Interview with wegg® Board Member and Norwegian Honorary Consul, Susan Meyer

“Meaningful change happens when we value all people, when we learn from others, work together, and appreciate the power that comes from including diverse voices in every discussion.”
-Susan Meyer, wegg® Board Member and Norwegian Honorary Consul

Meet wegg® Board Member and intellectual property attorney, Susan Meyer. Susan was recently named the Norwegian Honorary Consul of Illinois. wegg® Communications Intern, Lucy Brooks, sat down with Susan to congratulate her on her new position, and learn more about her vision for wegg® and leadership philosophies.

Lucy Brooks: How did you become a board member for wegg®?

Susan Meyer: Laurel Delaney. She is the heart of wegg® – and an impassioned advocate for the advancement of women business owners. It did not take any convincing for me to appreciate her passion, her vision, and her dedication to the organization’s mission. I was eager to get involved.

LB: What has your professional background and career been like?

SM: I started my law career doing criminal defense and other trial work. I was in court a lot, handling everything from misdemeanor battery to being first chair for a seven-day federal securities law trial. My first client, however, was a small business that needed corporate representation. I recognized early on that intellectual property (trademarks, copyrights, branding, patents, etc.) was everywhere and an important factor for all businesses. Before law school, I worked at General Dynamics, and later ran several stores. This fostered my interest in really understanding how businesses run well. It also sparked my passion for strategic planning and helping businesses grow. Today, I lead our firm’s Trademark, Copyright, Media, and Advertising Group, providing strategic business case solutions to domestic and international clients. My practice is to advise businesses in the areas of intellectual property, franchising, and distribution to provide practical, value-driven legal counsel. I represent companies in the U.S. and internationally in every stage of development.

LB: In your career, what have been several meaningful experiences or projects to be apart of?

SM: This is an interesting question. I really enjoy the intellectual challenges of solving problems for our clients. Taking a project across a finish line is very rewarding. Any one of these things can mean so much to any company or client. Meaningful to me, is having an impact on others. I’m far enough along in my career that I can now measure success differently than I perhaps did when I was younger. I appreciate that many of the things that I am fortunate to work on can create a positive impact.

LB: Congratulation on being named the Norwegian Honorary Consul of Illinois. How did you become appointed to this position?

SM: I was honored and humbled to be considered for this position. My predecessor, Paul Anderson, had been the Honorary Consul for 20 years. I did not know that he was retiring, so the call asking if I would like to be considered for the position was a complete surprise. I look forward to supporting Norway’s values and priorities – from combating climate change and providing sustainable use of marine and energy resources to improving peace and stability. Norway is a small country with a large impact.

LB: What specific duties does your position consist of?

SM: Norway’s Honorary Consul is responsible for two main functions –consular affairs and diplomatic relations. The consular duties include assisting Norwegians living, working, or traveling in the area, such as helping with passports, visas, and providing information. In conjunction with this appointment, Greensfelder’s Chicago office is designated as the Norwegian Honorary Consulate. Norwegians living here can vote in our offices. The diplomatic portion of the role involves facilitating development of business, cultural, and educational relations between Norway and the U.S.

LB: That is fascinating. Switching gears back to wegg®, what part of our mission, “To educate women business owners and entrepreneurs worldwide on how to go global so they can run healthier businesses and create a new future for themselves, their families and their communities,” resonates with you? How does your work connect with or support this mission?

SM: What is not to love about this? More successful women business owners– and leaders in general – can only have a positive impact on the world. As an IP attorney with an international practice, this is part of what I do every day. We just need to help more women business owners to get their businesses ready to scale.

LB: What moves, projects, or strides do you hope wegg® takes in the coming year?

SM: Expansion. We need to find more businesses to help. Laurel has compiled an incredible group of advisors, board members, and entrepreneurs with a great depth of experience, expertise, and passion for helping others. It is time to share this in an even more meaningful way. wegg® will have a meaningful impact on women business owners, and this influence will radiate out to create positive improvements worldwide. I am convinced of this.

wegg® is honored to have Susan on our team. She is a valued leader, and role model for the wegg® community and women everywhere.