In the program “Disruption Interruption”, Crown Jewel Insurance founder and CEO Mary Guzman explained why companies may overlook valuable trade secrets, and how attributing defensible value to proprietary know-how affects asset protection, financing, and corporate value.

Tampa Bay, Florida, October 29th / PRNewswire / -- According to data from the World Intellectual Property Organization ( WIPO ), the total value of intangible assets of global enterprises exceeded 97 trillion US dollars in 2025, a 23% increase from the previous year. The same analysis also pointed out that accounting standards result in an estimated 79% to 83% of the value of intangible assets not appearing on corporate balance sheets. Crown Jewel Insurance founder and CEO Mary Guzman recently appeared on the Disruption Interruption podcast with host Karla Jo Helms ( KJ ) to explain where these unacknowledged values might be hidden. Trade secrets can include confidential processes, data, strategies, and internal know-how, which allow companies to maintain a competitive advantage without public disclosure. Guzman said, "The key lies in the processes and how they operate; that's what constitutes trade secrets."

The hidden commercial value may be difficult to protect.

Guzman indicates that the emphasis placed on patents over the past few decades has left many companies unprepared to identify proprietary knowledge that has never become registered intellectual property. Trade secrets may originate from research and development (R&D), or they may come from logistics and supply chain processes, pricing models, product strategies, consumer data, software workflows, as well as knowledge accumulated through trial and error.

Problems become more apparent when employees leave the company, other internal personnel take away proprietary information, or such information is shared without authorization. Guzman states that cyber insurance has expanded to cover risks such as ransomware, privacy claims, and business disruptions, but the financial value of intellectual property is usually not within the scope of this type of coverage. Insurers also face the challenge of identifying and valuing such assets before a court has ruled whether the information meets legal protection standards. Guzman says, "The cyber insurance market has essentially made it clear that 'we will not insure the value of all this research and development or intellectual property assets, at all.'"

When employees leave with proprietary information, this uncertainty becomes crucial. Companies seeking bans may need to quickly prove what constitutes trade secrets, that they have taken reasonable measures to protect them, and that the relevant personnel are aware that this information is confidential. Guzman says that many companies only realize after suspecting a theft that they do not have readily available evidence. She says, "It's very difficult for most companies to do this easily, so they end up spending too much time, and frankly, too much money, on reverse forensics, trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube."

Price assets before a loss occurs.

Through Crown Jewel Insurance and Guzman, they are committed to identifying and assessing proprietary information that may meet the criteria for trade secret protection before a dispute arises. She said that this calculation can include the costs incurred by the company in developing the asset, including failed iterations, as well as "negative insights" – these experiences can prevent competitors from making the same mistakes.

The review process will also document how this information is protected. In the event of subsequent suspicions of infringement, Guzman states that this evidence can support lawyers in applying for a restraining order, and insurance can cover the legal and evidentiary costs. She said, "Basically, with just one click of a button, we can prove that they possess trade secrets, and we have taken reasonable measures."

Guzman believes that this has a broader significance for founders, chief financial officers, lenders, and investors. She gave an hypothetical example: a technology that comes with future contracts may become an asset worth 60 million US dollars and not listed on the balance sheet after its underlying trade secrets are valued. She believes that this residual value could become relevant in discussions regarding financing, investment, and exit strategies. Guzman said, "If the company goes bankrupt directly and does not repay the loans, you still have an asset that can be sold or licensed."

Link

• " Disrupting the Billion - Dollar Secret : Why Your Most Valuable Asset Isn 't on the Balance Sheet with Mary Guzman 》
• Disruption Interruption is a podcast where listeners can hear from today's most influential industry disruptors, understand their motivations for driving innovation, and learn how they overcome resistance to adopting new ideas.
• https :// omny.fm / shows / disruption-interruption / disrupting-the-billion-dollar-secret-why-your-most-valuable-asset-isn-t-on-the-balance-sheet-with-mary-guzman
• LinkedIn : https :// www.linkedin.com / in / mary-guzman-49183b29 Company website: https :// crownjewelinsurance.com

About Disruption Interruption TM

What is happening on an unprecedented scale is impacting various industries such as medical technology, finance, IT, e-commerce, shipping, and logistics. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated these changes by a full decade or even more. But who are these disruptors? And at what point did they say, "Enough! I've had it!" It's time to follow host Karla Jo " KJ " Helms – a seasoned disruptor of communications – as we " Disrupt and Interrupt " with her. We will interview those "tough characters" who are disrupting industries and changing the outdated economic landscape, which resists progress due to vested interests. She delves into the secrets of industry rebels and low-profile revolutionaries, identifying common and less common traits that are transforming our economic markets... as well as our lives. Welcome to www.disruption-interruption.com to learn about those key pioneers who persist in achieving success despite facing obstacles.

About Mary Guzman

Mary Guzman is the founder and CEO of Crown Jewel Insurance, with 30 years of experience in the insurance industry in the areas of brokerage and underwriting. Her work covers technology, media, internet, and intellectual property risks, and she has previously held positions at institutions such as Marsh, WTW, and McGriff. Guzman is currently focused on trade secret risk management, valuation, and insurance.

About Karla Jo Helms

Karla Jo Helms is the chief evangelist for JOTO PR Disruptors ™ and a Anti-PR ® strategist. Karla Jo has personally experienced how ruthless the business world can be in the face of huge amounts of capital, as well as how public opinion control often determines whether a company is welcomed or brutally rejected. As a "veteran" in the field of crisis management, Karla Jo has collaborated with litigation lawyers, private investigators, and the media to help companies regain public favor. Helms gives speeches globally on public relations, how the PR industry has lost its way, and how companies can use the power of Anti-PR to drive the market and influence market perception when in the right hands.

References

Brown, A., Garnham, A., Grewal, A. K., Bonaglia, D., Rivera Leon, L., & Wunsch-Vincent, S. (March 31, 2026). The value of global corporate intangible assets approached $100 trillion in 2025; the United States led among high-income economies; Morocco, China, and India ranked among the top in middle-income economies. World Intellectual Property Organization. wipo.int / en / web / global-innovation-index /w/ blogs /2026/ the-value-of-corporate-intangible-assets-worldwide

Media inquiries: Karla Jo Helms, JOTO PR ™, 727-777-4629