Why mentorship matters
The gender gap and lack of diversity in the life sciences continues to be a sore point. Only 30% of the world’s scientific researchers are women, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The picture in IP is equally dismal. Overall, women make up just over a fifth of registered attorneys and agents and ethnic minorities comprise 6.5%, according to 2020 research carried out by the American Bar Association.
The association notes that there are more patent attorneys and agents named “Michael” in the US than there are racially diverse women in those roles. Currently, only 1.7% of all registered patent attorneys and agents are racially diverse women.
Lack of senior sponsorship or backing remains a key barrier to diversity and inclusion (D&I).
A 2020 report by diversity recruitment firm Rare, revealed that minority lawyers spend on average 20% less time in post than their white counterparts, and confirmed that twice as many minority lawyers who received sponsorshior or mentorship stayed at their firm compared to those who didn’t.
Here, trailblazing IP counsel from the life sciences sector share their insights on why mentorship can change the status quo for the better.
