Suggestions
Kathi Vidal
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (personal account)
Kathi Vidal is a prominent figure in the field of intellectual property law and currently serves as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In this role, she is the principal IP advisor to the President and focuses on enhancing U.S. innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity across various demographics. Vidal leads one of the largest IP offices globally, overseeing more than 13,000 employees and managing an annual budget exceeding $4 billion.15
In addition to her responsibilities at the USPTO, Kathi Vidal is recognized as a Champion at Journey To Lead, an initiative that highlights pioneering leaders who aim to inspire others in their professional journeys.23 Her leadership is characterized by a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as she actively works to create opportunities for underrepresented groups within the organization and beyond.1
Vidal's background includes a blend of engineering and law; she previously worked as an engineer before pursuing a law degree, which allowed her to engage with various scientific disciplines in her legal practice. She has been acknowledged as one of the top influential people in IP by Managing IP in both 2022 and 2023, further solidifying her impact in the field.45
