In this episode of My Story Vault, we sit down with Giovanna Fessenden-Fairbank—intellectual property attorney, strategist, technologist, and advocate for women in STEM.

From early experiences teaching herself programming on a Commodore 64, Giovanna's path has always been about decoding complex systems—whether it’s a line of code, the U.S. patent system, or the undercurrents of what’s justice in the tech world.

She brings a rare blend of technical and legal expertise, holding a Master’s in Computer Science and a J.D. with a focus on patent law. Giovanna empowers inventors, founders, and companies to secure their intellectual property with purpose and foresight.

We explore how motherhood decision-points along her journey, the early calling to a clear professional identity, why she believes storytelling is essential to legal advocacy, and what it means to protect your ideas in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Giovanna speaks candidly about the people, experiences, networks and mindsets that helped her not just survive, but thrive.

Whether you're an inventor, entrepreneur, or someone reflecting on how to reclaim your voice and value, this conversation offers insight, clarity, and inspiration.

LINKS

Guest Name: Giovanna Fessenden-Fairbank
Title: Digital IP Counsel
Website: www.giovannafessenden.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/giovanna-fessenden-fairbank-6582744

Partner Organizations & Programs:
Berkshire Innovation Center Accelerator Program: berkshireinnovationcenter.com/accelerator-program
Narrative Research Group: narrativeresearchgroup.org

Contact for Follow-up:

For more information or to share a question or insight, please email Shannon at:

Shannon [at] narrativeresearchgroup [dot] org

Produced by Nate Christy, BIC Studios