In this episode, we are joined by Michelle Lee, a former undersecretary of commerce for IP and director of the USPTO, who is the founder and CEO of consulting firm Obsidian Strategies.
Lee sat down with Managing IP’s senior reporter, Sanjana Mishra, to talk through her career.
She reveals that her career was inspired by her childhood, noting that the fathers in her community had technical backgrounds and often experimented with innovation.
Her love for creation and technology kick-started her journey in patent law and eventually led to her becoming the first woman director of the USPTO.
Lee says her USPTO achievement fuelled her passion to uplift women in tech and IP law. She emphasises the importance of creating more opportunities for inventors across all races, genders, and ages.
We also discuss Lee’s current role as CEO of Obsidian, which specialises in guiding companies through AI transformation, risk management, and executive training, as well as her partnership with the youth organisation Girl Scouts.
