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The IP Lounge: USPTO's first woman director on breaking barriers
Episode 35
Tuesday, 21 April, 2026
Michelle Lee discusses reaching milestones at the USPTO, AI’s role in legal work, and empowering women in tech and IP law.In this episode, we are joined by Michelle Lee, the former undersecretary of commerce for IP and director of USPTO, and the founder and CEO of 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 fuels 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 the CEO of Obsidian, which specialises in guiding companies through AI transformation, risk management, and executive training, and her partnership with the youth organisation Girl Scouts.
