MP: Mark, thank you for taking the time to participate in our conversation series, which aims to highlight and celebrate the exceptional individuals at the core of our organization. It’s always a pleasure to speak with you, and I’m eager to hear your insights on your role as Director of IP Operations at Boult. To begin, could you share how long you’ve been with the firm?
MW: Just about 18-19 years, I think.
MP: What are you most proud of in your time at Boult?
MW: Crikey – that’s a good question. The people bit. Seeing people progress, seeing them upskill regularly. We have a consistent team in records and renewals without many leavers over my time with the team. There are guys in the team who have been here even longer than me, which is amazing.
I take immense pride in seeing them thrive and succeed. As you know, Michelle, in the Records Department, we don’t specifically seek candidates with an IP background during the hiring process. This isn’t a priority for us during interviews. Instead, we focus on teaching IP the Boult way—a method that has proven to be highly successful over the years.
MP: Any advice for your younger self?
MW: It’s tricky, really, as I just fell into my career. I’d say that IP is perhaps not the best advertised legal field, so I wasn’t aware of it as a potential career when I was younger.
I left school with good GCSEs and started with a surveying firm producing architectural plans. I just wanted to get a start in an office, in London. I didn’t know where I was going after school, I had good grades, but I didn’t have a clue where I could use that in a job, or in further education, which I think is pretty normal. So instead, I felt that I would just go to work. Put some money in my pocket. It all worked out pretty well and here I am now.
In my career in IP, I started in the post room and went from there to records clerk, to team leader and on and on.
MP: And now you are Director of IP Operations at Boult!
MW: Yes, that’s right. My pathway has always kind of just mapped itself out. I got my head down and made my own opportunities. Sometimes, you’ve got to make your own luck.
MP: You’re right. You do. What’s your favourite part of the job?
MW: Oh, people management. I love it. I love people. I’m an office worker, really, I’m here in the office four days a week – I take one day at home because I feel I should, but it’s not really me. I want to be there in-person, interacting with people.
MP: Are you on any internal committees within Boult?
MW: Yes, I’m part of the committee that looks after wellbeing for Boult. In particular, the committee I am on helps to map out career paths and opportunities for all at Boult. Boult is doing all it can to encourage and enable our people to be successful.
MP: Do you have a typical day in the office at Boult?
MW: No. That’s the beauty of my work. More variety, quicker the day goes.
MP: I know you’re a big rugby fan – does your love of sport influence your management style?
MW: 100%. There’s so much to be learned about leadership and teamwork through sport. I’m a huge rugby man, I’ve been Involved in rugby since I was eight. I played to a decent standard and I now coach at Sidcup. Getting involved in the development of players is brilliant. I’ve seen kids go on to play at counties level, even at international level. It’s been a privilege.
MP: From my experience of team sport, managing individuals within a winning or losing team takes different skills. For example, you can play really well as an individual, but still lose as a team and vice versa.
MW: Definitely. Managing individuals and the outcome of an event is fascinating stuff. For example, one player might feel they let the others in the team down, but the result is judged on the team as a whole, not on individuals, so how do you reconcile that? How do you control the morale in that situation…? It’s really interesting and very applicable for managing teams in the office.
MP: Well, good luck with your team management! You certainly seem to be on a winning streak here at Boult. Long may that continue. Good luck with the rugby coaching. To finish, are there any new initiatives in the IP Operations space coming in the future you can tell us about?
MW: We’re always continually looking to improve efficiency so we can provide the best possible service to our clients.
We’ve also been looking at new initiatives and strategies to provide career progression and self-development for all our staff. We’ve been working on this for over a year – I think it could be a game changer for us. Watch this space….
Find out more about wellbeing at Boult Mark can be contacted at mwatson@boult.com. I hope you enjoyed reading our conversation with Mark, providing you with an insight of the workings of Boult and its talented team of people. More to follow.
