched my professional experience.”
Managing Partner, Charlotte and Co-Chair, Intellectual Property Group
Winston & Strawn
Co-Founder of ChIPs Carolinas Chapter
Member since 2011
“Participating in ChIPs, I learned to think bigger."
“I became involved in ChIPs because someone invited me to the Global Summit. I didn’t realize then what a gift that would be. When I arrived, I saw a room full of amazing women and knew I was in the right place with the right people. I absorbed as much of the positive energy as possible and ran on that until the next Global Summit. I’ve seen the power of inviting women to take part, whether it’s in ChIPs or in a work initiative, on someone’s career trajectory.
Participating in ChIPs, I learned to think bigger and be much more comfortable being a bigger thinker. I learned if you are enthusiastic about an idea and confident enough to share it, you can move that idea forward.
Being an active member of ChIPs, I’ve learned to be a better leader. I am aware of the importance of making sure everyone on your team understands their value — to pay attention and remind people why they’re great.
This accomplished group of women has taught me I will never know everything and that’s okay because there are so many smart people out there who have the knowledge and are willing to share. There is a societal expectation for women to do it all. That’s dumb. Sure, I can do it all, but I’d kill myself doing it. If I don’t have a skill or time to become an expert at something, it’s not just okay to ask for help to get information or tap into others’ talents, I get a better result for the team.”