In this episode of The Hard Things About IP, we take a fresh perspective on innovation—not through technology or legal frameworks, but through people. Our guest, Astrid Gyllenkrok Kristensen, CEO and co-founder of Leia Health, shares her journey of building a company that reimagines parental leave, employee health, and leadership training.Astrid discusses the challenges employees face during transformative life stages, the hidden costs of inadequate support, and how Leia Health leverages digital solutions and AI to create consistent, personalized experiences for working parents. She also explores the role of data as a strategic asset, the importance of measuring employee well-being, and the lessons she’s learned in turning innovative ideas into a sustainable business.Whether you’re a founder, HR professional, or simply interested in the future of work, this episode offers insights on how people-centered innovation can drive organizational success and retain talent in today’s competitive landscape.

In this episode, Christina Wainikka takes us inside the world of IP policy—from how she first discovered her passion for intellectualproperty to what it’s like attending IP5 meetings with the world’s leadingpatent offices.

We explore the common blind spots in IP strategy—why it'smore than a legal matter, and how it can drive business value and attractinvestors. Christina also highlights why both small and large companies need touse patent data and competitive intelligence to avoid costly missteps.

From AI tools that could transform legal workflows to the IPlessons hiding in your favorite Disney films, Christina brings clarity, candor,and a bit of inspiration to the conversation.

Because the hard things about IP? They’re what make thedifference between protecting ideas and losing them.

Danielle Lewensohn joins us to talk about the challenges ofmanaging IP in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment—what she jokinglycalls “regulatory lasagna.” From improving workflows and prioritizing IPinternally, to why Excel just isn’t enough anymore, we cover what it reallytakes to make IP visible and actionable across an organization.

She shares her views on AI as a helpful assistant, not areplacement, and why competitive monitoring is like choosing the right path inthe woods—miss it, and you might get eaten by wolves. We wrap up with a cleveranalogy between Mozart, Salieri, and the inventive step.

Because the hard things about IP? They’re the ones that helpturn ideas into lasting value.