Lu Zhang — German & European Patent Attorney, M.Sc. (electromobility), based in Hanover; 10+ years industry & practice, trilingual (ZH/EN/DE), helping start-ups protect IP and enter the German market.
Find further details on her website: www.lu-ip.com

1. What do you love most about the work you do today?

As a patent attorney, I work between two worlds: technology and law. Both can be incredibly complex, but that is exactly what I enjoy about my work. 

I love discovering the logic behind complicated matters, connecting the dots and bringing structure to what initially seems chaotic.

There is something deeply satisfying about turning complexity into clarity.

2. Was there a particular decision, turning point or experience that significantly shaped your career?

Looking back, I made several decisions that I now consider quite courageous.

The first was leaving a well-paid corporate job to join a law firm. At the time, I was told that changing jobs after only three years in Germany would make me appear unstable. What made this decision even more difficult was that I had just been offered a promotion. Nevertheless, I decided to leave and pursue a different career path.

Less than three years later, I made another career move, this time leaving the law firm to take on a leadership position in a company. Once again, I was aware of the expectations around how long someone should stay in a job. But ultimately, I decided to follow my own instincts.

And eventually, I made another decision that required courage: founding my own IP boutique.

Looking back, I realize that some of the most important decisions in my career were the ones that required me to question other people’s expectations.

3. What does New Work mean to you personally? Has the way you think about work changed over the years?

I sometimes think of myself as a rather old-fashioned person. I appreciate traditional values and ways of living, although some of them seem to be becoming fashionable again.

Since becoming a founder, however, my understanding of work has changed significantly.

For me, New Work means having the freedom to define what work looks like for me and to actually live according to that definition.

For example, I am often very productive when travelling by train or working after 5 p.m. In the past, I struggled to accept this because I believed that the morning hours were the most productive part of the day.

Now, I allow myself to be more flexible, not only about when and where I work, but also about what deserves my attention at a particular moment.

I have learned that productivity does not have to follow someone else’s schedule.

4. What does “Love What You Do” mean to you - especially during the more demanding or difficult phases of working life?

“Love what you do” is probably one of the most common pieces of career advice we hear. Yet I sometimes wonder how many of us truly understand what it means.

For me, loving what I do does not mean that I have to love it from the very beginning or every single day. There are challenging periods when I question my decisions, when I feel exhausted or when I simply do not enjoy my work.

And I think that is perfectly normal. What matters to me is recognizing that these moments are often temporary.

If, over time, I find myself deeply engaged in my work, enjoying the process and regularly experiencing a sense of flow, then I know I have found something I genuinely love doing.

Loving your work does not mean loving every moment of it.

5. What does a good work bag need to do for your real working life? And what do you usually carry with you?

I am someone who appreciates both aesthetics and practicality.

For me, a good work bag should be functional, but it should also remind me of who I am and give me a little courage when I step out into the world.

In a way, my bag is also a small safe space. It accompanies me through my working days and, if it could talk, it would probably have quite a few stories to tell about the challenges I have faced.

I usually carry a notebook, my favourite pens, my electronic devices and a perfume that changes with the seasons.

In summer, for example, I love opening my bag and catching a hint of orange.