IWD2021: #ChooseToChallenge Powerful Women in Blockchain & Technology 2021
- Block Tides
- Mar 9, 2021
- 54 min read
Women’s History Month started as Women’s History Week
Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978. The organizers selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day. The movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women’s History Week celebrations the following year. (Source: https://www.womenshistory.org/womens-history/womens-history-month)
A day for women kicks off a month-long celebration. March 8 is International Women's Day, a global day of recognition celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and girls, and raising awareness of the work left to be done especially in the booming Blockchain, Technology & DeFi space.
Jillian Godsil, Editor in Chief and Founder, BlockLeaders
Blockleaders.io is an interview and news platform talking to the leaders in Blockchain and Crypto
Your life, challenges, and motivation
Working in FinTech for 30 years I want to advance the role of women in this sphere.
What is your goal in life?
To make the world a better place for everyone.
Why Blockchain Technology?
It has the power to disrupt and transform society - A personal story - Jillian Godsil nomination
For the first time in my working career, both my age and gender are an advantage; I’m a woman and I’m in my fifties.” Jillian Godsil is co-founder of Blockleaders.io and Editor Chief. In 2020 she was named Uptrennd.com’s Blockchain Journalist of the Year, shortlisted for the Women in Tech TrailBlazer award, listed on the Wirex/Fintech Strong Women of Crypto, and featured in the UK Crypto Curry Club 101 women of Blockchain. In 2019 she was named one of the top 100 people globally in blockchain by Lattice and was nominated for a national Irish radio award for her EastCoastFM show. She has been featured in Al Jazeera, Russia Today, BBC2 Newsnight, UK Telegraph, RTE, TV3, Huffington Post, New York Times, The Irish Times, Vogue Italia, and the Irish Independent amongst others. She is a freelance journalist for the Irish Times, the Irish Independent, and many more broadsheets and business publications. She is Editor in Chief of Liberland Press and has been awarded the Order of Merit by the President of Liberland.
She is an advisor for a number of companies working in the Blockchain industry. Prior to COVID19, she traveled the world speaking and chairing Blockchain conferences in Kyiv, Austin, Muscat, Columbo. Dublin, Dubai, Vienna, London, Malta, Capetown, and many other cities. She advocates for women in blockchain. https://app.voice.com/post/@jilliangodsil/cryptowriter-why-women-need-blockchain-1596214141-1
She is a genesis writer on the recently launched VOICE platform. She has published a book on Persons of Interest – vol 1 is out now https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NS1LXG8.
However, four years ago she was evicted from her rented accommodation with her two adult children. She had no job and no income. She found a tiny cottage for her two girls to rent and went CouchSurfing with a friend.
What on earth? Let me tell you a story…
In 2008 Jillian had hit divorce and recession. She could not cope with both.
Previously she had traveled the world (London, Sydney, and Singapore) for work before relocating to the Irish countryside with her family. She ran a successful PR business. There had a large mortgage on her country house (half the value of the house). With the divorce, her ex-husband went back to the UK and went bankrupt, thereby giving the entire mortgage debt to Jillian and her two girls.
In 2008 there was a hard crash happening in property prices. She tried to sell the house and made a video that went viral. She got a cash offer of €500,000 but the bank refused to consent to sell as the mortgage was more. They preferred to repossess the home and sell it for €165,000 the following year. (It is now back on the market three years later at €550,000)
In the interim, she became politicized. She lost her business and it collapsed, bailiffs called to the door and she lost everything. But she also became aware of the false narrative that began to take shape - “that people were gaming the system and messing with moral hazard”. There were also a rising number of financially inspired suicides. She got angry. She got very angry.
So she started ranting and raving at every opportunity - and she had a lot. This was around 2012 and most people were still ‘shamed’ at failing financially. She went loud and proud and said that while it hurt a lot to lose everything that she had done nothing wrong and was not ashamed. In the end, she was the first female bankrupt under the new insolvency laws in 2014. She was not allowed to run for public office under archaic Victorian law. She then took the Irish government to the High Court and all the way to the Supreme Court claiming that her constitutional rights were being infringed. She won.
Then she had to run - after all she had won the right.
So, Jillian ran in the European Parliamentary elections in 2014 and while she did not win a seat she earned 11,500 votes. This is where blockchain came in. She been through the ringer and was hung out to dry. She thought that life could offer her no more. She was at a standstill - or worse a personal recession.
THEN SHE MET BLOCKCHAIN in September 2017 and she said to herself – “Mama I’ve come home. Now is my time to shine.”
For more information, visit https://jilliangodsil.com/
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Taking 51% of the global population and transitioning them into 50% of the decision-making population.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years? *
Making a difference.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Hang in there!
Pandwe Gibson, CEO, EcoTech EcoTech Visions
Ecotech is a B2B e-commerce platform where buyers and sellers can connect to:
“Buy ethically sourced raw materials and products
Sell ethically sourced products
Partner with a network of manufacturing, packaging, and shipping partners”
Your life, challenges, and motivation
Every time I look up at the surrounding lights I think of my Grandmother, Mamie Gibson, and her sister, my great aunt Evelyn Gaston. They worked on the Manhattan Project that led to the discovery and harnessing of atomic energy. My roots derive from female scientists who believe and prove innovators solve the world’s problems. As Black women scientists in the 1930’s and 40’s I can only imagine the horrific daily pressures my grandmother and great aunt faced. Though I have accomplished a few things in my life-- graduating from MIT, Harvard, and CGU Peter Drucker School of Management with an MBA, MA, and Ph.D.; founding a Charter Management Organization that scaled to 16 schools under my leadership in post-Katrina New Orleans, and scaling several other businesses -- I still have a huge legacy that I intend to step into. My LinkedIn is https://www.linkedin.com/in/pandwe-gibson-03197049/
What is your goal in life?
EcoTech Vision (ETV) is my vehicle to honor and continue the propulsion of my ancestor’s commitment to better humanity through disruption. As we have not raised funds yet this is a tremendous opportunity that I would love to be a part of. EcoTech Visions is an end-to-end platform for green logistics enabling smarter distribution for energy-efficient manufacturing and collective consumption of consumer-friendly eco-products. Find out more at ecotechvisions.com/Investor.
Why Blockchain Technology?
We have built a solution for a green economy marketplace that curates products for consumers and businesses in which we allow them to purchase and experience an on-demand platform. We source the data directly from consumers and businesses who use the platform and provide insights on rich sources of data governed by our ECOTECH Protocol that provides AI-driven insights through blockchain and real-time pattern recognition. We are maintaining the data through immutable records on the Ethereum blockchain to share transparency and provenance in our supply chain from vendor to POS to deliverable good/service pipeline.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Equal opportunity to access success is necessary for the survival of humanity. Of our current 26 start-up businesses, 57% are women-founded. Our lead engineer is a woman. I am the ETV founder and I am a woman. In our growth plans, the lead for Dallas and Chicago are both women. Best practice demands we promote who is best for the job and as a woman me I have had the privilege of meeting and working with some amazing women. Women and girls need access to technical training and access to engineers and role models. ETV provided both those solutions. Whether it is through our programs which cohort have focused specifically on recruiting women and girls to founders serving and role models ETV believes and #BlackGirlMagic and #womenrock.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Blockchain and Tech have and will continue to be a major part of our lives. it is the largest opportunity for growth and innovation and as a result the best chance for family wealth creation. The potential for Blockchain is great than the internet.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
You must be part of the curve. Blockchain is the future now.
Bridget Greenwood, Founder, The Bigger Pie
The Bigger Pie supports women in blockchain and emerging tech and has a global community of leaders and learners which includes experts across the field of blockchain and cryptocurrency, from project managers and developers to consultants, founders, compliance and regulatory experts, CFOs, CTOs, CMOs, educators and keynote speakers
As women represent less than 10% of those involved in this sector we focus our efforts on supporting the incredibly talented and pioneering #womeninblockchain. Research shows that businesses which embrace diversity and inclusion in gender, ethnicity, and culture are profitable and successful.
You can't be what you can't see, so it's important that we have more visible female role models, that we can easily connect women within the sector, and that we get more female founders funded. These are the initiatives that The Bigger Pie works on collaboratively with others who share a similar vision.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
I'm absolutely drawn to take action to see more gender equity in the tech space. We need more women at the design, development, and deployment table. Women at decision-making levels. I choose to spend each day working towards action-orientated activities that help us see the needle move in a positive direction to achieve this.
We will see better products, better solutions being put into the world that solves real issues like addressing climate change, improved health care, and bringing financial inclusion to billions of individuals by doing so. We all benefit.
What is your goal in life?
To see my son continue to grow and step into a healthy world with kindness, compassion, independence, and opportunity, and to see that for others.
Why Blockchain Technology?
Blockchain technology has the ability, with other emerging tech like AI, IoT, 5G, etc, to enable us to build solutions that allow access to vital services in the financial, health, and education sector that previously have been under-served or excluded from. It has the ability to allow people to more easily transact with each other, to take ownership of their data, be rewarded for their data, and create a more inclusive society. If we choose to build such solutions.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
To have the economic, social, and educational freedom and safety to make decisions and create opportunities for yourself and your family without being restricted, held back, or persecuted because of your gender.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Unless we make important changes, the landscape could be very dystopian, where individual’s privacy and freedoms are greatly restricted and we see a huge divide between those who have and those who have not. We need all people to create a world fit for all people. It's vital that we see more diversity and inclusion in the tech sector which touches every part of our lives and is shaping our future if we want to see the societal, global, sustainable, healthy, and economic developments this technology can bring.
We need to see more collaboration to solve global, pressing problems and thus safety and prosperity for all. This is where I'd like to have seen blockchain and tech making strides after 10 years.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
There are so many ways in which you can enter the blockchain and tech space. Coding and development are just one part. But you don't have to be technical to work in tech. Have a look at the problems that blockchain and tech are solving and then develop your interests from there. Reach out to The Bigger Pie and we can point you to resources, networks, education, up-skilling, career, and funding opportunities to support you.
Gail Cruz-Macapagal, Country Director, DynaQuest Technology Services Inc
DynaQuest helps businesses transition to blockchain-enabled business and information systems through our solutions that extend to business use case planning, service integration, customized development, and resource procurement. As an award-winning provider, we help businesses harness the game-changing capabilities of blockchain.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
At the root of every person’s success is their story of how they got there. The book explores the early
life and the beginnings of the women who contributed to the book. We all started differently but what we have in common is our enduring journey on how we overcame our challenges and how we navigated the world through different eyes and hands. We never know where life will take us. There are times when we can just let the wind freely guide our sails and there are times when we must muster up every bit of courage to navigate the stormy seas. On recounting our early lives and our formative years, we hope that the reader begins to understand how different forces in life shape our differences. Yet despite our differences, there are always things where we have in common, and that is where we begin to look at one another in a different light. The person we see today is a product of trials, learning, and risk-taking.
Every successful woman who is in the prime of their life had their fair share of challenges – from frustration to failures and heartaches. In having the courage then to move forward, it takes more courage to finally share our biggest trials and our lowest points. In knowing the heartache and trials, do we also begin to understand the person better? This is where understanding takes root and we learn that despite our differences in how we managed those challenges, we are not so much different from one another. This pre-kinship is what allows us (women in particular) to uplift and cheer one another to succeed.
Gail Concepcion Cruz-Macapagal is the Country Director of DynaQuest. She started out as a Customer Service Associate doing outbound sales 17 years ago when she joined the BPO Industry. She then moved up the ranks in Operations, then to Client Services, and is now a Certified Blockchain Expert. Gail is the country representative of Humanility Philippines and a board member of Humanility; a non-profit organization dedicated to the emancipation and holistic rehabilitation upbringing of rescued street children. Gail is also a supporter of IBPAP’s My Dream in a Shoebox for many years and Gail also serves as among the Board of Trustees for HIMAP and is the corporate secretary. Gail has also earned a certificate of appreciation from the city of Bacolod for her contributions.
What is your goal in life?
My goal is to help our street children thru Humanility a non-profit organization that has a shelter for street children in Makati and Bogo, Cebu. www.humanility.org I would also love to see the Indigenous People of the Philippines have their Identity and Economic Freedom thru Digital Identity and Economy in Blockchain. My goal is to empower women not just in Technology but also the youth, who after all is the hope of the future. If they feel empowered, they will and they can create or make a difference to the world.
Why Blockchain Technology?
I got into Blockchain by accident, and I think that it was fate that brought me to where I am today in terms of my involvement in the Blockchain World.
I am into Blockchain by some funny twist of fate and I believe that it is something that I am destined to do, love, and enjoy. Blockchain holds a lot of possibilities and opportunities for anyone and everyone that wants to be part of this world. Blockchain Technology is something that can be applied to almost anything and anything in our world, hence the dynamics and the amazing doors that it can open and the improvement in our lives that it can bring forth.
Blockchain will make life easier, may it be a simple transaction or a complex one.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Women Empowerment is when a woman feels, thinks, and believes that she can do anything that she has set her heart and soul into. May it be mundane or extraordinary things.
This can be summed up into this quote:
“She believed she can, and she did!”
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
I see Blockchain Technology into massive adoption of companies, individuals, and countries all over the world.
I see that people will apply Blockchain in their daily lives to make things easier and accessible to individuals, companies, and countries.
I see that Countries and government entities will involve Blockchain in elections, and into their government systems. ex. taxes, social security, national ID, etc.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Everyone is welcome to join us, do not be afraid of the limitations you have set forth for yourself.
Look for a mentor that will guide you and help you thru this journey.
Do not be daunted by the seemingly complex Blockchain Technology because if you immerse yourself into it, the beauty and wonder of it all will slowly uncover and present a whole lot of amazing and wonderful possibilities.
Lavinia Osbourne, Founder, Women In Blockchain Talks
WiBT Women in Blockchain Talks is an educational and events platform where the voices of diverse female leaders in Blockchain are shared and heard.
What is your goal in life?
To be happy and to help women come into the blockchain space confidently.
Why Blockchain Technology?
It is the future of money and business.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
It is having the confidence to be brave and bold in Blockchain.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Having a positive impact on society.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Come on in! it's warm! And the support is here for you to grow and prosper
Veronica Mihai, Angel Investor
Your life, challenges, and motivation
Life is a positive and educational challenge that I take on every day.
What is your goal in life?
To make my small contribution towards a better world.
Why Blockchain Technology?
Crypto and Blockchain represent the opportunity to redesign the world.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
The freedom to be yourself!
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Decentralized ownership, accountability, and transparency democratized application user rewards and inclusive financial systems.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space *
Be bold to try, don't be afraid to fail, and keep going no matter what.
Helen Disney, Founder, Unblocked
Unblocked is a platform for blockchain insights, education, and events
Your life, challenges, and motivation
My challenge is to explain fast-paced and rapidly changing technology to decision-makers who are nontechnical. I'm motivated to do this because I believe many of today's major economic and social challenges won't be fixed unless we harness the power of emerging technology for good.
What is your goal in life?
Have a meaningful career that makes a difference in the world including driving for diversity in tech, protecting the natural world, and helping individuals to empower themselves financially and professionally.
Why Blockchain Technology?
I believe blockchain, distributed ledgers, and cryptocurrencies are changing our world for the better. By teaching people about blockchain I want to help solve society's big questions and empower all individuals to reach their maximum potential.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Empowerment is control over all decisions affecting you and the ability to explore all opportunities to the full.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
I believe in a decade blockchain will be embedded into the mainstream and starting to have a major impact in multiple sectors including supply chain, health, and finance.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Just do it!
Lubna Dajani, Founder & MD, Alternet Ltd.
Alternet Ltd. specializes in strategy, collaboration, design, data, privacy, ethics, insight, vision, growth, digital, and transformation
Your life, challenges, and motivation
I am an empathic digital innovator and design thinker driving digital transformation for human happiness and wellbeing for 30 years now. I am also a Palestinian-born woman in the USA pushing experiential design, inclusion, diversity, and STEAM for wellbeing. I have earned my scars and I am motivated to get more girls in STEAM and invite more compassion and collaboration between us so that we can affect the tipping point needed to move from shareholder returns to the stakeholder and planetary wellbeing.
What is your goal in life?
As a systems designer digital innovation Pioneer and recognized futurist and mother I am challenged and motivated to help people transform from the humankind we have been to the KindHuman we were born to be. After all, I am a mother.
Why Blockchain Technology?
DLT is an important innovation and a cornerstone of future society (see allternet.org) especially in moving us from domination based vertical wealth accumulation mindset (shareholders returns) to horizontal wealth enablement and partnerships (stakeholder value)
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
When interests and skills not gender or race frame life opportunities. When women freely support each other and society rediscovers humanity.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Foundational to the future society
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
There is nothing magical about tech or BC. It’s rather intuitive, especially for women. What is magical is the power you have within if you chose to tap into it. (And you can always call me)
Manuela Warnier, Chief of Staff, B2C2
B2C2 is the largest crypto liquidity provider, a full-service digital capital markets firm.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
I'm a very energetic person who needs to work in a trusted environment. I get my energy and motivation directly from the people I'm surrounded with and I truly believe stronger collaboration and transparency are the key to success. I love learning and being challenged because I forced me to question myself at all time and put things in perspective.
What is your goal in life?
To be as true to me as possible so I can be the best ally and friend to others.
Why Blockchain Technology?
I truly enjoy working in an industry that is still rapidly expanding. It gives you more room for improvement and it offers many challenges to overcome. But most importantly, it gives us the great opportunity to do things differently and set a new and higher standard for the financial industry (I mean in my own context, but the same can be said for other industries). There are so many moving parts connected together and that pushes us to learn every minute along the way.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Give women a voice so they can be heard, create a safe and trusted environment so they will be heard.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
In a world that is getting more digital by the day, Blockchain, crypto, and tech will take more and more place in our daily lives.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
The industry offers a great opportunity to get involved and have an actual impact on how the future will be shaped. While it can be intimidating at first glance (especially in a male-dominated financial industry) there are many communities and resources available to take advantage of. You have a voice, and it matters. Talk to people, create links and learn as we all are. And most importantly, be true to yourself.
Kate Baucherel, Business Development, Galia Digital
Kate Baucherel BA(Hons) FCMA CGMA is a business development and strategy consultant specializing in emerging tech, particularly blockchain and distributed ledger technology. She has held senior technical and financial roles in businesses across multiple sectors, leading several enterprises through start-up and growth, and lectures at Teesside University Business School. Kate’s first job was with an IBM business partner in Denver, back when the AS/400 was a really cool piece of hardware, and the World Wide Web didn’t exist. She delivers keynotes on the effective use of emerging technologies in business and is the author of several books including Blockchain Hurricane: Origins, Applications and Future of Blockchain and Cryptocurrency (BEP 2020) and the What's Hot in Blockchain and Crypto series, along with several novels.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
The economic downturn of 2009 coincided with managing two children under three and two elderly relatives in failing health. At the time I'd reached the dizzying heights of CFO for the subsidiary of an FTSE 100 company, and I was ready to change direction to accommodate family needs. I pivoted into tech, starting three companies (one closed, one sold, one my own consultancy) and working around my family. In the last decade, I have grown in confidence and found my niche.
What is your goal in life?
To build a solid reputation for the things that I love doing, to be proud of my work, and to launch two children successfully into the world to do what they love well, too.
Why Blockchain Technology?
As an accountant and a technologist, I took one look at Ethereum back in 2015 and understood it straight away. I have an affinity for its structure and an ability to explain it clearly to non-technical people. I love it. I think it has changed the way we think about societal and business processes and solutions. I bought my first crypto art the other day. It's all incredibly exciting and I never stop learning.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Not having to push harder for recognition than others, not having to apologize or lose out because of the things that make us women (such as family responsibilities).
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
We won't be talking about blockchain. It will be absorbed into the solutions we use. We will see the results of its implementation in societal change.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Welcome through the looking glass! There are many brilliant women in this space from all walks of life, and it is a supportive place.
Elena Obukhova, Founder & CEO, Fintech Advisory Services
Fintech Advisory Services is a consulting Ecosystem that is Growing Ideas into Successful Businesses in Blockchain and Fintech Domains.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
In 2019 I traveled to 18 countries building a global network for FAS along with learning different new tech, cultures, existing problems, and spotting out business opportunities. All the positive feedback made me realize that FAS will have an exciting journey ahead. Consulting business is about learning and sharing, helping others with their way to success. I studied various things from programming and trading to philosophy and Chinese believing that every knowledge is an essence from a very early age. I never changed my mind and quite determined that keeping your mind always open is crucial for starting a business and fundamental for being a CEO. That might be the reason why every day consulting inspires me as it's filled with new challenges and openings.
I'm originally from Russia but had been living in different places including China, South Korea, Thailand, and Argentina. I'm quite an active person on a professional and on a personal level as well (you can tell it from my hobbies: hiking and motocross). Spending holidays in mountains is just the way I like it to be. By the moment I started FAS I already had experience in several areas including venture capital, financial analytics, marketing, data science, and social impact within blockchain and fintech that helped me a lot in running a consulting firm. My journey to FAS began in China. I lived there for more than 3 years, and during that time, I started consulting blockchain and fintech companies from Europe, the US, and Russia on market specifics. At that point (2018) the interest in blockchain was enormous or at least it felt that way as I was in the epicenter of it. Blockchain startups were appearing every day, the traditional sector started asking what is that "blockchain" and why does blockchain matter. Even during a time I was in United Nations working with the Southeast Asian Fintech segment, there were so many talks about blockchain. In the traditional sector, things started evolving as well, and now adding the "blockchain" word to your business could give you more esteem, even if you don't know how and where to apply it to. It didn't take long to realize that there is a gap in the market as there were not that many businesses and financial professionals with knowledge in the field. There was a constant miscommunication between the traditional sector and the blockchain field. You could feel how these worlds were separated. It was also clear that after the 2017/18 hype many companies will be in a state of uncertainty and survival.
I was lucky to find Sergey Ivanov at that time, my current co-founder, who was in the field from 2012 and went through many memorable moments. I pitched my idea of building a completely decentralized consulting ecosystem that can help SMBs to build their businesses in Blockchain and Fintech. From the very beginning and till now we wanted FAS to be a fully-remote company as we understood that if we're to work with startups and SMBs, we can't charge them for any fancy office in Hong Kong, but for the main resource we provide - industry professionals and experts. FAS's core goal is to provide our clients with expertise in sustainable business strategy and growth and that is where we succeeded. We felt that many small companies are forced to hire full-time employees when they don't need them at that point due to a lack of other options. Despite having high hiring costs and employing one professional full-time with FAS they could now get a group of professionals with different skills to cover all their business needs with 0 hiring costs and now, without hundreds of interviews.
As mentioned in the beginning consulting is about learning and sharing, and needed to say that "giving" also has a place there. During and after the United Nations, I was feeling the need to support startups. Building FAS was not only about consulting, it was about building a global network of professionals, companies, investors, and organizations that are so powerful together. We happily support our clients and network members by giving them access to this network.
Being active in the field is important for me, I participate in tech events and mentorship sessions to share my knowledge and experience in business strategy, market validation, smart budgeting as well as market insights including Asia and Latam. I was always determined that "give" should be an important part of FAS. Hence we contribute to the community by regularly organizing public events, publishing reports, our insights, collaborating with social impact organizations and NGOs as well as participating in mentorship sessions.
I believe startups are the main drivers of the industry, and our mission as FAS and my personal mission is to facilitate their growth. If you’re a startup looking for its way up feel free to reach out to me on Linkedin. I reply from a few minutes to a couple of days and always try to find a way to help.
What is your goal in life?
Accelerate early stage companies, bring diversity and sustainability to their businesses; contribute into the tech community and help idea-stage ventures to overcome challenges on the way to market launch.
Why Blockchain Technology?
I joined during the 2d Bitcoin wave in 2014 during which I discovered blockchain technology. Being a techie, finance person and personal data security believer, I saw new opportunities in this particular field as blockchain technology could bring more democratisation, self-control over personal financial data, freedom and speed for cross-border transactions. It excited me a lot more when I understood the possibility of turning illiquid assets into liquid ones and simplified the documents management system by allowing me to manage everything online and from any part of the world. Those were the initial reasons I was so excited about the technology.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Educating and engaging women into decision-making environments.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
I would expect Blockchain technology going into a real mass market and reaching the underdeveloped countries that can benefit from it a lot. I would also expect major transformations in the blockchain field that would be impossible to imagine now considering how fast the field is evolving. My main hope is that in 10 years we will see an easier document flow and digital identity in most of the countries based on blockchain as well as the healthcare industry implementing it for data security. I would also expect DAOs to start gaining more traction and credibility. We're making large steps into the IoT world and self-diving, self-managing technologies. Blockchain can be an essential technology to ensure the security of those technologies. STOs that are starting to grow now will be quite a common and liquid investment option that will bring more diversity into the financial industry allowing the general public to invest into assets that weren't available for them before (e.g. luxury segment).
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
I always say to women that they are no different from men, if they want to enter the blockchain and tech space, they need to do the same steps: start learning and developing skills. "Think about yourself as a professional, pursue your passion as a professional, not as a woman or man". Knowledge and experience don't come with a gender. The only limit for what you can and cannot do is you. Don't be afraid, set ambitious goals and go for them!
Monica Nguyen, Client Services Manager, AIMS
AIMS provides deep liquidity digital currency trading solutions for institutions, high net worth individuals and trading professionals worldwide.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
I am a mum of 4, balancing a busy work and home life in London. In 2018, I embarked on my Crypto career as an OTC Broker in a start-up as the only employee and have been on a constantly evolving progressive journey in a nascent industry. My challenge was finding my voice, I was not confident and struggled to ask questions or contribute in meetings with fear of appearing stupid or the weakest link. Through networking, I was able to connect with many aspiring, talented individuals in an open community where I could learn and fell into the immersive knowledge pool of Fintech, Blockchain and Crypto. The motivation is my growth mindset and my thirst for knowledge in continuing to build my confidence and experience to help others also embarking in their crypto journey as l did in 2018.
What is your goal in life?
To be happy and be a good person
Why Blockchain Technology?
There is a demand for a more fairer, transparent and inclusive world. A decentralised economy built on decentralised blockchain technology crossing over areas that could benefit from decentralised finance, social media or supply chain and so forth will benefit communities and improve trust and market efficiencies.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Women helping other women succeed through collaboration, coaching and confidence building.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
DLT distributed ledger technology will be the underlying tech for financial services and progressive adoption in all other sectors to improve trust, market efficiencies and transparency.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
You may think you're not good enough, you may think your skills and experience does not fit the job description, APPLY TODAY! The only thing between you and that tech job is you!
Victoria Ukpaka, Founder & CEO, Valucop Global
Valucop Global is a value delivery strategy platform where one can learn how to find out what they know or can learn, how to package it, how to deliver it and how to monetize it from a smartphone. Example of this is ebook formatting and publishing, crypto trading, crypto jobs, Blockchain education and so forth.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
My life is focused on helping people discover their strength and how they can use it to add value to people's lives and also how to monetize it. One major challenge I face is getting most people to see that they have capacity to achieve whatever they set their hearts to do. I am self-motivated and also motivated when I see results of my impact.
What is your goal in life?
My goal is to constantly make a positive impact in people's lives and help them discover the best of themselves with what's available now.
Why Blockchain Technology?
Blockchain Technology is a Genesis Technology that gives people room to explore their strength and discover new areas to disrupt positively. The fact that the Blockchain is Decentralized makes it even more beautiful and bring power to the people.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Women empowerment is women helping one another become the best they can especially in a marginalized society.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Blockchain and Tech will see massive expansion in most sectors. It's impact would be felt in education, health, governance and so forth.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
The blockchain gives you a place to excel, there is a place for you in Blockchain, stay on it.
Wirex products give our users the power to use their money, their way, on one borderless payment platform. Buy, store, exchange, and spend digital or traditional currencies, anytime, anywhere.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
I have an Undergraduate and Master's University degrees in Geography and Politics, but realised after completing it that I have no interest in these subjects. It was a challenge to get a job out of University, but fell into Fintech by accident. Since then, I've realised the importance of being in a workplace that you are happy and enjoy the role, and for me, that is the ultimate motivation.
What is your goal in life?
To continue pushing myself to a place where I have autonomy over decision-making that genuinely impacts on a company/brand.
Why Blockchain Technology?
It's a rapidly developing sector that has huge potential, something I've continued to learn further as I've worked in it. I've always worked in FinTech, and enjoy it's fast moving nature, and have broadly invested in crypto since around 2018, however, I was introduced to the sector via a former colleague, and have now grown to love it. It's a hugely exciting time to be involved in it, especially given the bull run going on at the moment, and the range of multinational players such as Paypal and Mastercard which are being increasingly vocal about their involvement in crypto. All of these things are helping to push the topic into the public realm, and demonstrating to people that crypto could be a mainstream product with use in the everyday.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Being in control of your decisions and having a voice that is heard by everyone
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
I believe that it genuinely will become a mainstream product - there are so many advantages to it that it will push out traditional banking, and become an everyday method of payment.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
You don't need to have extensive (or even any) crypto knowledge to get involved, but only an appetite to learn. The space is still hugely understudied and there are a lot of unknown factors, so it's genuinely interesting to learn on the job as more research gets developed and the space expands - joining now is a great career move before crypto becomes mainstream and commonplace across the globe!
Marife C. Ramirez, Business & Marketing Development, DQTSI
DynaQuest helps businesses transition to blockchain-enabled business and information systems through our solutions that extend to business use case planning, service integration, customized development, and resource procurement. As an award-winning provider, we help businesses harness the game-changing capabilities of blockchain.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
My journey in life comes with obstacles and challenges that bring out the best in me. I am a single mother, raising my 17 yrs. old daughter all by myself. I would say it is a very tough job. You have to wear multiple hats as both mother & father. All of the finances, moral obligation, and responsibilities of the household lie on your shoulders. Even though solo parenting can be difficult, the rewards are far greater. I got knocked down several times, yet I stood against all odds and got back up stronger, wiser, and bolder. After much adversity, I have a new outlook on life, and aspirations for my career. Life is like a road. Though you may get stuck in a traffic jam, eventually the light will turn green and it will be time for your aptitude to shine. It made me realize that I have gone through these struggles because I am strong enough to handle it, drive and thrive through it. There is no doubt that my daughter is the person who motivates me greatly. She has tremendously changed my life and made me a better person by teaching me patience, showing me strength, and motivating me to improve myself. As you know, self-motivation is empowering. I believe that it is a strong tool that helps to forge your own path to build a better life. In order for us to stay motivated we have to have a goal and be driven towards achieving that goal.
What is your goal in life?
My main goal in life is to ensure the brighter future of my daughter and eventually put up our own restaurant or retail business. As I improve my standard of living, I want to improve my standard of giving as well by doing charitable works to those who are in need.
Why Blockchain Technology?
Blockchain was introduced to restructure business transactions and to introduce better, faster and reliable forms which can be accessed and moderated digitally. Our company, DynaQuest is committed to make a difference in people's lives primarily the indigenous people in Caraga region. Over 500,000 Indigenous Caraga folks are without formal identities. The Indigenous Citizens in Caraga have no established identities and have no access to schools, healthcare, infrastructure, social and economic services. Indeed, this is a strong challenge among indigenous individuals that seeks an innovative solution for greater good. The Caraga Convergence Initiative aims individuals to have a control over their own digital identities, including being informed on how their personal data is collected, used and shared. In the digital age, individuals need a trusted, verifiable way to prove their identities online and offline.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Simply defined as a power of voice to women in a space of society where they didn't have it. Women empowerment enables to promote a sense of self-worth, self-determination by acting on their own authority fighting for what is right & just.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Blockchain started as a buzzword in technology for the past years, but eventually it is transforming into reality. While Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies are so popular in the financial and investment market, I believe the applications for blockchain and identity management across many industries are wide-ranging. There is no doubt that digital currency will be part of every transaction made, and provide government & other businesses embraced identity management, smart contracts, supply chain analysis and so much more.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Women should seize the opportunity by knowing that the blockchain platform offers them the voice in the future. It is not just discovering something new, but about achieving something valuable. The transformation and society’s changing attitudes are making progress. Keep exploring the blockchain space as much as possible. It may sound cliché as it may seem but MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Be fearless to forge your own path.
Janice Ariño, President & CEO, Filipay
Filipay IT Solution services provider that cater Automated Fare Collection System for Public Transportation integrated the use of the Blockchain Technology for easy, reliable and secured transactions for interoperability of the system to other third party providers.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
I am a fan of every trending technology that arises every year which has a great impact on our society. I am not a scientist nor an expert in technology per se, but the passion to learn more each day to consolidate ideas to make them into reality, that’s a great challenge. We are not only an individual woman to settle for less, we need to challenge ourselves more, plan ahead, make necessary actions and focus on our goals to make the dream into reality.
What is your goal in life?
To be the first Filipina woman who implemented Blockchain Tech in the industry of Transportation.
Why Blockchain Technology?
Because we need to have a secure, reliable, easy to use technology for the future of all transactions around the world
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Women empowerment is to believe that you are a shadow of success, you just need to bring out the natural beauty, brilliant mind and brave woman in you.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
I can see Blockchain Tech as one of the necessity to transact with transparency in all parts of the world, giving the benefits of using this tech as a means of cashless payment all over the world with or without bank account
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Don’t hesitate to enter to this, learn more and more about the use cases, benefits and the good results beyond this tech. You will be amazed and get interested! At first, it’s difficult to understand, but later on, you will give your time and effort to give your own contributions to make Blockchain Tech to be used in your country or in businesses.
Thy-Diep Ta (Yip), Co-Founder, Unit Ventures
Unit is powering the next economy by connecting providers and customers, digital assets, and building a global community. We believe that the power of meaningful connections is what drives and changes the world. With hubs in 200 cities globally, we connect entrepreneurs, experts, investors, innovators, among many more, across different industries.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
Being the kindest version of myself, in every minute and with every step and every action.
What is your goal in life?
To look back every evening and say: yes, I had a wonderful day. At the end of my life, look back and say: yes, I had a wonderful life.
Why Blockchain Technology?
It’s building the infrastructure and attracts communities of change makers who will transform capitalism.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
To be free of fear to be 100% yourself.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
2030, it will be integrated into our daily lives in the way the Internet is integrated into our lives. It will be more inclusive, fair, and easy to use. It will have enabled the stakeholder economy and SDG2030 to deliver on their promises.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Pls join now. We need more women to help design and build the tech of the future.
Kosshlavani Macheregan, CEO, Findexx LLC
Findexx Decentralised Exchange FINDEX is a decentralised exchange based on EOS Plugin Technology, which provides secure on-chain settlement for token holders on EOS.
What is your goal in life?
To create a well secured exchange with
Why Blockchain Technology?
Secured. Transparent. Future.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
It could put women and under-represented minorities on the financial and technological map.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Going to the part of banking or any industrial management system.
Message to aspiring women that wish to enter the Blockchain and Tech space.
If not now then never.
Jenelyn Corzon, Founder, ICON Pilipinas
Public Representative (P-Rep) for the ICON Network, based in the Philippines. At Icon Pilipinas, our focus from the start has been on marketing and growing the ICON Project (#ICONProject) via targeting a much broader mainstream audience, outside of the more niche techie crowds (the type of people you would normally associate with as being passionate about blockchain technology + cryptocurrencies) For the ICON network, if “hyper connecting the world” is the name of the game, then most certainly that means we (the ICON community, collectively as a whole) will need to figure out a way to reach the masses.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
Self-motivated, looking to build a thriving community from scratch, with the end goal of giving back and helping the community.
What is your goal in life?
Inspiring and empowering others, as well as providing opportunities to those who are motivated to take risks and aim higher.
Why Blockchain Technology?
It's Internet 2.0 and the next major technological paradigm shift.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
The courage and confidence to act and dream freely and completely without inhibitions.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Moving past Tipping Point and on the trajectory to mass adoption.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Dream massive and go for it! These opportunities don't always come around everyday.
Susan Falola, Founder & Creative Director, Juubix Ltd.
JUUBIX is a financial intermediary that matches startups and social projects to relevant cloud based services, cross-functional expertise and investment anonymously in real time like a jukebox. Offering a secure endless ledger for communications, computed finance and effort tracking. Based on matched criteria JUUBIX allows you to shuffle, just like a rubik cube across sectors and disciplines, creating all-inclusive and diversified pools of ideas, expertise and investment.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
She is a multifaceted expert across finance, operations, marketing and technology. Having worked in various roles, she is a competent and well-rounded individual. A strategic, innovative entrepreneur, focused on delivering social impact, inclusion and diversity in technology innovations. She is extremely passionate, determined and zealous to create more equitable opportunities for all and can grasp complex verticals easily and provide consultation concerning inclusion and diversity in finance. Being an orphan and having always battled with not belonging in any particular one group from a young age, became a victim of bullying and abuse throughout life.
As an inclusive leader she leads from the back, championing others and enhancing their skills. She has carried out extensive R&D in Fintech before creating her solution. Susan has collaborated with multiple freelance to C-level professionals to get their perspectives on existing models and produced her findings in a blueprint whitepaper. This paper details extensively about the problems faced due to 'bias-decision making' in collaboration and investment activities.
She has founded the JUUBIX solution, which eliminates all bias in age, sex, gender, race, religion and creates equality in financial products and services. Her passion is to make sure that people are in charge of their finance like never before. A big barrier has been investment / funding and lack of it to pay for existing collaborators, she has had to leave her team to continue this work.
Susan has created a disruptive, intelligent, innovative solution that has been needed for many years, especially in relation to gender bias and more recently because of the Covid restrictions. This solution will not only help more women be recruited in the workplace, but also create more access to financial opportunities. By factoring accessibility from the outset in relation to design and functionality, she has considered all disabilities and how they can also receive value from the JUUBIX solution.
What is your goal in life?
To be successful and help others
Why Blockchain Technology?
The transparency of transactional value and validity that blockchain brings makes the JUUBIX a secure and real time open database environment, where activities are time stamped and public and private permissions can be enabled throughout the user experience.
The authentication of data in an anonymised way provides trust to our customers, investors and startups that their data is not being used for malicious reasons or to sell more products. To create a robust, secure and automated ecosystem using distributed ledger technology, collecting data from multiple segmented pools to simplify decision making. JUUBIX does not store data, it harvests your data data by mining it and then discovering patterns of large data sets in an intelligent way.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
You can, and you will because you are all women
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Blockchain will make a big impact and encourage digital identification in Health, Education, Inheritance and Supply Chains. In future years we will see quantum computing working collectively with Blockchain, due to the high costs in relation to keeping a blockchain infrastructure. Large investments have already been secured and are geared toward the quantum in the US and China, these technologies will create smart city's which are efficient, self governed and cleaner environments overall. Technology will play a prevalent role in suitability, SDG's, ESG's and supply chains enabling them to work effectively and collaboratively. It will also have big effects on how we educate and learn, where digital stem subjects will become more diverse and the main focus from primary level, financial literacy will be easier to teach with technologic gamification and design.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
The very essence of Blockchain is inclusion and accessibility, which only enhances its desirability. This is no time to sit on the fence, the blockchain space loves Women. Do not hesitate to be part of the new revolution where women take center stage and correct problems held in our society for years. Expand your horizon one block, one step at a time.
Sukhi Jutla, Co-Founder & COO, Market Orders
MarketOrders is passionate about helping independent retailer jewellers to access the products and services they need without having to pay unnecessary markups and commissions imposed by middlemen.We leverage our purchasing power model to aggregate small orders from our retailers and send bulk orders to the suppliers.
Our retailers are happy when they are able to order exactly what they need at the most competitive price.
Our suppliers are happy because they have access to a market that was previously too small to serve without volume orders.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
I have had a varied journey to reach where I am today. From starting off in the corporate world where i worked for over a decade to re-skilling to becoming an author, life coach, mentor, ambassador and a tech entrepreneur
What is your goal in life?
To do work that is purposeful and meaningful to me
Why Blockchain Technology?
I find this technology is fascinating with so much potential and scope to do good on a large scale and I would like to be a part of that movement
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
To support and raise every woman
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
It will become more mainstream with more use cases that have tangible results
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Do it! it's a wide and varied field that welcomes all!
Amber Ghaddar, Founder, AllianceBlock
The AllianceBlock Protocol is a decentralized, blockchain-agnostic layer 2 that bridges traditional and decentralized finance and automates the process of converting any digital or crypto asset into a bankable product.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
When I was a child I wanted to be a Neuroscientist and my dream was to find a method to upload memories into the brain... so I could memorize things quicker! Therefore I studied to get a PhD and a few Masters in the field. However I quickly realized that research was not for me and that I thrive better in high tension, fast paced environments. So I went to business school and started my career at Goldman Sachs. Later, I was a trader at JP Morgan until I quit in 2018 to start AllianceBlock with my two co founders. Having been raised across continents and mainly in emerging markets, I have a profound view of social justice and I am a strong proponent of participative capitalism. I truly believe the current model is flawed and needs to be fixed asap, as the consequence on peace and prosperity can be enormous.
What is your goal in life?
Leave a legacy. The day I pass away, I would like people to remember me for the changes I brought to the world.
Why Blockchain Technology?
Blockchain, AI and other Emerging techs are the fourth technological disruption we're facing after the steam machine, electricity and finally the internet and mobile communications. The last one disrupted the flow of information and democratized the access to knowledge. What blockchain is doing is democratizing the access to capital by flattening the capital pyramid. And this is a powerful and much needed change to our socio economic system.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
I do not like the term "empowerment" as you need to be empowered by someone. It is a passive term. I prefer "power up" which is an active verb. No one will give you anything if you don't prove yourself and work hard for it. We are lucky to have many women who paved the road for us; and in the next few years we should grab this opportunity and leverage on the amazing accomplishments women have made in finance and tech.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
The revolution is here, and it is here to stay. New technologies have undeniably shifted the financial industry from a sociotechnical system — controlled through social relations — to a technosocial system — controlled through autonomous technical mechanisms. It’s likely that in the next 10 years, we will see a fork between instruments and protocols that are fully decentralized, fully open source and fully anonymous and instruments that will need to fit in the tight framework of the heavy regulation and archaic infrastructure of financial markets, resulting in a loss of some of the above characteristics along the way.
This will by no means slow down the fantastic rate of creativity and the relentless, fast-paced innovation in the sector, as a large number of new products in the DeFi space — products we haven’t even predicted — are anticipated. And within a quarter of a century, once DeFi will have first adapted to and then absorbed capital markets, its full potential will be unleashed, leading to a frictionless, decentralized, self-governing system.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Join females' networks such as the Bigger Pie - a UK-based community with global reach - where you have a fantastic and helpful community of women in blockchain. And my only other advice is: Go for it. Neither tomorrow, nor next month...But now.
Anna Frankowska, Chief Commercial Officer, Aventus
Aventus is a 2nd-layer blockchain protocol that lets any organisation build on the Ethereum network without the typical limitations of speed, scalability, and price. Founded in 2017, Aventus makes building on Ethereum accessible for businesses and decentralised platforms through fairer transactions for all — enabling the broadscale adoption of public decentralised blockchain through blockchain interoperability.
The potential applications of the AvN are vast. The network enables organisations ranging from financial asset managers and supply chain coordinators through to customer rewards schemes and live entertainment companies to easily develop and implement efficient, highly secure and future-proof blockchain solutions.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
I believe in living a life of purpose and meaning. It’s important to me to know that I’m doing something worthwhile and something I believe in. We’re all nodes in our own human networks and nothing helps inspire others more than leading by example. In that sense, making an impact with my work has the power to create a ripple effect that echoes through the future. It’s the desire to make an impact that led me at an early age to leave my home country of Poland to move to London to study Economics at UCL. That wasn’t easy, but I did it. And then, I went into banking, and that wasn’t easy either but, for a while, I did it. The same thing happened when I launched my first startup with $660,000 funding from a member of the Bacardi family. It is this theme of not choosing the most easy path, but the path of increasingly greater meaning that has led me to my vocation as Chief Commercial Officer of an enterprise-grade blockchain company today.
What is your goal in life?
To leverage the power of emerging technologies to improve the lives of people all over the world, solving some of the biggest global challenges that we face. I also wish to be an example of what is possible for women to achieve in tech, not only in my home country of Poland or my most recent home in the UK, but anywhere.
Why Blockchain Technology?
I am excited by the huge potential of blockchain technology to impact many major industries globally and improve our individual lives. As a former Financial Industries professional, Economist by education and start up entrepreneur, I recognised the power of blockchain technology and the importance of driving its adoption by understanding what’s possible with it.
I believe in a more decentralised world that democratises opportunity in a way that’s fair and transparent. I want to see a world where the unbanked and underbanked have access to financial services — and I want to see the firms that make that happen adequately rewarded, too.
We are still so early in the adoption cycle and it is my responsibility as Chief Commercial Officer of the Aventus Network to help facilitate enterprise adoption of blockchain technology by helping organisations build on Ethereum without its usual limitations of scale, speed, and cost.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
I believe female empowerment is the right for every woman to have access to the same opportunities as men, and the right to choose our own path without unfair obstacles placed in our way. The world isn’t entirely fair, but things are progressing. It has been around 100 years since women first gained the right to vote on an equal basis as men in the UK. Today, we stand on the shoulders of those inspiring women before us and it is the responsibility of those of us who have opportunities made possible by their work to continue the effort and pave the way for those who will follow. Change takes time, but the best way I can help accelerate the process of female empowerment is by being a living example and by creating and providing opportunities for other women to seize.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Many cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects will come and go, but blockchain is here to stay. In the same way few could have imagined the role the internet would play in our daily lives just two decades after its inception, it is clear to me that we are still so early in the blockchain adoption curve that we can scarcely believe the breadth of impact blockchain will have made on the world in the next 10 years.
The children of today will grow up in a fairer and more transparent world in which they know where their material possessions come from thanks to supply chain auditing on blockchain. Children in poverty will grow up with greater hopes of private home ownership and a more secure financial future just due to the simple fact that they have a bank account, can build credit, and can invest with even a small amount of capital.
The history of human progress walks hand in hand with the history of technological progress. I believe our grandchildren and their grandchildren will look back on the blockchain adoption era as a great step forward in creating a fairer world for all of humanity.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
There has never been a better time to be a woman interested in entering the blockchain or tech industries and things are only improving each day. There is growing recognition for the importance of diversity of thought and teams made up of people from different backgrounds and experiences, in order to enable more wide ranging perspectives and thereby, better outcomes. The Blockchain industry in particular is rapidly growing and a highly creative and idealistic sector with many opportunities for entry. It is fascinating to be at the heart of it and to be driving change and I would encourage more women to look at the space. Together, we can all work together to create a better world.
Priya Guliani, Head of Operations, GBA UK Senator, WBAF
GBA is a global non-profit organisation focussing to promote blockchain technology by empowering individuals and organisations to connect, communicate, and collaborate to solve public sector challenges. GBA brings together governments around the world facilitating efficient, ethical & rational adoption of blockchain technology for powerful and meaningful innovations. GBA has 120 chapters worldwide and 15K+ members. We act as a catalyst in creating a public dialogue about education and best practices around the creative, profitable, responsible, and positive leveraging of blockchain.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
I am passionate about inclusion, sustainability and climate impact and firmly believe in the power of technology to change human lives. I wake up wishing that all human beings individually, and collectively embrace the doughnut model which focuses on the balance between nature’s ceiling of tolerance and the floor of a decent living and fairness for all.
What is your goal in life?
To create an impact so big that people remember me long after I am gone.
Why Blockchain Technology?
Blockchain has surely touched, if not disrupted, every major industry and is even altering the norms of interaction between people and societies. Blockchain’s foundational underpinnings i.e. removal of intermediaries, immutable and cryptographically secure data, transparency to all parties, and frictionless transactions are game-changing in the digital economy. As the expression goes, it is more powerful to the people. The dust of being a buzzword has fallen off and blockchain-enabled business models are bringing a seismic shift to how the business will be conducted in future.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Women empowerment to me is when each and every individual celebrates and highlights the women that are leading the path, thus inspiring many more to carve their own success roadmap.
I am inspired by Michele Obama’s quote, "When you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed."
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Blockchain technology will have a transformative impact on human lives in the coming years, similar to what the internet did for the world back in the 90s and thereafter.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Surround yourself with people you can learn from. Get inspired and inspire others. Your success is going to be another woman's inspiration.
Mariel Manalo- Htay Myint, COO, CoinJournal
CoinJournal are a group of Cryptocurrency enthusiasts who want to help to educate people about blockchain.
Our goal is to help blockchain to get mass adoption and we aim to give people the latest news and most useful tutorials that will help them grow their knowledge about blockchain or cryptocurrencies.
We are open for collaborations. Let us know if you want us to write an article about your company, product, or service, you can visit the ‘Advertise‘ section of our website. We also offer different services depending on what your needs are.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
I came from a not wealthy family so growing up I witnessed how my parents sacrificed to give us food, shelter and education. My dad was an OFW for 20years , almost half of my life he was not there, so I always tell myself that I do not want that life for my kids- I want to witness every milestone, failure and success.
And that motivates me to work hard, so we do not need to be separated from each other just to earn money.
What is your goal in life?
My goal is simple to give my family the life they deserve and to be more successful in the field I choose
Why Blockchain Technology?
Blockchain Technology solves a lot of problems and is more transparent than what banks or any other financial institution right now.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
"always remember that we rise by lifting each other and not by putting others down"
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Mainstream adoption - 80% of the world’s population will be using blockchain in their everyday lives. New projects will be developed, new protocols. new defi projects.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Don't stop learning. Everyday is unique. I started with 0 ideas about blockchain and up until now it's a learning process. And just because other people are not embracing the technology right now- doesn't mean it's not working.
It only means they are not aware of it. So if you can- educate :)
Teggy Altankhuyag, Co-Director, COO of Coin Floor Ltd.
Coinfloor is the UK’s longest established Bitcoin and cryptocurrency exchange. Founded with a focus on trust, security and reliability, our goal has always been to create a safe and accessible place to trade and invest in cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin. Coinfloor’s history goes back to 2012 when we experienced first hand the challenges of buying, selling and trading bitcoins in the UK, and wanted to build a business that solved this problem.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
With technology and innovation today it is possible for every single person in the world to enjoy a good quality of life. However, a major part of the world population still lives in poverty. I see one of the reasons for the slow change is we fall into victim of long standing beliefs and customs that box us into behaviours that slow us down. I am motivated to help us get on the right track.
What is your goal in life?
My goal in life is help build an industry that values sustainability, balance and fulfillment, so that the corporations can deliberately contribute towards making life more enjoyable for everyone and rely on the ripple effect of the goodness to transfer to all other aspects of life.
Why Blockchain Technology?
I got into Blockchain technology by a chance and it is an industry that I fell in love with and love more as I learn more about the industry and technology. There is huge untapped potential and I love how the majority of the participants aim towards making life better. The thing that I love the most is how the industry makes us think outside the box.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
It is a necessary step we need to take before we progress to humanity empowerment as a whole.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
It would probably be in the same place as how the internet is used today.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Do it, it is a welcoming industry, and there are so many opportunities around. And remember you learn by being in the industry, not before. So earlier you start applying, earlier you can be part of the industry.
Jenny Kong, Global Head of Social, Wirex
Wirex products give our users the power to use their money, their way, on one borderless payment platform. Buy, store, exchange, and spend digital or traditional currencies, anytime, anywhere.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
I stumbled upon the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector around 3 years ago. It was far from my background in advertising agencies and media publishers but there was something so exciting about this industry - like nothing I had ever experienced before. The amount the sector has flourished in this amount of time has been incredible. The only thing I've come to realise is that innovation can take shape in any form, and you don't even realise it. Innovation to me is an idea that's been realised that brings a tangible benefit or impact to people. And I love working in an industry that's literally jam packed with innovators.
What is your goal in life?
To make a little mark, and be a part of something truly game-changing.
Why Blockchain Technology?
Blockchain technology has the potential to completely transform industries. As many as 1.7 billion people are currently unbanked, and I truly believe that blockchain technology can help set up the infrastructure to assist with financial inclusion.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Women hyping up women. If we invest in our younger generation of women, women with small businesses, women with ideas - it will go a long way.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Powering the infrastructure of a lot of industries. Look what it's done for the Fintech industry. You can now buy lunch instantly and seamlessly with debit cards thanks to Fintechs like Wirex. I can see it being taught at school, many more job opportunities, re-invigorating a lot of legacy systems.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Take all the opportunities! Learn as much as you can, and don't be afraid to shake things up and get creative - whatever your role is! The industry is still growing rapidly, the skills you learn now will be invaluable later. Have fun!
Pinky Sharma, Vice President of Sales, TechZert Software Inc.
TechZert Software Inc. specializes and experts in Payment Modernization, Cloud & Integration Solutions, Digital Transformation and Blockchain.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
I come from liberal family background. But Being a single lady in the corporate world, faced many challenges sometimes due to male domination, sometimes due to male attractions towards a single female personality etc...But the only thing which motivates me is Faith on myself, Faith on God and Keep doing the right efforts. I believe when we keep doing the right efforts and when we believe in ourselves, change happens. Seeing the ups and downs, I learnt taking risks and learnt from my good & bad experiences. My self belief and inner positive strength always keeps me motivated.
What is your goal in life?
I'm philanthropist and with entrepreneurial skills, I would like to start some venture where everyone can present their talents and enable themselves in new opportunities.
Why Blockchain Technology?
Being into the Software Industry for a decade now, I believe Blockchain has the capability to ensure security, transparency and liberty to execute & complete transactions without any fear of losing the trust within any network. This technology can easily manage data privacy, ownership and data protection. This not only reduces the risk but also eliminates many of the processing & transaction fees.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Today's time is full of challenges and risks and the most important fact is to lead it in the right way. Women are blessed in decision making and with the time as changes, women's from different different streams representing their strength & ability. I believe the courage of women in representing and showing strength & ability in the toughest race of personal & professional challenges brings the true value of Women Empowerment.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Certainly, it's a sweet fruit, which is getting seeded this time and definitely it will be the first taste of every tongue. I believe Blockchain & Tech is the future for healthy & transparent dealings & transactions.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Where there's a will there's a way. If one believes in exploring opportunities and being a trend-setter of industry, then this is the right platform and right technology to enter in for the aspiring women entrepreneurs and for the women in tech.
Ash Costello, Founder, GDPR Designers
GDPR Designers are privacy consultants specialising in blockchain & crypto technology companies. Their team are privacy experts with extensive experience advising on priv,acy globally, and in particular in the blockchain, AI, crypto and distributed ledger technologies.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
Make privacy accessible
What is your goal in life?
Making privacy solutions for blockchain and crypto technologies easy to access
Why Blockchain Technology?
Its transparency and speed is creating a more equal and fair world for everyone
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Diversity and inclusion benefits everyone. The numbers don't lie.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Blockchain tech will be the new normal. It is already almost there.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Jump in.
Arshelene Lingao, Binance Angel PH, Celo Ambassadress
Binance is beyond operating the world's leading cryptocurrency exchange, Binance spans an entire ecosystem.
Celo is a global payments infrastructure that makes financial tools accessible to anyone with a mobile phone.
Your life, challenges, and motivation *
Hi, I’m Amirah (Arshelene Lingao). Before I entered crypto I was first an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) working in the Middle East. For an average person like us, one job is not enough. That’s why I am very eager to look for an extra or part time job where I can earn enough money. Wayback on 2017, a friend introduced me to use a wallet app available for Filipinos where we can send and receive money to our family fast and easy. That wallet includes some cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, Ethereum etc which I don’t have an idea what it is. I started searching on the internet and landed on Bitcointalk forum where everything about crypto was discussed. I joined some groups and one of them is the Binance Filipino telegram group which only has 50+ members and from there my journey to cryptocurrency started. I joined airdrops, bounties and applied for Community management jobs. Later on, I found out about the Binance Angel’s Program. Thanks to Ivan and Diego's help, I became part of them in December 2017. Helping our community is my maintask even though I'm roughly familiar with crypto, I willingly volunteer because I know how hard it is to be a beginner without anyone’s guidance. Thanks to Binance and all the people behind it they gave us every single information on how to guide our very own community. This was where my story and success began.
Some of our users are using their life fund on their trading and it makes me feel bad as I know what it’s like to put all your savings on trading which is not highly recommended. But that doesn’t stop me on striving until I get comfortable with what I have now. Everything seems to be perfect in some people’s eyes because we are part of the Program but they don't know that before we accomplished things, we were ones on the same path like them. The truth is, sometimes reality hides the rejections and failures we’ve been through and overcome with perseverance and resilience.
It may seem that we enjoy life but we also endure failures to get where we want to be.
What is your goal in life?
I want to help my fellow pinoy(OFW) to learn about crypto and see them spend their time with their family rather than working abroad. Crypto Blockchain did change my life, and I believe that it will do the same if they can receive proper education such as seminars, workshops etc. about Blockchain.
Why Blockchain Technology?
Blockchain because transactions are done instantly and transparently. No intermediary fee is required as it is a decentralized system.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Keshab Chandra Mandal wrote that female empowerment could be defined in five separate categories: social, educational, economic, political, and psychological.
Women empowerment can be described into different meanings to everyone. This prominent form of empowerment strengthens the relations and status of women in the community.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
I'm looking into a cashless society powered by Blockchain.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Don't get intimidated by men,“ If you can’t keep up with them, just make sure to do your best”. No one can beat your perseverance aside from yourself. It’s you who creates your own path, own it.
Tracy Li, Co-Founder, BlockDevsAsia
BlockDevsAsia is best in organizing and engaging Blockchain Developers in South-East Asia through Networking, Education, Representation.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
Keeping a balanced life between family, career and myself is one of the challenges that I strive to maintain.
What is your goal in life?
To be happy and strong and find self-love.
Why Blockchain Technology?
Blockchain enables plenty of use cases in different industries. It is also one of the lucrative industries right now in tech. People
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Women empowerment is the ability to assert yourself as a woman to be equally respected as men in any industry.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
Blockchain will be at the center of the financial industry.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Don't be overwhelmed. If you have ideas for a potential use case, do it and share it.
Elena Rivers, Advisory Member, Intercoin
Intercoin is a purpose-driven team of experienced entrepreneurs who are building blockchain applications to serve entire communities, ranging from small groups to large cities. We develop open-source technologies to create an environment of opportunities for positive social impact and to make our world more inclusive, fair and sustainable.
With Intercoin, anyone can start a community, issue their own currency, invite merchants to accept it, manage payments to service providers, run contests, and even use blockchain for secure elections, voting and governance.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
I have started my journey with cryptocurrencies because of the previous positive experience in trading FX. I went to several Meetups in London having almost zero knowledge about Blockchain and Bitcoin without any friends but it never stopped me. I've met so many visionaries with an amazing zest for life and realised that I want to learn, grow and to work with them. No matter if it was Real Estate, AI, Bitcoin or vegetables, I learned about the complexity of DLT space and found that my passions lie in building trust, transparency and sufficiency that only Blockchain can deliver.
What is your goal in life?
As an experienced serial entrepreneur and a visionary advisor, I have a passion to enable people's achievements to deliver meaningful impact. My strong desire to deliver changes in the lives of many people, help me to thrive in fast-paced environments. I am a keen believer in collaboration and a future-forward thinker with a focus on transformational change for future generations.
Why Blockchain Technology?
I learned about the fascinating complexity of DLT space and found where my passions lie because of the incredible characteristics of the technology.
To remember some of the main qualities of Blockchain I've developed an acronym that I'm happy to share with you:
TRUST SAGE
T - transparent
R - reliable
U - unified
S - sustainable
T - transformational
S - secure
A- automated
G - governed
E - efficient
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
In my opinion, empowered women are those who know their strengths and weaknesses and are not afraid to embrace them or even to pursue their biggest dreams.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
I was fascinated by the possibilities of blockchain when I just started to learn about different areas for its implementation in 2016. And look at where we are now...Just in 5 years, I understood that it was child’s play.
So, my predictions for the decade ahead are simple: most of the things we can't even imagine yet. Nevertheless, I'm sure of 1 thing - Blockchain will cover absolutely everything similar to what the internet did 20 years ago. Moreover, many people will use blockchain in everyday life even without realising it, as it's going to be as simple as A, B.C.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
To aspire to other women, I would say that we have to be strong, ambitious, and to know exactly how to continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes that technology is Not for women. Everyone needs to find new ways to address challenges and to reach out to leaders. Please share your project ideas of how to use the power of blockchain for good and you will find someone ready to go that extra mile with you together.
Alexandra Tschopp, Chief of Staff, Omnibek, Opherium Labs
OmniBek AG, Lucerne Switzerland (Swiss-based parent company owning subsidiaries OmniWire Ltd., UK and Optherium Labs LLC in NY, USA) Omnibek AG, an innovative fintech blockchain infrastructure company offering a powerful ecosystem for digital banking, regulatory compliance, and cyber security.
Technology provider in the blockchain fintech infrastructure space selling three distinct products: Neobanking (SAAS and BaaS), DataVault and fully automated KYC/AML RegTech platforms all running on a Multi-Decentralized Private Blockchains OS, which is patented.
Your life, challenges, and motivation
I am a passionate advisor, investor relations specialist and entrepreneur working with numerous start-up companies in the fintech field.
What is your goal in life?
My aspiration is to work with projects that will democratize Banking-as-a-Service products and to push cryptocurrencies and blockchain solutions into the mainstream space.
Why Blockchain Technology?
My aspiration is to work with projects that will democratize Banking-as-a-Service products and to push cryptocurrencies and blockchain solutions into the mainstream space, as we all benefit from increased cybersecurity, transparency and traceability. All these objectives can be achieved with blockchain technologies.
Describe women empowerment in a simple way
Increase the percentage of female executives in C-level positions and don’t wait for government-backed initiatives to achieve this. Every company can do this even prior to formation.
Where do you see Blockchain & Tech after 10 years?
In ten years, mass adoption of blockchain solutions will be achieved, most of our inter-company processes will be digital.
Message to aspiring women that wishes to enter the Blockchain and Tech space
Since Blockchain technologies will be embedded in almost every sector, start with the underlying sector you wish to improve. Then formulate the best solution which will transform your sector thanks to Blockchain and look for the best disruptor in the marketplace or form a new company.
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