Securing the top rank, María Rosa Fabara Vera is distinguished by her direct leadership in complex, high-stakes negotiations. Her submission details her instrumental role in the FADESA–GIZ R&D licensing agreement, a six-month negotiation she led to secure exclusive patent ownership for her Ecuadorian client against challenging donor terms. This specific, high-impact success, which set a new national model for IP allocation, exemplifies elite-level commercialisation and licensing strategy.

Earning a premier position, Antonina Pakharenko-Anderson is recognised for her foundational impact on Ukraine's IP framework. As the Managing Partner of a leading firm for 30 years, her narrative demonstrates a career dedicated to establishing the very systems that make commercialisation possible. While many engage in licensing, her work in launching national educational campaigns and fostering legal mechanisms for IP protection has created the environment for countless others to succeed, marking her as a true market-shaping leader.

Ranked in the top three, Adriana Barrera is recognised for her ability to merge deep technical analysis with strategic legal opinion, a cornerstone of successful commercialisation. Her submission highlights her leadership of a multidisciplinary team in a highly complex Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) analysis for a key molecule. Delivering a comprehensive report that blended engineering, biology, and law, she provided the essential strategic clearance for her client, demonstrating a critical and sophisticated aspect of IP commercialisation.

A top-tier leader in this category, Deniz Dinar Ugur demonstrates a proven ability to guide clients from local protection to international market entry. Her 20-year career is supported by clear examples of commercialisation strategy, such as securing international trademark and design rights for a textile company and enabling its entry into US and Chinese retail chains via licensing. She also shows expertise in connecting university inventors with investors, managing the patent process and licensing strategies for medical devices.

Securing her position in the top five, Maria Farrukh Khan is celebrated for her dual role as a Managing Partner and Adjunct Professor. Her submission details a strong focus on strategic IP advisory, guiding clients in leveraging their IP assets for business growth, particularly in the UAE and wider region. This combination of practical, high-level portfolio management and academic leadership in IP underscores her significant impact on the commercialisation and valuation of intellectual property.

A prominent leader in this category, Adina Timonea's 20-year career as a Managing Partner shows a clear focus on the strategic commercialisation of IP assets. Her narrative highlights her role in developing and implementing strategies for clients to monetise their IP, including structuring and negotiating complex licensing deals. This dedicated focus on the business and revenue-generation aspects of intellectual property places her firmly among the top 10.

Earning her spot in the top 10, Jennifer Brant is recognised for her leadership at the intersection of innovation policy and intellectual property strategy. As Founder and CEO, her 25-year career has focused on advising governments, international organisations, and global companies on IP frameworks that enable technology transfer, commercialisation, and innovation-led growth, particularly in the life sciences and biotech sectors. This sustained impact on shaping IP systems, capacity building, and innovation ecosystems underpins her high ranking.

Ranked as a key leader, Dilek Zeybel's 20-year career as a Managing Partner highlights her expertise in the strategic aspects of IP. Her submission details her work in advising clients on technology transfer agreements and portfolio exploitation. Her focus on guiding clients through the entire IP lifecycle, from protection to commercialisation, and her specific work in structuring deals confirm her expertise in this field.

A distinguished leader in this category, Olena Shamrina has over 25 years of experience in strategic IP management and leadership. As a Partner, her work focuses on overseeing and monetising large IP portfolios, including licensing and transfer of IP rights for international clients. Her blend of commercial oversight and hands-on IP strategy secures her place in this category.

Rounding out the top 10, Jiajia's 12-year career as a CEO showcases her experience in guiding clients through IP commercialisation. Her submission highlights her work with technology-driven clients, assisting them in structuring licensing agreements and developing strategies to maximise the value of their patent and trademark portfolios. This hands-on experience in deal-making and IP valuation earns her this recognition.