We are pleased to spotlight Helen Bruno this month! Helen is a Paralegal/Administrator in the Trademark & Copyright Practice and works remotely from Florida.
How long have you been at Wolf Greenfield?
I started working at Wolf Greenfield in September 2022 so I’ve been with the firm for a little over two years now.
How has being authentic helped you in your career?
Being authentic allows one to create connections and find commonality with colleagues which form the basis of relationships. And relationships are critical to work performance because it gives you the comfort level to ask questions and allows you to work well with your team. Besides, as a remote employee, I really enjoy getting to know my co-workers and live vicariously through those who live in hurricane-free zones! Prior to moving to Central Florida, we lived in Glastonbury, CT which I really miss as it enters the glorious New England autumn season while we’re bracing for doomsday!
What motivates you to wake up and go to work?
What motivates me to wake up are my dynamic, super-busy twin daughters, one of whom has an Advanced Strings class at 7:15am! Thereafter, I remain motivated in the knowledge that I will be spending the day working with consummate professionals in a field and role that I love. I began my career in trademark administration but, because of various relocations, I accepted positions in other arenas in IP but my first love has always remained trademark administration and I feel blessed to be back to doing what I love.
What has been your favorite project/assignment at Wolf Greenfield?
There has been no one specific project that has been my favorite; it’s actually the role of trademark intake that I find intellectually stimulating. I enjoy analyzing an incoming portfolio and putting on my detective hat to find missing pieces of data and identifying the specific elements and tasks that will be associated with the intake, whether it be filing Powers of Attorney, reaching out to local counsel, etc. And my final satisfaction is serving it up to the team so that they are able to move forward with the prosecution and maintenance actions as needed.
Why is diversity and inclusion in the workplace important to you?
Diversity and inclusion create an enriching environment and an opportunity to learn from other perspectives and life experiences. If you’re not exposed to other viewpoints, you are limited in your personal growth because you are not challenged or learning something new. Diversity and inclusion also create the opportunity for tolerance, empathy, and an understanding of humanity.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
After college, I worked as a flight attendant and traveled extensively all over the world for a couple of years. Although I grew up in Jackson Heights, NY, one of the most ethnically diverse communities in the world, the opportunity to visit other countries and be immersed in other cultures gave me a better understanding of the world. It has also given me the ability to relate to others and has enriched my world view through the first-hand learning of the experiences of others. In addition to specific international routes, the airline also frequently entered into contracts with other international airlines for subservices and held the exclusive contract with the US Department of Defense to transport military troops as well as a contract with the United Nations to transport refugees. On those flights, I was able to hear some of the most amazing stories of resilience and strength.
I am a first-generation Argentine-American and enjoy imparting our cultural heritage to the next generation in our family, including the delicious Argentine cuisine, which is essentially a fusion of the large European immigration of the 19th and 20th centuries, and our profound love of soccer, and—he bears separate mentioning—the great Argentine center forward, Lionel Messi. But because I grew up in NYC, I am also very familiar with the culture of other Latin American countries, especially Colombia and Puerto Rico so I can dance salsa and cook a mean pernil. In fact, when I visit Argentina, my cousins comment on how commonly I use expressions from other Spanish-speaking countries and I can do a whole range of accents and dialects. I am very proud of my Latin American heritage—che, vale and pues!