2021 Women's Entrepreneurship Symposium kickoff

Portraits of participants in the Women's Entrepreneurship Symposium

The annual Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium (WES) kickoff offered attendees a chance to learn about innovation and business from public and private sector experts. Find links to recordings of the panels in the program below:

Topics included:

  • Navigating today’s changing marketplace and the challenges and opportunities for women to succeed
  • Ongoing efforts to bring more women into the innovation ecosystem
  • Personal stories from senior USPTO officials and other intellectual property experts

The WES offered engaging, expert panels on Wednesdays throughout Women’s History Month. Check the WES program page for updates.

Program agenda

(All times ET)

View the speaker biographies

12:30 – 12:35 p.m.: Welcome and overview

Cara Duckworth, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, USPTO

12:35 – 1 p.m.: Fireside chat: Advancing the role of women in the intellectual property ecosystem (see the recording)

Wynn Coggins, Acting Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce

Moderator:

Coke Morgan Stewart, Performing the functions and duties of the Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the USPTO

1:05 – 2 p.m.: Always dancing: Entrepreneurship and the art of the pivot (see the recording)
Gain insights from women entrepreneurs on when a change in direction may be necessary for a company and some key considerations for a successful pivot.

Moderator:

Elizabeth L. Dougherty, Eastern Regional Outreach Director, USPTO

Panelists:

Jennifer Camacho, Founder and Principle Member, Taitle LLC and Member, Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC), USPTO

Kimberly Meckwood, Owner and Inventor, Click & Carry, Inc.

Molly Kocialski, Regional Director, Rocky Mountain Regional Office, USPTO

2:05 – 3 p.m.: Creating a pathway to innovation (see the recording)
Hear from diversity champions who will share their insights on creating a more inclusive innovation community.

Moderator:

Valencia Martin Wallace, Deputy Commissioner for Patents, USPTO

Panelists:

Holly Fechner, Partner, Covington & Burling, LLP

Suzanne Harrison, Founder of The Gathering

Dara Kendall, Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Global Fabric & Home Care at The Procter & Gamble Company

3 – 3:05 p.m.: Wrap-up

Cara Duckworth, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, USPTO

The Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium is presented by the USPTO’s Office of Innovation Outreach.

For questions or assistance, please contact WES@uspto.gov. 

This event is part of a series: Advancing Equity, Speaker series, Women's Entrepreneurship