Damla’s interest in patents began early in life. Having grown up seeing firsthand from her father how patents can create opportunities, strengthen a competitive position, and contribute to a company’s commercial success, she developed an appreciation for intellectual property as more than a legal right. Her natural curiosity and interest in understanding how things work further drew her towards technology and engineering.
While studying mechanical engineering, Damla explored the patent profession through an internship and quickly discovered that the work suited her curiosity and attention to detail. She later pursued an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law and Management to broaden her understanding of the legal side of IP, followed by an M.Sc. in Green Mobility Engineering, reflecting her interest in e-mobility and the future of the automotive industry. She subsequently built her career as a European patent attorney and UPC representative.
Damla particularly enjoys working with inventors: listening carefully to understand their technical objectives, challenging assumptions and uncovering details that may initially seem unimportant. She is especially motivated by finding the essential aspect of an invention that may not always be apparent at first, and translating that insight into effective patent protection.
Her interest in the wider role of IP is reflected in her academic work on benchmarking technological leadership using patent data, an area she is keen to develop further through a broader strategic IP perspective.