All Podcasts

Share

Opening Doors In STEM with Vaishali Udupa and Jennifer Ronk

How you can start your career designing the next generation of sustainability

  • Vaishali Udupa
Listen on

What does a career in STEM—science, technology, engineering, and math—really look like today? It might mean managing thousands of employees at a federal agency, protecting breakthrough inventions through patents, or helping redesign the materials that power modern life. The common thread isn’t a straight line. It’s curiosity, adaptability, and the willingness to say yes to new opportunities. 

Host Mia Quinn sits down with Vaishali Udupa, Chief IP Counsel at Verizon and former Commissioner for Patents at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and Jennifer Ronk, a plastics and sustainability expert at Dow, to explore how the next generation can build meaningful careers in science, technology, and sustainability.  

Together, they talk candidly about mentorship, overcoming challenges, embracing leadership, and why you don’t need your entire future mapped out at 18. Along the way, they share candid stories about mentorship, leadership and resilience—and explain why curiosity and problem-solving are at the heart of every STEM career. 

You’ll also hear how patents and intellectual property fuel innovation and how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping careers across science, engineering and manufacturing. 

Guest Bios

  • Vaishali Udupa

    Vaishali Udupa, Chief IP Counsel at Verizon and former Commissioner for Patents at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

    Vaishali Udupa is Chief IP Counsel at Verizon and the former Commissioner for Patents at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. At the USPTO, she oversaw more than 10,000 employees, including over 9,000 patent examiners responsible for fostering the nation’s innovation system by granting patent protections to inventors, as outlined in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.

    Prior to her public service, Udupa was a nationally recognized leader in intellectual property with more than two decades of experience in IP litigation, strategic counseling, and global IP policy. She held senior legal roles at Hewlett Packard Enterprise and in private practice, where she managed complex patent prosecution and litigation, advised on licensing and asset acquisitions, handled high-stakes disputes, and supported the development of robust patent and trademark portfolios. Udupa earned her Juris Doctor from American University’s Washington College of Law and her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Virginia.

  • Jennifer Ronk, Senior Sustainability Manager, Packaging & Specialty Plastics at Dow Chemical 

    Jennifer joined Dow’s Packaging & Specialty Plastics Division in 2018. In her role she collaborates with the entire value chain to end marine debris and improve plastic circularity. Her work includes serving on the board of AMERIPEN and chairing ACCs Flexible Film Recycling Group. She also supports Dow’s global efforts on marine debris, including collaborating with the Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas Alliance.

    Before joining Dow, Jennifer was a Senior Research Scientist for HARC, a sustainability research hub, where she led the Environmental Science and Energy Efficiency Programs. Prior to joining HARC, she served as the Deputy Director for the Renewable Energy and International Law (REIL) Network, a DC-based international think tank for clean energy and climate change law and policy. Prior to REIL Jennifer was the Vice-President of Applied Environmental Solutions, a consulting firm focusing on addressing soil and groundwater contamination.

    Jennifer earned her Master of Environmental Management Degree from Yale University. She is also Project Management Professional certified.

  • Mia Quinn, Senior Director, Public Affairs at American Chemistry Council

    Mia Quinn leads efforts to communicate the plastics industry’s major sustainability initiatives. She works to bring together experts to share insights in key areas of sustainability, including public policy, product design, recycling, and infrastructure. She is passionate about collaboration, clear communication, and engaging audiences to learn more about innovation and modern solutions for our communities and our country. Mia has a degree in political science from Washington University in St. Louis. She grew up in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado and is a lifelong Denver Broncos fan. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two sons.

Related Content