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Tech#ChangeTheWorld
Bitcoin Bros, Meet The Women On The Block
Jamie Moy, CONTRIBUTOR
May 6, 201812:00 AM226
Photo courtesy of Cindy Chin.
Williamsburg Hotel
Sunday May 13th, is a day to honor a special woman in our life. Many of us from all over the world, including myself and my mother, will be headed to the Williamsburg Hotel in Brooklyn, New York to spend Mother’s Day showing up for ourselves and for future generations at the first Women on the Block Conference (www.womenontheblock.io). Welcome to Mother’s Day 2018!
The Women on the Block Conference (WOTB) is the brainchild of Alexandra Levin-Kramer, ESQ., a partner at CKR Law who also heads their Blockchain Technology & Digital Currency group. Levin-Kramer was frustrated by the male-dominance of blockchain panels and events (see these NY Times and Bloomberg articles), especially given how many impressive women in blockchain she knew and knew of. Cindy Chin, CEO of CLC Advisor, a NASA Datanaut and fellow blockchain expert, was also concerned about the burgeoning crypto landscape. Together, their annoyance compelled them to be the force for change.
Armed with a shoestring budget and a handful of dedicated volunteers, they organized WOTB, a one-day blockchain conference featuring all-women panels. This first-of-its-kind event boasts another first: an on-site educational children’s program focused on science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). Additionally, all proceeds will be donated to support women in technology.
The response to WOTB from the global community has been overwhelmingly positive. Not only are women flying in from across the United States, but also from more than ten countries, including the United Kingdom, Turkey, Germany, Switzerland, China and Australia. They will speak and attend the conference, which kicks off the much anticipated Blockchain Week New York City.
Such global enthusiasm makes sense to Ada Jonuse, co-founder & CEO of Lympo. Jonuse has organized many blockchain events around the world and reports that having women-only panels results in a 40% female audience compared with the usual 5-10%.
What should participants expect from WOTB? I corresponded ahead of this weekend’s conference with some of the speakers, and here are three themes I see emerging around women in the blockchain space.
1.Blockchain touches nearly every industry
The speakers at the conference represent an incredibly diverse range of business experience and industries. My quick analysis finds these female blockchain experts are involved in shaping and applying blockchain technology to anything and everything! Their industry expertise and influence includes food supply chain, investment advisory, state and governmental policy, advocacy for emerging economies, advancing humanitarian technology, decentralized marketplaces and exchanges, consumer data ownership, regulatory bodies and storytelling.
Bottom line: If you’re wondering if WOTB will be relevant to you and your industry, I think it’s safe to say the answer is a resounding yes.
2.Diversity in blockchain matters — but how much?
Diversity is a topic being widely discussed across all industries, so it’s no surprise this is a priority for women in blockchain and crypto. The speakers at WOTB are well aware of how men already dominate the space, and each brings a sophisticated and nuanced take on issues of inclusion.
Women in the industry instinctively and deliberately seek each other out to build connections and a sense of community. According to Tereza Nemessanyi, EIR for Microsoft, “As a woman in tech and in a market-facing role, I tend to attract and mingle with many people of color and women. So when people tell me they can’t find women [in blockchain], I’m quite surprised.”
Nissa Szabo of bloXroute also sees diversity in the space, but she’s concerned that founding teams and C-level roles are homogeneous and predictably male.
For her part, Katrina Donaghy, co-founder and co-CEO of Civic Ledger, relies on the Women in Blockchain International Impact (WIBI) Telegram group, to virtually connect and interact with women globally. “The difference [between men and women] is that women don’t need ego to validate our position or place. We are way too busy building amazing blockchain companies.”
Elizabeth Chee, co-founder and COO of HIT Foundation, says: “If we just have men in blockchain, then we miss out a significant contribution from women on the design of products, services and solutions targeting women.”
3.Blockchain is a tool for doing good
The speakers I reached out to all strongly believe this is a key moment to open up this nascent industry to women — and to new ways of thinking in general. Notably, many of them have been inspired and encouraged by other women to get involved with blockchain. Keenly aware of how blockchain technology can influence the world, these women are committed to ‘paying it forward’ through their civic- and socially minded work and being visible leaders.
Alicia Noel, founder of Cultivati Inc., wants “everyone, everywhere to have reliable access to safe, quality and sustainable food.” Kathleen Chu, marketing lead at blockhive, sees blockchain as a critical tool for protecting landowners from corrupt government entities with an immutable registry data.
And fundamentally, Dr. Jane Thomason, an advocate for emerging markets says, “Identity is foundational to everything and is a basic human right.” Clearly, all these women (and many more) see the tremendous impact of blockchain and are bonded and inspired by the possibilities in the industry.
Nadia Chilmonik, co-founder and Chief Discovery Officer for Byzantine is thinking proactively. “We have the chance to make the blockchain industry better than the rest of tech for women and people of color. We can’t afford to let it go astray.” To that end, when I asked the speakers to share the names of their own mentors and role models in blockchain, they named each other.
In fact, preventing blockchain from “going astray” might just be the #1 priority for these inspiring women. As they imagine — and reimagine– the countless opportunities blockchain technology presents, they are stepping up as a voice for change, for insight and for inspiration.
Meet these speakers and many more at the Women on the Block Conference.
(https://www.womenontheblock.io)
When: Sunday, May 13, 2018
Where: Williamsburg Hotel, Brooklyn NY
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
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