Natalie Isabel P. Lim | Graziela Ayn Louise V. Delfin | Jessa Angelica A. Lat
Following the success of its inaugural hosting last year, Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia (CMT) organized another networking event celebrating women in the field of Intellectual Property (IP), Trailblazing Together: Women Driving Tech, Policy, and Global IP Innovation, on 11 April 2025 at the Gabriela Silang Lounge in its office in Taguig City. This event served as a testament to the groundbreaking contributions of women in IP, who have paved paths across different sectors through their leadership and innovation.
Two trailblazers shared their insights, experiences, and perspectives on the evolving landscape of technology, policy, and innovation: Dr. Lourdes Marie E. Tejero, the Director of the Technology Transfer and Business Development Office at the University of the Philippines-Manila, and Atty. Leah A. Jose, the Head of Legal of ASEAN Nutrition at Reckitt Benckiser/Mead Johnson Nutrition.
Dr. Tejero, in her talk entitled “Women in IP Policy: Shaping the Framework for Innovation”, drew from her extensive experience in discussing how women leaders navigate policy-making in government and in academia, championing gender equity, driving policy reforms, and balancing regulatory challenges to promote sustainable innovation.
Atty. Jose, on the other hand, presented on “Innovating with Integrity: Competition Law in the Evolving World of Intellectual Property”, where she explored the balance between the protection of IP rights and competition law, addressing collaboration, compliance, and the role of IP in mergers, acquisitions, and licensing agreements.
The evening ended with a lively discussion among the women in the room during the panel discussion led by Dr. Tejero and Atty. Jose, talking about the challenges faced by women in IP and the role of diversity and inclusion in innovation.