Marlene Valderrama is a principal IP asset manager and senior lead technology scout at Halliburton, where she leads global patent portfolio strategy, IP AI/ML implementation, and advises on enterprise AI strategy for the upstream oil and gas sector. A USPTO registered patent agent with an engineering physics degree and MBA, she brings 18 years of experience in R&D, innovation, and IP strategy across the energy and defense industries. Marlene is a member of the Houston Angel Network and an active innovation scout with connections to startup ecosystems in Houston, Brazil, Singapore, and Mexico, bridging R&D teams and legal stakeholders to translate complex risks into commercial opportunities.