ChIPs names 14 women to 2026-27 General Counsel Boot Camp

Fourteen in-house lawyers will join the 2026-2027 ChIPs Network General Counsel Boot Camp, a yearlong program for women aiming for general counsel roles, with the first session set for Oct. 21 in Los Angeles. The program highlights a track record of promotions among past participants and will continue with sessions in San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles through October 2027.

Why it matters: - The ChIPs General Counsel Boot Camp is aimed at preparing women in-house lawyers for top legal leadership roles. - The program connects professional development with networking and mentorship, which can help participants move into general counsel and chief IP positions. - ChIPs says the boot camp has already produced promotions across prior cohorts, showing a pipeline effect beyond the training itself.

What happened: - Fourteen in-house counsel will begin the 2026-2027 ChIPs Network General Counsel Boot Camp. - The 12-month program starts with an in-person session on Oct. 21 in Los Angeles, ahead of the ChIPs Global Summit 2026. - The boot camp is designed for lawyers who are 12 to 24 months from a general counsel seat. - The program is open to women aspiring to become general counsel.

The details: - The 14 participants are Elana Beale of Optimum Communications; Rebecca (Becky) Carrizosa of Micron Technology; Kimberly Eckhart of Apple Inc.; Shaunicie Fielder of Dropbox; Julie Glasser, formerly of Vera Therapeutics; Shannon King of Williams-Sonoma; Tenley Krueger of Technip Energies; Kristin Lamb of Eight Sleep Inc.; Michelle Morin of Oracle; Radha Murphy of Sony Interactive Entertainment; Petra Scamborova of Regeneron; Beverly Shin of Beachbody LLC, dba BODi; Vandya L. Swaminathan of Avegant Corp.; and Heather Yohn of Pindrop Security Inc. - The boot camp combines practical experience, mentorship and networking, according to Monica Phillips, ChIPs director of learning, content and DEI and the program designer. - Phillips said the cohort itself is a major part of the value because participants build lasting friendships, mentorship ties and a support system. - Of 57 participants from cohorts 1 through 4, 33 have been promoted. - Nine alumni moved into general counsel roles. - Five alumni moved into chief IP roles. - Phillips also recognized graduates of the 2025-2026 cohort: Betul Ayranci of FOX Sports; Sara Barnhart of Cox Enterprises; Evelyn Chang of 10x Genomics; Tara Clothier of EssilorLuxottica; Carolyn Eckart of Abbott Laboratories; Heba Hamouda of Apple; Mehrin Kehoe of Paychex; Jamie Kitano of Electra Therapeutics; Rachel MacGuire of Oracle; Alyssa Sandrowitz of Honeywell Aerospace; Kate Smith of Google; Michelle Trapani of Oracle; Laura Vega of Terumo Neuro; Kimberly Woodward of Overjet; and Erika Yawger of Apple. - The boot camp is funded by a grant from ChIPs Board Chair Dorian Daley. - ChIPs Executive Director Joan Toth said the program supports professional development, personal growth and meaningful connections that help shape the future of IP law, policy and technology. - ChIPs is a nonprofit professional organization focused on advancing and connecting women in technology, law and policy.

Between the lines: - The promotion numbers suggest the boot camp is functioning as more than a networking forum; it is becoming a leadership pipeline. - The heavy emphasis on community and mentorship points to ChIPs' bet that peer support can help women break into roles that have historically been harder to access. - The grant from a board chair underscores internal backing for the program and its gender-equity mission.

What's next: - Boot Camp participants will meet March 9-11, 2027, in San Francisco. - The cohort will reconvene July 20-22, 2027, in Chicago. - The final scheduled session is Oct. 13, 2027, in Los Angeles, just before the 2027 ChIPs Global Summit. - The program will continue tracking outcomes as the cohort moves through the yearlong curriculum.