A way a describing holistic is that the whole is more than the sum of its parts. I believe this is the case for Calysta, because the synergy between everybody at the company contributes to an amazing team. At Calysta everybody works together and interacts, regardless of your role in the company. In addition, Calysta is able to offer clients a holistic approach because all IP-specialties are covered. This played an important role in my choice to work at Calysta, since it results in a very pleasant work environment where I can also learn a lot from the rest.

I believe that my role goes much further than just drafting and prosecuting patents. I like to really get to know the client, such that I can provide a holistic strategy. The optimal strategy extends far beyond the mere decision of filing a patent application. Firstly, the technology which is claimed in the patent should align with the strategic objectives of the client. Important aspects in this assessment are the (future) product portfolio of the client and his competitors, the long-term plans of the client, and what the client wants to achieve with the patent. Secondly, there are many strategic decisions during the patent prosecution and enforcement, e.g. relating to which countries are important, which claims are most relevant, which arguments can we make and which could entail risks, is a fast grant preferred or is it better to have the application pending and keep the competitors in the dark,…
All of these decisions should be part of a holistic approach. It is important to keep an overview of the entire situation and be well aware of how one decision affects other aspects of the strategy.
In addition, this often goes further than only the patent strategy, which is why our different specialists (patents, trademarks, design, contracts, business specialists) work closely together to offer a holistic strategy across the entire board.

I also approach my personal life in a similar way. For me, there is no clear distinction between different parts of my life, because everything affects each other. I try to have a strategy for my life, which is holistic. Thus, when making important decisions, I consider what it would change for the various aspects of my life.
The holistic approach also manifests in other ways. For example, I think that new experience help you to grow and learn, from which you can gain benefits in other aspects of your life. In a similar way, studying new subjects helps as well. Therefore, I am always looking for new things to experience or learn. As another example, I believe that my physical health and mental wellness are connected, so I try to live a healthy lifestyle.