Each year on 8 March, individuals around the globe pause to recognise International Women’s Day. An event intended to mark women’s rights, empowerment, and the continued pursuit of gender equality.
The theme for International Women’s Day in 2025 is “Accelerate Action”, which calls for collective efforts to speed up progress towards gender equality.
In announcing its chosen theme for 2025, the United Nations state:
This year’s theme calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation—youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change.
Recent discussions around diversity and inclusion have highlighted their undeniable role in business innovation and success. According to a Forbes report1, companies with diverse leadership outperform their competitors by fostering creativity, problem-solving, and adaptability. A McKinsey study further underscores this, showing that organisations in the top quartile for gender diversity are 25% more likely to experience above-average profitability.2
Moreover, when inclusion is embedded in workplace culture, employees are 50% more likely to stay, reinforcing that diversity is not just a moral imperative—it’s a strategic business advantage.
As a female professional and entrepreneur within the intellectual property sector, I am increasingly impressed and proud to experience the development of female representation and outcomes that female knowledge achieves in advancing and driving our profession forward.
While the intellectual property sector is by its nature highly ‘gender neutral’, adopting a culture based on knowledge and academic expertise (which is commendable) and has for some time existed as an area of law that heavily supports women in advancing their expertise – out-performing comparable areas of law in terms of approach and gender-neutrality – I am proud to highlight that the baseline continues to develop.
In recent years, we have witnessed remarkable progress:
- Legal Sector: Women now represent 41% of all lawyers in the U.S., a steady increase over the years. Law schools continue to see a shift in demographics, with female students making up 56.2% of total enrolment—outpacing men, a trend that shows no signs of slowing.3
- Entrepreneurship: Women-led businesses continue to shape the modern economy, now making up 39.2% of all enterprises in the U.S. These businesses employ approximately 12.9 million workers and contribute an estimated $3.3 trillion in annual revenue.4
- Over the past five years, women-owned businesses have experienced remarkable growth, with a 17.1% increase in total firms, a 19.5% rise in employment, and an impressive 53.8% surge in revenue.5
- Technology & STEM: The presence of women in the tech industry has grown significantly, now accounting for approximately 35% of the workforce—up from just 9% in the early 2000s. In the U.S., nearly 3.7 million women now hold roles in technology, representing 23% of the overall labour force. Similarly, in Europe, around 1.7 million women work in tech, making up 19.1% of the ICT workforce. This upward trend reflects ongoing efforts to close the gender gap in STEM fields.6
- Innovation & Patenting: Women’s contributions to innovation and patenting have been steadily increasing. Over the past two decades, the number of women listed as inventors on patents has grown by 174% globally.7
Psychology of the Female Brain: IP & Innovation need Women & Female-led Thought
Innovation is, at its core, about problem-solving, creativity, and new ways of thinking—and diversity is key to driving these outcomes. Female-led thought brings a unique and essential dimension to intellectual property (IP) and innovation, rooted in the strengths of collaboration, adaptability, and strategic foresight.
The recent Forbes article “The Power of Diversity and Inclusion: Driving Innovation and Success” reinforces the success companies enjoy when they realise gender-diverse leadership models outperform their competitors.
Women are natural innovators, demonstrating a strong ability to integrate multiple perspectives, take a holistic approach to challenges, and foster inclusive decision-making ensures competitive commercial and business advantages such as:
- The Business Case for Diversity and Inclusion: Research shows that diverse teams lead to higher profitability and stronger financial performance. Companies with diverse leadership see a measurable increase in innovation revenue and a greater ability to capture new market opportunities.
- Enhanced Decision Making and Problem-Solving: Gender-diverse teams consider a wider range of perspectives, leading to more well-rounded, innovative solutions. This is particularly valuable in intellectual property and innovation, where adaptability and forward-thinking strategies are key.
- Enhanced Employee Engagement: Workplaces that embrace diversity foster higher employee morale, leading to increased productivity, creativity, and lower turnover rates—crucial for industries reliant on high-level expertise such as IP law and technology.
- Strengthened Employed Brand & Reputation: Organizations that champion gender diversity gain a competitive edge in attracting top talent and securing strategic partnerships, as they are seen as forward-thinking and inclusive.
- Expanded Cultural Competence & Global Perspective: Diverse leadership enhances an organization’s ability to understand and cater to global markets, an essential advantage in IP and innovation where cross-border collaborations and international protections are crucial.
These qualities are invaluable when it comes to the IP sector, where the intersection of law, technology, and business demands a balance of analytical precision and creative vision.
While Improvements have taken place, Further Improvements Remain Necessary – Looking to The Future
Despite the well-documented benefits of female leadership, gender gaps persist in key areas of innovation. Women remain underrepresented in patenting, venture capital investment, and technology-driven industries. Yet, the landscape is shifting. The number of female inventors on patents has increased globally by 174% over the past two decades, and female entrepreneurship is at an all-time high. If these trends continue, gender parity in patenting could be reached by 2061—years ahead of earlier projections.
For the legal and IP sectors, recognising and supporting female-led thought is not just about equity; it is about progress. By fostering mentorship, increasing access to funding, and championing policies that empower women, we accelerate a future where innovation is defined by the full spectrum of human potential. Women are not just contributors to IP—they are pioneers shaping the next generation of innovation.
It is essential to recognise that the future of intellectual property and innovation hinges on embracing female-led thought. Studies suggest that women bring unique perspectives to problem-solving, collaboration, and risk assessment, all of which drive successful innovation. As the business world moves toward an inclusive future, supporting female entrepreneurs and inventors will be crucial in ensuring sustained progress.
Celebrating Female Entrepreneurs in 2025
To commemorate International Women’s Day, Marquette IP would like to offer direct assistance to all female entrepreneurs seeking to “Accelerate Action” in the context of their business ventures by offering a 50% reduction in our fees for all services engaged by women-lead businesses during March.
To take advantage of this offer, please contact us with an outline of your business needs and how Marquette IP can support your women-lead business realise its aspirations in 2025.
Women for Women – Mentorship Programme
As a female lead IP business that has been trading for 10 years’, Marquette IP believes in women supporting women in business. By collectively supporting female entrepreneurs, we can assist women-lead businesses thrive.
Therefore, in addition to the above offer for discounted services during the month of March, our Managing Director, Sarah Poole, would like to invite interested women in business to book a 1-hour complimentary Mentorship Session with her, to discuss your business aspirations and take guidance from not only her 10 years’ experience in scaling and developing the Marquette IP practice, as well as receive tips from a seasoned legal expert.
To take advantage of this complimentary Mentorship Session, book a time to meet with Sarah here: https://calendly.com/marquette_ip
Marquette IP takes this opportunity to wish all women globally a positive and prosperous International Women’s Day and a fantastic 2025 business year ahead – the future is bright and ‘together we can’.
*Photo: Poco_bw/Adobe Stock
