Tag Archives: diversity

Building Meaningful Relationships on LinkedIn and Beyond

In today’s fast-paced, digital-first world, LinkedIn has evolved beyond just a networking platform. It has become an essential tool for building lasting, meaningful relationships that extend far beyond the virtual space. Especially for underrepresented innovators and entrepreneurs, LinkedIn provides an incredible opportunity to connect with industry leaders, mentors, and peers who can support your journey in the patent process and entrepreneurial endeavors.

In our latest Patent Pathways® session, Harrity’s John Harrity & Elaine Spector join us to teach how you can leverage LinkedIn to build authentic, long-term relationships that matter.

1. Lead with Value, Not Self-Promotion
The first rule of building meaningful relationships is to provide value before asking for anything in return. Whether it’s sharing insightful content, offering advice, or commenting on someone’s post with thoughtful feedback, leading with value shows that you are genuinely interested in contributing to the conversation.

Start by identifying what you can offer to others, whether it’s knowledge from your field, feedback on a project, or even offering to make connections. Building relationships is not about instant results—it’s about laying a foundation of trust and reciprocity.

2. Personalize Your Connections
One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to build relationships on LinkedIn is sending generic connection requests. Take a moment to write a personalized message that explains why you want to connect and how you admire the person’s work or accomplishments.

This small step can make a huge difference in standing out from the hundreds of other requests professionals receive. Show that you’ve done your homework and have a genuine interest in who they are and what they do. It’s the beginning of a relationship, so start strong with a personal touch.

3. Engage Consistently, Not Just When You Need Something
Building relationships isn’t a one-time effort. It requires consistent engagement and nurturing over time. Comment on posts, share insightful articles, and celebrate your connections’ successes. Regular interactions help you stay top-of-mind and show that you’re genuinely invested in the relationship.

Being visible through consistent engagement also allows people to get familiar with your personal brand and expertise. When the time comes that you need advice or assistance, it won’t feel like you’re only reaching out for a favor.

4. Offer Support to Build Trust
One of the most powerful ways to foster long-term relationships is by offering your support, especially to those navigating complex processes like patents. Offer to make introductions, share resources, or give feedback on an idea or project.

When people feel supported, they are more likely to trust you and be open to building a relationship. In the world of patents and entrepreneurship, having a network of people you trust can lead to invaluable opportunities, collaborations, and insights.

5. Take Relationships Offline
While LinkedIn is a fantastic platform for initial introductions, meaningful relationships often flourish when they extend beyond the virtual world. Don’t hesitate to suggest a coffee chat, video call, or meeting at a networking event. These real-world interactions can cement connections and make you more memorable.

Relationships are built on trust and shared experiences, which are more easily formed in person or during direct communication. Whether it’s through a Zoom call or an in-person event, take the initiative to deepen your relationships beyond LinkedIn.

6. Be Authentic
At the core of every meaningful relationship is authenticity. People appreciate realness. Don’t try to be someone you’re not or overinflate your accomplishments. Be open about your journey, challenges, and ambitions. The more genuine you are, the more likely people are to connect with you on a deeper level.

In the innovation and patent world, authenticity is key. Whether you’re an entrepreneur pitching a new idea or an inventor seeking guidance, showing your true self will attract the right kind of people who align with your values and vision.

7. Stay in Touch and Follow Up
Building a relationship is just the beginning—maintaining it is the challenge. Follow up periodically with connections you’ve made, and keep them updated on your journey. Whether it’s a quick message to check in, or sharing a relevant article, staying in touch ensures the relationship doesn’t fade.

If you’ve had a meaningful conversation or received valuable advice, take the time to follow up with a thank-you message. These small actions build goodwill and solidify your relationships for the long term.

Beyond LinkedIn: Taking Relationship Building to the Next Level
While LinkedIn is a powerful tool, it’s just one part of the relationship-building equation. Joining industry groups, attending conferences, and participating in mentorship programs are also great ways to expand your network and nurture meaningful connections.

For underrepresented inventors and entrepreneurs, Patent Pathways® offers an incredible community of support. We not only guide you through the patent process but also help you build relationships that can lead to funding, mentorship, and new opportunities.

Building meaningful relationships takes time and effort, but the rewards are priceless. By investing in your network, leading with value, and being authentic, you can create a community of support that will not only help you achieve your goals but also open doors you never thought possible.

Stay connected, stay curious, and always look for ways to build bridges that go beyond the digital world.

Watch the full webinar here:

Ready to Build Your Network?

Join us at Patent Pathways®, where we empower underrepresented innovators with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to navigate the patent process successfully. Let’s build meaningful relationships that lead to lasting innovation.

Get involved below!

JOIN A PATENT PATHWAYS COMMITTEE
BECOME A MENTOR
BECOME A LAW FIRM PARTNER
BECOME A CORPORATE SPONSOR
APPLY TO PARTICIPATE IN PATENT PATHWAYS

“Now, today, I know that many of our law firms are companies. They’re slashing DEI budgets. We’re getting attacked on the legal fronts from a Supreme Court decision that actually doesn’t even relate to the corporate programs we’re involved in. But people are trying to make hay out of it. So we’re facing a lot of resistance to these programs and what we’re trying to do. But that doesn’t mean that we have to stop investing our own time and energy into these really important and meaningful programs. On the contrary, I would say, it’s more important than ever that we continue to go continue to keep going. Someday, I think I’m fairly certain we’re all going to look back at how programs like Patent Pathways™ and ADAPT changed our profession forever. And my hope is that all of us can identify and recognize what’s important, because I’m here to tell you that the bus is here, and there is a ticket with your name on it.” – Jeremiah Chan, Meta

The pressing issue of diversity and inclusion in the patent field is not just a topic of conversation; it demands action. A compelling statistic that drives this point home is that there are more practitioners named Michael registered in the sector than there are racially diverse women. The stark reality of this situation underscores the need for concrete steps to foster inclusivity, particularly in interviewing and hiring practices.

Recently, the Patent Pathways™ Employment & Inclusion Committee hosted a webinar on Fostering an Inclusive Workplace: Interviewing and Hiring Best Practices. We were fortunate to be joined by Jeremiah Chan (Meta), Anupma Sahay (Reed Smith), Rachael Rodman (Ulmer & Berne, LLP), Reggie McGahee (Reed Smith), Ritu Singh (Dinsmore & Shohl), and Elaine Spector (Harrity & Harrity). These incredible speakers provided valuable insight on their own experiences as minorities in the patent field, biases they have both faced and unconsciously held, and tips on how employers can work to be more inclusive.

A common theme throughout the advice offered in this session is that incorporating multiple perspectives in the hiring process is not merely a good-to-have feature but an absolute necessity. When an interview panel is diverse, encompassing various genders, ethnicities, experiences, and specialties, the evaluation of candidates becomes more balanced and nuanced. Homogeneous panels can inadvertently perpetuate systemic biases, thereby narrowing the talent pool and limiting the breadth of perspectives within the organization. It’s not just about having diversity on paper; meaningful inclusion enriches the entire decision-making process and opens the door for underrepresented voices.

Training for unconscious bias is an essential part of preparing interview panel members. While overt biases are often easier to identify, it’s the unconscious biases that tend to slip through the cracks. For instance, “similarity bias” can occur when interviewers subconsciously favor candidates who share their alma mater, hobbies, or even musical tastes. Another example is “confirmation bias,” where interviewers, consciously or unconsciously, seek out information that affirms their pre-existing beliefs about a candidate. Regular bias training not only brings these subtle inclinations to light but also provides actionable strategies for mitigating their impact on the hiring process.

Structured interviews offer another layer of fairness. In such a setup, each candidate is asked the same questions in the same sequence, and their answers are evaluated against a predefined set of criteria. This approach eliminates much of the subjectivity inherent in free-form interviews, creating a level playing field for all candidates. It directly counters biases by offering a more standardized and objective evaluation process.

Transparency in the decision-making process is also crucial. Providing candidates with a clear outline of the evaluation criteria not only makes the process more understandable but also adds a layer of accountability. When organizations are transparent about how they make hiring decisions, it creates a culture of openness that benefits both the employer and potential employees.

But the effort to improve inclusivity shouldn’t stop there. Additional strategies can offer further enhancements:

1. Blind Resume Screening: Anonymizing resumes during the initial screening process can help mitigate biases related to gender, ethnicity, and age.

2. Skill-Based Assessments: These focus on the candidate’s ability to perform job-specific tasks, thereby offering a more objective measure than a resume or interview alone can provide.

3. Involvement of Current Staff: Enabling different staff members, not just senior leadership or HR, to be part of the hiring process can offer diverse perspectives and minimize individual biases.

4. Post-Interview Debriefs: Structured debriefing sessions that require panel members to articulate the reasoning behind their evaluations can substantially reduce the scope for subjective or biased judgments.

Ultimately, the push for diversity and inclusion serves a dual purpose. Ethically, it’s the right thing to do. Strategically, it positions organizations for greater innovation and adaptability. Diverse teams are better equipped to tackle complex problems, innovate, and drive organizational success. In the patent field, where innovation is the currency, the need for diverse and inclusive hiring practices is not just a moral imperative; it’s a business necessity.

Watch the full webinar here:

Want to get involved? Check out these useful links below!

JOIN A PATENT PATHWAYS COMMITTEE
BECOME A MENTOR
BECOME A LAW FIRM PARTNER
BECOME A CORPORATE SPONSOR
APPLY TO PARTICIPATE IN PATENT PATHWAYS

Want more? Watch Elaine Spector’s Driving Diversity series HERE. Elaine shares tips and sparks conversations to drive diversity in the legal field in this weekly short-video series.