Claudia Brind-Woody
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Georgia State University (JD)
University of Tennessee (MS)
University of Texas at Austin (MBA)
Claudia Brind-Woody | |
|---|---|
 Claudia Brind-Woody speaking at an Economist event | |
| Born | Virginia, U.S. |
| Education | Mary Baldwin College (BA) Georgia State University (JD) University of Tennessee (MS) University of Texas at Austin (MBA) |
| Occupation | Business executive |
Claudia Lavergne Brind-Woody[1] is an American business executive. She is the vice president and managing director of intellectual property at IBM.[2]
Around 1956 [vague] Brind-Woody was a toddler in Southern Virginia.[3] On being asked when she first knew that she was LGBT:
I was about 12 when I knew I was different, but I didn’t have a word for it. The local library in my small factory town in Southern Virginia didn’t have much in the way of resources on the topic, but I knew I was different, and looking back, I could tell that absolutely I was lesbian.[4]
Brind-Woody attended Mary Baldwin College, graduating (Phi Beta Kappa) summa cum laude in 1977.[5] Brind-Woody entered the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, earning a master's degree in administration.[4][6] During this time she shared an apartment with coach Pat Summitt of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team, who was - upon retirement - the most successful college basketball coach in history.[4][7] After completing her masters, Brind-Woody worked as assistant basketball coach for the women's team at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Following this, she served as Assistant Women's Athletics Director.[7]
Those of us who were lesbians and working in college athletics were very circumspect. We wanted opportunities for all women in athletics, and we made the assessment that being out wasn't worth jeopardizing opportunities for other women.[4]
Brind-Woody was also the Assistant Women's Athletics Director at the University of Texas at Austin. She earned an MBA from the University of Texas where she was awarded the Kozmetsky prize.[5] Brind-Woody gained a JD degree from Georgia State University where she graduated magna cum laude.[5]
Professional life
Early in her career, Brind-Woody spent three years as the Assistant Dean of the College & Graduate School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.[5] It was in this role where Brind-Woody first came out at work.[3] She also worked for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games.[8]
IBM
Brind-Woody joined IBM in 1996.[5] She leads the IBM Global Intellectual Property Licensing division.[9] Brind-Woody leads a source code licensing team, IBM's Divestiture Practice, the IP Partnership program, and IP Management Solutions.[10]