Andrew Cooper

And then finally, the last imperative is openness. Building open systems is really what inspires people within organizations to do their best work when they believe that even if there are disappointments, I know that there's a level of meritocracy built in. I am being heard in the organization. that the leaders care about me in the organization.

And then finally, the last imperative is openness. Building open systems is really what inspires people within organizations to do their best work when they believe that even if there are disappointments, I know that there's a level of meritocracy built in. I am being heard in the organization. that the leaders care about me in the organization.

These key pillars of being an organization that's open makes employees perform better. What I have found just as an employee, sometimes there can be a sense that we are creating walls between each other where walls don't need to exist. And so when we segment ourselves rather than creating the places where we can connect, there's a different feeling.

These key pillars of being an organization that's open makes employees perform better. What I have found just as an employee, sometimes there can be a sense that we are creating walls between each other where walls don't need to exist. And so when we segment ourselves rather than creating the places where we can connect, there's a different feeling.

So building bridges, opening doors, creating places where people can connect and embrace shared humanity become really important. And I think a lot of it stems from my experience during the pandemic, because the truth is, it seemed like the world changed, but the world didn't change. I think we changed.

So building bridges, opening doors, creating places where people can connect and embrace shared humanity become really important. And I think a lot of it stems from my experience during the pandemic, because the truth is, it seemed like the world changed, but the world didn't change. I think we changed.

I think people, since we were all going through the same thing at the same time everywhere, people started asking questions like, do you really care about me? Does this organization care about me? I know the things that are really important to me now. They're things like family. And so we've just, we had this complete reset on the things that matter. And so-

I think people, since we were all going through the same thing at the same time everywhere, people started asking questions like, do you really care about me? Does this organization care about me? I know the things that are really important to me now. They're things like family. And so we've just, we had this complete reset on the things that matter. And so-

What I'm bringing forward is that that caring has to be first and foremost. And when people, when you lead with caring, when you lead with systems that are welcoming, that create connections rather than create barriers, you tend to have more effective and high performing teams. That's huge.

What I'm bringing forward is that that caring has to be first and foremost. And when people, when you lead with caring, when you lead with systems that are welcoming, that create connections rather than create barriers, you tend to have more effective and high performing teams. That's huge.

I do want to go back a little bit to operationalizing some of the things that we talked about from an intellectual property side. How do I go about best practices in securing my intellectual property rights? A few pointers, a few strategies for small and medium-sized businesses. First, conduct audits. regularly review and document the IP assets that are available to you.

I do want to go back a little bit to operationalizing some of the things that we talked about from an intellectual property side. How do I go about best practices in securing my intellectual property rights? A few pointers, a few strategies for small and medium-sized businesses. First, conduct audits. regularly review and document the IP assets that are available to you.

And, you know, talk about patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, even designs, right? So patents come in utility and design flavors, designs, you know, how something looks. So look at your, talk to your team, again, within the context of an open system, bring people together, regional whiteboarding sessions, actually going to

And, you know, talk about patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, even designs, right? So patents come in utility and design flavors, designs, you know, how something looks. So look at your, talk to your team, again, within the context of an open system, bring people together, regional whiteboarding sessions, actually going to

Folks who you know within your organization that have great ideas and say, hey, we want to just sit down and put some of these ideas on paper. That's the first step in going about securing those rights that you're looking to secure. And do it regularly. Like if it's quarterly or yearly, that kind of thing. And keep a book.

Folks who you know within your organization that have great ideas and say, hey, we want to just sit down and put some of these ideas on paper. That's the first step in going about securing those rights that you're looking to secure. And do it regularly. Like if it's quarterly or yearly, that kind of thing. And keep a book.

Sometimes in the old days when I started practicing law, people would ask, hey, where's your IP book? Where's your patent book? And it's just a record of those ideas that have been captured. The second thing is to register your intellectual property. Now, there's some IP that you have protection from the minute that it's created. So copyright, for example, you create a story.

Sometimes in the old days when I started practicing law, people would ask, hey, where's your IP book? Where's your patent book? And it's just a record of those ideas that have been captured. The second thing is to register your intellectual property. Now, there's some IP that you have protection from the minute that it's created. So copyright, for example, you create a story.

Say you're a content company and you have story writers. The minute that they put pen to paper and they create that story, there is copyright protection. But there are other ways of registering that IP. You can register a copyright once a work is completed with the Copyright Office. You can file a patent application to protect an invention.

Say you're a content company and you have story writers. The minute that they put pen to paper and they create that story, there is copyright protection. But there are other ways of registering that IP. You can register a copyright once a work is completed with the Copyright Office. You can file a patent application to protect an invention.