
Tell us about your career, and what inspired you to become a mentor.
I help creators, entrepreneurs, artists and visionaries propel, protect and empower their businesses with practical, well-informed, and forward-thinking legal guidance, grounded in my experience as an entertainment, licensing and intellectual property attorney working with brands like the Muppets, My Little Pony, Walkabout Mini Golf, Crayola and many others. I was inspired to become a mentor by Isabel Miller & Betts Fitzgerald of The Jim Henson Company - two icons in the licensing & IP world who graciously made space at the table for me.
What is the most rewarding part of mentorship to you?
Meeting other people! Selfishly, mentoring is a great way for me to be handed an opportunity to connect on a meaningful level with smart, curious, evolving women. I’ve made great friends and expanded my own network through WIT mentoring.

What has surprised you most about the mentorship experience?
Much of my work as an attorney involves listening to people and getting clarity on what they need, what they fear and what they are striving for, so that aspect of mentorship feels familiar to me. What has surprised me about mentoring is how often and how quickly we get into the FEELINGS part of a discussion. We show up as our real selves, with an express intention to be together ina safe space to share honestly - creating a horizontal relationship, not a hierarchical one.
What everyday actions do you feel qualify as mentorship?
Often, we get stuck in our own head, in a loop of thoughts and fears and self-criticism. Talking in a safe way with someone who is objective is a helpful way to sort out the fictional fears from the factual fears (shout out to WIT webinar speaker/author Mary Poffenroth). Asking questions, being an interested listener, not needing to have answers - those actions all provide mentoring support.

How do you find time to mentor with a busy schedule?
Once I’m matched with a mentee, we set up a regular call schedule so those dates get booked out and protected in advance. We also try to do the calls at a more “personal” time - earlier in the morning, lunch, after work - times when people have a chance to speak freely. It is about an hour a month - we all have time for that!
What would you say to someone who doesn't feel experienced enough to mentor?
There’s no such thing! Sometimes people might seek specific industry knowledge from a mentor (e.g., how do I ship toys from China?) but usually, the topics are more personal or broader career questions. If you like talking to people one on one, with a great supportive structure that helps you connect and have meaningful conversations, the WIT mentorship program is a fun way to meet people.

Can you share any specific mentor "wins" from your partnerships in the Ruth Handler Mentorship Program
There have been so many different kinds of wins! One woman sorted through her feelings about being stuck in a corporate structure and started her own business, another created a purposeful plan to attend Licensing Expo and make connections, and a kickass executive realized that she is fully prepared for her new leadership role and that she could be powerful. There have been young women just coming out of school, and older womenchanging careers. One of the benefits of this program is realizing you are not alone, no matter where you are.
What is the most fulfilling thing you get from being a mentor?
I have been privileged to participate in the entertainment and licensing world for a good while, and I love the layers of relationships that I’ve built. Serving as a WIT mentor means I get to meet more inspiring people, making my experience richer, and that is what is so fulfilling to me.
Any additional thoughts?
One of the things that I love about WIT and that I constantly share with others, is that we are here for each other. That’s it. If I can help you, I will. And you’ll pay it forward.
If you need a familiar face at a crowded industry event, come find your WIT people. If you are going to a new city or country and want to connect with people in your industry, reach out through a WIT chapter. If you want a voice in an industry that impacts the entire globe, and you support sustainability and diversity, squeeze on in - there’s always room for more. WIT has a place for everyone.
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