Amplify Our Voice Under the Stars

Why this Roof-top Party? 

This is an in-person event by creatives and for creatives. While space is limited, everyone is included, and yes, children and young adults too. Through serendipity and author of Wall Street Journal Best Seller, Randi Braun, Something Major: The New Playbook for Women at Work, Iolani, Natasha and I met through a Power lunch in May. All three of us had little in common on the surface, we found ourselves finding our joy and voices through creative writing. As we chatted, it sound like a good idea and have the three of us share our journeys from being daytime professionals and finding time to unleash the creativity in us by publishing topics that are important to us, and all three of us are women of color and are powerful women executives.

Barrister Digital Solutions graciously provide roof-top access for this venue and allow us to amplify your voice under the stars. Virtual Patent Gateway, LLC, Groombridge Wu Baughman and Stone, LLP, Planet Depos, and Lango are sponsors making this networking event possible.  RSVP by Tuesday July 11, 2023

Panelist:

Iolani L. Bullock is the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of The Carlyle Group. Carlyle's Global Private Equity business is one of the world's largest and most diversified private equity platforms, spanning industries, geographies, and strategies to deliver transformational results for our partners—management teams, portfolio companies, and fund investors. Iolani also served as the Director of MBA Admissions, Diversity & Inclusion & Partnerships for the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business and Partnerships. Iolani served as Director of Investment Banking MBA Recruiting of Morgan Stanley and served as a consultant to Marriott International and OpenDoor. Iolani received her M.B.A. from Georgetown University McDonough School of Business in 2018, and earned her B.A., Manga Cum Laude, from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, Africana Studies and Marketing & Communications. Iolani is a passionate volunteer and coach to our youth, especially to first-generation college students. She is the author of the book that brought her to this panel today, Lenox Takes Flight. We will learn more about Iolani and her journey soon.

Natasha (Tash) Durkins is a force to be reckoned with as she amplifies her creative energies in her upcoming book to be released in September, Fiercely Joyful. Tash has been a federal executive for decades in the space of air traffic control. Tash started her career in Marketing and Communications and zeroed in her focus to become Program Manager in Washington, D.C. Metro area, and soar to her current role as the Vice President of Mission Support at the Federal Aviation Administration. Tash is also a CHIEF Member, which is a private network built to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there. Tash is extremely personable and passionate about helping women professionals to rise. We are going to learn more about Tash and her journey to be a creative writer shortly, in her own words.

Moderator and Panelist:

Ashley Cheung is the Principal and Founder of Virtual Patent Gateway, LLC (VPG). She founded VPG in January 2020, after two decades of work with patent professionals, and decided to niche her start-up to help attorneys who practice before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) before the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). Ashley supported leading patent professionals and supported over 100+ before she started VPG and another 100+ in her own capacity. Her clients include corporations, in-house legal departments, and law firms of various sizes.

Ashley runs her business and personal life by a single motto - nothing ventured, nothing gained.  Ashley is an avid traveler, and she enjoys experiencing different cultures whenever she has a chance. As a first-generation immigrant from Hong Kong and a proud woman of color business owner, Ashley is determined to pass on lessons of determination, confidence, and perseverance to her team, especially women and young creatives in the field.  In 2023, Ashley expanded VPG’s service to an on-demand coaching platform to help legal professionals level up their cite-checking, legal research, legal writing, and knowledge and understanding about PTAB litigations as she helps diversify the definition of practitioners to include business professionals besides attorneys. Besides running her business, and mentoring young creatives, Ashley is also a Vice Chair of the Diversity Committee of the PTAB Bar Association and a member of the International Practice Management Association (IPMA).