"A wise girl knows her limits, a smart girl knows that she has none." – Marilyn Monroe. Nikki Mastrangelo is an intellectual property attorney working in-house at a biotech company in Cambridge and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Master of Legal Studies in Healthcare Law, and a Juris Doctor in Intellectual Property (IP). Nikki took an unconventional route, aspiring to be a doctor from a young age. Since she was 13, Nikki has always been in and out of hospitals and has a team of 13 medical professionals assisting her with medical struggles. All undergraduate efforts were geared toward the sciences. Nikki had her first laboratory internship at Tufts University at 17. She has spent roughly a decade studying neurodegenerative diseases in both academic and industry settings and has researched one-time therapeutics to cure ALS utilizing gene editing technologies. While completing her master's degree, her mentor (and now boss!) urged Nikki to attend law school. As an attorney, Nikki protects scientific inventions by leveraging the patent system built to encourage innovation and disclosures by obtaining a limited monopoly on drug products. She started teaching at Northeastern University School of Law, as she found teaching therapeutic, allowing her to teach scientists within her field. In the workplace, scientists trust Nikki to protect their innovations, explain patent law's intricacies, and how specific actions could forfeit their rights.

Through a personal interview, we learned more about Nikki and got to the heart of who she is and represents as a changemaker and disability advocate within her field.

We compiled a guide to help you navigate through the process of starting a company. Don’t fret, we have got you covered!

"When life gives you lemons, squeeze harder" ~ Dr. Scott Schroeder, Pediatric Pulmonologist. Peri has since lived by this motto told to her at the age of two by Dr. Schroeder, one of the many physicians who saved her life. At the time, Peri was unsure where her life would be headed, considering that she was born with a rare congenital form of Muscular Dystrophy, Nemaline Rod Myopathy. Today, at the age of 23, Peri holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Adelphi University and is currently wrapping up her MBA studies from the same. Besides being a producer, creator, editor, and co-host of the "Team Peri Step Out of Line" podcast, Peri is also an eleven-time half marathoner and has raised $895,608 to date for the nonprofit organization, Chai Lifeline, with Team Peri. When asked whether she has faced adversity, Peri states, "When have I not faced adversity is the question."

A Girl You Might Know Foundation sat down with Peri to learn more about our intern and how she faces adversity head-on.

Negotiating an employment agreement can be a daunting task, especially for those who are new to the process. Making mistakes during negotiations can lead to unfavorable terms and potentially limit future career opportunities. To help avoid these pitfalls, we've compiled a list of the top 10 mistakes to avoid when negotiating an employment agreement.

Understanding legal jargon in employment contracts, noncompete agreements, and non-disclosure agreements is critical for protecting your rights and interests in the workplace. Without a clear understanding of the terms and conditions outlined in these legal documents, you could unknowingly give up important rights, such as the ability to work in your chosen industry or to share your own ideas and inventions.  By understanding the legal jargon used in these documents, you can ensure that you're entering into a fair and equitable agreement that protects your rights and interests.  Remember, it's not just about the salary or benefits being offered, but also about the terms and conditions of your employment.

The first Kendra Scott Women's Entre­pren­eurial Leadership Institute (KS WELI) Wom­en's Summit was held Friday, Feb. 24, at the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs; hundreds of women attendees gathered to share stories and tools of empowerment. The Summit is an extension of the KS WELI, a McCombs School of Business institute founded at UT-Austin in 2019 in partnership with Kendra Scott.

At 25 years old, I was offered my dream job of becoming a head designer alongside a long-term employment agreement. I did what I thought was right, agreed to the corporation’s terms and signed without seeking legal advice. I thought assigning the company the rights to use my name as a trademark for the bridal collection I was designing was reasonable. I was wrong.