WOMEN OF THE FUTURE - WEB3 & THE METAVERSE

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

Muriel Strode

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Advocates & Sponsors

Tommaso Di Bartolo

Anne-Marie Enns

Elizabeth Irizarry

Olayinka Odeniran

We are all very proud to launch this first edition of the ‘Women of the Future’ series, placing a much-needed and well-deserved spotlight on women shaping the future, in web3 and beyond. The ‘Women of the Future’ multimedia project showcases some of the best and the brightest women in the world within web3 today.

Embedded in its pages, you will find augmented reality videos that accompany many of the features when you use the free GLOBAL VILLAGE AR app. The ‘Women of the Future’ brand is far more than a tech-enabled publication; it is a multimedia experience centered around the deluxe hardcover coffee-table book you are now holding, which includes AR videos, in person events and also an online web platform and a multilevel social media network. Online, the full e-book will be viewed in the millions through the InnovationsoftheWorld.com online library. This publication aims to celebrate all women involved in web3 globally, but it is also meant for all business leaders and decisionmakers who can effect change in their industries throughout the USA and the world. This new series is for the open-minded folk who want to know and work with the who is who in the industry, and want to play an active role in its growth and development. This inaugural edition is part of a growing global series, with many exciting Women of the Future initiatives planned across the globe.

I would like to thank and congratulate our all women-led team that made this project possible, Lauren Somer, Sue Rooney and our partners Tarja Stephens and Janna Salokangas, as well as every woman featured in this legacy publication for their contribution. We salute you!

Sven Boermeester CEO & Founder, Global Village Publishing

Global Village recognizes and celebrates the positive contributions that women can bring when given the opportunity and look forward to seeing more women and women-led initiatives being awarded the funding they rightfully deserve.

Sven Boermeester

CEO & Founder, Global Village Publishing

Callie Van Graan President, Global Village Publishing

Sue Rooney COO, Global Village Publishing & Publisher, Women of the Future

Lauren Somer Publisher, Women of the Future

Tarja Stephens Publishing Partner, Women of the Future

Susan Heiman

& Layout

Janna Salokangas Publishing Partner, Women of the Future

Justin Jones

Evan Rothman

Lauren Burley-Copley

Writer

Diane Silcock Writer

BEENISH SAEED

Author & Director of Operations, Boss Beauties

O ne overcast Friday in March 2013, after hours of drafting a paper about the need to re-establish the rule of law as a foundation for protecting women against gendered inequalities, I found myself standing next to Baroness Hale, the soon-to-be first female President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

I was only a teenager, visiting Bristol to attend a law lecture that the Baroness was delivering. Given her exceptional role in and beyond the legal industry, she was surrounded by a large crowd – people hoping to catch a glimpse of her, people pulling out their cameras to snap a photograph for their mantel and people bursting to pitch their work. I, too, tried to make my way through the crowd in hopes of exchanging a greeting (I’d be lucky, I thought). As a petite girl, it was not easy, but I finally got close enough for her to notice me when suddenly, out of nowhere, I felt a strong force pushing me to the back of the crowd.

And the Baroness, with a big smile and without missing a beat, turned and motioned at me to join her in the front. I wish I could remember her exact words, but she said something like, “It’s fun to be petite. We are very special!”

It was a moment I will never forget – spontaneous warmth and affection from a trailblazer who is a role model for millions of people and, as it turns out, is similar to me in height. I am the girl who grew up in the south of Pakistan, often bullied for being petite, but deeply ambitious to take on challenges & somehow shift people’s attention from my height to my accomplishments. I was five years old when I got my first computer and started planning the family’s birthday parties in spreadsheets; I was eleven when I created a hotel management program to understand how unforgettable hospitality experiences are created; at age seventeen, I arrived in England to study law and work, and blended my passions for augmenting human experience with technology and the delivery of justice-led iconic companies.

Looking back, I feel the power of that moment when I posed for a photograph next to Baroness Hale and experienced the rush of inspiration to keep going. Keep going regardless that I am petite. Keep going even

As we build the next iteration of the internet, we must do everything in our power to create a space full of growth, prosperity and inclusion for women across the world.

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though I am different and am an immigrant. Keep going no matter that I am the only person of colour in the room.

So far in my life, I’ve been a technologist. I’ve been an author of a book that explores the whirlpools of data humans find themselves in and how it can be managed to treat its owners, the people like me and you, with dignity – a basic human right. I’ve been the founder of a nonprofit that provides upskilling opportunities in business for marginalised communities. I’ve been a naval officer cadet and helmed a ship in stormy waters. I’ve been the only woman, the only Pakistani, and even the only brown woman in many kinds of places.

My most significant learning comes from my mother, who got tangled in an arranged marriage at a young age but was determined to see me use my voice and ideas to grow and lead in meaningful ways. As a child, I often wondered why my mother was so passionate about seeing her daughter pursue challenging education paths, start a business on her own or learn as much as possible about computers. Didn’t we have men to do that? Although that was the case in the majority of my friends’ families and to an extent, in my family, wherever I looked, I saw my mother. She was and is my North Star. She was present every day and somehow built a window through which I could see a future – it was not exactly perfect. Still, with layers of a strong self-belief, an immigrant mentality to stay hungry and unconditional love to support one another, it looked like an attractive place and an appealing challenge for a young girl like me.

My mother’s heroic influence and Baroness Hale’s encouraging smile remind me of the time when international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney publicly expressed that “The worst thing we can do as women is not stand up for each other.”

In a world where women’s economic progress is stalling, and macro disturbances such as pandemics have disproportionately destroyed women’s livelihoods, those in privilege and power must prioritise gender equality. Billions of women remain without clean food, housing and sanitation, bank accounts to own and spend money on their terms, technology education and access to better productivity and well-paid career pursuits. For many, choosing their own partner, their own clothing, and even when they prefer to have children is an unknown concept.

There is, quite literally, nothing we cannot do with unity towards a mission to give women the power to make decisions, learn and innovate, earn and spend money, and choose where they want to work and how and when they wish to relax.

As we build the next iteration of the internet, we must do everything in our power to create a space full of growth, prosperity and inclusion for women across the world. There is simply no excuse to leave anyone behind – this is a matter of great responsibility that the world must reflect upon & act with great urgency and democracy.

This book contains powerful stories of the women paving the way in web3 with hearts of generosity, kindness and inclusivity to lead, inspire and empower. It is a starting point for us to learn from and create solutions to raise awareness, increase education and uplift women in all economies worldwide.

I could not be more grateful for all the trailblazing and powerhouse women included in this book – they are carrying the torch of opportunity and community building and making a difference every single day. We can all learn a great deal from them and continue to support those in and around us so they feel welcome and supported.

LAUREN SOMER

Women of the Future

Publisher

It’s our duty to make the world a better place, not for ourselves but the generations after us.

2022 was quite a year, with the world facing an array of challenges, from health, politics, and climate issues to conflicts, uprisings, and protests. In one way or another, almost everyone on earth has been impacted to some extent. What an eye opener and a moment to realize that change and the beginning of a new era starts with oneself and with finding like-minded people starting change for good, little by little.

The development and mass adoption of emerging technologies not only shape our future and raise our global productivity but contribute to our collective well-being.

More than ever web3 and the Metaverse play a vital role in the modernization of our society, transforming not only individuals but also corporates and companies into a digital world.

2022 provided a whole new world of opportunities: game-changing innovation and the opportunity to shape the future through web3 and the Metaverse. Sadly, old challenges remain and yet again, in this new era of women-led initiatives and female decision makers, they still represent less than 30%, not even touching on the imbalance looking at inclusion.

As a woman and a mother of a son, I cannot live with the fact that future generations will grow up with the idea that we need to question why women in any space are underrepresented. Not only have I made it a mission to raise my son with the mindset that female empowerment and inclusion are a given, but through the Women of the Future projects, we can ensure that the role and inclusion of women in the Metaverse and web3 are highlighted.

The Women of the Future initiative is about empowering the innovators, and shapers of the future, ensuring that projects and women with small voices but huge impact are highlighted and celebrated. Furthermore, the project is committed to ensuring that all geographical locations are covered and that the diversity in this space is represented to the fullest.

Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back.

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SUE ROONEY

The Women of the Future project is a tangible output of a belief I have long held. Women from all walks of life – irrespective of education, social background, ethnicity, race, or any other ‘ism’ – should be given the same opportunity as their male counterparts. When women are empowered and heard, a different perspective comes to the fore –with extraordinary results.

There are many reasons why people embark on passion projects; aside from the obvious inherent interest in and passion for the subject, there is often an underlying motivation, and mine was rage. I grew up in a conservative household in a country grappling with the inequalities of apartheid. Deep-seated racism, sexism, and unchallenged gender roles were commonplace, and the expectation was that I would marry well and pursue a life of domesticity. However, my rebellious nature and fighting spirit did me well. I rejected this and set on a path to challenge the norms by pursuing every opportunity that came my way, ultimately leading me to the Women of the Future initiative. This project showcases inspiring stories and perspectives from some of the leading female voices in web3 and the Metaverse. Each story is unique, redefining female empowerment and leadership and paving the way for others to follow. In a world fraught with disinformation, inequality, and insincerity, this project highlights the accomplishments of pioneering change-makers. They are the ultimate role models for younger generations.

Web3 and this ‘new world’ are constantly evolving but at its core is the ethos of community, collaboration, and equality. It provides one of the first genuine opportunities for all barriers to be broken down and for the playing field to be truly transformed. I’m excited at the possibilities this new technology can bring as we collectively drive mass adoption in this space.

I am enormously proud to publish the inaugural edition of Women of the Future. Connecting with all these incredible women from all walks of life scattered across the world has been a great privilege. I thank every one of you for your contribution to this project. May the world continue to recognize that incredible things can happen when women are invited to the table!

the

When women are empowered and heard, a different perspective comes to the fore – with extraordinary results.

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MISSION IMPACT

AN

ELEVATES

Tarja Stephens (left) and Janna Salokangas

TARJA STEPHENS & JANNA SALOKANGAS

MISSION IMPACT – Women are ready to learn, enter, and be at the forefront of creating the future.

“We need a global network connecting and supporting women in emerging technologies” was the realization of Mission Impact co-founders Janna Salokangas, and Tarja Stephens, who themselves struggled to enter the space. Both saw the lack of women’s representation in the events and companies they consulted. Together, they started connecting women with education programs, made introductions to companies and investors, and surrounded themselves with resources and connections. They saw their problem as universal, with women around them experiencing the same challenges.

Now Mission Impact is creating a one-stop destination for women to explore and find education programs, future jobs, business opportunities, and capital in web3, VR/AR, and Metaverse markets.

As emerging technologies will see exponential growth in the coming years, there is a growing need to help millions of women navigate the new digital economy and help play a key role in its development. Also, over the past year, millions of women have left their workforce and are now looking to come back to the workforce but with a new mindset. They are now looking to enter the new digital economy, eager to learn new skills and find new career opportunities in the $13 trillion-dollar Metaverse economy.

Living across the globe from each other, the Mission Impact Founders Tarja Stephens and Janna Salokangas met by chance in 2021. It was an instant connection between two passionate impact-driven Finnish women coming together fueled by Nordic trust and integrity. When the duo launched Mission Impact, their focus was finding ways to empower women not only to have a leading role in the web3 space but also to help them see their potential as leaders.

Have you ever felt the support of another woman believing, elevating, and inviting you to expand? The Mission Impact founders know how powerful it can be. It can change everything.

As Tarja mentions, ‘When women come together to support each other, powerful things will follow.’

“I had never felt this from another professional woman, the trust, transparency, and empowerment that I got as a next-generation leader from Tarja, whom I look up to. At that moment, I realized what I had missed and what so many other women are missing in their careers.

There is nothing more powerful than an empowered woman empowering other women. From that moment, I knew we were here to give this forward. – Janna Salokangas

This is what Mission Impact is offering. A safe space to learn, connect and grow with other passionate women eager to expand, and step into the future potential.

Co-founded and co-created by Janna Salokangas and Tarja Stephens, Mission Impact has two feet on two continents: Tarja is based in Miami, USA, and Janna in Helsinki, Finland.

Mission Impact aims to unlock economic opportunities for female talent in emerging technologies. Women leaders gain exclusive access to the latest knowledge, resources, business opportunities, future jobs, and capital inside the platform.

“Many future leaders may be invisible in the current systems but have incredible potential to take a leading role in shaping the future of innovation. This is what Mission Impact team is here to do, find them, empower them, and provide them with the needed resources and connections to accelerate their impact.” Explains Tarja Stephens

Women are and have always been ready to enter and be at the forefront of creating the future. -Janna continues.

We are proudly partnering with the Women of the Future initiative, celebrating the amazing leaders across the globe. Our time is now, and we welcome you to co-create the future of leadership together – Tarja and Janna, Co-Founders of Mission Impact

“Imagine a world where women are leading and living to their full potential.

Where everyone is supported and trained to thrive in emerging technologies and as leaders.

Where equality is the starting point, not an after-thought.

At Mission Impact, our mission is to create this world.”

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and connecting women with future jobs, capital,

and the Metaverse space.

TOMMASO DI BARTOLO

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Iam Tommaso Di Bartolo, a Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur with two exits, early-stage startup investor, 2X author, corporate and startup advisor focused on web3, and faculty at the University of California Berkeley where I teach entrepreneurship focused on web3 and the Metaverse.

I am passionate about sharing the lessons that I have learned from nearly two decades of my entrepreneurial journey. 100k+ people have attended my keynote sessions at major global business events. I have contributed towards some of Silicon Valley’s most renowned startup accelerators such as Google Launchpad, Draper University, and The Alchemist.

I have lived in 4 continents and speak 7 languages, as a result, my audience is truly international. I am also the author of Navigating the Metaverse and How to Growth Hack your Startup.

I became interested in blockchain technology around 2017-18 and started diving deep into the possibilities that web3 unlocks. That led me to become a part of several web3 company’s boards and invested in several of them. My book Navigating the Metaverse focuses on the possibilities of the Metaverse and how brands can take advantage of them early on.

I am chair of AlmaMeta, a continued education organization that focuses on web3 and Metaverse courses for non-technical professionals who seek to unlock business opportunities.

My passion for learning about disruptive market trends and helping others grow led me to join Women of the Future, a leading community of female tech entrepreneurs and builders.

In my life, I have met so many talented women who have had major contributions across all industries. This has led me to believe that encouraging more women to come forward will result in a truly bright future for the tech world.

Having joined Women of the Future as a Board Editor, I look forward to working alongside some of the best women in their respective industries and paving the path for more women to come forward and implement their talent and skills to build truly ingenious solutions.

We aim to make a tiny difference in this huge world for women by providing educational opportunities, mentorship, communities, and encouragement!

ANNE-MARIE ENNS

Co-Founder and CEO of Pulledin Productions

Iam an award-winning Event Producer who loves bringing together incredible people to create lasting and meaningful connections. I thrive on using the stage at my events to provide a platform for voices that need to be heard and have always been a champion for giving people a chance to shine.

My career path in events started with producing huge fundraising galas and raising millions of dollars for important causes such as addiction and mental health, violence against women, and AIDS research. I worked tirelessly with key partners, sponsors, and advocates to produce memorable and impactful events that truly made a difference.

My path into the world of immersive technology came about in 2012 when I moved to Vancouver, Canada, and started hosting meetups in the tech industry and began producing events and launches for high-end tech companies. I was a Producer of the 30th Anniversary of TED, which hosted the top 30 TED speakers of all time. This experience made me hyper focused on creating high-quality content and providing a means to get important voices out into the world.

At my core I am a partnership person – I absolutely love connecting people with one another and watching relationships blossom. It’s been said that I have a killer knack for recognizing potential partnerships and putting interesting people together to build incredible projects. I thrive on developing content and shows that make this a reality.

I have always been a champion of elevating women’s voices in the industry. I was the Founder of the VRARA Women’s and the Diversity and Inclusion committee, working tirelessly to ensure that my events provided a positive and inclusive platform for diverse voices to be celebrated. I am enormously proud that diversity is always a priority in the event I produce, always ensuring that they are at least 50% female and diverse.

I am is currently the Co-Founder and CEO of Pulledin Productions, an Event Production and Content Creation Company based in Canada. I serve as the Executive Producer of the Immerse Global Summit and am the Global Event Director for the VR/AR Association. In addition to this I also serve as an Ambassador for Mission Impact, a Global Leadership

Development program focusing on business-critical web3 training, personal growth, and impact for women so that they can accelerate their leadership within the organization and in the world.

I am very proud to be a member of the editorial board for Women of the Future, web3 & Metaverse project. The objectives of this project resonated with me, being able to add my voice to this important project has been a wonderful experience.

ELIZABETH IRIZARRY

Chief Experience Officer at Mission Impact • Founder & Co-host of the Infinite Attraction Podcast

Like many immigrants, my story begins with a family leaving behind their home for a fresh start in a new country, with dreams of a better life. Knowing that success and upward mobility are possible with hard work has motivated me all my life. That drive allowed me to build a meaningful career as a designer. I had aspirations of making a lasting impact by designing humancentered and intentional spaces. My goal was to create spaces that could physically, emotionally, and visually enhance people’s lives. As a result, I can proudly say I built a 10+ year career in Commercial/Workplace Design, Project Management, Sales, and Strategic Partnerships. However, with such an intense focus on my career trajectory, I lost sight of my true purpose.

Cue COVID. With all the extra time to reflect, I suddenly found myself questioning the why of it all. I felt stale and unfulfilled. Meanwhile, as businesses worldwide were grinding to a screeching halt, Miami’s moment was just beginning. As a business development director, this was the perfect opportunity to form new relationships and broaden my cross-industry network. Enter #MiamiTech.

It didn’t take many happy hours to realize something was different here. I was excited about the people I was meeting, the ideas discussed, and the overall energy, enthusiasm, and passion shared by everyone. It was clear there was a critical difference in this community, and I was hooked. My natural curiosity led me from one thought-provoking conversation to the next, ultimately arriving at “web3”. By September of 2021, I owned my first NFT, DinoMonks; one of the first NFT projects focused solely on mental health and wellness. This was my segue into a newfound passion. I asked myself, what if this is what’s next? What if this is the

beginning of an era, and how I redefine my purpose? This was my AHA! moment.

These uncharted waters come with plenty of uncertainty and concern; there is an obvious lack of representation, gender equality, accessibility, and education within the web3 space. However, I believe there is a significant opportunity not only to solve these problems but to drive new narratives and create the impact we wish to see.

Today, I am fortunate enough to work alongside a group of incredible women who continue to inspire me to make an impact. Imagine a world where women are leading and living to their full potential. Where everyone is supported and trained to thrive in emerging technologies and as leaders — where equality is the starting point, not an after-thought — at Mission Impact, it is our mission to create this world. As the Chief Experience Officer at Mission Impact, I am determined to broaden the participation and influence of women in the Tech and web3 community by equipping them with tangible, personal, and professional resources so they are better positioned to take the leap. Like Matthew Ball says, “If we want to affect change now, right now as we start to shift to what’s next, it is time to educate. And so, having a better sense of what’s around the corner is essential to being informed, and being informed allows us to positively affect the world we live in, real and non-real.”

Getting the chance to be a part of the Women of the Future initiative, conceptualized by empowered women empowering women, has been a privilege. It has been an honor to interview and help tell the success stories of some of the top female pioneers in this rapidly developing ecosystem. Because of projects like this, I continue to not only feel inspired but motivated to keep going.

OLAYINKA ODENIRAN

Black

My love for technology started with Math and Science. As a young girl, you could find me with a Macintosh or Commodore 64 punching away at math problems or trying to enter a code to make something move on the screen. That love of science and math led me to the goal of being a doctor. Fast forward to second semester Junior year in college when I left that goal behind and a change in course. Ultimately, I found myself in the financial industry working with IT to improve the risk and compliance landscapes of financial institutions. After over a decade and a career change into Cybersecurity, I’m now back to loving technology once again. My journey has highlighted a few things; the journey in tech for women can be a tough terrain to navigate alone, and diversity matters.

The above points led me to a need to create a better future for the next generation. As a mom who wants better for my daughter and other girls, I felt my journey should account for something. I see it as my life purpose to celebrate women and promote what they are doing in tech. Being a founder of Black Women Blockchain Council has allowed me to do just that. But my interest didn’t stop there. As the creator of the International Women of Blockchain conference, I get to celebrate all women and help them lend their voices to the formation of the blockchain ecosystem. I strongly believe the future is female. And our strength and power can help us build web3 and the Metaverse in a way that benefits all.

I am honored to serve on the editorial board of Women of The Future. When I received the invite to join the board, I jumped at the chance. It’s just another step in how we can empower more women to join web3. The project couldn’t be more timely. In 2018, I joined an international Telegram group made of all women whose intended purpose was simply to gather signatures of women for speaking engagements at future blockchain conferences. Not only did we have over 600 names on the list, but opportunities were being passed around. Some of those ladies are now leading the charge in several areas within blockchain. The same opportunity is happening with the Women of the Future project. This time we are cultivating various perspectives and showcasing how far we have come.

I’m hoping that this book empowers more women of all walks of life to get involved in web3 and the Metaverse. Our voices, opinions, and experiences are all needed. The future in web3 and the Metaverse is women and the many great guys who support us.

Every word that you use has purpose, meaning and power. Every single word plays a role in how you view yourself, your identity and your worth. Your inner voice matters.

The moment I knew I was standing in my own way was the moment I then spoke, “No more.” Have you ever under-estimated your abilities? Explained away your successes? Thought that someone else would be more qualified for the job, project or idea? Overworked to the point of exhaustion and burnout only to then question if you are deserving?

Without you even realizing, the way you choose to speak to yourself has a profound impact on your emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing. Your own voice can keep you stuck and can limit your potential.

What does this look like?

It’s not applying for that promotion because you think you’re underqualified; it’s not speaking up with an idea to others, in a boardroom or the Metaverse because you’re worried what they will think or say about you; it’s not sharing your experiences and how hard you have worked because you question, “is it actually enough?”

I’m here to tell you: yes. You, your ideas, your hard work, your experience, are more than enough. In fact, they are crucial, essential and critical. The women (and men) in this book have shared similar sentiments about their journey. I want to tell you that each and every woman in this book, are Women of the Future hoping to change the world and make it a better place. These women have pushed limits and achieved greatness to help others and to have others join in as well.

On the outside, their accolades speak volumes, but so can their inner voice. How do I know this? Because I, too, have experienced all of the above. So much so that underneath my achievements, I was eventually diagnosed with clinical depression, a generalized anxiety disorder and experienced total burnout. I felt like I was in a deep dark abyss.

Initially, it didn’t make sense. I was moving through the motions, doing all the “right” things and progressing my mission. So, what happened? I set extremely high unrealistic expectations, demanded perfection, oversacrificed my time and energy and didn’t believe I was doing enough.

What did that get me?

A whole lot of imposter syndrome and acid reflux. First and foremost, imposter syndrome is not an illness. Let me be very clear, nothing is wrong with you. However, there is a name for what you experience when you feel like a fraud even though you’re credentialed and experienced. Many have shared that imposter syndrome (originally termed imposter phenomenon) can be good because it acts as a reminder that you are learning. I disagree because the high-achiever who experiences imposter syndrome can cripple their own growth, evolution, success, and happiness.

If you discount your achievements, think you must be perfect, assume that someone else is better fitted for a role, then indeed you limit your true potential because you never give yourself the permission to revel in your skills and abilities.

The root cause: your inner voice.

For me, it was easy to speak kind and compassionate words towards my patients and clients yet use hurtful and destructive words towards myself. I tumbled in that deep dark abyss because of the inner voice, my inner gremlin. It warned me on numerous occasions: “If you’re not perfect, then you’ve failed. If you didn’t work hard enough, you don’t deserve that break.” That gremlin only got louder over time, “Who actually wants to hear what you have to say?”

I didn’t know what it was doing to me: holding me hostage in my own darkness. Every word that you use has purpose, meaning and power. Every single word plays a role in how you view yourself, your identity and your worth. Your inner voice matters.

As you read through this book, let these women inspire you. Let them take you on a journey through their successes, challenges and dreams. Turn each page knowing that these women are your community, mentors, sisters and friends who have experienced an inner voice that has been difficult at times. Just as you might have noted that voice as well. Nonetheless, their stories and triumphs give themselves and other women the opportunity to know that they are worthy of their cause and deserve recognition. Welcome to Women of the Future.

Dr. Jessica Metcalfe is a confidence coach, international speaker, author and former dental oncologist. She recently published her first book called: Speak Kindly, You’re Listening. Her mission is to empower and unlock the inner voices of high-achieving women. Working with cancer patients, her own mental health journey, having been an education director and becoming a life coach has given Dr. Metcalfe the opportunity to help high-achievers shift away from imposter syndrome, perfectionism, burnout and dark mental chatter to a new, inspiring, supportive relationship with themselves. She has given keynote speeches and presentations to University of Toronto, Boston University, Key Media, Women in Wealth Management and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

Glossary of terms

Altcoin: Initially used to refer to any cryptocurrency that wasn’t Bitcoin, altcoin may now refer to any new cryptocurrency with a relatively small market cap.

API: Acronym for Application Programming Interface, which is an interface between computers or programs that allows information to pass between them.

Assets: Industry term for a digital collectible. Examples: crypto, social media, models, pieces of art, music, gifs, photos, video, specific Tweets, Followers/Fans/Likes, or anything digital, as well as tangible one, can own.

Bitcoin: The first and most popular decentralized digital currency. All transactions using Bitcoin are recorded in a transparent, open ledger.

BIPOC: Black, Indigenous, and people of color. This is a term specific to the United States, intended to center the experiences of Black and Indigenous groups and demonstrate solidarity between communities of color.

Bridge: An application that connects multiple blockchains. Bridges allows users to send digital assets from one network to another. Sometimes referred to as ‘cross-chain’ swapping.

Blockchain: A system in which a record of transactions made in bitcoin or another cryptocurrency is maintained across several computers that are linked in a peer-to-peer network.

Cryptocurrency: Digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. In simplicity, these are payment methods that can be used to buy items on a blockchain.

Crypto: Often the de facto term for; cryptocurrencies, NFTs, digital collectibles etc.

Data: Refers to a user’s personal information, such as name, age, location, interests, browsing history, device usage, purchasing habits, etc. Web3 aims to protect this personal data and give ownership of it back to the user.

Decentralized: Meaning no company, organization, or entity completely owns the platform; instead, every user can own certain parts of the web and affect change via transactions and creations on the blockchain.

DeFi/Decentralized Finance: General term for any kind of financial activity that encompasses the use of cryptocurrency and blockchain protocols.

DEI: Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is a term used to describe policies and programs that promote the representation and participation of different groups of individuals, including people of different ages, races and ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, genders, religions, cultures and sexual orientations.

Digital Collectibles: See ‘Assets’

Drop: Term used for the release of new digital collectibles. If something ‘Drops’ at 1200, that’s the time you’d go online and buy it before it sells out.

Discord: An instant messaging platform and the go-to place for discussing NFTs.

Doxxing: The act of revealing identifying information about someone online, such as their real name, home address, workplace, phone, financial, and other personal information, which could, in turn, be used for real-life crime.

DAO: Decentralized anonymous organization; it is a community-led, tokenized entity with no central authority.

Dapp: Dapp, or a decentralized application, is an application built on a decentralized blockchain network using smart contracts and web3 javascript libraries.

DEX: An abbreviation for Decentralized Exchange. This type of crypto exchange enables users to transact in a direct peer-to-peer manner without any intermediary.

Ethereum: A blockchain with smart contract functionality. Ethereum is currently one of the main platforms for NFT projects. Note

Extended Reality (XR): Umbrella term that covers VR, AR, and MR, “reality-plus” tech using any kind of display.

Fungibility: Replaceability. Dollars are fungible because a dollar owed can be paid using any dollar in existence. Something that is non-fungible, like a painting, is one-of-a-kind.

Fiat: A currency established as legal tender, often backed and regulated by a government, such as the US Dollar.

Fractionalize: The process of locking an NFT into a smart contract and then dividing it into smaller parts which are issued as fungible tokens. This lowers the price of ownership and allows artwork and other digital assets to be owned by a community.

GAS: The fee required to execute a transaction or contract on the Ethereum blockchain.

HODL: An expression meaning “hold” and frequently taken to be an acronym for Hold On for Dear Life. This term actually began its life as a typo on an old forum, Bitcointalk.org, where user GameKyuuby explained that he was “HODLING” his bitcoin as the price dropped. The misspelling quickly caught on and is still used today.

IoT/The Internet of Things: Refers to a system of internet-connected entities that can collect and transmit data over a wireless network without human interaction. Alternatively, the interconnection via the internet of computing instruments embedded in ordinary objects allowing them to dispatch and obtain data.

IRL: Acronym for ‘in real life’.

Liquidity: A measure of how easily an asset can be bought, sold, or traded in a given market or on an exchange.

Metadata: The collection of data that defines ownership and differentiates one NFT from another. Metadata can be on-chain or off-chain.

MetaMask: A wallet used as a gateway to NFT apps like OpenSea, Rarible, and Axie Infinity.

Metaverse: A virtual 3D world where people can interact. Popular blockchain-based environments that comprise the Metaverse include Decentraland and The Sandbox, virtual gaming worlds where users can buy and sell land as NFTs.

Minting/Minted: The process by which an NFT becomes part of the blockchain. Once an asset is put on the blockchain, it is “minted” as a token and cannot be altered.

Mining: Obtaining small bits of cryptocurrencies and incorporating them into a blockchain. Miners use complex computer procedures to verify and validate transactions, they add the data to a blockchain and release information allowing others to publicly see the network information after an add. Miners collect crypto rewards for partaking in the ecosystem.

NFT/Non-Fungible Token: Items that cannot be replaced by an identical item. All NFTs are unique. NFT Tokens can be applied to anything that can sit on the internet, such as an image, a 3D model, music, GIF, JPED, PNG, video, copy, contracts, etc.

Node: Any device connected to a blockchain network. Different nodes have varying levels of responsibility and may help validate transactions, store the blockchain’s history, relay data, and perform other functions. Because blockchains are distributed peer-to-peer networks, nodes come together to create the network’s infrastructure.

Off-Chain Metadata: Metadata stored outside of a blockchain.

On-Chain Metadata: Metadata that is directly added into a smart contract, found on a blockchain protocol.

OpenSea: Launched in 2018, OpenSea is the first and largest NFT marketplace.

Phygital: The concept of using technology to bridge the digital world with the physical world with the purpose of providing a unique interactive experience for the user.

Polygon: An Ethereum-compatible protocol solution that provides inexpensive, speedier, and more secure payment transactions. Polygon’s platform for NFTs is favorable related to the smaller minting costs and low gas fees.

PoW/Proof of Work: Initially developed to deviate junk mail, predating cryptocurrency case studies. The essential notion is that one must show some format of work executed to utilize a particular service. The objective is to impose mediocre cost (in terms of the computing power needed to operate the PoW algorithm) on the individual desiring to use the service once while making it exceptionally costly for a person to use the service thousands or millions of times, making it cost-prohibitive to attack or disrupt Proof of Work procedures.

PoS/Proof of Stake: The notion is to cause miners to stake their digital assets as an “access key” to add blocks to the blockchain and collect transaction fees. The retribution for incorporating invalid transactions to the blockchain register is the loss of the coins staked. This concept uses less computing power, yielding lower gas fees.

Smart Contract: A self-executing digital contract. NFTs are composed of code written in smart contract programming language.

Smart Economy: Economy based on technological innovation, resource efficiency, sustainability, and high social welfare. Smart Economy adopts innovations, new entrepreneurial initiatives, increases productivity and competitiveness, with the overall goal of improving the quality of life of all citizens.

Token: Unlike a coin, a token is a digital asset created on an existing blockchain. Tokens can be used to represent digital and physical assets or used to interact with dapps.

Tokenomics: Tokenomics refers to all the aspects of a cryptocurrency that can impact the price, such as total supply, vesting, and utility. Created from the words ‘token’ and ‘economics.

UX: An abbreviation for User Experience, and is the design discipline for optimizing how users interact with and perceive an application, interface, or system.

Wallet: A wallet stores a user’s private keys and allows them to transact digital assets and connect with decentralized applications. A wallet does not store digital assets, it stores the keys which prove ownership of assets that are recorded on the blockchain’s digital asset ledger. Wallets come in two main varieties

Web1: The first iteration of the web, commonly referred to as the “readonly web.” Web1 was characterized by static websites that displayed information. There was little to no user interaction or user-generated content.

Web2: Starting in the 90s, the “read-write web” is characterized by usergenerated content and improved user interfaces. This led to the creation of blogs, social media platforms, and sites like Wikipedia and YouTube. Web2 placed more emphasis on user experience and interoperability between different applications and websites, giving us the vast network of connected websites and resources that we are familiar with today.

Web3: The next iteration of the web being ushered in as we speak, which leverages blockchain technology, open-source applications, and the decentralization of data and information. Web3 aims to remove control of the web from monopolistic tech companies and return data and content ownership to its users. Also referred to as the “read-write-trust web.”

WIB: Acronym for ‘Women in Blockchain’

Web3 Slang

ANON: Used to refer to an anonymous person on the web, usually in a sarcastic tone.

DEGEN: It’s short for ‘degenerate’ and refers to someone who is obsessed with crypto, takes massive risks in trading and overlooks anything going on in their life, including care for themselves.

Fren: Friend.

FUD: Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt.

GM: Good Morning.

GN: Good Night.

IYKYK: If You Know, You Know

LFG: Let’s F***ing Go. It’s used to get people excited and hyped about something, or even celebrate their achievements.

NGMI: Not Gonna Make It.

NFA/DYOR: Not financial advice/Do your own research. Disclaimers often used by individuals on social media who do not want to be held accountable if you take their crypto or NFT trading advice.

RUG/RUGPULL: A scam or misleading project, where the founders of a project suddenly disappear (with the money). There have been rugpulls in crypto, DeFi, and NFTs. No one is safe from “getting rugged.”

SER: Ser, misspelled, means ‘sir’. It’s just a way to greet or address someone in the NFT community, sometimes even used sarcastically to correct someone.

Shill: Shilling is when someone is actively promoting a certain behaviour with a hidden motive.

WAGMI: We Are/All Gonna Make It.

Introducing the women of the future

The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me?”

Ayn Rand

‘‘

CHAPTER 1

Accelerators, Enablers & Evangelists

‘‘

Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody can get there unless everybody gets there.

Virginia Burden Tower

RADHIKA IYENGAR FOUNDING PARTNER STARCHAIN VENTURES

WWeb3 thought leader Radhika Iyengar’s entrepreneurial spirit is the very essence of her being. She’s defied the odds, taken leaps of faith into uncharted waters, and accepted ever-present adversity as a woman of color in technology. Iyengar, a TedX speaker, who co-authored Amazon’s #1 Best Seller Enterprise Blockchain Has Arrived, declares her own journey’s title is “Nevertheless she succeeded.”

This captivating changemaker is founding partner at Silicon Valleybased venture studio StarChain Ventures. Its focus is solving significant global challenges by converging web3, decentralized technologies and the Metaverse with other advanced deep tech such as AI and Internet of Things (IoT).

StarChain Ventures is forming ‘companies that generate lasting positive impact and create a better, more equitable future for all.’ Radhika comments this is underscored in her book, which accurately predicted the rise of web3 in 2019, when web3 was not as commonly known.

“StarChain Ventures also advises promising global web3 companies to help them accelerate their success and maximize their business opportunity in both the physical world and the Metaverse.”

Creating a lasting global impact

Having been in the web3 space since 2017, Radhika is a strong advocate for creating ‘new mission-driven web3-based systems and social structures with more equitable values.’ She’s especially passionate about StarChain Ventures’ mission-driven initiative, the AstroSapiens NFT collection, DAO, AstroSapiens Foundation and Community. AstroSapiens are Metaverseready 3D portraits combined with ‘award-winning astrophotography.’ Proceeds from the collection fund the AstroSapiens Foundation which is a principal sponsor of various critical diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in web3 and STEAM disciplines, including amplifying access to opportunities for women in web3 and in the space sector.

Having conceptualized the AstroSapiens idea, Radhika explains the “space theme” of both StarChain Ventures and AstroSapiens is not just literal. “It’s about building a web3 rocket ship in a diverse and united Cosmos where everyone can reach for the stars and achieve their full potential,” she emphasizes.

Aside from being a venture operator and entrepreneur, Radhika is co-host of The Future of Business videocast series and a prolific international speaker at industry and technology conferences on the transformative

The purpose and meaning in my life is web3 for global impact, and my use of space metaphors is apt for the legacy I’m building, because the vision is limitless.

‘‘

power of web3. Another role is advising California State legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom regarding the responsible use of web3 and blockchain in California, the world’s fifth largest economy. Serving on the taskforce, California Gov Ops Blockchain Working Group, Radhika says a clear understanding of the web3 technology stack and its capabilities are important for establishing future policy frameworks.

“I’ve been honored and privileged to guide legislators on how to view this technology, what it can offer, and identify opportunities to deploy it in key use cases and sectors important in California.”

Democratizing access to web3

Radhika is justifiably proud of her blockchain bestseller, which is regarded as one of the most comprehensive books written about web3. A special moment for her was in 2019, when she held the first copies and realized web3 is ‘a real, authentic and core thesis.’

She remarks the book underscores the underpinnings and applications of web3 in various key sectors. These include banking and financial services,

healthcare and life sciences, supply chains and logistics, energy, as well as blockchain for government and for social good.

Radhika remarks, ‘the world as we know it is being reimagined, restructured, and indeed re-created with web3.’ She explains that she wrote the book ‘to democratize access to information about this technology, demystify what it means, and accurately predict the arc of adoption.’ Her vision is that everyone should have equal access to the trillions of dollars of opportunities in web3.

Web3 trajectory for global impact

The Metaverse is ‘an immersive 3D online virtual world in which we can take our avatars to engage with others in numerous ways,’ including events, commerce, and other virtual experiences. She emphasizes developing open and decentralized Metaverses. She explains that this critically upholds privacy, identity, and sovereign data ownership, which are ‘the cornerstones to a web3-based Metaverse.’

Asserting that NFTs will provide utility and be the items worn, bought, and sold in Metaverses,’ Radhika is positive that ‘web3 can do so much more, extending beyond the surface entertainment value towards creating lasting global impact.’

“Web3 is not just a technology but an ethos – one that innately prioritizes extreme transparency, accountability, and a collective ‘We’ consciousness that will supersede web2 zero sum ethos.”

Limitless vision

Radhika’s global background molded her view of the world. Born in India, raised in Morocco and immigrating to the U.S as a young, full scholarship college student, her intellectual curiosity and steadfast self-belief helped her earn her way into an elite education. It’s hardly surprising as her Tamil Iyengar heritage celebrates and values education, intelligence, and accomplishment.

Radhika says that her journey has often entailed carving out a new door for herself where none existed before. Her resolute belief, “If I don’t see it or I can’t get to it, I build it,” is boosted by her continual reliance on her ‘two superpowers, fierce resilience and neuroplasticity.’ Her neuroplasticity has led to an impressive multilingual capability in more than ten languages.

Clear that the purpose and meaning in her life is ‘web3 for global impact,’ the use of space metaphors by this space-high achiever is fitting for the legacy she’s building, because for her, the vision is limitless.

Silicon Valley, USA

SANDRA HELOU

CO-FOUNDER AND CCO

Metapolis

QR codes are AR triggered experiences

The Metaverse will be the foundation of engagement and borderless access. The new frontier for connectivity and engagement.

WWhen talking about possibilities it’s easy to get caught up in the power of dreams. After all the phrase “if you can dream it you can achieve it” led generation upon generation to follow their dreams and achieve the unimaginable through their ideas, entrepreneurship, and concepts. Some of these dreams led to massive leaps in technological advancements.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai captured the power of “possibility” well when he said... “The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and execute it. It isn’t something you await, but rather create.”

The technological leaps have been nothing short of extraordinary in web3 over the past few years. Sandra Helou is at the forefront of this technology and technological advancements. Sandra leads Zilliqa’s NFT and Metaverse departments across growth, partnerships, strategy, marketing, and conceptualization. Her global experience across Australia, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East enables her to deliver on both a strategy level and on an execution level. An action leader and futurist at heart, Sandra is committed to enriching and innovating the creator economy, web3 and Metaverse / NFT space. Sandra is also Co-Founder of Metapolis. Metapolis is the first ‘Metaverse as a Service Platform’ (MaaS) built on a world-renowned technology stack and powered by a leading Layer 1 blockchain, Zilliqa. Giving you a data-centric and fully customizable XR experience accessible through web/AR & VR. With the vision of bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds through seamless integration and an always-on layer of engagement, Metapolis has its sights set on becoming ‘The Next Internet’ and building a future for interoperability with security and safety at heart.

Zilliqa is a leading L1 blockchain known for its sharding technology, scalability and smart contract language, Scilla, built with safety and security at its core. It is a Layer 1 that significantly broadens the possibilities of mainstream adoption of blockchains and blockchain technology through its high-throughput public blockchain platform designed to scale thousands of transactions per second. Efficiency, trust, and transparency are its purposeful design foundation. Zilliqa’s development has become a foundational building block for sharding technology, which exponentially scales the power of possibilities of web3 technology.

Web3’s power of possibility

Individuals and entreprenuers are disrupting web3 every day with new innovations and projects. The power of web3 lies in the creator economy which allows for the redistribution of wealth and opportunity, driving greater inclusion and empowering creators and agents of change.

“The Metaverse will support a multitude of industries and verticals,” said Sandra. “The functionality of the Metaverse is that we can apply it across health and wellness, education, luxury, entertainment, gaming, and more. It will be the foundation of engagement and borderless access. The new frontier for connectivity and engagement.”

Metapolis can help you establish an additional layer of engagement, complementing your business with a virtual element. We help you build, design, conceptualise and strategise the economy within your city, from A-Z. Metapolis provides a data-centric and fully-customisable XR

experience accessible through web, AR and VR- bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds through seamless integration with this technology’s always-on layer of engagement. Eventually, we see Metapolis as the ‘The Next Internet’ for building a future of interoperability with security and safety at heart.

The Metaverse will support a multitude of industries and verticals. We can apply it across health and wellness, education, luxury, entertainment, gaming, and more. It will be the foundation of engagement and borderless access. For web3 to be a platform to bridge the digital and physical worlds, its developers need to back up its technology with clever, inspired, and purposeful impact. It needs to go beyond gamification.

Critics of web3 might consider it just another layer of financialisation without any benefits or outcomes for society. But like all technology, its applications depend on how people utilise it, and their intent. There are users, and mis-users. Positive use cases can absolutely trump the latter. VR, AR, and MR open up communication barriers for those who struggle in the physical world, such as individuals on the autism spectrum or managing any conditions that affect communication and cognition. The Metaverse enables more people to learn and interact with others safely and comfortably using an avatar. If interactions and connections were being made in your ‘safe

space’ through an avatar — a digital identity you choose to take on as your own — we could start to see improvement in mood, behavior, and interaction being mimicked in the physical world.

Digital identity will be an incredible tool in the years to come. As we connect our physical identities to our digital ones through avatars, we’ve not only created a new mechanism of identification – but we’re also creating history. From emails to social media handles, and now avatars! They are representations and extensions of ourselves in the Metaverse and can become the new norm for ‘in-person’ visits, such as government, businesses, application drop-offs, and more. For instance, this will be highly beneficial for people with special mobility needs.

Let’s be clear: Token economics within the Metaverse will not be perfect the first time around. But real economies aren’t perfect either. We learn, we iterate, we correct our errors, and we create stronger solutions. But there are action-leaders out there considering how they can avoid mirroring real-world issues around opportunity and access in the Metaverse – and make it truly representative. These “possibilitypushing” entrepreneurs are my personal heroes. Eventually as the space matures, policies for governance could come into place to help ensure the decentralised building ethos remains intact.

Creating such an environment that is not only technically adept but socially and economically sustainable requires a holistic approach with the best minds in tech, business, art, and everything in between. Together, they can make web3 thrive by approaching it with intent, consciousness, and intellect.

The Metaverse is one of the finest products of human creativity and imagination. It has the power to inspire people to look beyond the “here” and “now”, and reimagine the world. Today is the perfect time to make that leap and explore the opportunities in web3. There’s a community waiting to welcome the curious and to help build ideas into digital realities to complement our physical world, and create innumerable windows of opportunity.

Sandra H. sandra_tlibe

ANDREA ABRAMS

Founder and Chief Metaverse Officer at PHYGICODE; Chief of Strategyat Faith Tribe

‘‘

In my areas of work in fashion, retail and lifestyle products and experiences, Metaverse activities will significantly improve processes while expanding inclusivity and sustainability.

FFashion and retail industry veteran Andrea Abrams wears many hats. This Argentinian-born American is the Founder and Chief Metaverse Officer of PHYGICODE, as well as Chief of Strategy at Faith Tribe. New York-based Andrea explains that PHYGICODE is a ‘consortium of industry leaders involved in various aspects of Metaverse development.’

“We help transition brands, products and experiences to a dual identity where physical and digital values coexist and enhance each other.”

Her reason for starting PHYGICODE was to ‘bring together executive level input from physical and digital areas of various industries,’ with the aim of forging a well-crafted path to adopt web3 technologies.

Andrea is clearly passionate about helping brands connect their digital and physical identities. Her motto – ‘The future is Phygital’ − stresses that ‘community building should be truly phygital,’ to not be one (digital) or the other (physical) but to think of all product strategy with a dual lens.

Metaverse and Fashion NFT strategist

As a Metaverse and Fashion NFT strategy expert, Andrea recently joined collaborative fashion platform Faith Tribe. This business focuses on opensourcing fashion talent and unlocking new opportunities for creators, artists and fashion businesses everywhere.

She’s tasked with leading the development of a global creator ecosystem exclusively devoted to open sourcing of talent, tools, and collaboration for the fashion industry. It will be the first platform to offer access to best-inclass tools and fashion manufacturing and distribution resources without hierarchical barriers of entry, built as a web2 platform and enabled by web3 technology to democratize participation in a proven formula for successful fashion collaboration.

Aside from her involvement in PHYGICODE and Faith Tribe, Andrea is also a retail technology advisor and early stage blockchain investor, helping physical and digital commerce startups. She is a sought-after business executive, web3 strategist and keynote speaker.

Andrea is a Strategic Advisor to EVM blockchain Lukso and to blockchain investment fund Scytale Ventures, among others. She is a pre-seed investor in retail and fashion innovation platforms such as digital fashion NFT marketplace The Dematerialised and wardrobe rental platform Pool Berlin. She is an Ambassador at AllStar Women NFT Club and a member of Visible Women NFT.

Transformative effects of blockchain

With an extensive background as a high-ranking global executive in cross-border retail expansion strategies and partnerships, Andrea first discovered the possibilities of blockchain technology in 2018 working with friend and Scytale Ventures founder, Mark Cachia and learning about the potential of blockchain’s impact on all aspects of life after being introduced to Polkadot, Ocean Protocol and Energy Web Foundation founders, whom she still credits as her inspiration for joining the web3 space.

Her fascination with ‘the transformative effects blockchain could have on all aspects of our life,’ led to the realization it could solve a common problem shared by both web1 and web 2 – third parties, which makes systems slow, costly, and not always secure.

“At the time, I was personally and professionally involved in looking for ways to improve efficiency with supply chain and inventory management for retail, and the capabilities of this exciting new blockchain technology felt like we were at the cusp of a new era.”

Metaverse controlled by none, accessible to all

Andrea describes the Metaverse as ‘the convergence of virtuallyenhanced physical reality and a persistent virtual space,’ adding it’s ‘the sum total of all publicly accessible virtual worlds, real-time 3D content and related media that are connected on an open global network − controlled by none and accessible to all.’

As web3 and Metaverse activities have developed rapidly in the past year, she foresees web3 is likely to cause both significant disruption and solve key problems in the fashion and retail industries.

With the fashion industry seeking more sustainable production and more efficient inventory management options, some platforms are building a long-term value proposition for fashion combining on-chain and off-chain activities and benefiting from access to virtual worlds and a new creator economy.

“Digital fashion is not limited to clothing for avatars, it is a growing fashion subculture that includes the digital design and modeling of real-world clothing, the uploading of designs for real and digital clothing onto the blockchain (so these designs can be sold as NFTs), and even digital clothes rendered onto real people. It is an expansion of fashion as a method of self-expression.”

Metaverse will significantly improve processes in fashion, retail Andrea says in her areas of work in fashion, retail and lifestyle product and experiences, Metaverse activities will ‘significantly improve processes while expanding inclusivity and sustainability.’ Some examples include simulations between digital twins of product and human avatars advancing research and development, and web3 technology-enabled

Metaverse activities improving 3D modeling and design, virtual presentations, personnel training and product testing.

Moreover, web3 and decentralization have a ‘truly extraordinary potential’ to empower marginalized communities, particularly those with limited access to basic services like banking and healthcare.

However, adopting web3’s new tools in their infancy won’t always be easy. She says some barriers include difficulties in accessing and storing crypto currencies and tokenized tools required for participation, as well as uncertainty about regulation and current lack of interoperability.

Lightning speed expansion

Quipping about ‘web3 expansion happening at lightning speed,’ Andrea is mindful of remaining open to new possibilities. She’s most excited about web3’s possibilities for expansion in democratizing access to opportunities, as this will forever erase the barriers of geography, status and economic power.

“We must remain open minded, be constantly willing to learn something new, and recognize how we shop, learn and interact with others is forever changed because our physical lives are already intertwined with our digital identities and activities.”

ANDREA ABRAMS’

& WEB3

ANUPAMA BHARDWAJ Founder & CTO SHEQONOMI

‘‘

SHEQONOMI is on a mission to bring and amplify women’s voices to the main stage through digital media. Because our voices matter.

WWhen professionals who have collaborated with social entrepreneur, philanthropist and international business development consultant Anupama Bhardwaj say her passion for advancing opportunities for women and girls will have global ramifications, it’s lofty praise and well-deserved to boot.

As Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of SHEQONOMI –the world’s first suite of mobile apps on Android, iOS, KaiOS, and PragatiOS – Anu Bhardwaj has a long list of accolades behind her name, including being named One of the Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs in 2020 by Inc. Magazine.

Unique podcast platform to listen, learn and earn

SHEQONOMI, she explains, is a unique podcast platform that was ‘built organically by millennial women’ to serve two billion women globally who want to enter web3, using low-cost mobile devices. It centers around women-led podcasts and an NFT gallery while focusing on rewarding content and listening.

When SHEQONOMI launched the “Amplifying Her Voice” Global Virtual Summit Series in March 2021, this must surely have been among Anu’s significant career highlights.

The series, in collaboration with The State of Women Institute, Women Investing in Women DIGITAL and 50+ leading global women’s organizations, attracted 3,000+ attendees, and more than 555 global speakers from over 120 countries.

With multiple degrees, Anu’s educational background is equally impressive. She has received academic scholarships and her qualifications include an MBA degree from the highly prestigious Stockholm School of Economics, a Master of Communication, Culture and Technology from Georgetown University, and graduate work in the Management of Technology Program from the National University of Singapore.

In 2007, Anu was also the recipient of a Fulbright scholarship to the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai where she worked on a global benchmark on global women in private equity and global women’s entrepreneurship.

Based in West Palm Beach, Florida, Anu also Founded Women Investing in Women (WIIW) Digital. As the world’s largest digital media platform with more than one million followers on Facebook, she comments that the integrated media platform ‘focuses on global women’s issues, entrepreneurship, and investing for women and mindful millennials.’

Wide-ranging business acumen

Anu’s rare combination of ambition and compassion has enabled her to apply her passion and expertise in many fields. Her specialties include international business development for private equity professionals, highgrowth female entrepreneurs, women in philanthropy, blockchain, digital assets, and deep tech.

Prior to founding SHEQONOMI, Anu founded several other organisations including Krypto 4 Kids and Qrypto Queens.

In addition, she has spearheaded several high-level international business projects.

These entail collaborating with trade missions, various US embassies in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates as well as with top-tier clients in global private equity, and venture capital.

The Metaverse playground – now and in the future

Discussing the impact of what she does at SHEQONOMI, Anu believes it will help anyone who wishes to make an impact in the world of web3.

“Given the scale of everyone we have been able to reach in a short period, it will facilitate mass adoption,” she asserts.

As for the Metaverse, her description is both apt and insightful. “It’s a playground for those who can both access and afford living in a parallel universe and world built by tech savvy entrepreneurs and investors, regardless of age or status.”

With ‘tremendous hype around web3 and the Metaverse’ over the past year, she has seen many brands and large organizations taking advantage of the evolving space.

However, while the next five years may offer limitless opportunities, she remarks they will ‘only be relevant to those that wish to actively participate.’

One of the most significant obstacles that mass adoption will need to overcome is to address women who are still unable to participate and cannot afford being connected to mobile devices.

“We’ve been working on this issue at SHEQONOMI for the past five years. We’ve developed tools and tech designed specifically to address mass adoption by women, girls and the unbanked.”

Despite what must be a crowded work schedule (in between flying around the world as a keynote congress speaker), it seems unlikely Anu wants to decelerate her life pace anytime soon.

What excites this astute entrepreneur most about the future is ‘the ability for billions of women and girls who are currently underrepresented and underbanked to be given an identity, a voice, and the opportunity to participate in a global digital economic revolution.’

ANU BHARDWAJ’S WEB3 TIPS AND RESOURCES

1. Invest in cryptocurrency early and encourage other young women and girls to do the same.

2. Find your community and your tribe before investing, so you can all learn together- more importantly, win together.

3. Visit our SHEQONOMI website (https://blog.sheqonomi.com) –listen to the podcasts, become a member, and gain access to the private educational platform.

anubhardwaj sheqonomi

West Palm Beach, USA

STÉPHANIE BRETONNIÉRE CEO & FOUNDER

POWR3.IO

Combining business, humans, tech and sustainability is a game-changer.

Stéphanie Bretonnière, a global changemaker with a passion for innovation, has a unique understanding of the world around her. Having journeyed to more than 60 countries and lived in multicultural environments, she’s been enriched through the experience and knowledge acquired from the local people, including scientists, experts, entrepreneurs and artisans. This has undoubtedly influenced her way of working and her belief in the power of diversity, contribution, altruism and inclusion.

She holds a degree in Economics from Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Argentina and an MBA from Montpellier Business School in southern France. She’s a member of the EU Tech Chamber and World Economic Forum Expert Network and sits on the Advisory Board of both the Metaverse Fashion Council, and French Circular Fashion Federation.

After a 15-year long corporate stint at Clarins, LVMH and Richemont Group, plus several digital tech startup experiences, Stéphanie embarked upon her web3 journey at the early stages of the NFT boom at the beginning of 2021. She joined ORIGYN Foundation as a partner and CEO of ORIGYN Luxury working on luxury goods biometric authenticity technology, having the ambition to encapsulate this innovation, in a utility dApp NFT, fully encrypted on a sustainable blockchain.

Transitioning from web2 to web3

Set on developing a new generation of business across the beauty, fashion and luxury industries, Stéphanie established POWR3.io, a web3 creative and collective studio empowering those in the industry to transition from web2 to web3, connecting luxury, fashion & beauty communities, nurturing customer relationship with exclusive experiences while boosting loyalty thanks to a new web3 rewarding systems, and more traceability.

“Integral to my vision in combining web3 technology and its inherent collaborative ethos with collective intelligence and the circular economy,” she explains, “I draw on Jugaad (frugal) innovation and my own selfdevised Impact Hacking model (growth hacking as applied to sustainable development), which culminated following a worldwide trip of two years overlanding five continents.”

Impact Hacking can be described as a tremendous way to do more with less in terms of sustainability transformation while engaging and educating clients on the new norm. In her TEDx talk, Stéphanie speaks about how impressed she is with the way that African leaders leverage the few resources that they have, to make a strong impact and how they ingeniously recycle and repurpose things, focusing on being a solution maker rather than a problem highlighter.

Drawing on her own personal experiences to inspire people in dealing with change, she explains why she embarked on the aforementioned trip. She was faced with a serious health problem that shattered her life and her plans but she affirms the trip was the best decision she made. It resulted in a life-changing lesson that taught her, when facing unprecedented times, there are three options: run away from the problem; keep going exactly as before; or accept the change. The third option develops the ability to adapt

and acquire news skills as well as to leverage every new experience. “To develop a life-long learning approach requires a lot of humility in letting go, it requires resilience and the willingness to accept help.”

The positive impact of the Metaverse

Stéphanie believes the impact of the Metaverse on our lives will be huge, knowing, for example that the World Economic Forum announced in May 2022 that it’s embarking on an ambitious journey to harness the potential of the Metaverse as a platform for collaborative, inclusive and effective international action. She says the Forum, in collaboration with Accenture and Microsoft, is building a Global Collaboration Village as the virtual future of public-private cooperation. It will provide immersive spaces where stakeholders can convene, create and take action on the world’s most pressing challenges.

Her advice for the fashion and luxury brands wanting to enter the web3 space, is they must start learning by doing. They should also go beyond the buzzword and nurture their web3 projects – for more impact and learning – with their brand DNA while being end-consumer centric. This new approach requires converting their audience into a strong community.

Her personal wish is to support Luxury, Fashion, and Beauty brands contributing to purpose-driven projects combining technology, sustainability, DEI and women empowerment while working collaboratively with web3 enthusiasts from all over the world.

Creative, audacious, empathetic, and results-oriented, Stéphanie believes in the power of communities, sharing of knowledge while supporting diversity, inclusion and circular economy to build a sustainable progressive future.

“Combining business, humans, tech and sustainability is a game-changer,” she adds, reassuring us that, “Therefore, more than ever, I will continue to dedicate my time and leverage my skills, network, and track record supporting brands aiming to unleash to the power of web3 while embracing sustainability for more impact and building a new ways to interact with their consumers, employees, suppliers and audience.”

STÉPHANIE BRETONNIÉRE’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS

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AVERY AKKINENI President, Vayner3

WWhen you hear Founding President of Vayner3 Avery Akkineni sharing her insights about the web3 space, she comes across as exceptionally confident and compelling.

Describing herself as a ‘proud leader of 50+ web3 experts, NFT enthusiasts, and blockchain believers,’ Avery is highly respected as a proactive innovator in pioneering web3 projects and communities.

This personable Miami-based groundbreaker says Vayner3 (previously called VaynerNFT), is a ‘consulting company built to usher the world’s leading enterprises and IP owners into navigating the ever-evolving world of web3.’

Launched in July 2021 with serial entrepreneur and CEO Gary Vaynerchuk, Vayner3 aims to guide the world’s largest enterprises and intellectual property (IP) owners in ‘the next iteration of consumer behavior and web3.’ This entails advising and partnering with Fortune 500 corporations (including Budweiser, Pepsi, L’Oréal, and crypto exchange Coinbase), on strategic web3 initiatives across cryptocurrency applications, NFT program development, and immersive digital experiences.

Avery remains true to her conviction – ‘you need to do things right if you are unlocking the potential of one of the biggest technology shifts of our time.’ At Vayner3, Avery is building a diverse, forward-thinking team, partnering with incredible organizations, and working hard to drive thought leadership.

NFTs may have been the word of the year in 2021, but there are myriad ways for enterprises to engage in multi-dimensional web3 strategies anchored in driving tangible business outcomes.

Unlocking digital identity and ownership

Web3 is changing how consumers interact, engage, and express themselves digitally. “Web3 unlocks the ability for digital identity, for ownership. We strongly believe the opportunities ahead for both brands and consumers are BIG.” The Vayner3 website reflects Avery’s go-getter mindset and enthusiasm about actively creating the future. With no interest in shortterm thinking, it’s promoting blockchain-based enterprise to take clients beyond NFTs. This underlies Vayner3’s focus on ‘developing strategic NFT projects that provide ongoing or longterm value beyond just a quick asset sale.’

Social media posts echo Avery’s pragmatic approach – tweeting about often thinking ‘trending NFT mints may be the topic du jour, but the real opportunity is in right-sizing the economics of the internet.’

With a presence expanding further than Vayner3, she’s also an active advisor and board member on various tech platforms, including the Web3 Advisory Board for Salesforce, Meta Creative X Council, and OneOf.

NFTs need long-term strategy

Discussing how brands should approach NFTs and web3 in a Decrypt article (17 June 2022) – Avery remarks that last summer, the consultancy firm was “so far ahead” of the NFT brand boom that companies “had no idea what we were talking about. While everyone wants to launch an NFT today, what is essential to be successful is having a long-term strategy.”

She remarks, ‘while a brand NFT drop or collaboration can be fun and potentially alluring for customers, many successful NFT projects grow or maintain value through expanding utility or perks for holders, and brands should consider that approach.’

Avery notes a broader movement has emerged amid the past year’s dramatic growing interest in NFTs. She predicts that enterprises will move towards web3 by ‘building virtual events, through experiences via metaverses, crypto-currency acceptance, and DAO participation.’

Converging physical and digital realities

Avery views the Metaverse as ‘a convergence of our physical and digital realities ’ Witnessing growth in web3 and the Metaverse in the last 18 months. In a recent online panel discussion on the value of NFTs (19 July 2022 on Crypto

Bloomberg), she describes seeing a ‘ton of activity in the space, including much speculation and hype, flipping and trading that has cooled off tremendously in the past couple of weeks.’

However, she believes it’s ‘healthy for the space to take out some of that over financialization that scares away mainstream consumers and makes them think crypto is incredibly speculative and risky’.

With Avery’s assertion that ‘Web3 represents one of the most significant technology shifts of our lifetime,’ it’s clear why fellow digital revolutionaries laud her ‘unparalleled ability to stimulate cutting edge thinking across the brand organization through compelling evidence and deep consumer understanding.’

Despite education, scale, and trust possibly hindering mass adoption, web3 will ‘offer a massive opportunity for brands, clients, IP owners and consumers.’ Avery says working in the NFT space is thrilling, but it’s ‘time to change the stat that 81% of today’s crypto community identifies as male.’

She’s excited to collaborate with leading web3 technology and

partners – whether on loyalty integration programs, immersive consumer and digital experiences, meaningful philanthropy infrastructure or adopting crypto-currency acceptance.

And with her sights already set on new projects, Avery’s upbeat quip – ‘there’s SO much more to do – indicates it’s obviously just the beginning for her!

AVERY

Miami, USA

AMY PECK CEO ENDEAVORXR

‘‘

What we need to focus on is how we want our lives to evolve – not how we think the tech will evolve.

WWith an infectious laugh, Amy Peck radiates with enthusiasm for life and her work, and it’s therefore not surprising that she’s been referred to as an expert who gets people excited about the future.

Amy is the CEO of EndeavorXR, a leading global XR strategy and consulting firm. She is one of the world’s foremost experts on immersive technology, the Metaverse, web3 and Blockchain. She advises Fortune 500 companies, government entities, digital media/ production companies and tech startups on The Metaverse, XR strategy, tech-forward digital transformation and the Future of Work.

In addition to all of this, Amy is an angel investor and Venture Partner at the Capital Region XR Accelerator. She holds multiple Advisory Board roles, and is Executive Board Chair of Prospera Women, a global organization supporting female-led startups. Commencing her career in international licensing with PolyGram UK and Rough Trade Records, she then moved to producing fashion stills, music videos and commercials with some of the largest brands and as a post-production and special effects producer, she remained at the cutting edge of emerging technology.

Amy’s passion for virtual reality began when she moved to San Francisco to lead Enterprise Strategy for Leap Motion which she describes as an amazing low-latency hand tracking technology. Working with clients across all major verticals, she recognized the need to help foster augmented and virtual reality development in the commercial arena.

Elevating the human experience through technology

Her curiosity to learn how virtual technologies could be applied to work environments led Amy to establish EndeavorXR, guiding enterprise companies and brands to improve their internal processes and engage their

customers in new and exciting ways. “We focus on elevating the human experience through technology. We think of technology as an enabler for how we want to live, work, communicate and play – today and in the future.”

She reluctantly mentions the term ‘Metaverse’, as she believes it won’t be used in the future but rather the name will change in the same way the World Wide Web became the Internet with a few iterations in between. “It’s more about utility, access and interaction as we move between 2D and 3D experiences, data and environments. One way to think of it is taking every website, every piece of data, experience, game, media – anything digital – and making it all accessible anywhere, anytime. You can either step inside a 3D website (or portal) and be fully immersed or you can bring 3D assets into your physical space and overlay, even merge, the digital with the physical.”

Creating a vision for the future versus predicting it Amy promotes a positive vision for the future and believes it is up to us to create that vision rather than ‘predict’ it. The first step she takes with her clients is to connect them to their creativity and curiosity in the form of Future Visioning workshops. “It’s beyond design thinking,” she says, “it’s what I call Volumetric Thinking. It’s the ability we all have to connect disparate thoughts and weave them into a completely new concept.”

Commenting on the digital revolution, Amy’s view is to lead with a human-first rather than a commerce-first approach, stating that the economics will follow. She goes on to say that we can use simulation and AI to model out entirely new systems, new value constructs as well as new and, hopefully, more equitable communities and social interactions.

The primary barriers regarding technology are the hardware and infrastructure. She says the

infrastructure needs to scale so that distributed and centralized digital data and experiences can be dynamically accessible, mentioning AI as a big component in solving this.

The biggest barrier, she remarks, is our own lack of action around the human challenges we face globally. She strongly feels that we need to build our own visions for the future and use technology to pave the path – and collectively consider how to solve for our most pressing issues – ecology, economy and humanity.

Amy has an important message to convey. “My hope is that we learn to connect not just to our families, communities, states and nations, but to our humanity as a whole. It may sound lofty, but it’s a small shift in mindset that can have a tremendous effect on how we build the future.”

& WEB3 TIPS

• Join us! Find people who have deep expertise or similar perspectives and reach out to them on socials.

• Read and watch everything you can get your hands on – but make sure the information sources are valid.

• Go to events, join groups, find your tribe.

• To anyone joining the industry, find the element of this technology that inspires you and create your path from there. The money will come. amympeck amypeckxr

Amy Peck EndeavorXR

YOLANDA BARTON FOUNDER & CEO REVEREXR

SStorytelling is as old as time itself. It has the power to shape humanity’s ability to connect across cultures, communities and generations. Society needs to refocus on inclusion to create a brighter future. And one woman is doing just that with immersive technology.

Yolanda Barton is an Inclusion Transformation Architect and President of YB Consulting, where she creates diversity and inclusion programs and branding strategies for organizations to bridge the gap in inclusion. As Founder and CEO of RevereXR, she develops immersive technology storytelling to magnify, influence, build, and preserve the history of music, legacies, and their unique stories.

Her breakthrough work is a virtual and augmented reality project that tells the musical history of Seattle’s historic neighborhood The Central District (CD) through immersive storytelling to uncover the lost stories and musical legacies.

Prior to founding RevereXR, Yolanda spent ten years in community outreach and engagement management. Yolanda also works to encourage

the next generation of creators through her Virtual and Mixed Reality summer camps, after-school VR programs, and consulting on xr-in-the-classroom events and activities.

Yolanda holds dual MA degrees from the University of Washington in Communication Leadership, Storytelling Digital Media (MCDM) and Communities and Networks (MCCN). Yolanda is also a highly sought-after speaker who has spoken at numerous Technology and Fortune 500 company events on the importance of pushing the boundaries of inclusion in technology. She was recently selected as a 2022 Oculus Launchpad finalist

and named #1 on their leadership board for her inclusive immersive storytelling experience.

Play-to-earn

Yolanda defines the Metaverse as a playground. “I encourage everyone to play. The Metaverse is where people and communities plug in and help form new communities so that no people are left behind. With the Metaverse, we have a unique opportunity to foster inclusion by design – and that’s my mission.”

Through this play and interaction, Yolanda believes “we have an opportunity to remove

With the Metaverse, we have a unique opportunity to foster inclusion by design – and that’s my mission.

the systems that divide us. We don’t want to bring those barriers into the digital world. For the Metaverse and the future, it is our duty to engage, interact, and redefine human connection in a way that doesn’t exist in the real world. We need to take that responsibility seriously.”

She started focusing on immersive technology at grad school, worked on a doctorate to focus her understanding, and fell in love with what immersive technology could afford communities. That’s inclusion. She weaves inclusion into technology to drive storytelling, XR preservation and inspire and create interactions that foster connections between people and global communities.

“How do we make tech accessible and help it provide solutions to everyone? Technology has that power and potential. At RevereXR, I create a living history of music’s most priceless memories and the communities that birth that music. I aim to chart a course for what the future of a diverse global base of storytellers, artists and musicians looks like in the Metaverse. That’s driving innovation for humanity.”

As the Inclusion Transformation Architect, she believes that the Metaverse provides the platform to make living history accessible as people and communities can experience it in an immersive environment. Why is this so imperative? “It is an opportunity to preserve what we need to know about our past and inspires our future. We can take that tradition of what happened before us and root ourselves in understanding our past to ensure we don’t make the same mistakes. Using futuristic technology to preserve our past for future generations.”

Winning women

Yolanda believes that the disruption in innovation in the Metaverse is at such a high level because people are tired of the IRL system repeating itself in the digital world. With inclusion by design, there is an opportunity to rewrite the future. For Yolanda, it comes down to leadership. In every corner of the digital world, women are leading the charge in leadership and innovation.

“Women are driving the future – and now is our opportunity. In the Metaverse, we’re already seeing how women’s leadership makes a genuinely inclusive impact. In the real world, we have an example of what we don’t want in the future and the digital world, and in the Metaverse, we have an opportunity to redefine a new sense of leadership.

“Once the gimmicky layers of this technology are shed, we’ll get to the real disruption of web3. How are we defining humanity through interaction, and what are we building in tech? This isn’t currently in tech. I’m looking forward to a future committee that will define morals and values. With the Metaverse, we can create magnificence. It is a unique opportunity to do something genuinely spectacular that’s not focused on our current generation, but firmly on the future.”

Yolanda says that women’s leadership can shape an existence that teaches empathy, emotional learning, and inclusion. Women’s leadership, according to her, creates belonging as the most impactful thing humanity can do right now. This opportunity to innovate stems from the highest degree of intentionality for the future, which drives action that creates deep-seated collaboration and impact for the greater good of humanity.

It circles back to the importance of weaving inclusion into technology. That starts with building bridges by helping companies and organizations introduce technology to communities in a responsible way that instils belonging. Inclusion applies to everything. She says inclusion must be woven into organizations and leadership. This benefits practices and strategies that drive collaboration and innovation in organizations. A lack of inclusion in an organization is a hindrance to innovation.

“People want to be part of something. I’m motivated by this question: what will bring people into the Metaverse? We must captivate audiences through music, storytelling, history, art, culture and heritage. We can take it a step further: what story are we shaping for the future, and what is the story of the Metaverse? How can we shape human experiences and stories? Much still has to be done, but with women’s leadership and inclusion, I’m inspired by the potential of this future.”

“

DR. JANE THOMASON CHAIR

Kasei Holdings plc

Empowering a Woman is Empowering a Nation

TTechnology has the tremendous potential to improve the lives of women worldwide: I want to be a driving force to collaborate and make the promise of technology real for poor women and girls around the world.” Dr. Jane Thomason is on a mission to leverage blockchain and decentralization to bring the bottom billion ‘invisible’ people access to opportunities.

Dr. Jane is a visionary social innovator, burning with passion for harnessing technology for digital transformation to reduce inequality and vulnerability. She believes that “To empower a woman is to empower a nation. A woman will invest in her family and her community. Educated women are more likely to contribute to economic growth.”

“I have spent my life working on problems of poverty and inequality in the developing world. I realise that blockchain – if deployed and scaled – could solve some of the global

problems of our time, like climate change and poverty. So, my focus for the past five years has been on trying to demystify the technology and explain how it can help us solve problems we have grappled with for decades. Blockchain technology will transform industries and have a significant global economic impact.”

She is a blockchain expert advisor to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), USAid and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Dr. Jane was featured in Forbes as “blockchains’ leading social evangelist” (2018) and has received multiple awards, including Top 100 Women in Crypto from the Crypto Curry Club (2020); Women in GovTech 2019; 10 Digital Frontier Women from the UN Decade Of Women (2018); UN Decade Of Women’s Quantum Impact Champion (2018); Lattice Top 100 Fintech Influencers for SDGs

Her expertise sees her serve on several boards, including the editorial boards of the Journal of Metaverse, Frontiers in Blockchain, and Global Health Journal; as an Industry Associate at the University College London’s Centre for Blockchain; and as the author of “Blockchain Technology for Global Social Change”, “Blockchainging the World” and “Applied Ethics in a Digital World.”

She is co-founder of the British Blockchain and Frontier Technology Association; ambassador for Fintech Diversity Radar; and advisor for Kerala Blockchain Association, Africa Blockchain Centre of Excellence, Novum Insights, Shyft Network, and The Standard.

She also founded a successful international development company which reached $250 million in revenue.

(2018); Thinkers360 Top 20 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on HealthTech; and Blockchain; and Sustainability.

As Chair of the Board for Kasei Holdings plc, a web3 investment firm listed in the Aquis Exchange in London, Dr. Jane plays a role in the development of web3 and provides a bridge between the legacy world and the world of web3. Kasei Holdings plc is a firm of experienced financial experts who joined forces in the digital asset ecosystem.

The potential of web3 to impact every sphere of life is tremendous. Dr. Jane posits that everyone can benefit from web3’s future – and she advocates that women and girls aren’t left behind in the technological march forward.

The ‘invisible’ billion people don’t need the latest technology and gadgets. “A 2G mobile phone in the hands of those can change their lives,” said Dr. Jane. “We know that mobile phone ownership can transform women’s lives in the developing world. In a recent study in developing countries, 77-percent of the women surveyed used the internet to further their education. The report found that with USD $150 million, girls and women online could create a market opportunity of between USD $50 billion and USD $70 billion, contributing USD $13 billion to USD $18 billion annually to a developing country’s GDP. The potential for technology to change the lives of women and girls is staggering.”

The tools of web3 will reshape societies. Dr. Jane believes it will impact how people earn incomes, socialize, learn, get health care, and work.

The Metaverse creates new income streams using blockchain and gamefi. “Play-to-earn, learn-to-earn, and move-to-earn could become primary income for millions of people,” said Dr. Jane. “We will see a new breed of Metaverse economists emerging who will oversee and plan the macroeconomics of Metaverses, just as they do today’s physical economy.”

Socialising is taking a new turn with web3. Decentraland has already started to revolutionize people’s lives and social interactions. The Metaverse will spur crosschain possibilities. She stated: “These purely digital opportunities to make a living inspire younger generations to believe that the

Metaverse is the place to make their fortunes. Many gamers have already entered the Metaverse, and more will follow. The idea of meeting and socialising with friends will take place in Metaverse spaces, just as if those people are in the same room. In the Metaverse, we can socialize, attend virtual concerts, travel, shop, go to movies, and other everyday pursuits.”

She highlighted how governments also adopt this new technology in extraordinary ways to foster economic growth for their citizens. South Korea has introduced ‘Untact,’ a policy that removes the layers of human interaction from society. It is building a Metaverse with avatars of public officials where civil services will become virtual. 12 of the 15 Korean unicorn companies now successfully use non-face-to-face methods in their primary business. In Decentraland, the Barbados government is building an embassy.

Web3 will shape the workplace of the future, believes Dr. Jane. “Meetings will be held in virtual meeting rooms. Consider digital whiteboards, digital workstations, etc. The Metaverse gives you the space where you can 3D model anything – and by doing so, enables smarter problem-solving in industries like construction, architecture, healthcare, life sciences, and more. In this way, the Metaverse can also provide large-scale industrial workspaces to test machines and systems through digital twins to detect possible failures and improvements before carrying them out in a physical environment.”

Innovation will accelerate virtual healthcare –all through web3 tools. Dr. Jane shared: “AR and VR are emerging to improve medical education, training, and processes and procedures. Immersive experiences can be recreated from real surgery, and real-time guidance can be provided in the surgeon’s field of view of the surgical site through the integration with surgical navigation systems and a fusion of data from multiple imaging sources. Another area of considerable development is utilizing avatars that can be created for more realistic consultations, personalised care, treatment, and diagnosis through data connectivity. Gamification will connect healthcare providers and patients in wellness and fitness, where

AR is used to deliver smarter workouts with guidance from virtual instructors. In moveto-earn games, players are incentivized to be active. One such project, Genopets, uses data tracked by smartphones or fitness wearables to advance their Genopet NFT in-game. Players get rewarded for walking their dog, going to the gym, using the stairs, etc. Genopet’s mission is to make staying active more rewarding through a play-to-earn NFT game.”

VR and AR can improve patient experiences and outcomes through the Metaverse to bring global healthcare professionals together for simultaneous education, training and planning, and collaborative medical procedures. The Metaverse holds incredible potential for transformation and improvement of healthcare.

VictoryXR gives outstanding examples of what education can be like in the Metaverse: it provides incredible immersive experiences for learners, such as a biology class where students can dissect animals with no cost or smell, astronomy students can take spacewalks, and history students can fly into the past with virtual time machines.

“These examples clearly show that technology is a tool that can be used to intentionally empower people and improve social inclusion,” believes Dr. Jane. “For poor women, it can connect them to the economy, enable them to access social services, improve their businesses, and can enable women to recapture the digital space to amplify the voice of women. The impact that can be gained through digital communities is only going to grow.”

drjanethomason janeathomason

UAE

DR. GABRIELLE PELICCI WEB3 EVANGELIST

When you invest enough time studying the future, you begin to see the tsunami of change that is coming to global and local industry, as well as the ideological movement birthing a new culture and paradigm shift for millions – maybe billions – of people.

One of the first things you notice about Dr. Gabrielle Pelicci is her engaging smile and the unicorn icon behind her web3 Evangelist title on social media. But don’t imagine for a second that this fun-loving ‘Crypto native,’ web3 educator, and consultant lacks substance.

Miami-based Gabrielle has a master’s in Educational Technology from Columbia University, a doctorate in Transformative Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies, and advanced Cryptocurrency and Blockchain training from Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Gabrielle (also known online as ‘Dr. Gabby’) teaches the fundamental principles of blockchain, web3, NFTs, and the Metaverse. She loves this work, because ‘for the average person, “crypto” is imaginary money, the “Metaverse” is a video game, and “web3” is a new version of the internet.’ As a public speaker and trainer, she regularly presents at web3 conferences including DayKamp, Immerse Global, Bitcoin and Blockchain. Gabrielle’s focus here is educating ‘web3-curious people who want to understand emerging technologies and future trends so they can become early adopters and have a competitive advantage in their personal and professional lives.’

From holistic healing to web3 wonderland

Despite being a self-confessed long-time ‘technology nerd,’ Gabrielle first spent 20 years as a non-traditional holistic healthcare healer and professor before joining web3. During this time, she taught mind-body medicine at leading universities, published 50+ articles, and consulted for hundreds of wellness businesses. And along the way, she traveled to forty countries to study various kinds of medicine, obtaining certifications in massage, yoga, reiki, meditation, energy healing, and health coaching.

She’s decidedly passionate about supporting women in web3, hence her current work as an entrepreneur, consulting for several web3 startups. One of these is as a Sales & Marketing Specialist at Mission Impact, ‘a global leadership training program focusing on business-critical web3 training, personal growth, and impact for women changemakers.’

Gabrielle describes Mission Impact’s mission as ‘elevating one million women with new leadership training by the year 2026.’ They’re partnering with purpose-driven companies

across the world who want to support their mission and drive the change, she explains.

She also shares her expertise with women investors and creators at Web3 Equity, an organization that pursues gender equity in this space by increasing knowledge, networks and resources.

Falling down the crypto rabbit hole

In a recent LinkedIn article, Gabrielle wrote that she ‘fell down the cryptocurrency rabbit hole’ in 2021 after two years of doing humanitarian work in several countries. Since then, she’s become completely immersed in crypto culture, continuing to ‘be transported to surreal places’ daily.

Gabrielle jokes in blogs that she’s been buzzing with adrenaline as she ‘loses one crypto virginity after another – my first NFT, my first bitcoin purchase, my first rave in the Metaverse.’

But she stresses in her website blog Tiptoe into Crypto, that she became a crypto advocate for humanitarian reasons, adding that ‘crypto is for the millions, not for the millionaires.’

Mind-blowing energy

The Metaverse, she comments, refers to the many virtual environments (like Decentraland, Superworld, Sandbox, and Roblox), where you can ‘socialize, shop, collaborate, work, find entertainment, and online experiences.’

As for the web3, Gabrielle describes its energy as mind-blowing, asserting it will impact every industry in the next decade – finance, technology, business, education, fashion, and government, and completely transform social media as we know it.

And how will the Metaverse affect us? “It offers new environments for work and play, while AR/VR/AI enhances learning for school and work.”

Technology is just a tool

She’s aware of the shortcomings, but despite well-meaning friends trying to save her from the Big Bad Wolf of web3, she remarks technology is ‘just a tool and it’s up to us to decide how we want to use it.’

And with few trusted information sources and many people not understanding the Metaverse, education currently remains the biggest barrier for adoption.

Yet her excitement about creating a healthy and happy web3 world for humanity is palpable. So too, her trying to live by example, with integrity, enthusiasm, and kindness.

And her humorous description of web3’s people and culture as ‘one of the wildest, most vibrant, meme-crazed gangs’ she’s ever joined, it makes perfect sense when she emphatically says, ‘my membership is for life!’

GABRIELLE PELICCI’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS AND RESOURCES

1. Find an affordable mentor that inspires you, and helps you achieve your goal.

2. Join a community that shares your values and interests.

3. Learn and absorb as much as you can − Take classes. Read books. Attend conferences.

4. Pay attention − You’ll have a dream, premonition, synchronicity that speaks to you, or be drawn to a person, place or thing.

5. Follow the impulses even if they don’t make sense − avoid overthinking. Just do it.

6. Stay in the discomfort of not knowing who you are, where you’re going, what you’re doing or where you’ll end up.

gabriellepelicciphd drgabbypelicci gpelicci

Miami, USA

AMANDA CASSATT FOUNDER

SEROTONIN & MOJITO

Madison Avenue is over, and the Metaverse is in. The pandemic was the nail in the coffin for physical retail experiences.” That’s a bold statement from Amanda Cassatt, but if anyone can speak authoritatively on this subject, it IS Amanda. It’s no surprise that she was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 class of 2016 – at the age of 24.

She may be young in years but not in experience. This web3 evangelist brought Ethereum to market as the Chief Marketing Officer of ConsenSys, playing an important role in what would become the largest and most robust blockchain ecosystem.

Amanda is the Founder and CEO of Serotonin and co-founder and President of Mojito. Known as a master marketer and web3 entrepreneur, Amanda has helped bring the leading blockchain companies to market and advises global institutions on how to adopt NFTs and decentralized technology. She regularly speaks at events and on panels around the world, including TechCrunch Disrupt, the World Economic Forum, SXSW, NFT.NYC, Web Summit ETHDenver, Metaverso, and more.

When Amanda talks up the blockchain’s potential and its empowerment, you BELIEVE her. “Blockchain is a tool of freedom in a fight against authoritarianism. It is a new substrate for creation: artistic, economic, financial, and technological innovation.”

What you’re doing when you move from the physical world to the digital world is removing the limitations of gravity and land and supply chain and going into a world of unlimited creativity that is only bounded by what humans create.

‘‘

Limitless potential

The Metaverse, she remarks, is the next iteration of the internet that combines two key concepts: virtual worlds and an open economy. The Metaverse is an emerging economy and an opportunity for every industry to monetize its unique products and services in virtual environments. Amanda underlines that: “The Metaverse is changing the future of work, how we learn, earn a living, and connect with each other.”

As web3 and the Metaverse grows, Amanda says it offers limitless potential for mass adoption. As the CEO of Serotonin, Amanda drives the firm’s web3 marketing arm and product studio, collaborating web3 companies across DeFi, NFTs, L1s, and the Metaverse, in addition to blue-chip brands making the leap into web3. At Mojito, Amanda helps companies bring valuable IP into digital spaces, unlocking new business verticals in ‘d-commerce’ through NFTs and web3; Mojito is the NFT commerce suite of choice for Sotheby’s, CAA, and major international brands.

Amanda is passionate about onboarding web2 brands to web3, in addition to collaborating with web3 founders to build startups that will drive mainstream adoption. She remarks: “Marc Andreessen once said that ‘software will eat the Internet.’ And it has come true. Crypto and web3 are software eating finance, and anything that operates at a high enough level becomes financialized.”

She goes further: “Traditional marketers don’t realize that web3 has collapsed the categories of company, investor, and user into a single category. This category is called ‘community.’ Because of the new incentive structure, marketing to a community is vastly different from a simple user’s.”

Amanda finds that this is much more efficient for business because the secret to web3 marketing is implementing self-marketing systems. As a marketer, the marketing materials and inputs create greater reach. It is because marketers are essentially dropping an incentive system into a group of people (the community) that will reward brands and companies with loyalty and advocacy that’s more impactful than has ever been seen in traditional marketing.

Owning internet property

NFTs make a piece of digital content ownable. By taking a piece of content on the internet, beating the double spend problem and establishing ownership, a creator, company, or brand can potentially add infinite amounts of value to the economy: the only resource constraints are not physical but the natural scarcity of limited time and creativity.

She explains: “What you’re doing when you move from the physical world to the digital world is removing the limitations of gravity and land and supply chain, and you’re going into a world of unlimited creativity that is only bounded by what humans create.”

This has significant effects on companies and users in the Metaverse. “For companies, you can think of the Metaverse as a mall. In the 1990s, when the mall was the spot to hang out with your friends, it wasn’t just for commercial transactions. It was a place for eating and socializing. And from a brand perspective, the Metaverse is the new mall. Madison Avenue is over, and the Metaverse is in.”

Regarding the future, Amanda believes that the Metaverse will redesign

the e-commerce experience. It means that Metaverse retail stores can restore the benefits of IRL shopping experiences with the convenience of online shopping. Creativity knows no bounds: there are many business opportunities to redefine what the commerce and checkout experience will look like. It is because, Amanda remarks, the Metaverse “will be populated by a heterogeneous mix of existing companies and brands and new web3-native companies. There’s a way in which companies – like Sotheby’s – can be successful as long as they enter into the space with a north star and web3 strategy that augments and strengthens the existing web3 community.”

Impact of NFTs

One of the ways Amanda has seen big brands, sports teams and celebrities transfer their influence from the physical world to digital environments is by exploring NFT technology to recreate their most valuable assets as unique digital goods. “The worlds of social media, entertainment, work/school and commerce are colliding to create what many call the beginnings of the ‘Metaverse.’ Some of the world’s leading investors, thinkers, brands, and tech companies are betting on the idea that the things people invest in – our homes, cars, art, clothes, and experiences –will have a dual existence in both physical and virtual environments.”

For Amanda, this is an exciting moment in the world’s digital transformation. The NFT craze is just the tip of the iceberg for what will be a significant opportunity for every industry to monetize its unique products and services in virtual environments.

amandacassatt

New York, USA

Puerto Rico, USA

NISA AMOILS MANAGING PARTNER

A100X VENTURES

Blockchain can be an excellent democratization tool in which underserved groups can leapfrog instead of playing catchup.

DDespite the rapid innovation and development in this space, it is still in its infancy in terms of other technologies. Early adopters are currently building blockchain, web3 and the Metaverse. One of the visionaries to recognize and identify the blockchain’s potential for widespread change and disruption was Nisa Amoils. For over a decade, she’s been building the infrastructure of web3 and its applications.

Nisa operates at the bleeding edge of technology and business. She actively explores trends that disrupt industries and has invested in fintech and blockchain as an early-stage

investor for over a decade. This netted her numerous accolades, including being named one of Business Insider’s ‘Women VCs to Watch’ and ‘Top 100 Women in Fintech,’ and being recognized as one of the top 50 global blockchain thinkers.

Global thinker

Nisa sits on the boards of several institutions, including Wharton Entrepreneurship and Girls Who Invest, and is also a regular contributor to Forbes. She is also a regular judge and panelist on CNBC, MSNBC, Fox and others.

Prior to investing, Nisa was an entrepreneur and spent many years in business development and strategy at companies such as Time Warner, NBC Universal and Anderson Kill. She holds a business degree from the University of Michigan and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and is FINRA-licensed.

To highlight the disparity in funding and tech female founders face daily, she penned the topselling book, ‘WTF is Happening: Women Tech Founders on the Rise.’ She shares: “It deep dives into the remarkable strides female founders have made in emerging tech fields and their work to make a profound difference in society.”

As Managing Partner at A100x Ventures, Nisa invests in blockchain/AI-enabled businesses. She supports crypto, DeFi, NFTs, and blockchain investments. “A100x Ventures’ mission is to apply its returns and learnings to future disruption in many more industries. The organization focuses on solving real-world

problems with technology and impact. A sample of its portfolio includes Protego Trust, Mythical Games, Opengrants, Securitize, Blockdaemon, and Optyfi.”

Blockchain drives the defi paradigm

Nisa strongly believes that blockchain can be an excellent democratization tool in which “underserved groups can leapfrog instead of playing catchup. The narrative about using this technology in ways to solve real-world problems does not make it to most media outlets or regulators. This is the story I am telling through the founders we back and help scale.”

The most incredible opportunity for equality, inclusion and balance in the real world will be realized through DeFi. “Decentralized finance raises the bar on traditional financial services by starting from different core concepts. It changes what is important and what is irrelevant in the delivery of services,” says Nisa.

“By disrupting existing concepts and structures, DeFi seeks to become the new paradigm not only for financial instruments but for all financial and commercial activity in digital assets.”

The essential foundation of DeFi is that it is decentralized, which means there is no single point of failure, no single source of truth, and no single authority capable of or responsible for making changes to data. She believes DeFi does not exclusively involve financial instruments because crypto assets can be anything.

Realizing unimagined possibilities

The Metaverse creates endless opportunities, states Nisa. Four key areas will benefit the most from the limitless possibilities created by the Metaverse. For business and work, the Metaverse will simplify how people currently work with smoother daily business transaction processes, smart contracts executed, title transfers, and even real estate transfer processes.

Education will be completely disrupted and redefined in the Metaverse. Much work will be carried out to build schools and learning institutions in the Metaverse for students to visit virtual lessons and lectures. It also provides an opportunity for art, history and culture to come alive. The Metaverse will likewise transform the entertainment industry; concerts and sports events can be hosted in the Metaverse to blur the lines of fan engagement with physical events.

Healthcare is also already being impacted by the Metaverse and web3 tools, with training, clinical trials on-chain, the provenance of medical records, and the emergence of enhanced telehealth.

With Nisa building the future of the blockchain, the world can be assured it is in good hands. This web3 evangelist is shaping how the world lives, works and plays tomorrow. Everyone will benefit from web3’s paradigmatic change. Thank you, Nisa!

KATE HANCOCK CEO

Metaverse XYZ

AAs a little girl growing up on a tiny island in the Philippines, Kate Hancock may not have started off dreaming big. But this young serial entrepreneur has certainly not let her humble beginnings stifle her multi-industry success in e-commerce, beauty, hospitability, real estate, and tech.

As founder and CEO of Metaverse XYZ in Ladera Ranch, California, Kate’s company runs immersive events and conferences in the web3 space, with a mission to bring 100 million people to the Metaverse.

Impassioned by helping other entrepreneurs expand into web3, Kate thinks it will ‘benefit women, entrepreneurs, gamers, and investors as well as venture capitalists and tech companies wanting to open new markets in new regions.’

From small island to successful entrepreneur

Rated as 2021’s Top 8th Asian American Influencer by TripAdvisor and recognised as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina in the World, Kate has a fascinating success story.

Moving to the U.S. after finishing college in the Philippines, she worked odd jobs, including handing out food samples at Costco and later getting a job in skincare.

Her first taste of the internet – renting a computer at an internet café – led to her listing a beauty product online by investing just $20. In less than a year, this venture had a million dollars in revenue; within three years, Inc. 5000 rated it as one of the fastest growing e-commerce businesses in the US.

During a recent presentation – Creating Infinite Possibilities for Women in the Metaverse – Kate admitted she ‘probably worked a lot harder’ than she should have, quipping it was her work ethic, not her intellect that helped her advance in life. This included creating the Bintana Sa Paraiso hotel brand in the Philippines (named one of the country’s top hotels), opening a beauty spa, and creating a 100,000-member global entrepreneurs’ community on Clubhouse.

The Metaverse, which she says is ‘the internet on steroids where everyone can thrive, no matter their location or circumstances,’ is just one of her passions.

In advising women-led tech companies globally how they can make it big with this new meta data-driven economy, Kate says in the past year,

The Metaverse has the potential to completely revolutionize the way we live, work, and interact with one another. But it also presents some unique challenges and risks that need to be carefully considered.

there’s been ‘a new breed of applications and services’ powered by the paradigm shift of web3 and the Metaverse.

“One of the key trends that has emerged is the tokenization of real-world assets on blockchains, which allows fractional ownership of assets and opens up a whole new world of investment opportunities.”

Endless possibilities

Kate asserts that ‘Web3 could be one of the largest global economic impacts we will see in our lifetime,’ because most of the world has or will have high-speed internet access that will open them up to participating. E-commerce will also be completely disrupted, giving ‘most companies an option to purchase in a virtual world or add something tied to blockchain.’

“With the Metaverse allowing users to interact with each other in a virtual space, it has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives, from the way we communicate to the way we transact business.” Its possibilities of impacting the world are endless. “Imagine being able to visit any place in the world – or any time period – virtually and meet people from all cultures and walks of life.”

KATE HANCOCK’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS AND RESOURCES

1. Learn constantly – attend conferences, read industry publications, follow thought leaders in your field.

2. Be open-minded and flexible about new ideas – even if they differ from your own personal beliefs.

3. Stay updated on latest trends, get a good understanding of underlying technology.

4. Recommended info sources: Wired Magazine, TechCrunch website, YouTube (e.g., podcasts like metatalkz.)

It could also solve global problems by bringing people together to find solutions, open new prospects for social interactions and collaboration as well as change the way we consume information.

Metaverse size presents massive scaling challenges

However, she remarks ‘from a technical standpoint, building a highquality Metaverse is incredibly complex and difficult,’ explaining it requires advanced skills in 3D modeling, animation, lighting, and audio design.

Addressing concerns about security and privacy in virtual worlds are necessary before people will feel comfortable using them on a regular basis.

In addition, Hancock comments ‘most people are creatures of habit, and are reluctant to try new things, while many also lack the basic literacy skills required to use virtual worlds effectively and may not know how to navigate them.’

What she’s most excited about the future is ‘helping disadvantaged kids have fun, learn new skills, and earn money doing what they love most –playing.’

“The more we empower the youth with creativity opportunities and income generating skills, the better their lives, and becoming self-reliant adults will be.”

With Kate’s resolve to impact 100 million people in her lifetime, you really BELIEVE when she says, “If a little girl from an island was able to build several multi-million-dollar companies, so could you.”

California, USA pivotqueen thepivot_queen

KAYLAN SLINEY CEO, MAGNETIQ, INC. AND CO-FOUNDER

GOTHAM LABS

WWhen venture capital lawyer Kaylan Sliney first became ‘crypto-curious’ five years ago, it was late, by early adopter standards. The academic part of her brain was ‘both stimulated and fully engaged’ when she began learning how to use technical analysis in relation to digital currency trading, finding it more accessible, and more transformative, than traditional equity markets.

A year later, some of Kaylan’s legal clients in the venture space started querying how they could invest using cryptocurrency and asking for her help to negotiate partnerships in the blockchain technology space.

“I quickly became familiar with the myriad applications of the underlying technology that went far beyond digital currency, and haven’t looked back since.”

This leap into uncharted waters is hardly surprising, given that this New York-based lawyer, web3 builder and entrepreneurship mentor remarked to ‘dive into pools you think might be too deep.’

With an infectious smile and her ‘dearly held philosophy of saying “yes” to everything possible in this short, short life,’ Kaylan doesn’t just wear one hat.

Besides being a Partner at New York law firm Kimelberg PLLC, she’s also CEO of MAGNETIQ, Inc., a tokenized membership platform, and Cofounder of both Gotham Labs, an impact-driven web3 execution studio, and Blockchain + Main, a consulting firm specializing in blockchain technology education.

In addition, she began angel investing 5 years ago with Pipeline Angels, a network creating capital for women and non-binary femme social entrepreneurs, and now is an Advisor to Bad Bitch Empire, the global investment collective building unapologetic worth and wealth for women.

Web3 will support the creator economy in an unparalleled fashion, as such previously complicated endeavors of intellectual property ownership and delivery of royalties are easily resolved via smart contracts.

Impact driven projects in web3

Practicing as a corporate lawyer for 12 years, Kaylan focuses on early-stage companies, growing market leaders in novel spaces. Her recent primary efforts have fallen on two sides of the same coin: ‘shepherding existing brands and new web3 projects to meet the biggest proportion of their community where they are.’

“At Gotham Labs, we focus on impact-driven projects while at MAGNETIQ, Inc., we use B2B2C models to help brands build their web3 sustainable value strategy, thereby creating and solidifying relationships with their consumer communities.”

Opportunities in the wild ride Metaverse

Defining the Metaverse as an optimistic parallel existence, this self-described blockchain evangelist quips that the past year has been ‘a wild ride for web3 and the Metaverse.’

“We saw major spikes in consumer appetite for both novel experiences and alternative asset classes, which translated well into NFT sales, Metaverse land ownership, and corresponding wearables.”

However, several factors also contributed to a plummeting confidence in the space, like

projects not delivering on their roadmap, and a major economic downturn. These are ‘natural bumps along the way in an emerging space,’ yet we forget that although all technology is intimidating while it’s new, it’s no different than any past revolution.

Kaylan predicts limitless opportunities in leveraging ‘web3 to course-correct the nightmares that lie within some of our most fraught systems.’ Plus, web3 will be able to support the creator economy in an unparalleled fashion, because there’ll be no bureaucratic administration or ‘waiting for permission to join the network to participate in new economic opportunities.’

Global shifts

As for barriers, she believes we’re at an inflection point of an apparent meeting of alltime-high visibility of the technology, coupled with an all-time-low of understanding how the technology works.

Still, Kaylan reassures us it’s okay not to know everything all at once, adding, “it’s astonishing how much you’ll absorb just by engaging with the technology. You can’t be afraid to f*** up.”

What excites her most is the global shift away from centralization. Although institutions

contribute to upholding certain aspects of “civilized society,” ‘we’ve all but obliterated the right to self-determination in how we conduct ourselves both offline and online.’

Kaylan alludes to her occasionally daunting work schedule in a social media post – about one massive project feeling on plenty of days like it was going to deplete her soul and bring her to the verge of collapse.

Fortunately she has a strong support system − heaping praise on her ‘tight, amazing circle’ who showed up in full force when she ran both the Paris Marathon and grueling New York City Marathon within two weeks of each other in 2021.

Her Twitter profile’s rhetorical question – ‘what if we spent the energy of having more, on being more?’ – reveals her unwavering determination to continue challenging herself, both in her profession and physically.

Ultimately, what drives Kaylan is her conviction that what’s ‘most important is to surprise yourself and see how deep your well of grit really runs.’

1. Just dive in, learn as

move and start easy, e.g.,

2. Study web3 publication headlines, research on Crypto Twitter to find an NFT

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by Don Tapscott and Alex

ASHA SUSAN CHERIAN SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGER & FOUNDER, WEB3 AUSTIN

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Product Managers represent the user’s voice at a given company. If every web3 company were to hire Product Managers and focus on the end-user above all else (including revenue), the world would reach web3 mass adoption exponentially quicker (and companies would make more money). Product is the path to profit.

AAs a deeply curious, lifelong learner, Asha Susan Cherian has consistently sought out new technologies as well as opportunities to hone her craft of product management.

It is this relentless growth mindset that’s made her a prominent authority in product management for mobile, web3, NFTs and the Metaverse.

With her time split between New York and Austin, Texas, Asha’s passion for innovation, futurism and web3 technologies has earned her respect as a trusted startup advisor and global advocate for women in technology.

This self-described “impact-driven and userfocused product person” specializes in web3, NFT and Metaverse product management for startups and Fortune 500 companies.

With a solid background in strategy, entrepreneurship and executive leadership, her career has included being a startup founder in the digital health space as well as leading teams to build software products in diverse sectors, such as e-sports and gaming, social media, e-commerce, travel, ed tech, marketing tech and beyond.

Coveted career path in tech

In her current work as a Senior Product Manager, Asha oversees teams of developers and designers to build innovative products across web2 and web3.

She is on a personal quest to “get web3 product management right” and expand innovation and education across the web3 ecosystem.

She’s also a mentor and cohort leader at Co.Lab. “In this collaboration incubator, I’m training the next generation of software developers, UX/UI designers and product managers, helping them enter the technology industry for the first time.”

Describing product management as “among tech’s most coveted career paths,” Asha shares her excitement on LinkedIn about a project she’s been “planning behind the scenes for quite some time.” This entails hosting three live Linkedin Audio shows to highlight the most innovative web3 builders, investors and companies in the space. “The hope,” she

explains, “is that they’ll educate and inspire talented individuals to build exceptional web3 companies and products that solve problems for people across the world.”

Asserting that “user empathy, problem-solving abilities and critical thinking skills trump all else in product management,” she comments that 99% of web3 hiring managers clearly don’t understand “the hiring paradigm for product managers has to shift away from the emphasis on crypto and web3 experience.”

While interviewing top web3 companies, Asha’s learned some useful lessons: “Throw out old assumptions and be ready to design a product manager role like a product” and “Web3 is not necessarily a zero-sum game in today’s market.”

Asha shares her insightful advice for hiring in this new world: “Hire experienced web2 product people because they’re the candidates most likely to possess the most critical skills. Understand there’s no such thing as a web3 product manager yet, so focus on hiring the best candidates with web2 experience and web3 foundations, then let them lead and build.”

Women are the foundation and future of technology

Stating women are the “foundation and future of technology,” Asha encourages web3 companies to “give that strong, smart femaleidentifying product manager or engineer you just interviewed a shot, even if your perception is that they’re slightly less qualified for the role than you’d like.”

Asha is concerned the lack of Product Managers with web2 fundamentals at web3 companies is significantly impacting the space. “It’s preventing the majority of smaller, community-first and artist-based projects and companies from achieving outsized success.”

Regarding the Metaverse, she stresses there’s not one, but numerous Metaverses, citing Fortnite, Roblox, Minecraft, Decentraland and Sandbox, among others. While we’re still early in the history of the space, expect many more Metaverse platforms, currently being built, to launch, both on- and off-chain in the next several years!

Experientially, the Metaverse will “unlock innumerable opportunities for interactivity

as well as solving real human problems.” For example, in the various Metaverses, instead of a website, companies and brands will have ‘web spaces’ or an experiential presence in the space. “In these 3D immersive spaces, you can explore and navigate a company or brand experience, inserting yourself onto the screen via your avatar rather than viewing a video or static image.”

Asha cautions against “underestimating the impact this distinction will have on the human psyche.”

This perspective shift – from the web2 experience of observing something outside yourself, to a web3 Metaverse experience of seeing a representation of yourself immersed within a digital environment – is “a massive psychological shift for how humans will experience the internet going forward.”

Life-improving solutions

She remains confident about the Metaverse and web3 space, remarking from a business perspective that the Metaverse is a massive opportunity to experience a monetized, immersive, social sphere in a much deeper way, irrespective of geography.

She’s upbeat about “the impact of verifiability and trust on the blockchain,” predicting “many solutions will emerge to improve our lives, and most people won’t even know they’re blockchain tools, just as the majority of people today don’t know Amazon is an AI company.”

Spending much time considering the massive potential of web3 technologies to improve the lives of women and girls in future, she sees “many web3 use cases for women to take back their power and level the playing field.”

Asha entices people to “get involved in the space now and build for the future — the water is warm.”

As for her own future, this charming tech pioneer makes one thing clear: “I’m just getting started, so watch out for me! You’ll be hearing a lot more from me regarding web3 products that could potentially solve massive problems for women in the coming years!”

USA (New York & Texas)

ALANNA ROAZZILAFORET CO-FOUNDER, DECRYPT STUDIOS/CRO, PUBLISHER AT DECRYPT MEDIA

There’s a whole conversation around what it means to be in the Metaverse. What is reality in the Metaverse? Is it a mirror of real life? Is it a crucial add-on to or component of real life? If so, it’s unethical to restrict access. There should be many ways to access the worlds you want to experience, and expensive hardware should not be a gating factor.

TThe decentralized web, and the future, hunger for art, creativity, community, and culture. Web2 succeeded at the expense of content creators; power— and money—rests in the hands of the few.

The burgeoning Metaverse, a catchall term that describes the interlinked virtual world that web3 and crypto makes possible, has the potential to radically realign that dynamic.

This is Alanna Roazzi-Laforet’s dream. She’s focused on how art, music, film, storytelling, and other cultural benchmarks in the web3 world are shaping the digital future, and by extension the rest of the real world. Not all heroes wear capes to the office.

Alanna is the co-founder of Decrypt Studios, the web3 advertising arm of Decrypt Media

Inc., where she also serves as Chief Revenue Officer and Publisher of the popular crypto news site, Decrypt.co. She’s also mom to three daughters and wife to an artist, so the topics of equality and artistic expression are top of mind. Before being recruited for a leadership role at Decrypt, Alanna worked with ConsenSys Mesh on decentralized media and identity initiatives. Her career includes stints at Conde Nast and the Omnicom Media Group. She is also one of the founders of AdToken, an advertising-based token.

Demystifying decentralization

As Publisher and CRO for the Decrypt news site, Alanna is dedicated to demystifying crypto and the decentralized web. Decrypt is a media platform that celebrates web3 and the

Metaverse, offers unbiased coverage of the latest developments, events, and news, and warns about scams, fraud, and bad technology.

Decrypt’s tone – just as with Decrypt Studios’ philosophy – is aimed at enabling and empowering everyone. It has a “Learn” element that educates novices, people with an intermediate knowledge of crypto, and experts alike. “The goal is for everyone to benefit from our work,” emphasized Alanna.

That passion for web3 runs deep. Alanna cofounded Decrypt Studios, a web3 production studio specializing in Metaverse activations. It pioneers a whole new way of building audiences in the Metaverse. From designing NFTs to minting, marketing, and sales, Decrypt Studios introduce designs and ideas through events and exhibitions in virtual worlds, letting

Photo: Victoria Will

people interact and experience art, music, and concepts in digital environments such as Cryptovoxels, Decentraland, Spatial, Roblox, and Fortnite.

“We’re building activations in the Metaverse and web3 at large that are geared towards community,” explains Alanna. “And community can mean anything or anyone, from any gender, any proclivity; any consciousness; it really doesn’t matter.”

She believes NFTs were a good first step for people to express themselves in the Metaverse, by infusing art into a flat token. Now, Alanna and Decrypt Studios are building the next level: Metaverse installations that engage more fully and present greater opportunity for artists and their creativity to exist more fully. That requires superpowers – and Alanna has them.

New reality for culture and creativity

Designing the new reality means starting afresh. Alanna recognizes that internet connectivity and the ability to render many of the Metaverse installations are barriers to entry for mass adoption of the Metaverse and web3.

For example, there is ongoing debate in regard to hardware and access to the Metaverse. Graphics are difficult to render, and there are at this moment many different virtual reality hardware devices that provide an immersive experience, most of which come at a higher price point and are not designed to work well with each other. Access should be universal and stay true to the spirit of the Metaverse and web3’s ethos believes Alanna. “There’s a whole conversation around what it means to be in the

Metaverse. What is reality in the Metaverse? Is it a mirror of real life? Is it a crucial add-on to or component of real life? If so, it’s unethical to restrict access. There should be many ways to access the worlds you want to experience, and expensive hardware should not be a gating factor.”

Virtually limitless opportunities

The Metaverse holds unlimited opportunities for people to create experiences in the virtual world. Decrypt Studios hosted the Metaverse premiere for the documentary, “GameStop: Rise of the Players”, which told the story of the GameStop short squeeze of 2021. Viewers watched the film’s premiere in the Metaverse on the moon in virtual Lamborghinis at a drive-in theater. The potential for these types of unique, “impossible” experiences excites Alanna about the space: “The Metaverse is an opportunity to create experiences adjacent to our real world in the virtual world. You can experience ‘reality’ in a different way, augmenting it, changing it, creating new rules, because the Metaverse is not bound by gravity or the other constants we experience in real life. The power of the Metaverse is that anything about our real world can be kept or discarded; it’s up to the people experiencing that reality to decide which pieces they want to bring with them, or whether to live in both or a bifurcated reality. Eventually we’ll develop personal relationships in the Metaverse, a friend or loved one you’ve only met through 1s and 0s. It will be up to all of us to choose how and where we want to experience our relationships, which are virtual or IRL and whether we want to share between both.”

Opportunities will grow when people and technology align, believes Alanna. “You can be whoever you want to be, whatever gender you want to be, truly anything or anyone you want to be.”

The ultimate goal is for everyone to benefit from web3 and the Metaverse. Artists and communities can build a culture of creativity unbound from the real world, in which people are free to create art and be creative. “My legacy is bringing these artists and the platforms that enable them into the virtual and web3 conversation – artists such as David Russo, Lesley Schiff, Terry Gilliam and others who we’re working with right now. They’re coming from different art structures; bringing them into the web3 community is what really drives me to build all this. That’s my legacy in my mind – to equalize this art form and make it accessible to everyone.”

ALANNA ROAZZI-LAFORET’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS

• Don’t listen to the hype – do your own research. Otherwise, you’re only a conduit for someone else’s opinion. Connect and work with any web3 studio – like Decrypt Studios – and build experience working with companies and people working in the space.

• Decrypt (the editorial site) is an endless source of information on web3, crypto, the Metaverse, blockchain, and more. In addition to timely stories covering the latest news in this world, our Learn section is extremely useful to anyone looking to learn more about the constantly evolving topics in this space. See https:// decrypt.co/learn/courses

DR. MILLY PERRY FOUNDER

DAO4DAOS INSTITUTE & BUG BLOCKCHAIN UNIVERSITY GLOBAL CONSULTANCY

I believe web3 will help us build a more inclusive, democratic and autonomous society.

DDr. Milly Perry stumbled into the blockchain rabbit hole when researching free trade zones, policy tools, regulations, and user anonymity protocols. “When I was exposed to the decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), I understood the depth of paradigmatic change that awaits us in the global economy; it was jaw-dropping.”

Dr. Perry is an expert consultant in innovation, blockchain, and R&D for corporations, governments, startups, and investors in the fields of the Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. Since her fascination started with blockchain technology and DAOs and their potential to transform global economic governance and policies, she’s become a passionate evangelist for CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) strategies to help solve many of the world’s economic challenges.

To say Dr. Perry’s a leading expert on DAOs does not do her justice. She is that, but so much more! Dr. Perry is an authority in leading international policy and governance projects for the World Bank, the World Economic Forum (WEF), ISO Blockchain Governance Group, the European Blockchain Association (EBA), and the Blockchain Alliance Europe. In 2019, she founded the DAO4DAOs Institute and the Blockchain University Consultancy (BUG), serves as the Head of Blockchain

Excellence Center at the Israeli Chamber of Information Technology, is a board member for the Israel Fintech Community and of the academic body, International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications (INATBA).

Determining the future

Why blockchain DAOs? She explains that it is no cliché that blockchain is rapidly changing. New projects, business models, breakthrough technologies, devices, and protocols are constantly developed and deployed. “I don’t see how we can master new technologies with obsolete knowledge acquisition or process management methods. We must step out of our comfort zone and abandon old management methods from the industrial era. We are sitting in a spaceship.”

She explains that with DAOs, leaders in governments and corporations must innovate in creating new ideas and technology and finding new ways to manage knowledge and acquire capabilities. A DAO blockchain native governance method allows leaders in governments and corporations to “collaborate in vivid dialog and in an execution that turns ideas into actions.”

In a recent interview, Dr. Perry explained that blockchain DAOs have an invaluable and vital role in restructuring society, leadership, governance policies and economic models. She believes blockchain DAOs are lifelike learning organisms and essentially incorporate crowd wisdom to become a superpower. DAOs have the potential to be places where “we can share best practices from all around the world, helping us to skip pitfalls and magnificent failures that others experienced. ‘Sitting on the shoulders of giants’ could help us see the bright future more clearly. As we all know: the wider the network, the stronger and wiser it is.”

Delivering the future

The world is on the threshold of a revolution. According to Dr. Perry, blockchain promotes cooperative activity in a broad business ecosystem, including customers, partners, competitors, regulators and civil society organizations. DAOs facilitate diversity in views, pluralism, and democratic decision-making based on a broad set of interests while using innovative and efficient management methods. Instead of operating top-down structures based on power and position, DAOs are based on a meritocracy of knowledge and reputation. Blockchain tools can better manage multi-partner operations in a broad ecosystem requiring coordination and control. The central tool is the DAO.

Designing DAOs

“I believe in flat, decentralized decision-making and self-managing communities as the future of organizations in a free and moral society,” Dr. Perry emphasizes.

By Dr. Perry’s definition, a DAO can be seen as the most complex form of a smart contract, where the bylaws of the decentralized organization are embedded into the code of the smart contract, using complex token governance rules. At today’s evolutionary stage, a DAO materializes as a smart contract – a piece of code – executed on top of an increasingly opaque stack of distributed networking and consensus technology like the Ethereum blockchain or similar blockchains.

In her book ‘Blockchain – Turning EGOsystem to ECOsystem’, she emphasizes the groundbreaking contribution of blockchain to present and future life and the changing paradigm that this technology brings about in the global business market. Globalization and technological developments, she said, redefined customers’ needs and requirements for transparency and accountability. These created an architecture comprised of many stakeholders, from private and government businesses, whose basic requirement is trust. The blockchain leads to decentralization and independence. Dr. Perry states transparency, trust, and accountability are fundamental tenets in the economic-technological market. Trust, a feature built into the blockchain, “saves intermediaries and increases trust in economic systems.”

While the space is still in its early days of the digital revolution, Dr. Perry says there are many challenges, regulations, and technical, social and personal barriers to mass adoption of blockchain technology. She is adamant that we can overcome those obstacles by networking and collaborating.

Asked what she was most excited about in the future, Dr. Perry shared: “I believe web3 will help us build a more inclusive, democratic and autonomous society.”

With Dr. Perry’s

efforts,

for a better world.

will

Milly

AKINA HO CORE LEADER & GLOBAL HEAD OF BUSINESS CONSULTANCY

ALLSTARWOMEN DAO

‘‘

Mindset is one of the biggest barriers to mass adoption of web3 and the Metaverse.

AAkina Ho is a free thinker. With 20 years of experience in change management, digital transformation and innovative technologies, Akina is one of the most authoritative thought leaders in Asia on web3, the Metaverse, NFTs, proptech and emerging technologies.

She is a respected international guest speaker and panelist, with appearances on Bloomberg and Fox International. This visionary has received numerous awards for her leadership, digital transformation and innovation, social innovation and proptech.

Having built and successfully exited several startups in Silicon Valley and Hong Kong, you can believe Akina when she talks about the transformative power of the digital revolution of web3. “The Metaverse is a 3D immersive world where everyone can interact – without boundaries on the chain or off the chain.”

Mindset matters in the Metaverse

Akina believes that the Metaverse can enhance business, boost scientific research, trials and medical studies, and change how we live and use physical spaces to ensure we use natural resources smarter. But Akina is adamant that people could achieve far more extraordinary feats with web3 if only they changed their mindset and think out of the box.

“Mindset is one of the biggest barriers to mass adoption of web3 and the Metaverse,” Akina shares. The Metaverse and web space provide new ways to learn, process, interact and create. She says that all websites in the future will be Metaverses, but not all will be built on the blockchain as that will depend on its offerings, such as crypto and pay-to-earn elements. The evolution of the internet from web2 to web3 will provide a platform for live, physical interactions in the future. Still, the normalizing of web3 will be established by the younger generations growing up with the technology.

Another obstacle to mass adoption of web3 and the Metaverse, according to Akina, are technology limitations currently underlying the space. “Web3 is not yet ready to fully support people and creators’ expectations of what the Metaverse should be as we are all so spoiled by web2’s 2D technology and current user-friendly experience.”

This leads to the next obstacle: education and experience. Experienced and talented people are scarce in this space; over time, more and more technology builders will be able to develop even more web3 tools to create the Metaverse of their dreams. For now, while the technology is in its infancy, web3 and the Metaverse are somewhat limited in scope.

As one of the core leaders in AllStarsWomen DAO, she also takes up the Global Head of Business Consultancy and Head of the Asia-Pacific Chapter to foster the vision of AllStarsWomen as a leading & profitable global investment DAO that supports female lead projects. She passionately supports the female founders, believers and investors in the global AllStarsWomen DAO community, helping to encourage and support their projects with her global business consultancy team of experts in investment, finance, legal, marketing, networking and human resources. AllStarsWomen DAO has about 30% male founders and executives that supports and believes in female entrance into web3. Akina supports closing the gender gap in the tech space and building an inclusive web3 through AllStarWomen and DAO’s initiatives, pushing forward access to the resources women need to thrive in their careers and the Metaverse.

She is a board member of the Hong Kong PropTech Association (HKPTA) and BEETc. Akina was the Head of Digital Transformation and Innovation at Great Eagle Holdings Limited, a Hong Kong-based global real estate company engaged in property investment, property development, retail space and hotel operations across Asia Pacific, North America and Europe. Here, Akina has also built a startup in the web3

space, creating a marketplace for curated experiences and products in the Metaverse. She was part of the Investment Committee that evaluated startups in cutting-edge technology and disruptive business models across different industries. At Great Eagle, she’s pushed for more significant IoT deployment, drone technology, chatbots, ERP, HR and other transformation projects that have resulted in her receiving awards such as the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards 2019.

Inspiration beyond web3

Asked what inspired her to participate in web3, Akina says: “The space allows anyone to create, find funds and build something real – but this reality is more difficult for women to find support and for opportunities to shine. According to BCG Research in April 2022, less than 5-percent of female founders are funded globally, and many non-Western entrepreneurs are even afraid to dream of becoming entrepreneurs. More and more Gen Z people are doing that through technology and new business structures (such as DAOs). This excites me as I can help open doors to such possibilities.”

The legacy Akina wants to leave is one in which she has inspired and supported women who really want to build something special in the web3 space and be in a position to provide assistance to help those dreamers make an impact in the world on their own terms.

Having said that, for women who really want to get into the Metaverse and web3 to take advantage of the limitless opportunities presented by this space, Akina advises: “Reading and watching doesn’t teach you much. You have to roll up your sleeves and get involved. Open a MetaMask wallet, buy your first NFT, and buy some crypto. Join a community or DAO to experience the differences in culture from web2 versus web3; learn to merge your web2 experiences into web3: find possibilities and ideas to grow in the space. This whole web3 space is about allowing anyone to ‘experiment’ with new ways of building your own monetary system (cryptocurrency), your own digital assets (NFTs), your own community or company (DAO) without all the legal structures at the beginning, and your own world without limits from reality to create and build (Metaverse) something more immersive. Believe it or not, when most of these technology are more advanced and massly adopted, new ways of communication, collaborating, scientific research, surgery, medical trials, etc will also transform. I hope I will still be alive to see that transformation!”

Her parting words regarding web3 and the Metaverse: “I have always loved new technology and how it can transform and grow businesses in exponential leaps. I entered the web3 space by volunteering blindly to moderate a panel on Metaverse and NFTs for Hong Kong Cyperport from a new found friend. Now, I cannot stop learning and participating in the space.”

LILI ZHAO DIRECTOR

NEO GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

While everything can be tokenized on the blockchain, that’s the easy part. The hard part is having the regulatory framework and ecosystem to enable the value transfer of the tokenized assets.

AAs someone that ‘values experience above all rather than being competitive,’ Lili Zhao got into the blockchain space ‘by accident and out of curiosity’ in 2017. Zurich-based Lili is the Director of Neo Global Development, the operational arm of leading blockchain platform Neo, an open-source, community-driven blockchain platform.

She explains Neo enables developers and dApps builders to ‘build decentralized applications, as well as digitize and automate the management of assets through smart contracts.’ It also provides powerful native infrastructures such as multiple-language support, advanced interoperability, centralized storage,

oracles, and domain name service, to create a solid foundation for the Next-Gen internet. Soft-spoken, with an engaging smile, Lili explains that Neo’s mission is to ‘be an open network for Smart Economy (web3),’ and ‘make any asset, digital or physical, accessible by human beings and programs with minimized trust and permission.’

Holding a BSc in Economics from Royal Holloway, University of London and an MBA from the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland), she quipped in a recent interview − for an article in Bitcoin news platform Cointelegraph − that ‘economics interests me much more now than when I was studying it at university.’

With a charmingly cheerful approach that ‘life is a game, so let’s play,’ Lili says she’s never afraid of falling because she ‘always bounces back.’

Blockchain ecosystem’s community-driven spirit

Having previously held managerial positions in banking, executive education and media, Lili describes her current job as ‘growing the ecosystem of the Neo blockchain by profession and passion.’

In the recent Cointelegraph article, Lili says ‘one of the main appeals of the blockchain ecosystem is its community-driven spirit instead of being about personal glorification.’

However, she remarks while everything can be tokenized on the blockchain, that’s the easy part. “The hard part is to have the regulatory framework and ecosystem to enable the value transfer of the tokenized assets.”

Clearly passionate about her profession, Lili enthuses, “the more you’re into blockchain, the more endless the possibility and the learning curve becomes.”

Open-source playground

The Metaverse is ‘a virtual world for human interactions and value exchanges, powered by XR and blockchain technology.’ Describing it recently on YouTube as an ‘open-source playground where ownership lies in the users, not the centralized platform,’ Lili explains digital assets in the Metaverse are powered by open-source blockchain protocols such as Ethereum and Neo.

“These digital assets live on the blockchain independent of any proprietary platforms, so they can be freely traded across different playgrounds and marketplaces. Thus, digital asset ownership gives the power to players, and

that levels the playing field between users and platforms.”

Paradigm shift in dynamics

Lili remarks the key point in Metaverse opportunities is a ‘fundamental paradigm shift in the dynamics between platforms and users that will impact every industry.’

“Users will have ownership of their data and assets so they can be portable and transferred across different platforms.”

And how the Metaverse will impact our lives, it’ll include gaining ownership, providing unlimited possibilities, bridging the real and virtual worlds and enhancing the real world for the better. However, she’s concerned ‘the technology is still not yet user-friendly,’ adding ‘mass adoption will come when it becomes as easy to use as Google.’

As for web3 use cases beside Metaverse”, Lili envisages ‘the rise of DAOs is inevitable, given that this technology is initiated and driven by the community.’ But in the smart economy of web3, − powered by the decentralized communitydriven technology − it ‘needs to best serve the community, be more social and less elite-centric.’

Life is a game, so let’s play

As a self-described spiritual person and existentialist, Lili shares three key qualities she values and uses to guide her in life; ‘freedom (to do what I love), authenticity (to be who I am) and growth (a dynamic process, evolving with new experiences).

With a witty persona − jokingly calling herself a ‘chaotic minimalist wannabe’ and despite being passionate about surfing, confessing she’s ‘actually pretty lousy at it’ − Lili believes ‘humor is always precious, whatever we do, and in whatever industry.’

Commenting on the current state of web2, she stated that the internet has changed our lives for the better, but it’s also worsened the divide between the rich and poor, thanks to power and profit being in the hands of a few centralized entities.

LILI

& WEB3 TIPS

1. Forget about what you know/don’t know − all you need is a curious mind and the eagerness to learn.

2. Don’t view embracing the unknown as terrifying – it’s exciting and empowering!

3. Don’t immediately dismiss things that don’t appear rational – try to understand why.

4. Resources: Coindesk and Cointelegraph.

As for what the future holds, Lili remains enthusiastic about the blockchain technology and the development of the web3 ecosystem despite the industry challenges. Open-source platforms such as Ethereum and Neo will power the next generation of internet – one that drives progress from the bottom up with less sacrifice on equality. lili-zhao-zurich

5. Follow projects such as Ethereum and Neo – join the communities, ask questions, check what Metaverse projects are being built there. Be part of it!

Lili_Zurich

MOON JÉRIN FOUNDER & CEO AEINDRI PROTOCOL

MMoon Jerin is the Founder and CEO of a ground-breaking technology company. At 18, she studied civil engineering in Canada, but her impact on the world has been felt most positively and remarkably in cutting-edge technology and web3.

Instead of drawing up plans for roads, tunnels, water systems, and airports, Moon creates bridges for people and societies to leap over digital divides to create a future of sustainability and access for everyone.

What brought her to web3 and the Metaverse? When she first learned about this technology, she asked herself: “Can I contribute to a technology or a technological evolution where web3 and Metaverse provide opportunities to large segments of society that they cannot

get from the existing technology? Is there something we can do with the Metaverse to create better value than our existing solutions?”

The answers lie in her action. Moon is the Founder and CEO of Aeindri Protocol, a web3 commerce platform. It is the first digital asset marketplace backed by physical assets and experiences. Aeindri Protocol provides the metrics to empower brands and end-consumers to make better purchasing decisions through ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) data. The mission is to shift the focus from traditional purchasing and investment behaviour centred around profitability to that of sustainable business. Combined with the powers of web3 and sustainability, Moon envisions Aeindri Protocol making commerce efficient and traceable.

With more than fourteen years of experience in complex program and project management, blockchain strategy development and cryptocurrency, this global innovator has followed a diverse career path. It includes serving as Vice President of Operations and Marketing at Vow Currency and as CMO of Vlinder, where she worked on cryptocurrency, blockchain technology and carbon removal. She is currently an Industry Associate at the UCL Center for Blockchain Technologies and an Advisor and Judge at UC Berkley’s Blockchain Accelerator.

Before joining the blockchain space, Moon worked at Shell Oil company, H.J. Heinz and Amazon. She is a speaker at SxSW, Horasis Global, Huwaei’s European events, and NFT NYC, to name but a few.

We’re combining the powers of web3 and sustainability at Aeindri Protocol.

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Making sense of the Metaverse

According to Moon, web3 and the Metaverse are totally different things. In a nutshell, “web3 means people can own the content they create. In web2, people can’t have ownership of their content. This shift started a movement powered by blockchain, decentralization, and cryptocurrency.”

Metaverse is a word with numerous connotations. “There’s lots of debate around exactly what constitutes the Metaverse; it has different meanings for different people. At this moment, the Metaverse can be described as a space where humans can participate in an avatar-type environment. Currently, it is a state of the internet with a 99% overlap with gaming. It can be used for entertainment, education, business, and more.”

In 2017 she learned about web3, cryptocurrency and blockchain – and identified these as drivers for change across industries and societies. Back then, there was no formalized career path or industry for web3, blockchain or the Metaverse.

Moon invested her time in understanding the technologies and the human psychology around them. It was then that she truly understood that web3 comes from two dimensions and will have a profound impact on the future: “First, based on past performances – as an engineer –you look at trends and numbers, and you can assess and forecast what the future could be. Second, by using my intuition, I could make my own decision about this space and industry.”

As an analytical thinker with an engineering background, she focused on studying this new wave of technology from a professional standpoint. She became deeply involved in blockchain research and cryptocurrencies at different levels through her work with universities. In 2018, she became an Industry Associate with the University College London, which gave her access to research, opportunities and credibility. She was named one of the 25 digital leaders by the National University of Singapore.

This led to her joining Vow Currency in 2021 as Vice President of Operations and Marketing. “That’s when I really started learning about cryptocurrency, how to launch, market, regulation, and everything else. I was the third hire for the company – I did everything, including building out departments for the company, from exchanges, regulators, marketing, and everything else. Three months after launching Vow Token, it surpassed $1 billion in a fully diluted market cap.”

At the same time, Moon joined forces with Vlinder, a carbon credit marketplace, as Chief Marketing Officer. She was responsible for assessing the carbon credit market opportunities in Europe and the USA.

“At Vlinder, I saw that the world looked at the climate change problem from a top-down approach. We needed a bottom-up approach to better understand it from different points of view – unlike at COP26 or the G8.”

With vast experience, insight and skills, Moon bravely created and launched Aeindri Protocol.

Making virtual marketplaces

According to Moon, the future of the Metaverse won’t materialize for another three or four years. “My aha moment for Aeindri Protocol was to help companies create NFT collections more quickly and more seamlessly. This isn’t an overnight change; rather, it is a step-bystep movement, getting web2 consumers and companies to move slowly to web3, in the same way, people and brands moved from desktop to mobile.”

The biggest challenge for many web2 brands and individuals is being able to make an NFT collection easily and securely. Aeindri Protocol is solving that problem. “We are creating the first phygital marketplace for digital assets. Aeindri Protocol will spearhead the transition of web2 brands and customers to web3. This enables people to learn how to use NFTs and wallets, and brands will know how to operate with NFTs, secondary marketplaces and royalties.”

The legacy Moon wishes to leave behind is one of sustainability – and Aeindri Protocol drives her vision. “The majority of brands don’t have the resources or in-depth capacity to put their supply chain on the blockchain yet. It involves multiple factors. To begin this journey, they can start tracing the NFT itself and eventually have their entire supply chain on the blockchain. For this, we’ve partnered with Good On You to provide ESG metrics on a brand’s NFT collection. When customers shop on our platform, they’ll see 27 ESG factors to help them make better-informed purchasing decisions. We’re also building a fully-fledged back-end traceability system in order to make commerce efficient.”

At Aeindri Protocol, Moon’s combining the powers of web3 and sustainability for a brighter tomorrow.

moonjerin jerinfm

Finland

It is a women-first future. It is my mission to bring clarity on what that future looks like, how to navigate it, and who can help women in this space.

IIt is said that one year in tech is equivalent to 5 years of experience in other industries. Seven years? That’s a life-long career – and a book’s worth of experiences. With seven years (and counting) in this space’s high-speed, always-on, fledging industry, Emily Rose Dallara is THE go-to web3 marketing consultant and coach. What drives her? She is single-minded in her mission to help women navigate and thrive in web3.

She’s built her career on compassion, support, and innovative business strategies, blazing the path for women into this male-dominated world of web3 and the Metaverse. It is no surprise that she hails from France, where Emily personifies the spirit of the land she calls home, of freedom, equality and fraternity. Every project she supports also characterizes those principles, especially women’s empowerment and upliftment.

There is no better exemplification of her women-first agenda than when she founded the ‘Web3 and Thrive’ podcast: it focuses on empowering women with confidence, knowledge and clarity to thrive in web3. She serves as Board Advisor at Lifetise.io, a web3 consumer finance platform that helps people plan their lives and visualize how to afford significant goals to create a financially secure life and future. She also serves as a fractional Chief Marketing Officer for multiple organizations, and is Marketing Advisor to Toya NFT Project and The Bigger Pie. Prior to this, she led marketing teams in crypto and blockchain since 2016, including Product Marketing at Bitcoin.com, Global Head of Marketing at Liquid Exchange (now part of FTX), and Head of Product Marketing at OKX Global and AAX Global.

EMILY DALLARA FOUNDER OF WEB3 AND THRIVE PODCAST, BOARD ADVISOR AT LIFETISE, WEB3 MARKETING CONSULTANT AND LEADERSHIP COACH (IN TRAINING!)

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A friend introduced Emily to cryptocurrencies in 2016, and the underlying technology she recognized presented an opportunity for women to leapfrog social change through a digital revolution. It is the foundation of web3 that aligns with Emily’s authenticity: equality, liberty, and fraternity.

“I fell into web3 with Bitcoin.com in 2016,” Emily remarks about her journey into web3. “When I started, there was no term for web3 and no Metaverse. I knew a friend of a friend who wanted to hire me. Since then, I’ve

worked in all areas of the industry, from crypto trading and investments, crypto-adoption, wallets, and cloud mining, to DeFi launchpads and fundraising platforms, IDO launches, NFT collections, and Metaverse games and products.”

Growing beds of roses

Over the past twelve months, this space has rapidly evolved, says Emily. Witnessing the space grow exponentially, its potential for ever more significant real-world impact continues to excite and inspire her mission. You can believe her when she says that, coming from her vast experience across the web3 ecosystem.

“This space went from a Sims game meme to a ‘Oh wait, people are actually buying into this’ state. It is fascinating how NFTs have been the leader of further adoption versus the previously failed focus on crypto as cash.”

As new as web3 may be to most people today, its development has been years in the making. Its advancement accelerates as more people meaningfully participate in the space. That’s why Emily advocates for a womenfirst future; the expansion and strategy of web3 must remain true to its design. Web3 tools and tenets have already disrupted many industries, markets, and sectors. For raising the status of women and women-led projects in promotion and support of the future growth of the Metaverse for gender equality, inclusivity, and support are essential. “It is a women-first future. It is my mission to bring clarity on what that future looks like, how to navigate it, and who can help women in this space.”

She has a hands-on approach to web3. She dives into the proverbial deep end and learns to swim – then teaches other women to jump in and swim, too. Building a space of inclusivity, diversity, and support benefits everyone: individuals, communities, people, and businesses.

Opportunities to overcome

The opportunities in web3 are endless. And Emily is bullish about the future of web3 and

the prospects it creates. “Right now, the focus is on gaming, NFTs, events, and land sales in the Metaverse. These create the biggest potential for community growth, wealth creation, and business development. However, once consumers start to perceive the Metaverse as an investment versus just a weird Sims-like game, that’s when web3 will blow up – much as crypto investments did. It’s all a trend cycle!”

The impact of the Metaverse will be most profoundly felt – and created – by the Gen Z population. Educating and onboarding the youth is essential to the growth of this space and the future. “I think Gen Z will lead the adoption of web3, and it will impact them much more than it does Millenials or Boomers. Why? Previous studies suggest that Gen Zs – as connected as they are – are the loneliest generation. They will adopt the Metaverse to create their most real selves and connect with others like them.”

Emily helps build a space and platform for women to thrive in web3 and the real world.

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emilydallara

AMBER GHADDAR FOUNDER

ALLIANCEBLOCK & THE 200 BILLION CLUB

Participative capitalism leveraging web3 can be a viable solution to create wealth but most importantly to create stability in an everchanging world.

f we can compare the Metaverse to the internet, HTML has not yet been invented, and we are still in Plain Text mode. From a tech perspective, the Metaverse is still in its earliest stages.”

Amber Ghaddar is an ex-JP Morgan trader turned serial entrepreneur in web3. She’s a recognized voice in the field where she’s often quoted on CNBC, Bloomberg, Forbes, Nasdaq, and BBC. She’s a Fintech Times’ Rising Women in Crypto Powerlist 2020, Innovate UK Fintech Senior Leaders Standout 2021, European Women in Finance 2022 and Top Women in Crypto 2022. Amber is also an advisor to governments on crypto regulations and hedge funds on crypto strategies.

This futurist started her career in Global Investment Research at Goldman Sachs London, and moved to the Cross Asset Solution team at JP Morgan London in 2012, where she worked on structured and exotic products across Equities, FX, Rates, Credit and Commodities. She then spearheaded the Macro Systematic Trading Strategies effort at JP Morgan London, focusing on fixed income dynamic risk premia trading strategies.

Amber is one of the masterminds behind participative capitalism and calibrocracy having been invited to world-class events (Davos, TEDx, UN Women, and Money2020) to talk on the subject. She is also a guest lecturer at EDHEC Business School in Nice.

Her focus is on linking web2 with web3 at AllianceBlock. Amber’s initial concentration has been the financial industry but has begun to embrace and explore gaming, social media and entertainment sectors. G-Nation is a new project she’s working on that aims to create a digital nation with never-seen-before economics and governance. She also launched one of the largest accelerators for women founders in Europe – The 200 Billion Club – with more than 100 VC partners.

“Women represent 50-percent of the world’s population, but women CEOs lead just 24 companies on the Global 500 list – a mere 4.8-percent of the world’s largest businesses. The 200 Billion Club aims to change the status quo by increasing funding towards women founders and CEOs.”

Changing the world

The Metaverse and web3 create limitless opportunities. Amber believes this emerging technology presents the perfect opportunity for social change and to drive the future of work. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote and hybrid work setups. What was a niche movement three years ago is now a worldwide phenomenon. However, the importance of office camaraderie can’t be denied, and current remote work setups fail the human connection test.

“We must adapt and implement new technological features to bridge the collaboration gap for hybrid and distributed workforces. And I strongly believe the Metaverse will be the solution,” Amber enthuses.

“My G-Nation – which I’m building with An Coppens – is a gamified Extended Reality Metaverse, initially optimized for offices and corporates instead of hunting virtual boars to amass virtual loot. We enable corporates to configure their office spaces for productivity-boosting interactions, personal well-being, and immersive experiences to improve employee retention, break log-jams, and enhance overall workplace camaraderie.”

Asking Amber about the impact of the Metaverse on people’s lives, the world and the future of technology, Amber says its possibilities are

boundless. According to her, the ultimate consequence of the Metaverse will be the creation of digital nations. “A nation used to be a community of people formed based on a combination of shared features, such as language, history, ethnicity, culture, and territory. However, Pulitzer Prize winner Thomas Friedman famously said, ‘The world is now flat.’ We define a nation as a community of people unbound by borders, generating a dignified living regardless of language, history, ethnicity, culture and territory.”

According to Amber, web3 caters mainly to developers at present. Similar to the internet in its early days, Amber believes that not only more and more SDK (Software Development Kits) but also more accessible UX and UI (User experience/User interface) must be built to increase adoption. Additionally, web3 exists in a regulatory grey zone and requires better regulations to protect investors/players and actors. She sees this to be the flavor of 2023.

Future-perfect

Amber spent most of her teenage years living in emerging markets with socialist, capitalist, or autocratic economies. She doesn’t believe the current form of Nordic socialism could work everywhere and doesn’t believe the current version of capitalism is healthy, either. “The 2008 crisis left us with an ever-expanding wealth gap between the top 1-percent and the bottom 50-percent. And this leads to an increase in extremism on the right and left of the political spectrum. I have always believed that a wealthy economy, where the wealth gap between the top 5-percent and bottom 50-percent is not as staggering as it is today, is a stable economy.”

She feels governments have failed citizens – both in developed and developing countries. Amber has envisioned a way forward with web3 and the Metaverse: “Participative capitalism leveraging web3 can be a viable solution to create wealth but most importantly to create stability in an ever-changing world.”

When asked what advice she would give to women wanting to join this new world she states that understanding coding and blockchains are primordial. She continues, “I advise everyone to go onto Coursera to learn more. With the internet revolution, we had access to collective intelligence, and it is easy to be kept up to date on the numerous advancements in the field. Crypto Twitter is a good source, and subscribing to online news outlets should be a must-do, too. The Bigger Pie is one of the most active women’s communities in blockchain – and one I advise to join.”

Web3 is a generational revolution, believes Amber. “Who would not have wanted to be one of the first Apple, Facebook, and Amazon employees? And, who would not have wanted to build the Apples, Facebooks and Amazons? We’re busy doing that right now – only for a better future.”

KELLY LEUNG CHIEF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER ANIMOCA BRANDS JAPAN & CO-FOUNDER

MADWORLD

KKelly Leung is helping to build a world where people genuinely want to help each other. On a mission to empower and uplift society, this Hongkonger is focusing on women as the leaders of the next digital revolution.

“I like to see great ideas come to life,” Kelly sums up her motivations. She strives to deliver digital property rights to the world, creating a new asset class, play-to-earn economies, and an equitable, Open Metaverse that benefits everyone.

As Chief International Business Development Officer of Animoca Brands Japan and Co-Founder at MADworld, Kelly oversees an investment fund, IP development and serves as a venture builder. MADworld is an NFT platform and marketplace using blockchain technology to secure the rights of artists, artworks, and content. In this organization, she and her teams oversee the blockchain technology advisory arm that helps global brands and IP owners optimize and accelerate their web3 strategy. Kelly drives the research and deployment of strategies and projects, from ideation to designing NFT utilities, coding smart contracts, and more.

The Metaverse provides a platform for unsung heroes and creators.

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She supports the ethos of connectedness, culture, and community through web3 in order to create unique digital experiences for fans, investors, and collectors.

At Animoca Brands Japan (KK), she serves as Chief International Business Development Officer and as a Member of the Board of Directors. Here she supports the growth of digital entertainment, blockchain, and gamification that works to advance the Open Metaverse focused on enabling IP holders in Japan to participate in the web3 ecosystem meaningfully. Animoca Brands has a growing portfolio of more than 380 investments in NFT-related companies and decentralized blockchain projects contributing to building the Open Metaverse, including Axie Infinity, OpenSea, Dapper Labs (NBA Top Shot), Yield Guild Games, Harmony, Alien Worlds, Star Atlas, and others.

Intentional impact

According to Kelly, the Metaverse is a “decentralized world where everyone has true digital ownership of their digital assets. It provides a platform for data monetization that individuals and consumers can directly control.”

Kelly believes the Metaverse will impact many millions of people’s lives, the world, and the future of technology. One of the foundations of web3 is taking back data ownership and the control of original content. For women, this will level the playing field like never before in the history of technology.

“The Metaverse provides a platform for unsung heroes and creators,” says Kelly. “The concept of ownership and control of original content will be redefined in the future. The technology makes it easier for people to engage and interact. Content creation, monetization, and distribution will see new frontiers as we maximize exposure of web2 outlets through web3 values and platforms.”

While web3 and the Metaverse are still in their infancy, Kelly is adamant that the technology’s and the space’s evolution is real and ongoing – and will be for some time to come. She says: “Lots of new applications were created and have fallen away already, but advances are being reached daily. There are incredible investments being made into the infrastructural layers to make web3 and the Metaverse possible for everyone.”

The impact of the Metaverse will extend beyond those concepts to rewriting the futures of education and entertainment, areas which Kelly believes have the highest potential to drive widespread social change. “In the future, education and entertainment will be extremely interesting through the advent of web3 and the emergence of interoperable Metaverses. Also, consumers’ perception of space and reality will be shifted as one can take on any identity, even one that doesn’t represent the traditional human form.”

After being involved in the technology, media and entertainment, and telecommunications (TMT) field for more than 20 years, Kelly has been at the forefront of technology’s evolution, creating incredible business opportunities across industries and the world. She discovered the potential of blockchain in 2017 when invited to join the Animoca Brands’ Blockchain Advisory, with the mission of introducing brands to blockchain applications. She immediately recognized the potential power of blockchain and its tools to change women’s rights in the real world through this emerging technology.

Breaking barriers

The most significant barriers to mass adoption of web3 and the Metaverse by individuals and businesses are two-fold: trust and education. Kelly says that mass adoption is possible when trust in the space is established, and people understand and comprehend how the technology can benefit society and serve as a force for good in the real world. In addressing

how to build trust, Kelly believes that education will help people to avoid falling prey to scams and other negative aspects of cryptocurrencies. “There continue to be too many groups that do not understand the technology and rush into the space because they are afraid they will miss out; the lack of true understanding of a technology – or even how to apply the right strategy to execute something well – will always be the biggest obstacle to mass adoption.”

Asking Kelly what she’s most excited about for the future with web3 and the Metaverse, Kelly says she is inspired by “how we can use high resolution, immersive digital experiences to transform into a healing experience for people, where artwork and therapeutic content can reduce and alleviate people’s stress levels and increase dopamine levels. In the future, we will have that control and power – within ourselves and through this technology.”

KELLY LEUNG’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS:

• Learn about the technology not only

but

active

project communities

• Sign-up and use the tools in the space, mint, buy and trade NFTs, and network with people in the space

• Useful resources to help you on your journey in web3 and the Metaverse: Access CoinGecko and track your favorite crypto currency, Create a MetaMask wallet, Trade on OpenSea, and try a rarity index tracker for NFTs such as RaritySniper.com.

SARINA CHARUGUNDLA VP, MARKETING CONSENSYS MESH

SSarina Charugundla is not one to shy away from hard work. As VP of Marketing at ConsenSys Mesh and Co-Founder of TreeTrunk, she’s helping to build the future of the Metaverse and web3 to empower artists and creators through technology. Passionate about joining people and creating collaborative work environments, Sarina believes that technology thrives when more people are allied and work together.

“The Metaverse will enable us to break down barriers and unify people as a whole within specific communities,” Sarina believes. “As a creative thinker with a background in mechanical engineering, machine learning, marketing, research, telecoms and business, I look forward to seeing how the technology changes through the various global lenses that exist.”

Sarina thrives at the intersections of art and technology. Fostering relationships is at her core, and she’s worked to uplift communities in NFT, art, and STEM through student entrepreneurship opportunities, art events, and grants for technological advancement.

I am looking forward to the next year when builders will propel web3 and the Metaverse forward in a way we haven’t yet seen. This is what excites me about the space.

‘‘

TreeTrunk, a ConsenSys Mesh business, is a new NFT marketplace platform that puts NFTs under zero knowledge to give creators and collectors the ability to build a royalties empire. This enables artists to not only develop royalty streams from their NFTs but allows them to sell their digital art anywhere.

Building for communities

Sarina believes community development and support are integral to advancing NFTs and the Ethereum ecosystem – and the underlying technology. Due to the industry being so nascent, those involved are a small group of individuals who are very connected and tightly knit. The Metaverse and web3 have created communities that have fostered unexpected relationships worldwide.

“Everything in this industry revolves around community. While the word itself is overused, the community is the basis for growth in this space. Community allows transparency and collaboration to happen in web3 and the Metaverse. It is very open to anyone and welcoming to newcomers. We are all learning together.”

The Metaverse impact

What excites Sarina about the next five years isn’t specifically web3 or the Metaverse, but rather the underlying applications of technology upon which they rely. She believes many more use cases for these technologies have not yet been implemented in less technically advanced industries.

The web3 community, an all-inclusive space, will benefit directly from the work Sarina does, while TreeTunk focuses specifically on artists, collectors, investors, and aesthetes. As one of the leading companies in web3 and the Metaverse, her work will also indirectly influence the wider space.

For Sarina, her interest in web3 and the Metaverse was first sparked in 2011 when she attended the world’s first Bitcoin event. She was too young at the time to buy Bitcoin, but she immediately recognized the future impact of blockchain technology and its applications, such as the Metaverse. “I knew that web3 was what I wanted to work on when my affinity for technology, art, and business came together in one industry,” shared Sarina.

Speaking of the Metaverse’s impact on society, she remarks: “The technology has been in the works for years. It was only in the past year that the media pushed both of these into the mainstream. Unfortunately, what always does well in the media is excitement and failure. Meta pushed this forward and brought awareness to the Metaverse, but unfortunately, the technology was still not ready for the mainstream audience.”

“Secondly, NFTs have increased awareness of web3 among the general public, which has done a great deal for the space. But, when only the negatives are portrayed, we lose sight of the amazing technological strides that are being made in web3. I am looking forward to the next year when builders will propel web3 and the Metaverse forward in a way that we haven’t yet seen. This is what excites me about the space.”

Her mechanical engineering background means Sarina is pragmatic. She believes that for mass adoption to happen, the technology needs to be at a place where it is ready for that type of volume. She doesn’t foresee this materializing in the near future, especially based on its trajectory thus far. She implores: “We must be realistic about what is possible and strategic about how new users are brought in. Setting unrealistic expectations creates disappointment, doubt and fear within the community. Focusing on the strengths that are fortified through this technology will propel us into the future and create a foundation that we can build on as we onboard more people slowly.”

Future perfect

As the industry and technology grow, Sarina identifies more and more future use cases for the underlying technology, and she’s excited to share the space with more people. She is most excited about the future of the problem-solving capabilities for the space.

For creativity and artists, the IRL industry isn’t conducive to artists. Web3, believes Sarina, opens up opportunities to change that by creating ways for artists to earn stable income streams from their art.

That’s not all. The underlying technology will solve the problems of the future today: “I can’t wait to find other solutions throughout various industries, and I implore others to seek out these answers as well.”

SARINA CHARUGUNDLA’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS

Start. Join Twitter Spaces and Clubhouse Rooms to learn, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Build your network based on those in the space with whom you have similar interests. Attend events: there are so many meetups, conferences, satellite events, etc., that are available. Become involved to learn.

CHAPTER

Community Building

‘‘

There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.

Margaret J. Wheatley

VERA FUTORJANSKI FOUNDER AND CEO

VERITAS VENTURES

& BEYOND

I believe that web3 could offer an inclusive future for everyone. We now have the chance to build a better world. The first step to getting this right would be to make the building phase already more diverse and inclusive. And with a focus on communities, partnerships, and collaborations instead of the common narratives of individual competition.

TThe first thing you notice about investment and innovation expert Vera Futorjanski is her warm-hearted smile. The second is her compelling optimism and passion when she speaks about inclusiveness.

As Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Veritas Ventures, this Dubai-based go-getter supports female empowerment initiatives. Vera describes Veritas Ventures as a global strategic advisory firm with a network of experts across continents.

“We support governments, corporates and start-ups with innovative strategies, access to deal-flow and a global investor landscape, investments opportunities and digital transformation.”

Community

Currently, she’s especially excited about building Beyond, an ‘exclusive membership network with web3 elements for female leaders and accomplished women across all sectors.’

Its biggest aim is to ‘create a community for women who are always giving, inspiring and mentoring, but rarely have a space where they receive, are among equals, and feel they truly belong.’

Vera’s eyes light up when remarking, ‘we, as women, give time, support and kindness,’ adding these things are not appreciated and are very difficult to reward as they can’t be measured.

“That’s why at Beyond, I want to introduce tokens to acknowledge and reward non-tangible qualities such as kindness, empathy, etc. that many of us women have and constantly give; and also create our own membership NFT that gives women benefits globally.”

Fervently opposed to the ‘whole age debate,’ Vera ‘finds it terrible that when a woman reaches a certain age, it’s as if she disappears from the planet.’

“I really want to change that, so Beyond will do a reverse mentoring to help older women understand and learn about web3 first. Then, I want to bring more women on board and into high-level positions while having the support of the community. There’s a long way to go and I must still build the network, but that’s the goal.”

Future sounding surname

As a perpetually curious enthusiast of web3 and NFTs, Vera’s background and career path are both fascinating and diverse. She jokes about her surname ‘sounding like the future,’ since many people have asked whether she was hired for her name or changed it because she’s working in innovation and the future technology space.

Her earlier career included being a consultant in various divisions of the European Union in Brussels. Seeking a much a faster pace, Vera moved to Berlin and joined Rocket Internet, managing their global communications in different regions. Despite not fitting the typical “white male profile,” she persevered, moving to Dubai alone as a single woman. There, she pitched the idea of a beauty start-up to Rocket Internet and fought hard until eventually becoming its then-only female founder in the Middle East.

A career change to the Dubai Future Foundation in 2015 signaled Vera’s first involvement in blockchain strategy. As Head of Global Communications, she was also a core member of the Dubai Future Accelerators, a high-level Dubai government initiative accelerating innovation within various Government departments and by doing so, diversifying the economy to a knowledge-based economy away from relying on oil. She then broke into the Venture Capital space and managed the Middle East region as the

Director of Innovation for 500 Start-ups (now 500Global), which led to Vera’s first trips to Saudi Arabia, where she was part of the core team to launch Saudi’s first international accelerator to boost the entrepreneurial sector in Riyadh. She continues traveling to Saudi Arabia on a regular basis which she very much enjoys. In fact, with her new network she is building, Beyond, Vera envisions bringing women from the Middle East together at a big table for them to realize they are much more equal than they are different, and with that to be able to contribute to more peace in the Middle East. What Vera does not lack is certainly big ambitious dreams and goals.

Extension of the real world

Vera finds it difficult to define the Metaverse in simple terms because ‘it’s something that doesn’t really exist yet.’ However, it’s clearly ‘much more than just building avatars or escaping into a different world.’

“It’s just an evolved internet, an extension of the real world we have now. However, we must keep in mind that without humanity, the Metaverse won’t exist. So, it’s especially important to know who’s building the Metaverse, who are the people behind it ensuring ownership of one’s data.”

Vera stresses it’s vital to make the Metaverse inclusive to incorporate ‘all the different genders, affiliations, ways of thinking, nationalities and world geographies.’

She’s enthusiastic about increased interoperability in the space as big corporates start talking more to smaller players, although she envisages, they’ll find it difficult to simply release their own established databases to startups.

Not afraid to start over Vera describes herself as ‘a generalist rather than an expert in only one field.’

However, years ago, she was an expert – as a professional Argentine tango dancer – wistfully describing dancing as her ultimate happiness until a serious foot injury ended her dancing career.

“It took me two years to recover emotionally and physically, but traumatic as it was back then, I wouldn’t be where I am now if that hadn’t happened.”

Growing up in Hamburg, Germany, Vera speaks five languages fluently and has lived in 10 countries, loving traveling to new places she’s

never been to before. And she’s following her own advice, ‘not being afraid to start over,’ staying curious, enjoying meditating in nature and taking breaks to recharge, quipping ‘it’s even better if it’s with a rosé, a stunning sunset, and good company.’

Now contentedly living in Dubai, Vera is inspired by innovative and forward-thinking governments creating strategies, like the Dubai government’s recent announcement of a Metaverse strategy to create thousands of new jobs in a 30-trillion-dollar market.”

That’s the advantage of ‘being an emerging market instead of an old regulated market, like in many European countries, because ‘in Dubai, if they want change, they make it happen.’

With her characteristic optimism that ‘web3 is about creating communities,’ Vera sums up her excitement for the future, “I’d love it to be more inclusive for everyone – for us to understand each other better and communicate with each other more, because I really believe this will build a better future for everyone.”

Podcast: Unlocking the nomadic life and discovering diversity in Dubai

verafutorjanski VeraFuture veritaslife

Dubai, UAE

TThe world is at a precipice of drastic change. Virtually all our prevailing paradigms, ways of thinking, and ways of doing things have run their course. Trust in governments, banks, corporations, religions, and nearly all forms of centralized power and control are at an all-time low. Gaps, inequalities and inequities between the few haves and the billions of have-nots are widening. The earth faces many daunting global challenges.

Kimberly King has envisioned the future. She’s working to change that future. And she’s convinced that together we can.

Kimberly is a Social Entrepreneur, Innovator and Futurist with a passion for Impact. She has launched multiple successful companies and developed ground-breaking marketing strategies generating more than $4 Billion in revenue for her cross-sector partners and clients. Kimberly is CEO of HumanTec.co and serves as a UN Advisor for Special Projects. She is an author, international speaker and honored recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Global Humanitarian Award.

KIMBERLY KING CEO HUMANTEC.CO & UN ADVISOR

Everyone’s perspective, talents and participation is needed now; Each of us has a role to play in co-creating the future we want.

‘‘

Evolution-to-revolution

How does Kimberly envision changing the future for the better? She emphasizes that meaningful change doesn’t have to come through anarchy, conflict or force. Instead, she believes the next social and economic revolution will take place through the convergence of three “super powers”: Inclusion, Collaboration and Creativity.

Kimberly believes this “evolution-to-revolution” of web3 and Metaverse is about figuring out how to create a future without barriers to innovation, participation and ownership. Her mission is to reimagine, realign and redistribute a New Human-Centered Economy.

She shares: “Our real job in the web3 world is to lower ANY AND EVERY barrier that shouldn’t be there; do it with safety, privacy and inclusivity in mind; devise ways and means to record our ideas, activities and contributions; and ensure that attribution, compensation and ownership or partial ownership (i.e. our fair share) of the value we generate or help to generate goes straight into our Private Digital Account.”

The world has incredible challenges to overcome, and Kimberly believes that web3 and the Metaverse will have an exponential effect on society and the planet. According to her, “If we catalyze and unleash humanity’s most extraordinary superpowers –imagination/creativity, diversity/inclusion, and collaboration/unity – we will ‘change the model and change the world.’

“My vision and aspirations for the future come down to what can we do, and what will we do, to include and empower more people,

regenerate our planet, and build a better world together.”

At HumanTec, Kimberly helps organizations, communities and cities design and integrate a roadmap for strategic impact. HumanTec applies a 4-fold framework encompassing People, Planet, Profit and Purpose and leverages advanced technologies to optimize outcomes and achieve economies of scale. Its newest initiative, Meta Impact, will build upon these principles to connect, inspire and support a global community of creators and innovators in web3 and beyond.

“There is immense value in being part of a diverse, creative and mission-aligned coalition of leaders and change-makers, learning from and supporting one another through education, collaboration and economies of scale. By increasing everyone’s access to information, resources, networks, and ongoing support, we can accelerate innovation and impact across the rapidly evolving Metaverse and web3 world.

At HumanTec, our tagline is “Touch the Future”. I believe we have a responsibility to solve real-world problems and that “Humanity plus Technology equals Impact.” If we align our efforts and work together, we create Meta Impact. And that is our mission and goal.

Future forward

According to Kimberly, web3 and Metaverse technologies can and will impact nearly every facet of business, commerce, society and people’s daily lives – as well as humanity’s footprint on the planet. She is unyielding in her view that it’s up to this generation to make this impact positive.

“Blockchain, in particular, has the power to change the world dramatically over time by enabling greater transparency and security and by eliminating centralized control. True decentralization is a paradigm shift, and a shift in power which could have sweeping impact. The Metaverse and all web3 technologies will continue to evolve in both capabilities and relevance.”

Kimberly is most excited by the promise of a ”New Age of Creativity” these tools and technologies invite and enable. She believes this is a critical moment for people and the planet and that we can reimagine and re-invent more ethical, equitable and sustainable ways of doing things. “I’m placing my bet on humanity, lifted up and out by our own creativity and ingenuity. I believe we’re standing at the threshold of “A New Renaissance”; A pivotal moment in human history where meaning, direction and culture are being reimagined and recreated by the visionaries and changemakers of our time.

This Renaissance is our opportunity to create a regenerative future where everyone thrives and belongs.”

The world needs more Kimberly King’s. Her optimism and enthusiasm for ‘what could be’ are echoed in her parting words: “Everyone’s perspective, talents and participation is needed now; Each of us has a role to play in co-creating the future we want.”

North Carolina, USA

SHANNON SNOW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

WORLD OF WOMEN WORLDOFWOMEN.ART

If we keep finding new ways to help people be their authentic selves and create community, we will succeed.

‘‘

SShannon Snow is the epitome of a revolutionary changemaker. For most people, that motivation as a changemaker comes later in life, while Shannon found her clarity right after graduation. She studied Communication at Stanford, intending to become a journalist. While interviewing and writing about startup founders in Silicon Valley, Shannon became fascinated with the future they were building. She decided then that she could write about technology or join them to build a better future.

World of Women (WoW) is a global NFT community and web3 brand celebrating representation, inclusivity, and equal opportunities for all. She joined WoW to ensure everyone had an equal chance to benefit from the opportunities created by the Metaverse and web3. As COO of WoW, she supports building an inclusive web3 and inspired a global movement and community who believe in #TheTimeIsWoW for equity in web3.

Before joining WoW, Shannon was Director of Entertainment at Meta, helping entertainment, media, and sports companies move into the Metaverse. She spent over a decade at Google, building and leading teams. She is intentional about changing societal inequalities: today, she angel invests in female and diverse founders to empower the next generation of tech leaders.

Empowering women

“You should be able to express yourself no matter who you are,” Shannon believes. As a changemaker with a profound curiosity about technology, she learned to leverage emerging technology: “It’s a great reminder that while technology changes, community and representation are timeless. If we keep finding new ways to help people be their authentic selves and create community, we will succeed.”

When WoW was founded in July 2021, NFT PFP (Profile Picture) collections exploded in popularity, but the most popular collections only featured male avatars. She says: “How were women, non-binary and diverse people supposed to feel welcome in web3 if it wasn’t possible to represent themselves? WoW’s collection and community have contributed to making web3 a more inclusive and fair place for all – and we’re just getting started.”

Since WoW launched the first women-centric NFT collection, WoW sold out two iconic collections and generated over $400 million in primary and secondary sales. It also garnered support from celebrities, including Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Eva Longoria, who amplify WoW’s mission.

Asked what she finds most promising about this space, Shannon remarks: “What’s exciting about the move to web3 is both people and companies are anticipating how transformational the technology will be and are approaching it mindfully. In one year, we’ve gone from the majority of people not knowing what the Metaverse is to major corporations appointing Chief Metaverse Officers. I believe the adoption of mobile technology and web2 surprised many in terms of how much it revolutionized commerce, communication, and most aspects of our lives. With web3, I see companies getting proactive by appointing strategic Metaverse leaders early and people taking a stand for equal opportunity in web3 early by supporting projects like World of Women.”

Metaverse opportunities

“Part of the magic of tech revolutions is we have to experiment and try new things to move forward,” Shannon explains. “This means many

experiments will fail; that’s part of the process of doing something new.”

Shannon is emphatic about the opportunities presented by the Metaverse and web3: “Right now we have many friction points in web3. If solved correctly, each of those friction points is a business opportunity. If we focus on increasing the diversity of both users and builders, we will be in the best position to make web3 valuable and useful for all.”

According to Shannon, one of the Metaverse’s most tangible benefits is that physical location will no longer limit economic opportunities. “In the Metaverse, it will matter less where you are from and more what you can contribute. Creators have new ways to monetize their art in web3, enabling people to make money doing what they love and better fulfill their human potential.”

As web3 is still dawning as a technology and a technology revolution, Shannon is most excited that people are already using it to make the world more equitable. She shares: “If we continue down this path, our shared legacy will be that in the future, no matter where you are born, or what gender identity you have, you will have equal opportunity to fulfill your full potential.”

Thanks to changemakers like Shannon Snow, #TheTimeIsWoW to make a positive impact in the Metaverse and the world.

snowshannon

OLAYINKA ODENIRAN FOUNDER & CHAIRWOMAN

Black Women Blockchain Council

‘‘

The blockchain presents opportunities for black women, unlike previous technologies. The future needs us.

BBlack women represent less than 0.01-percent of blockchain developers. “A very small percentage of women globally are blockchain developers,” stated Olayinka Odeniran, Founder and Chairwoman of Black Women Blockchain Council. “However, Black women want to become creators of technology, not just consumers of it.”

When it comes to cryptocurrency, 44-percent of crypto investors are people of colour and 41-percent of those are women. But, black women make up just 4-percent of crypto investors. Black women are exceedingly underrepresented in blockchain.

Recognizing the potential within the technology

Olayinka was introduced to Bitcoin in 2015 whilst working as a Chief Compliance Officer at a financial firm. Skeptical about cryptocurrencies, she was transfixed by the technology behind cryptocurrency. “I felt that as a woman in the Black community, blockchain was something that could definitely help us,” she said. “Historically, there have been demographic restrictions for black women to benefit from certain aspects of finance. With blockchain and web3, we can get access, and the barriers to entry are eliminated. We can participate on an even keel.”

Olayinka is a highly-respected compliance and risk management expert with over 16 years of experience helping firms navigate through international regulations. She holds a M.S. in Cybersecurity Management and Policy, which helps provide information assurance in the blockchain landscape. Prior to that, she worked as Chief Compliance Officer for investment firms. She left her role as a CCO in 2019 to start a cybersecurity enterprise, CYBSECWATCH, which provides compliance, infosec educational tools and cybersecurity consulting.

Shaping the future

Diving deeper into the blockchain space, she decided to take matters into her hands to shape the future for black women in blockchain. She created the Black Women Blockchain Council (BWBC) in 2018. Her motivation was straightforward: “I started to look around, and I was seeing only a handful of people that look like me. So, I started seeking out other black women in this space.”

BWBC is a global benefit LLC community-driven social conscious organization that provides blockchain, STEM education and consulting. It builds a path for the entire African diaspora, especially black women, to become involved in creating the future in blockchain and fintech.

BWBC’s mission is to create a safe space that inspires, trains and activates a talent and financial pipeline of black women pursuing professional and entrepreneurial careers in blockchain and fintech. This includes educating the next generation (K-12 and College/ University) of diverse and inclusive blockchain leaders.

Adding massive momentum to its ambitions, ConsenSys partnered with BWBC in 2021 to launch an online program to train half a million black women globally to become blockchain developers by 2030.

“I’m excited about having more black women become builders in this space. I am excited about projects that benefit the African diaspora. I would love to see a blockchain protocol and Metaverse created by black women,” said Olayinka. “I am inspired by my daughter. I

want her to have a future that she can feel comfortable in, because she sees herself in so many of the pioneers and leaders in this space. The best legacy for me is to be known as the woman who created pathways for so many black women to shine in web3, blockchain and the Metaverse.”

Web3 is still in the build stage and continues to evolve. But in just a few years we have experienced a lot. The popularity of NFTs did much to introduce women to the space. The black community reportedly grew to 40-percent in 2021, and according to a recent Chainanalysis 2021 study, the top ten countries participating in crypto transactions include several African countries.

Remarked Olayinka: “I’d like to believe that it’s due to the work BWBC and many others are doing in the community to educate and spread the word. One thing is for sure: with less than 5% of the global population aware of blockchain, we still have more work to do.”

She describes the Metaverse as a “Utopia: a place where we have interoperability, inclusion, diversity, and freedom from real-world issues. The Metaverse will allow people to experience things they’ve never experienced, like traveling through the sub-Saharan desert or taking roller-coaster rides. Or, some who have physical limitations can experience things they can’t do in real life. The Metaverse can also be a conduit for breakthrough technology. We already know that the medical industry uses VR and AR to develop or improve medical procedures. More improvements to medicine and healthcare will come of this.”

Limitless opportunity

This visionary believes the opportunities in this space are limitless. Creativity fuels this space: black women are joining in numbers to take advantage of the opportunity. The biggest stumbling block to mass adoption remains a lack of education. Olayinka and the BWBC’s outstanding work provides a solid foundation for realizing ambitions for black women to maximize their potential in this space.

To this end, Olayinka established and currently chairs the Black Women in Blockchain

Foundation. This 501 (c) 3 organization seeks to enhance inclusion and representation in blockchain through training, mentoring, networking, visibility programs, and access to capital. Its initiatives directly contribute to five of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): gender equality, education, entrepreneurship, innovation, and social inclusion.

This non-profit organization leads four programs: Blockchain Education Program, Wealth Inclusion Program, Scholarships and BWB Incubator. These programs aim to accelerate black women’s empowerment in blockchain and establish platforms and opportunities for wealth creation.

Olayinka champions involvement, “Join a community; don’t feel like you have to navigate this space alone. There are several communities out there, like BWBC. We have a membership site (https://www.community. bwbc.io) that provides people with education, certifications and many opportunities to find their path in blockchain, Metaverse or web3. BWBC has partnered with Everyrealm (https://everyrealm.com/), which provides Metaverse education. Our members get free access to their academy, where they can take a month-long certified Metaverse course. For kids, there is Crypto Kids Camp (https://www. cryptokidscamp.org/).

Blockchain, Metaverse and web3 present opportunities for many, especially black women. The future is paved with women building this ecosystem.

Global, Decentralised

MICHELLE ABBS FOUNDER & CEO

‘‘

If we have more women in the market, and if men understand how to be allies, we can equitably build this, so we don’t have to combat bias later on.

LLess than 3% of venture capital funding goes towards women. Web3 is a new technology but has an old problem: not enough women. Right now is the perfect time for women to enter this space. Michelle Abbs is working to bring more women into the web3 space with web3 Equity, an educational company to onboard and empower more women to engage in web3 as investors, collectors, builders, and creators.

Forbes featured Michelle as one of the top women in NFTs, and Hackermoon ranked her as one of the top 16 most influential women in NFTs. She is regarded as a visionary leader in

web3. In her previous role at Mana Tech, she helped put Miami onto the global NFT map with NFT BZL. She launched and solidified Mana Tech at the forefront of Miami’s tech ecosystem through partnerships with respected tech leaders.

A recent ArtTactic report found that women make up only 16% of the NFT art market. It also revealed that over 66% of United States cryptocurrency investors are men, of that about 60% of them white.

After the conference during Basel, Michelle’s friends began bombarding her with questions

about NFTs. She started a group chat on Christmas Eve of 2021 with 30 friends. The response was overwhelming: the group chat sprouted a life of its own and inspired Michelle to act. “I decided to found an educational community to offer resources that would onboard more women and empower allies to understand how we can make web3 more equitable for all genders,” she explained.

Education is at the core of her being. She was a Teach for America (TFA) teacher, then trained other TFA teachers, and later oversaw the TFA Miami Dade Country region with over 300 public school teachers under her leadership.

She quickly realized that technology was a crucial differentiator in learning outcomes. She transitioned to education tech startup Nearpod to help facilitate reducing this technology gap between rich and poor school zones. Starting web3 Equity as an educational community to drive more women into web3 is the perfect evolution of her background and career.

Michelle launched Web3 Equity in March 2022 with an NFT collection called the Tuttle Tribe, with over 1,400 members. It was named the Tuttle Tribe after one of Miami’s founders, Julia Tuttle. In partnership with Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and the Venture Miami team, she dropped and minted the NFT collection of 3,050 NFTs with artwork embracing the female leadership examples and weaving together the elements of femininity, wealth creation in web3, and the vibrant colors of Miami. The NFT serves as a membership pass to web3 Equity’s educational community, including free IRL and virtual learning, discounts to conferences, coding boot camps, academies, and more.

It provides in-person and online learning opportunities around various web3 topics, including DAOs, wallet security, information on different protocols, tokenomics, and more. Web3 Equity gives women the knowledge, network, tools, and funds to create and actively

participate in this space and demand the gender equity they deserve.

Web3 Equity has helped over 700 women buy their first NFT and hosted numerous in-person events in Miami for almost 3,000 people in just five months. This organization has hosted several IRL events sponsored by Sandbox, OneOf, Superworld, Brex and SVB. It also partnered with Republic Realm to sponsor ten women for its Metaverse Academy, and partnered with BrainStation for developer scholarships.

“I’ve spent my entire life trying to right the wrongs of institutional bias that has been baked into the structure of education and entrepreneurship,” said Michelle. “I truly believe we have a chance to get things right

in web3 if we focus on equity and inclusion in these formative moments of building the foundational structure. For example, the venture capital model was created in the early 1970s. Fifty years later, we see less than 3% of VC funding going to female-founded startups. Instead of needing to fix this horrifying statistic, my goal is that we have equal gender representation from the beginning, and we create a Metaverse that includes everyone.”

The power of web3 and blockchain technology will impact every sector – and in unimaginable ways today, envisions Michelle. She believes people will embrace the hybrid work model using VR in office settings and education in the next five years.

“The internet broke down distance barriers and allowed us to connect with people all over the world – no matter where we were,” she said.

“The Metaverse takes these connections deeper by adding a visual experience with new selfexpression modalities.”

The opportunities of web3 are limitless. Web3 and blockchain technology will change the world for decades to come, believes Michelle. “We are architecting the foundational structures, and this is the time for women to be at the table making decisions, making money and shaping the future. Our community is meant to offer a learning vessel with all resources, webinars, and IRL experiences to help onboard more women into web3.”

Miami,

DR. ANINO EMUWA Founder & Managing Director

AVANDIS CONSULTING FOUNDER 100 WOMEN@DAVOS

I would be satisfied knowing that I was able to get more women to participate in web3 and the Metaverse, especially as leaders and successful entrepreneurs.

DDr. Anino Emuwa is carving out a future for women entrepreneurs and leaders in the Metaverse and web3 space.

“It has become increasingly apparent that technology is not only shaping our lives but has the power to create solutions to societal problems and create wealth, yet female representation in the emerging technologies sector is far too low. This has spurred me on, through content creation, global speaking engagements and community building, to work towards having more women enter and progress in the industry, and to advocate for more inclusive spaces for them.”

Dr. Anino Emuwa’s avatar on her LinkedIn page exudes her warm personality. A global expert on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), she’s an award-winning international speaker on DEI, entrepreneurship and

emerging technologies. Anino founded Avandis Consulting, a strategy and financial advisory services firm based in France with an office in Nigeria specifically working with women leaders, entrepreneurs and organizations. She also founded 100 Women@Davos, a community of impact-driven women leaders.

Commenting on how she became involved in the Metaverse and web3, Anino explains that through her background in corporate banking, and an interest in entrepreneurship, she noticed how small businesses lacked the funds to grow, with female entrepreneurs suffering disproportionately due to a lack of access to finance and resources. This prompted her to run a seminar series for women entrepreneurs, which was the catalyst for her work to advance female leadership in all spheres of business.

supportive peer communities for female leaders

DR. ANINO EMUWA’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS AND RESOURCES

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“The Metaverse will provide immersive digital experiences that will allow us to interact virtually in a multitude of ways: socially, in business, for shopping, entertainment/gaming, and even in healthcare. Web3 powered by blockchain will radically transform industries as diverse as banking and financial services through DeFi, to the art world, music and other creative sectors.”

Expressing that whilst web3 will be the new iteration of the internet, it’s still in its infancy with many obstacles to overcome, but there are incredible opportunities. “Now is the time

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to have more women involved to help build a diverse and inclusive space and to take advantage of the amazing opportunities. Whilst skills in engineering are dominating in terms of development, like any industry it requires all kinds of skills in business, creativity, social media, design, business development, legal and IP, community building and more.”

Working from home – a more immersive experience

“One of the main factors driving the explosion of interest in the Metaverse was the acceleration in digital transformation and the monumental shift in work practices as a result of the pandemic. People and organizations are becoming more interested in immersive experiences, helping to reduce isolation and enhance the virtual working and collaborating experience. For now, users engaged with the Metaverse are mainly gaming and art NFTs, but DeFi will also be a major application as there is an increasing demand for financial inclusion. People want to have easier access to their money and to transact with lower fees.”

Anino believes that the Metaverse will impact our lives in many ways. “The pandemic has shown us that we don’t have to work in offices or meet in real life in order to work and innovate. I think the immersive experience is going to be a game changer.”

Commenting on the biggest barriers that exist for mass adoption to occur, she says that technology is still clunky, user experience needs to improve, and security must be beefed up to protect people against fraud and scamming. She believes educating the mass public is key.

“What I find most exciting is that we aren’t just witnessing but participating in the development of the next phase in technology, which is going to be immersive, inclusive and fun! I am excited about a new NFT project which is focused on diversity. It’s a carbon negative art NFT to be launched by the time this book is published.”

The legacy this very inspirational leader would like to create is to be successful in bringing more women to participate in the Metaverse and web3, especially as leaders and successful entrepreneurs.

How can we

in

KELLY LOVELL FOUNDING GLOBAL CHAIR, CEO

BRIDGINGTHEGAP VENTURES AND YOUNGA®

KKelly Lovell is precisely what the Metaverse and web3 need to catapult it into mass adoption. She’s a Gen Z influencer in entrepreneurship, a youth advocate, a woman entrepreneur, a thought leader, CEO of BridgingTheGap Ventures and Founding Global Chair of YOUNGA. She believes wholeheartedly in the potential and power of web3 and the Metaverse to bridge society, create a deeper human connection, and inspire imagination and innovation to build a better future.

“I build programs of impact that bridge opportunity gaps to prepare young people for the future and solve global challenges,” Kelly shares. “I aim to bridge access and education barriers for underrepresented talent and the next generation so that they are empowered to contribute, shape, and participate in the emerging digital world.”

This change-maker’s mission has thus far reached 330 million online and created upskilling opportunities for youth in 158 countries. With a consistent track record for creating global youth campaigns with measurable results, Kelly has worked with Grammy and Emmy awardwinning talent and international brands such as Disney, IBM and Toyota Tsusho, and governing bodies including United Nations, UN Women

“I am passionate about using technology to bridge and create a human connection, inspire imagination, and innovate to build a better future.

30 Sustainability Leader, Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100, and Queen’s Young Leader award — a prestigious honor bestowed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II that recognizes young leaders under 30 creating a legacy of impact.

Bridging the opportunity gap

According to Kelly, web3 and the Metaverse can bridge two significant gaps. First, Gen Z’s talent needs to be upskilled to participate, innovate, and design new sectors of the emerging economy. And at the same time, existing organizations and institutions must learn how to tap into the innovation coming from those new sectors and to bridge gaps to connect with new skilled talent.

That’s the intersection in which Kelly operates, where she’s building a space between generations and sectors for co-creating the future of web3 and the Metaverse. Through BridgeTheGap Ventures and YOUNGA®, Kelly and her teams strive to bridge the opportunity gaps for stakeholders to tap into this emerging young talent and innovation to help create new jobs and build inclusive hiring pipelines within the sector.

Kelly shares: “I am passionate about using technology to bridge skill gaps and create a human connection, inspire imagination, and innovate to build a better future.”

She goes on to explain that traditionally fields of logic/reason and art/ creativity used to be separated. But the technology blends and blurs these pathways like never before. “With web3, those sectors are no longer segregated in the future of jobs. Bridging those gaps between the creative and digital worlds exemplifies this leap forward in building a more inclusive world. As a youth mobilizer focusing on upskilling emerging leaders for the future, I’ve seen magic that happens when you bring together different generations, perspectives, and skill sets. That’s the power of web3 at bridging gaps and creating more interconnected experiences.”

Kelly demystifies these future industries and emerging technologies to create approachable and accessible learning opportunities for young people and industry stakeholders alike. She believes helping underrepresented talent including women, minorities and underemployed youth in learning about web3 can unlock new economic opportunity— addressing the widening skills and employment gaps — and inspire new local solutions to global challenges. It also helps individuals to understand how emerging technologies are shaping their lives and empowers them to use these tools to enhance, improve, and build their own innovation to benefit humanity.

The Metaverse is a movement

Says Kelly: “With the Metaverse, we can build an interconnected digital world where we can interact in a way that blurs the lines between physical and digital realities. For example, we now have digital identities that will be shaped by our interactions and experiences. With spatial awareness and personalized interaction, I can have more substance and connection with individuals in the Metaverse than in a linear form, such as a Zoom video call. The Metaverse is an evolution — and at the same time an extension — of making our imagination real and building new worlds that enable borderless human connection.”

When Kelly says there will be entirely new generations of careers in the future, you can believe her. Through upskilling and reskilling people in emerging industries like web3 and the Metaverse, Kelly believes future careers will include virtual world builders, Metaverse real estate owners, 3D designers, and completely new roles and systems around digital identity and data sovereignty. This creates an entirely new sector.

Apart from education, entertainment will be the next sector to face significant disruption by the Metaverse. “There will be limitless opportunities in entertainment, with more borderless immersive entertainment experiences being created. In the future of this space, we’re going to see the dissolving of nations and borders to create more globallyaccessible experiences and immersive, interactive education. The most profound aspect of future opportunities will be an evolution and exercise of our full brain capacity: blending, dissolving, and merging left and right brain thinking, career sectors, and ways of life. Future blended world experiences will further dissolve and blur the lines between our physical and digital lives.”

The limitation of web2 is illustrated by the isolation, disconnection, and segregation created by silos of interaction. The Metaverse, believes Kelly, is blurring lines that divide humanity — and this is the Metaverse’s most extraordinary potential and impact. “Technology right now has as much a potential to be used to further segment and escape the world as it does to be wielded effectively and positively. It has the potential to dissolve access barriers and isolation in the sense of how we live, foster empathy and a deeper human connection. The Metaverse opens up new ways for us to participate as a collective and work together as humanity for the betterment of our world.”

Freeing the future

When asking Kelly what she’s most excited about in the future, she quickly answers with “co-creation and collaboration.” She feels web3 and the Metaverse technologies propel humanity in a direction that centers around collective action and co-creation, unleashing new levels of possibilities, innovation and imagination.

Her purpose is to ensure the building of bridges — between talent, generations, and sectors — so emerging technologies can be leveraged by all to build a more inclusive, sustainable world. With web3 and the Metaverse, she says the world holds the potential to elevate and unlock potential in many bright minds through upskilling and reskilling for the future.

Kelly creates bridges of opportunity, helping people find the keys to a better future. That time is now.

The Metaverse is a virtual world through which the mind makes everything possible: it is borderless, has no barriers or gateways, and has endless

am an NFT lover, crypto enthusiast, and Metaverse philosopher. I aim to be a Woman of Impact.”

Jacky Mfon Ekpenyong lives and breathes the Metaverse. She is an enabler of women’s inclusion in web3, heading AllStarsWomen NFT Club and DAO’s African Chapter from Port Harcourt, Nigeria. She is a Co-founder of TSL Entertainment and a Leader for Growth and Business Development at ByImperfect Studios. This visionary leader has nearly two decades of experience in Sales, Growth, and Business Development and is passionate about establishing new product lines, promoting women’s inclusion in tech, and developing roadmaps for organizations.

At the AllStarsWomen NFT Club and DAO, Jacky encourages female tech founders in Africa with visibility, resources and access to networks. She supports opportunities for African women’s inclusion to onboard women seeking to move into the web3 space by boosting web3 and the Metaverse education and adoption.

Making the women’s Metaverse

She describes the Metaverse as a virtual world through which the mind makes everything possible: it is borderless, has no barriers or gateways, and has endless opportunities. “The Metaverse is open; it is a network,” she says. “It comprises user experience, commerce, the creator economy, hardware, infrastructure and ethos. The Metaverse will also explore various cultures, not just Western culture: it will also explore enacting past occurrences, and break down the divide between distance and language because there will be online real-time translations no matter the culture.”

Jacky believes the Metaverse will transform people’s lives and experiences. For example, the disabled will be able to experience a digital life without their IRL disabilities. “Web3 technology will constantly improve to bring new ways of doing things. It will change how the world operates: various new world leaders that are promoted by communities will emerge.”

She strives to create a legacy, a digital future where women and underrepresented cultures can create spaces in a world where biases don’t exist.

As head of the African Chapter of the AllStarsWomen NFT Club and DAO, Jacky engages companies in web3 to create processes for women’s inclusion in their structures and provides training and education for women wanting to enter the space. She supports funding possibilities for innovative ideas from female CEOs and founders across the African continent.

Through her role as Growth Leader at ByImperfect Studios, she encourages NFT startups and projects, helps establish NFT platforms, promotes artistic creation, and supports mental health causes and research platforms in web3 and the Metaverse.

More occasions for opportunities

The Metaverse provides opportunities for changing how we live. According to Jacky, business will benefit from the Metaverse in multiple ways. The Metaverse will integrate and connect businesses: “In the real world, we don’t see much integration between healthcare and entertainment, but in the Metaverse, healthcare platforms will be able to promote

their platforms using entertainment because of its easier integration and access models.”

For individuals, the Metaverse will enable people to get jobs from anywhere in the world. It will make finding partners for projects, communities, and tribes easier. She says education will be improved as schools can host learners in the Metaverse, making it easier for students to learn and experience a school setting without IRL limitations and barriers. The Metaverse will also improve family bonding, allowing family members to meet across the world through the Metaverse.

The Metaverse will create exciting opportunities for entertainment. All forms of entertainment will be enhanced in the Metaverse. “Metaverse concerts will bring together millions of people simultaneously, with emojis floating as avatars and real-life interaction with influencers and entertainers with their fans,” she shares.

When asked what she’s most excited about for the future of this space, Jacky says: “I am excited about the mass adoption of the Metaverse. I am excited about more companies getting onboarded as inclusive organizations and females who will get inspired to join web3 as a result of these opportunities. I am inspired by the projects we can create in By Imperfect that can change the world.”

Her web3 and the Metaverse work empowers African females to explore and learn about the digital revolution. The world needs more women like JackyMfon Ekpenyong to shape the future.

Port Harcourt, Nigeria

BOWIE LAU FOUNDER

MAGEHOLD & MAGESPIRE PARTNER

GLOBAL VENTURES

ORGANIZER

GAME ON! 2022

The Metaverse could re-define the way we work, where stressful interactions could be replaced with Metaverse high-fives, huddles and other forms of collaboration and timely feedback, in a pleasant manner.

BBowie Lau’s clever use of analogies makes for enlightening and interesting conversation as she talks about her journey into the tech field. “Blockchain is like women,” she quips, “powerful, complex but immensely useful. Women have an immutable memory, never forgetting a particular experience for the rest of their lives and maintain a connected chain of information in their heads. Women love sharing information with other women, even those that they don’t know or trust. Jokes aside,” she laughs, stating that things can’t easily be modified on the blockchain and ‘what happened has happened and what’s done is done’.

Born in Hong Kong, later relocating with her family to Canada, Bowie’s early career was in the field of hospitality, where she specialized in hotel management in the United States. In this hard-core industry, she experienced her fair share of difficult customers which helped her to be more accepting of life’s challenges, while learning that the customer is king.

Bowie talks enthusiastically and frankly about taking a 180 degree turn away from the hospitality industry to something completely different that she had no prior knowledge about. With strong support and guidance from her husband and with a CFTE FinTech course, AI in Finance course and an Oxford Blockchain Strategy course under her belt, she set out to learn as much as possible about the web3 space.

A few years down the line, Bowie is fully immersed in the space and is making quite a name for herself. She is a venture capitalist and business enabler, founder and managing director of MaGEHold / MaGESpire, a partner at True Global Ventures, and an event organizer for Game On! 2022. Her three focus areas are: angel/VC investing in technology startups in the area of AI, big data, cybersecurity, IoT and, more importantly, blockchain; secondly, she provides value-added consultancy services for startups; and her third focus area is education where she runs a community (in Hong Kong) conducting periodic educational talks on topics mostly related to blockchain and other emerging technologies. She believes that community engagement is key to the success of any blockchain venture.

Assisting startups build skill sets to navigate web3

Key beneficiaries of her endeavors are startups and the ever-evolving community forming around the web3 space. By enhancing access to

quality knowledge and resources, Bowie helps people understand and build skill sets to participate as investors, customers, partners and service providers in the web3 space.

As Bowie delved deeper, she realized that there was a dearth of genuine forums that were knowledge-oriented and unbiased in the Gaming, Arts, Music and Entertainment (GAME) arena. She found that most of the conferences were inherently biased as a marketing platform rather than a knowledge and awareness platform. “This inspired me to create the GAME On! summit in Hong Kong with the support of StartmeupHK (a Government of Hong Kong initiative from InvestHK) to provide a comprehensive conference filled with knowledge and views of industry practitioners in the web3 and Metaverse space.” She also introduced a pitch competition with cash prizes that provides startups in the space with a meaningful avenue for interaction with venture capitalists, investors, and business enablers.

The Metaverse as a stress reliever

Bowie describes the Metaverse as a digital reality where one can experience freedom of expression and communication that can be quite liberating and fulfilling in contrast to the constant pressures, onerous expectations and stifling social conventions in real life.

“Personally, the Metaverse could become our go-to stress-relief avenue redefining the way we work, with stressful interactions replaced with Metaverse high-fives, huddles and other forms of collaboration and timely feedback in a pleasant manner.”

She believes that for user recreation it provides an escape and with adequate safeguards like time and spending limits, mental health and quality of life could be improved in an ever-stressful world. For business interactions like conferences and meetings, she says the Metaverse offers a more interesting environment with fun-action sequences that provide better engagement.

“New ways of living, working, interacting and conducting business is what excites me,” remarks an optimistic Bowie. “It is important to me that any new experience created by technology has an intrinsic value to the user be it psychological or economical. I would like to be remembered as someone who helped the cause of web3 by spreading awareness and knowledge, inspiring people to develop new skill sets to actively participate and define the use-cases of these new and emerging technologies.”

Photo: Joshua Daids

CHERYL ANKRAHNEWTON CEO & Co-Founder

THE ILLUMINATE AFRICA GROUP

My role is to help the intersection of creativity within the African community and the African diaspora to take an active role in the creation and ultimately monetization of web3 and Metaverse technology.

CCheryl Ankrah-Newton describes herself as a Metaverse newbie, yet this enigmatic entrepreneur has bravely leapt into uncharted digital waters. As CEO & Co-Founder at Illuminate Africa Group Ltd. (IAG), Cheryl’s company helps businesses, platforms and ideas gain traction on the African Continent across industries like traditional retail and hospitality, e-commerce, agri-business, and online ventures.

Alternating between Cape Town and Accra, Ghana, this self-described global citizen has nearly 20 years’ experience working for

leading global property companies in Europe and Africa and holds a BSc (Hons) in Urban Estate Management.

Known as adaptable and confident, Cheryl’s philosophy has ‘always been to embrace adversity, improve continuously and bring order to chaos.’

Aside from some web3 ventures, she’s creating a members-only VR lab, merging the physical with the virtual in a first of its kind for Ghana, and possibly Africa. She’s also ‘building a virtual museum to represent an underrepresented group.’

Fascination and immersion

Cheryl’s fascination for the Metaverse –especially how it could impact Africa and African creatives exploiting this new digital space − began last year. She realized instead of just observing her ‘seven-year-old son’s Roblox exploits, she needed to immerse herself fully to understand the Metaverse better. Luckily, borrowing her husband’s Oculus VR headset opened the gateway to her first Metaverse experience.

“I’ve been truly blown away by how technology has advanced. So far in my VR, I’ve built myself

an Avatar, connected with friends worldwide, played games, meditated in a virtual setting and done amazing virtual walking tours.”

From mortar to Metaverse malls

When starting to work in Africa a decade ago, Cheryl’s focus was prime property developments, giving retail strategy advice for airports and major shopping malls.

Her work also included securing commercial rental store space for top ultra-luxury brands including Prada, Versace, Jimmy Choo and Dolce and Gabbana − a first in Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, her involvement in e-commerce platforms forced a thought shift from traditional brick and mortar concepts, to ‘explore, innovate and get creative.’

Already in 2012, Cheryl displayed her pioneering mindset when she pitched the idea of a virtual mall to the CEO of the property company she was working for. Despite his interest in the concept, the company’s core business was property, not tech and the project never materialized.

“That experience made me realize the problem with being too early to the party is that no one else is there. Fortunately, the party’s about to start now as I’m visiting the mall of the Metaverse in VR, “she quips.

Immense potential for physical spaces and African creatives

Writing in a series of LinkedIn articles, Cheryl comments the Metaverse is ‘a digital world where users interact in increasingly immersive ways through virtual reality, augmented reality or mixed reality.’

And with her property background, she predicts it could radically influence physical spaces. This includes ‘building digital twins of existing spaces, managing entire properties and avoiding overdevelopment of an already overpopulated planet.’

With her focus on Africa, merging her passions of the physical built environment with the virtual world, Cheryl stresses ‘it’s really important that communities that have been typically left behind now also have the opportunity to flourish.’

She knows several barriers hinder mass adoption, especially in under-represented communities − lack of digital infrastructure, cost of hardware like headsets, as well as universal jurisdiction and policing in the web3 environment.

However, the Metaverse has shown immense potential for creatives in developing nations to leverage blockchain and ‘leapfrog the need for an entirely physical space.’

Cheryl envisages NFTs and cryptocurrencies playing a huge role for emerging African artists to express themselves creatively using technology.

Game-changing opportunity for African creatives

With tech giants backing the next-generation internet, she’s optimistic the Metaverse offers African creatives ‘a game-changing opportunity to focus on creative collaborations and revenue-generating experiences.’

Explaining that Africa is her ‘roots and legacy,’ Cheryl clearly wants to leave her mark on the continent. As for the future, she’s most excited about the role of technology for its impact in future on the trajectory of development of small businesses in Africa.

With her personal quest to constantly evolve, Cheryl’s final rhetorical question − on why African creatives should limit themselves to standalone buildings – is so apt.

“They could go even further and use opportunities of this new 3D digital world to rebuild entire cities, beaches, safaris, music, art, fashion. We can have it all, to help us build immersive experiences seeped with exotic African culture.”

CherylAnkrahNewton

Accra, Ghana

Photo: Bernice Grutzmacher

ANASTASIIA ILICHEVA CO-FOUNDER & COO

WORLD BLOCKCHAIN HACKATHON PR, MARKETING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

DIBA & BITMASK

AAnastasiia Ilicheva is a Marketing, PR and Business Development Manager at DIBA (Digital Art and Assets on Bitcoin) and BitMask (Bitcoin Wallet Extension). She is Co-Founder and COO of The Babylon Project Hackathons by World Blockchain Hackathon.

“I’m inspired and excited by decentralization and its ability to bring power back to people. It is an opportunity for creating true diversity, inclusion and empowerment,” Anastasiia enthuses.

At DIBA, she supports teams building the first marketplace on Bitcoin using the RGB Smart Contract Protocol and Lightning Network.

DIBA is pioneering this purpose as the firstever use of Bitcoin in this way. The DIBA marketplace will exchange Unique Digital Assets (UDAs) – commonly referred to as NFTs. BitMask is a DIBA product, a gateway wallet for the web3 utility of Bitcoin that’s set to transform the perception of Bitcoin.

She also hosts virtual global blockchain-focused hackathons, The Babylon Project by World Blockchain Hackathon, enabling blockchain

enthusiasts and developers to build their startups, expand networks, and learn more about emerging technologies within the web3 space.

Better on the blockchain

She discovered the potential of blockchain for social upliftment, empowerment, diversity and inclusion in 2020 and has since deep-dived into the space with excitement and enthusiasm. She is most excited by web3’s foundational concepts of decentralization, privacy, redistribution of power, and a community-first approach.

I’m inspired and excited by decentralization and its ability to bring power back to people. It is an opportunity for creating true diversity, inclusion and empowerment.

‘‘

Asking Anastasiia about her role in the development and benefit of this new world presented by web3, she says her mission is to shape the digital art and asset economy on the principles of decentralized and inclusive empowerment.

“The future is unpredictable thanks to disruptive technologies, making it more exciting. Bitcoin is becoming widely adopted, which grabs governments’ attention worldwide. Even a couple of years ago, we couldn’t imagine the influence of web3 around the world. NFTs were around for a long time

before 2021, but no one could predict that they would become so popular that we even created massive conferences dedicated to them. People are taking back control of the future and shaping it for a better world – today.”

Open to opportunities

As web3 is still in its infancy in terms of emerging digital technologies, Anastasiia believes that no singular definition of the Metaverse exists. While the Metaverse is a combination of virtual reality and mixed reality worlds visited in a digital form, she wholeheartedly supports the theory that the Metaverse is not a virtual place but a time. “Shaan Puri theorizes that the Metaverse is the moment in time where our digital life is worth more than our physical one. I think this description of the Metaverse will hold true within five to 10 years’ time where this will become normalized.”

According to Anastasiia, the global Metaverse market will be worth $280 billion by 2025. “I think we need to accept the fact that in five years’ time, Metaverses will become part of our daily lives. More and more people will work within the Metaverse, with many different ways of interaction than we have today. We will not only visit Metaverses for art exhibitions, music concerts or themed events, but we will become part of the Metaverse.

How will the Metaverse impact people’s lives?

Anastasiia believes the space is growing more inclusive as more large corporations and governments build their digital presence in the Metaverse. In the United Arab Emirates, Dubai plans to become one of the world’s top ten Metaverses: inclusion, opportunity, diversity, and empowerment will take on ever more meaningful impacts.

It will also redefine the healthcare industry. It is building Metaverses to enable non-contact appointments with patients to provide better healthcare services. Similarly, businesses will be able to use the Metaverse not only as a marketing tool but as a point of contact with clients/users, allowing enhanced shopping experiences for physical items.

Building a better tomorrow

If 2021 was the year that web3 and the Metaverse reached mainstream consciousness, according to Anastasiia, it has accelerated the development of this space. She’s part of a team shaping a better tomorrow today. “We are building a product that will change the NFT space by providing lower fees, the longevity of the art, and security backed by the strongest blockchain. We’ve been told many times that it’s impossible to build products on Bitcoin, but we’re proving it’s possible to do so: we’re getting closer to the official launch on the Bitcoin main-net.”

Her mission goes to the roots of this space. She is building and fostering an international community and ecosystem of builders by providing and democratizing access to knowledge, capital, and mentorship. She strives to educate, empower and elevate the next generation of builders for a better world of tomorrow.

It is a world in which anyone can join and make an impact. According to Anastasiia, the more diverse the space, the greater the innovation it can deliver. “Never give up on what you believe in. Never give up if you truly believe in something and know its value. Obstacles will always arise, but that’s part of everyone’s journey, which can either break you or make you stronger. I’m waking up happy every day knowing that the projects I’m part of are truly diverse, inclusive and empowering.”

PAULETTE WATSON FOUNDER

It gives me great joy and pleasure to inspire and educate others. I hope my legacy gives more girls and women an opportunity in web3 and a voice.

WWomen must not be left behind in the digital revolution.

Despite the fantastic work of organizations and movements increasing the number of women in tech, women remain a minority in tech and science fields that are driving digital transformation for the future. Women hold less than 30-percent of jobs in science and tech – and even lower numbers in leadership roles within those fields. Women-led startups receive less than 3-percent of venture capital. It is a call to action.

Paulette Watson is driving this change in the science and tech space in the United Kingdom. Her mission is to empower girls and women to start web3 and STEM-related (Science,

Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) jobs. She leads the #BeMe digital inclusion program and Academy Achievers, aiming to address the disparities around gender and inequality in the tech space by bringing one million women into the space by 2030.

Breaking the bias

The digital revolution demands more and more jobs driving advances in technologies. Paulette advocates for young people to acquire skills in computational thinking to tackle the digital challenges and not to be left behind in the job market. As technology advances in leaps and bounds in Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, and Machine Learning, technology blurs the boundaries of gender, providing the opportunity for girls and women to make a meaningful impact in the tech space.

She believes it is young people aged 5-35 years old who are vulnerable, disaffected, disadvantaged and come from marginalized communities that can empower themselves through STEM and web3 jobs to overcome those obstacles and reshape the future for women – especially black women.

The challenge of mass adoption of web3 and the Metaverse is to include as many people as possible to participate in the digital revolution. She explains: “With so many jobs in tech and web3 if people are socially excluded, they will be displaced, pushing them further into poverty.”

Her journey to web3 underlines that and serves to inspire the next generation. As an educated black woman, Paulette was victimised, harassed, discriminated against and experienced micro-aggression. She holds the position of Managing Director and Founder of Academy Achievers, where she’s able to share her personal lived experiences to educate and empower other black women. Her words of insight: “Being adaptable, having a psychological mindset, being resilient and committed has afforded me the ability to be where I am now.”

Paulette is excited about the power of web3 and STEM-related jobs. “The Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) sector is growing fast, and the supply of skilled STEM workers can’t keep up with demand. Web3 is a new and emerging technology that is making money. You can create and design an app, you can be an inventor, you can be whoever you want: make it happen.”

In terms of opportunities, Paulette sees web3 as providing the best employment breaks – and driving change. “I see so many opportunities in this space, especially around the web3 stack: the tech architecture and those who will create the algorithms,” she remarks. “I personally feel healthcare, education, and the future of work – more and more people will be creative and innovative in this space, and it’s going to be fun!”

Stem-ming the inequalities

Bringing one million girls and women into web3 and STEM-related jobs will take remarkable effort. Paulette isn’t alone in her ambition. She’s built and fostered a community of like-minded women.

Within her role in web3 and the Metaverse, Paulette sees her objectives as three-fold. She remarks: “I help to onboard women and girls in this space through hosting networking events, building an online community,

virtual tech talks in collaboration with tech companies and web3 speakers; by mentoring and coaching women and girls in the web3 space; and, I’m writing blog articles and speaking at events and podcasts.”

She is working on releasing new NFT art and music collections to advance NFT use cases and utilities to shift the direction of NFTs with a mission of representing more women and girls in this space.

Through the Academy Achievers UK (AAUK) and STEM Academy Achievers Ghana (SAAG), Paulette supports children and young people ages 5-35 years old who are vulnerable, disaffected, disadvantaged and come from marginalised communities to venture into STEM and web3related careers.

It is said ‘a rising tide floats all boats.’ That is precisely what Paulette aims to achieve through the power and potential of web3 for women’s empowerment. These women who’ve learned web3 skills through the #BeMe digital inclusion program can help onboard businesses to the web3 community and participate in its development meaningfully. She also believes these women will become ambassadors for their local communities and give back by hosting web3 events and onboarding more women.

Women-powered Metaverse

For Paulette, the Metaverse is not new. “I will use the same definition I used 12 years ago when I did my Master’s thesis: the Metaverse is an integrated network of 3d virtual worlds,” she explains. “These worlds are accessed through a virtual reality headset, and users navigate the Metaverse using their eye movements, feedback controllers or voice commands.”

Web3 and the Metaverse’s power lies in how they will transform lives. Her perspective of the Metaverse is that it “aims to innovate how we interact with each other on the internet, interacting in a way previously thought possible only in science fiction.”

As more women enter the space, they will be able to raise their collective voice and have a hand in establishing women’s rightful place in the economics and ownership of the future.

Looking to the future of web3 and the Metaverse, Paulette is most excited about it bringing equity and equality for women. “It gives me great joy and pleasure to inspire and educate others. I hope my legacy gives more girls and women an opportunity in web3 and a voice.”

This passionate web3 champion ends on this note: “I just love web3 – it is truly the future.”

Paulette Watson MBA | Academy Achievers symnicola | Academy Achievers

YUREE HONG FOUNDER

SHECHAIN.CO

‘‘Two years in blockchain is like 20 years in the real world, so in an era of ever-changing technology, it’s important that we stay relevant.

KKorean web3 tech entrepreneur Yuree Hong was in her teens when she started coding, which gave her an early insight into the nature of technology. As a self-described ‘Happiness Advocate’ and based in Germany, she’s the Founder of shechain.co, a platform showcasing women-led startups in web3.

Yuree already gained recognition in 2019 from the Women in IT Awards and in 2017 for establishing the first Women in Blockchain (WIB) community − for her contribution to diversity and inclusion in Asia.

While living in Singapore – where many tech innovators pitch their startups − Yuree began studying blockchain technology, attending daily seminars and university courses (University of Nicosia, Singapore University of Social Science) to learn from industry experts.

A seed was sown during one seminar in 2017, when she looked around and realized she was the only woman among about 100 people. It prompted her to start SHE Blockchainers Asia from scratch, with zero marketing budget. This non-profit online community, which increased to around 2,000 members within a year, aims to ‘gather and educate likeminded people, share blockchain knowledge with others, especially ladies new to this technology.’

Blockchain, the future of decentralized networks

Being in Singapore during the Initial Coin Offering (ICO) boom gave Yuree access to ‘super early-stage blockchain startups with high potential.’ The next step, as a visionary innovator, was founding shechain.co in 2022.

Being ‘on a mission to make the web3 industry more inclusive,’ she’s convinced ‘startups with a gender-balanced team have a greater chance to succeed.’

Aside from blockchain, this growth-oriented entrepreneur is passionate about many things − artificial intelligence, quantum computing and technologies enabling mass adoption such as NFTs and Metaverses.

Describing herself in an interview as ‘a very curious person especially in deep technology’ (singaporefintech.org), Yuree admits she always enjoys ‘exploring new ideas that solve the problems in the current system by applying state-of-the-art technologies.’

Yet she’s unassuming about her achievements. These include a bachelor’s in Multimedia Engineering, Master of Science in International Business from Manchester Business School and additional qualifications in AI from the University of Oxford. In addition, she has more than 15 years’ experience in technology and data-driven marketing in diverse industries (e.g. investment, digital identity, fintech, energy, food tech, health tech, and cyber security), working with early stage startups as well as large corporations and government agencies.

She’s been a guest speaker at various conferences featuring top IT leaders and government officials, sharing her views on the real-life impact of blockchain technology and tech women empowerment.

Metaverse, next generation of 3D

Technologically speaking, Yuree says we can see the Metaverse as a next generation of the 3D world, where users are no longer just users; they’re taking part in creating value within the Metaverse world, driving the community-driven platform advancement.

“In the Metaverse, you can exchange value between cryptocurrency and anything you’d imagine you would pay for in real-life, like houses, pets, cars, and even opening your businesses. It opens not only innovative and economically viable opportunities, but also possibilities to introduce new cultural transformation to people’s lives utilizing emerging technologies that never existed during the web2 era.”

Enormous growth in cryptocurrency economy

As for progress in web3 over the past decade, Yuree says web3 technological inventions like cryptocurrency have reshaped the status quo in the economic and political spectrum.

“The size of the economy that cryptocurrencies have brought into the world is enormous. We will see regulatory reform adopting cryptocurrency as a new form of asset class or even national currency in many countries in the near future.”

“Bitcoin and Ethereum each represent one generational development of web3. We’re at the beginning of the third generation of web3, which focuses more on mass adoption driven by scalable blockchain protocols that makes Metaverse and NFT experience more efficient.”

And with an expected NFT market size growth to USD 13.6 billion by 2027, Yuree says together, NFTs and the Metaverse applications are pushing the entire web user experience beyond the limit.

Exploring innovative ideas and technologies

The Metaverse economy could also bring limitless synergy into various technology markets. For example, she says one of the keys to the success of Metaverse is the Virtual Reality (VR) device adoption status, therefore, it’s an important driving force in accelerating the VR industry growth and vice versa.

With her love of embracing innovation and doing more to help others, Yuree plans to launch an exciting new initiative with shechain.co later this year, to solve critical problems women entrepreneurs face in web3.

With her view that blockchain is the future of decentralized networks and alternative financing methodologies, she’s enthusiastic ‘about the convergence of technology’ that reshapes people’s everyday life experiences.

By following her gut

her belief

as value,’ Yuree has every reason to look forward to seeing what’s more to come.

Fintech, Investing & Trading

TEGAN KLINE CO-FOUNDER & HEAD OF BUSINESS EDGE & NODE

Bitcoin is here to stay, and it will only continue to grow. It’s not a fad, or a short-lived bubble, in the coming years it will be considered a must-have in all corporate treasuries.

ryptocurrency expert Tegan Kline’s favorite motto “Do No Harm, Take No Bull, Change the World” aptly describes her business approach. As Co-Founder and Head of Business at Edge & Node, she helps leaders and innovators connect more deeply with stakeholders across the blockchain ecosystem. Tegan’s been using her competitive background in investment banking, and insider experience in traditional finance to boost explosive growth of the blockchain industry.

Included in the Forbes 30 under 30 list 2022, Tegan describes Edge & Node as ‘an indexing and query protocol organising the world’s open blockchain data, and making open data a public good.’ On a mission to ensure a vibrant decentralized future, she explains the company is ‘one of many core development teams within The Graph ecosystem.’

The Graph is one of the most used protocols in web3. It’s the decentralized indexing and query layer for web3, which enables serverless and unstoppable decentralized applications, like organizing blockchain data.

The Graph currently supports indexing data from over 39 different networks (including Ethereum, Ethereum’s Layer 2 chains, EVMs and Non-EVM chains), with thousands of developers using it for various applications like Uniswap, Synthetix, Decentraland, and DAQstack.

Personal freedom advocate

As a personal freedom and empowerment advocate, Tegan focuses on shifting paradigms of wealth and access to information. With her astute mindset, she always sacrifices short-term gains for the long-term vision. And at Edge & Node (now worth about $650 million according to Forbes), she’s paving the way for DeFi and the broader web3 ecosystem to ensure blockchains become the future of the Internet.

One of the reasons − cited by Forbes to include Tegan on its 30 under 30 list 2022 − is that she raised $22.5 million to help The Graph build an opensource tool for Ethereum developers, thereafter co-founding Edge & Node to help monetize the project.

Although she learned about Bitcoin in 2011, she chose to follow a traditional Wall Street path. “It wasn’t until I learned about Ethereum in 2016 that I saw an opportunity to create a new internet and a new financial system.”

Earlier in her career, Tegan’s work included sales and trading at Barclays, and investment banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML). Thereafter, as International Business Development Manager and OXT Relations Lead for blockchain company Orchid, she helped successfully launch the company on Coinbase at a $400m valuation.

Blockchain and web3 crucial part of Metaverse

Describing the Metaverse as a ‘network of 3d virtual worlds that respects your digital identity and ownership, which is built on fully decentralized and open-source infrastructure,’ Tegan is convinced blockchain technology and web3 will be a crucial part of the Metaverse.

She considers ‘consumer mindshare around NFTs’ as the major pivot in seeing web3 going mainstream in the last year.

“We now see clearly ‘NFTs provide a sense of ownership for digital assets, which we didn’t have before.”

Moreover, NFTs provide an attractively novel sense of community and connection to artists; they’ve captured mainstream consumer mindshare with involvement by Reddit, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Tegan also envisages decentralized applications revolutionizing many aspects of our lives. These include finance through DeFi, art and fashion thru NFTs, community organization through DAOs, and ‘many other use cases we cannot even imagine today.’

Ton of momentum in web3

She’s optimistic about web3’s momentum, remarking there’ll be ‘a lot of applications involving NFTs and Defi, a much faster web3 and far cheaper transactions with the scaling bottleneck of blockchains gone.’ However, getting web3 stack ready and decentralized and ensuring a smooth user experience remain key challenges.

Upholding integrity, staying true to her personal values, and an abundance mindset are hinted at in Tegan’s Twitter references.

Looking to the future, her passion for truly decentralized projects reflects her enthusiasm for helping individuals coordinate with web3 in a new way, giving them power, control, decision making, and ownership.

Lastly, Tegan asserts Bitcoin is ‘not a fad or a short-lived bubble. It’s here to stay and will only continue to grow.’ So too, will web3: “It’s here to stay. And no, it will not be corrupted. Embrace it, don’t fight it.”

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AMNA USMAN CHAUDHRY

FOUNDER, FINANCIAL ECONOMIST AND STRATEGIST FOR BLOCKCHAIN, METAVERSE AND WEB3, GRADUATE LEVEL LECTURER, HEAD OF ALLSTARSWOMEN

DAO UAE CHAPTER

The main thing keeping people away from the blockchain and web3 space is the ‘tech barrier,’ or a lack of understanding of the fundamentals, which is why education is the first step towards a more inclusive and diverse future for us all.

AAmna Usman Chaudhry doesn’t remotely fit the typical image of financial economists whose focus on figures can make them seem daunting, even dull. This stylish former financial economist – now a pioneering blockchain, Metaverse and web3 strategist – has many fascinating layers!

Even before blockchain went mainstream, Amna was a passionate groundbreaker in this space. Since then, she’s been humbly sharing her vast fintech knowledge to educate others and enhance women’s representation in web3.

Steadfastly advocating for diversity and inclusion, she’s on a quest to encourage more women in fintech, blockchain and web3. Not just limited to women, Amna also wants to highlight disability inclusion and in general supports all kinds of diversity and equality to be at the forefront of the web3 revolution.

Fintech fundi

With notable credentials – an MSc. in Financial Economics from the UK, economic research experience with the World Bank and several other certifications and qualifications – Amna also has a diploma from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) in Islamic Finance. This fast-growing sector was already a ‘staggering $2.9 trillion industry in 2019.’

Actively seeking out projects that align with her ‘values of diversity, inclusion and sustainability,’ this Dubai-based fintech pioneer is like other female leaders excelling in the fintech space – as both a serial founder and focusing on several projects simultaneously.

These include being a member of the University of Oxford’s first cohort of the Oxford Blockchain Strategy Program and a founding member of global organization the Oxford Blockchain Foundation. She was also a founding member of the Slovenia-based Blockclean project, which focused on the reduction of plastic pollution via tokenization on the blockchain.

Amna is also the Head of the AllStarsWomen DAO UAE Chapter, which is a DAO focused on bringing female diversity into the web3 ecosystem. Moreover, she’s a coveted fintech award judge, podcast guest and engaging keynote speaker at numerous global blockchain, Metaverse and web3 events at iconic venues such as Dubai’s Museum of the Future.

Education first step

Besides blockchain, cryptocurrency and web3, Amna’s keenly interested in frontier technologies like Internet of things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and robotics.

With her conviction that ‘education is the first step towards a more inclusive and diverse future for us all,’ she’s realized the main thing keeping people away from the blockchain and web3 space, in general, is the ‘Tech barrier,’ or a lack of understanding of the fundamentals.’

This is behind her decision to actively encourage mainstream understanding of web3 and the underlying technologies like blockchain, DeFi, DAOs, Metaverse and NFTs through all her interactions and initiatives.

“I know that sharing the basics and foundations of web3 in a simplified manner will help others join the web3 movement, and only then can we have a strong foundation of diverse and inclusive people building an equal world of web3 together.”

Massive strides in web3 and Metaverse

Referring to the Metaverse, Amna describes it as ‘an immersive experience which shifts you to another world.’ She comments web3 and the Metaverse have made massive strides since 2021, with the Metaverse really gathering momentum following Facebook rebranding itself as Meta.

“The definition and goal of the Metaverse to which the web3 community aspires is a space that’s immersive, inclusive and decentralized, with many layers to it including blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Extended Reality (AR, VR, MR).”

With more banks, companies and even government agencies buying virtual estate and establishing a presence in the Metaverse, she remarks ‘the Economist’s prediction that 2022 will be the Year of the Metaverse turned out to be quite true.’

As examples, Amna cites Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) becoming the first government regulatory authority to establish a presence in the Metaverse, the 2022 Superbowl and MTV Video Music Awards incorporating web3 and the Metaverse, as well as TIME magazine publishing a Metaverse Cover.

Web3 has also shown great momentum overall, such as Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) and the NFT market dominating web3 and the Metaverse in avatars, virtual clothing and more.

Amna also won the “Woman in Web3” award in the MENA region, by the Women in Tech global organization where certain categories of the awards were sponsored by Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Amna believes one of the best use cases of web3 is using it for good such as the Giga project, which is a joint UNICEF and ITU initiative to connect every school to the internet by 2030, hence giving every child, in particular underprivileged children, a chance at a better future. Their Patchwork Kingdom NFTs were the biggest NFT collection by the United Nations (UN) and raised more than USD 700,000, all of which went to fund the Giga cause and are available on Opensea for purchase.

Imagination and leveraging opportunities

With limitless opportunities in the Metaverse, Amna emphasizes that ‘companies and businesses need to understand how to leverage these opportunities to their advantage.’

She’s enthusiastic about the prospect of companies buying virtual office space and holding meetings and work-related team events, the rising demand for NFT-linked personalized avatars and digital clothing in the fashion industry with, enhanced education through learn-to-earn models or immersive classrooms in education, and more.

Amna balances a demanding career with her enthusiasm for fashion (wearing elegantly embellished outfits that proudly reflect her Pakistani roots), photography, and her passion for writing poignant poetry on Instagram @amnamusings. Referring to herself on social media as “Keeping it Surreal”, she also shares her love of ‘magical stars’, animals, birds, and being ‘legit obsessed with flowers,’ describing them as ‘the jewelry that nature adorns,’ and confessing ‘nature is my salvation.’ Amna also has a sense of humor, particularly finding “puns” funny, and has a “Pun intended” highlights section on her personal Instagram.

Personal Facebook snippets show a glimpse of Amna’s fun, softer side – logically explaining about ‘having chocolate for no reason at all,’ rewarding herself with freshly baked brownies and her emphasis on kindness, compassion and hope as a way of life. She wrote and shared uplifting poetry during the covid lockdown to help uplift others through those trying times.

Her authentic belief in the potential of blockchain, web3 and the Metaverse reflects in her remark that ‘imagination is the only limit, so there is immense potential for creativity to ignite, which is exciting for innovation.”

She’s optimistic that ‘if we look at the long term and the bigger picture, it’s truly inspiring how we can use these frontier technologies as transformational tools for good and together change our world for the better.’

amnausmanchaudhry

Dubai, UAE

LAVINIA MELITI

Global Head of Business Development – IPwe, Inc.

Miami Chapter Vice-President –VR/AR Association

WWhen you hear attorney and tech businesswoman

Lavinia Meliti addressing delegates at a conference, her passionate Italian roots are as evident as her enthusiasm.

Describing herself as a ‘tech enthusiast on a mission to empower innovation in emerging technologies,’ Lavinia holds two Juris Doctor degrees from Europe and the U.S. She previously worked as an attorney, specialising in Intellectual Property (IP) and Competition Law matters. The switch – from practicing in Miami as an attorney to using her legal skills in the tech business – stems from her interest in the intersection between business, digital tech, and law throughout both her academic and professional career.

“I wanted to get directly involved in the process of developing new business models and evolving the intellectual property landscape to support the digital revolution,” she explains.

IP promotes innovation in emerging technology

This Miami resident is Global Head of Business Development at IPwe, ‘the world’s first global innovation platform leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology,’ where she leads strategy and execution of business initiatives worldwide.

Passionate about intellectual property and increasing its accessibility to promote innovation in emerging technology,’ working at IPwe seems a perfect fit for Lavinia, who contradicts the popular notion that ‘all lawyers are boring.’

IPwe Connects Fortune 500 companies with innovators and SMEs across the blockchain and Metaverse ecosystems, offering information and tools to help clients identify, research, evaluate, and transact their patents.

In the age of disruption we can’t imagine a future without technology and innovation.

‘‘

Addressing delegates during the North American Bitcoin Conference earlier this year, Lavinia described innovation as ‘the calling card of the future’, adding that ‘at about two trillion dollars globally, the pace of innovation today is faster than at any other point in human history.’

IPwe aims to remove barriers to innovation like discovery and transaction costs for SMEs and start-ups.

“We have built Smart Pools in emerging tech areas like Metaverse, blockchain, and barcode technologies early in the adoption cycle. These

encourage innovation and cooperation by making patents in these areas easily accessible,” Lavinia explains.

Through patent tokenization, tech leaders can make their patents available to innovators, who can then license them with ease and transparency.

Lavinia also serves as Vice-President of the VR/AR Association in the Miami Chapter, which aims to foster and promote collaboration between companies in the Metaverse.

Widespread benefit of digital transformation

She asserts that ‘because innovation affects every one of our lives by improving the technologies we use, everyone can benefit from living in a world of breathtaking digital transformation.’

The Metaverse, in her view, is ‘a digital world that mirrors our society in all its complexity yet adds a whole new dimension of opportunity for connection and growth, both for individuals and businesses.’

Lavinia believes the global Covid pandemic had a surprising upside, because it made the adoption of the Metaverse much easier.

“The world largely spent around two years in and out of lockdown, resulting in people moving most of their lives online. Businesses across many sectors like gaming, entertainment, social media, retail, and real estate took advantage of this digital world to increase their revenue opportunities in the Metaverse economy, or metanomy.”

Her observation over the last year is that many companies went from being apprehensive about web3 to investing in digital products and accepting digital currencies. She cites Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Nike, MBW, and CocaCola that have created NFT products to engage customers and cultivate loyalty, while Samsung, Adidas, and Miller Lite have bought land in the Metaverse and are offering their customers a virtual experience.

New-level possibilities

The Metaverse, Lavinia remarks, has taken the global village of the internet ‘to a whole new level’ by creating an immersive digital world we can access simply through our devices.

“In the next five years, socializing, shopping, consuming entertainment, accessing services, investing, and owning property can all happen in a virtual world.”

Yet, she’s aware that both technical and social barriers remain before everyone accepts this new world, saying, ‘anything new takes time to garner the necessary social understanding and familiarity.’

Collaborative innovation can address technical barriers – such as how long it takes to make transactions, the need for crypto wallets, energy inefficiency, user interface limitations, and lack of infrastructure.

Inspirational future

Lavinia is excited that innovation holds endless possibilities in the future. Democratizing IP by reducing the cost of market research and negotiation is important to her, which explains her passion for her work at IPwe and why she’s inspired by what can be achieved in a democratized landscape.

“IPwe’s platform and Smart Pools using AI and Blockchain technology have removed the inefficiencies of human-reliant IP processes, making the IP process more transparent, affordable, efficient, and secure. It’s also ensured that start-ups and SMEs can innovate and adopt emerging technologies without barriers.”

laviniameliti LaviniaMeliti

lavinia.meliti

Miami, USA

MARÍA PÍA AQUEVEQUE JABBAZ CEO & FOUNDER

MAQUEVEQ & CO.

‘‘

Today, deep technologies (such as blockchain, AI, IoT and 5G) are advancing rapidly and strategic foresight is needed to prepare organizations to seize opportunities and address challenges.

OOriginally from Chile, now residing in Rome, María Pía Aqueveque is a vibrant token economist, investor and financial innovator with a passion for tokenization. She is a leading voice in the crypto asset space and has been a pioneer in dissemination of trends and prospective scenarios of technological change on digital economy and their impact on the society of the 21st century. She works with companies in the forefront of the underlying technologies of the Metaverse. María embodies the spirit of the web3 space, her passion for the opportunities that this new world presents is front and center.

María is CEO and founder of Maqueveq & Co. which is dedicated to strategic investment and corporate finance advisory for digital asset projects. She is also relaunching DTCODE, a company that focuses on payment and financial cryptographic innovation, improving products and processes through the monetization of data, conducting original investigation and applying research findings for the creation of new or significantly improved products or processes.

María studied economics, public policy, investments, FinTech, financial markets and innovation. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with research departments of financial and academic organizations and consulted on private banks, multilateral investment banking to banks, central banks and governments on crypto monetary systems. Some of these include the World Bank, the Presidency of the Republic of Chile and the Ministry of Finance, Inter-American Development Bank, Central American Bank for Economic Integration, among many others.

In academia, María is regularly invited as a blockchain and crypto assets guest speaker at most of the recognized business schools in Latin America and Europe. She’s also a popular panellist, webinar and seminar guest speaker and hosts a Science and Technology show on digital radio, as well as writing a crypto column for various media.

María became a strong voice in the global blockchain technology space after she set up a meeting with the President of Chile in 2018 when the author, Don Tapscott was on a trip to Santiago de Chile. Two months later, she started advising multinationals in the energy and financial sector worldwide. Since 2004 she foresighted new business models driven by technology that would foster incentives for better provision of regional and global public goods. Blockchain — through tokenization and smart contracts — is the first step, and the next one will be its convergence with AI and IoT for more accurate distribution of benefits and costs, including predicting its externalities. That year she also met the President of Argentina, including authorities and corporations from different countries, in anticipation of the paradigm shift that would come as a result of blockchain technology and the tokenization of assets. This would impact the business models of other disruptive technologies and its convergence such as IoT and AI.

Web3 demands a change in mindset

María believes that the mindset of organizations and regulators needs to change for them to truly grasp the multidimensional nature of the technology and the shift in the paradigm that web3 brings.

Two experiences stand out in her mind: “The opportunity to discuss in depth, with former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the challenges in implementing a digital strategy for his country; and second to that, the opportunity to lead a consultancy team in support of the convergence of traditional and crypto monetary systems, which was a dream come true.”

She notes that the last two years have seen the acceleration of technological convergence and the development of solutions that are building web3 and the Metaverse. Today, issues under discussion such as digital sovereignty, cybersecurity associated with digital assets, as well as the regulatory frameworks and ethical principles involved, will constitute the digital renaissance towards which society is evolving.

Digital currency is here to stay

María’s advice to central banks is that digital currency is here to stay and if they make the right decisions, a first-class financial structure can be achieved. She confidently remarks that if countries want their currencies to be used in the Metaverse, they need to use cryptography.

Commenting on the future and the legacy she would like to create: “Building meaningful futures on the convergence of asset tokenization, data science, IoT and extended reality to create products and services is key. My focus is on contributing to the tokenization of the economy and financial innovation through the creation of complementary crypto monetary ecosystems to address some local or regional scale challenges that will have a global impact. If we extend this into the Metaverse, a whole universe of opportunities and challenges arise, which inspires me to keep contributing in this space.”

MARÍA PÍA AQUEVEQUE’S WEB3 & METAVERSE TIPS

• First, be open-minded and creative about how you apply technologies and their convergence, to product and service innovation.

• Be curious and deepen your knowledge in technological and cybersecurity aspects as this will allow you to look critically and anticipate trends and risks.

• Recommended Media: For DeFi, The Defiant by Camila Russo; for web3 and the Metaverse: Observatorio Blockchain by Covadonga Fernández.

maria-pia-aqueveque-jabbaz

JENNIFER

We’re in the midst of a paradigm shift, rethinking what we value and therefore rethinking how we define wealth; after all, we are wealthy when we have an abundance of what we value.

‘‘

JJennifer Wines is used to taking big risks. So, it’s fitting that this former private wealth advisor – previously advising individuals with immense wealth – recently left her successful career, making a life-changing pivot. “After over a decade in traditional, private wealth management, it became clear to me that the way we think about value, money and wealth is fundamentally changing. So, I decided to roll the dice, take a risk, and focus entirely on the future of wealth, which includes web3.”

Earlier this year, Jennifer founded Invisible Wealth, which is an innovative framework for reconceptualizing value, and, therefore wealth. Invisible Wealth provides strategic, future-forward advisory services.

With 12+ years’ experience at some of the world’s leading private wealth management institutions, namely Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Fidelity, this vivacious finance futurist is redefining wealth for the ‘new wealth paradigm’ – otherwise known as the future of wealth. Jennifer’s strategy – combining her legal background (she holds a Juris Doctor from Boston’s Suffolk University Law School), and expertise as a certified private wealth advisor (designation from Chicago Booth’s Business School) – is catalyzing her entrepreneurial spirit and vision for the ‘new wealth paradigm’.

Jennifer believes that the future of wealth and the future of the internet (web3) are inherently interconnected. And for her, part of her reimagining wealth journey began with Bitcoin. “Web3 introduces new ways of interfacing with money and value: how we make, spend and invest it. And this is critically important for the future of wealth.”

Wealth, writing and web3

Born in Mexico to an Irish mother and a Mexican father, Jennifer grew up between Mexico, Canada and the United States, moving 10 times by age 20. Now based in Miami, she’s an articulate speaker and author of an eagerly anticipated book, Invisible Wealth, due for release in Q1 2023.

In addition, Jennifer is a founding advisory member of 100women@ Davos, a community of impact-driven women leaders and change makers which she met while in Davos during the World Economic Forum, where she focuses on philanthropic initiatives. She’s also contributed thought leadership via the New York Times, Cointelegraph, Fidelity Viewpoints and Forbes Business Development Council.

Web3 is empowered because it empowers

Jennifer comments that she’s seen a clear activation of web3 in the last year with more people, ideas and money supporting the vision and narrative. This amiable wealth voyager is excited to see the positive impact web3 will offer all individuals seeking to build and grow wealth, in a meaningful way. “Web3 is empowered because it empowers, which is a great example of sustainability.” Additionally, she remarks that the Metaverse is here to prove Albert Einstein’s assertion that “life is just like a game...”.

With new asset classes and investment structures coming online, Jennifer contends that this is where ‘innovative opportunity exists for individuals, private wealth management firms and family offices – on a go forward basis.’

As for mainstream adoption in web3 and the Metaverse, she sees the best way to overcome barriers to entry is by ‘expanding the reach of the narrative,’ as it helps pave the way for the adoption of innovative initiatives in the space.

“Reality is socially construed through narrative – in other words, the narrative helps to mobilize the abstraction into action.”

Future belongs to the curious Described by others as highly motivated and tenacious, Jennifer says she’s someone who loves to adventure the world, so it’s no surprise that the advice to herself (and others) is to stay curious, as the future belongs to the curious. She’s also an avid music lover, commenting in a Cointelegraph article, ‘there’s rarely a time in the day when I’m not listening to music, whether it’s classical Chopin, rock, hip-hop or electro and everything in between.’

With the future in mind, she is enthusiastic about how web3 will revolutionize the future of work, decentralized finance, democratization of wealth, and introduce a new era of digital assets, all of which relate to the future of wealth.

Despite Jennifer’s apparent reticence to reveal much about herself on social media, a LinkedIn post offers a personal glimpse into her inner workings when she highlighted a quote by personal finance expert and author Nathan W. Morris: “Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It’s your masterpiece, after all.” She reveals that this quote ‘has always resonated with me, and beautifully sums up my motivation’ and her approach to life.

ALYZE SAM CO-FOUNDER & AWARDWINNING AUTHOR

FFor someone who’s nearly lost her life twice, former hospice nurse-turned Blockchain Strategist and multi-award-winning tech author Alyze Sam is remarkably cheerful. Her first brush with death was in 2014 − after being hit by a commercial semitruck, and sustaining serious spinal injuries requiring multiple surgeries − the second, years later, when she contracted a rare disease during pregnancy.

In podcast interviews, Alyze is upbeat, joking about getting into ‘blockchain by accident.’ While the devastating accident took her ‘ability and deep passion for patients and nursing,’ Alyze remarks becoming an early investor in bitcoin was lifechanging, as it gave her a second chance at life.

Retired from her 11-year nursing career, she ‘went all into blockchain,’ studying it for six years and asking advice from Fintech industry leaders.

I believe many great things are birthed from difficulty, so I’m trying to make positive changes and change lives via computer science, fintech, blockchain tech and encryption.

Positive changes

Now, having overcome many daunting hurdles, this Kansas-based ‘blockchain babe’ believes ‘many great things are birthed from difficulty.’ Named in the top 50 in Blockchain, and Top 5 Woman in NFTs, Alyze is making ‘positive changes and changing lives via computer science, fintech, blockchain tech and

One of her many web3 business interests is as founder of Tech & Authors. This collective of technology and manuscript experts produces unbiased, technical writing services and poetic education, ‘simplifying complex ideas to allow comprehension to everyday consumers.’

Aside from directorships at several blockchain companies, she’s a prolific blockchain and crypto educator, writing for numerous Tech magazines. Alyze’s work also inspired The Bad Crypto Podcast to develop a personalized blockchain hero called Mz. Stability.

As a multi award-winning tech author, her first book on Stablecoins ranked as the #1 New Release in Business and Money on Amazon Books, followed by a university textbook on the Stablecoins economy in 2020. Her latest book, The ABCs of NFTs − also the #1 New Release on Amazon’s Computers and Technology books − was coauthored with her four-year-old Zuri “Chipmunk” Alyze.

Commitment to blockchain

It’s apt that peers love Alyze’s contagious energy, describing her as a beacon of positivity, filled with joy and driven by passion for what she believes in. Her commitment to blockchain’s core value stems from an authentic ‘desire towards financial inclusion for everyone.’

“I want to ensure individuals have a decent understanding of economics so they can make wise decisions, have

fewer financial responsibilities, and focus on what matters most to them.”

When Alyze says she’s a ‘serial co-founder,’ she’s not kidding. She’s a co-founder at NFTYToken.io, the first NFT currency, a cofounder at GIVE Nation, a children’s financial literacy protocol that rewards altruism, as well as co-founder of The OnionClub.io, a privacy media app in W3, constructed as a DAO focusing on B2B/ B2C solutions.

Happiness is blockchain and babies

Describing the Metaverse as ‘a decentralized, universal, and multileveled immersive virtual world networked and facilitated by VR, AR, AI, and blockchain technologies,’ Alyze asserts it can be used to help many people and give back to the planet.

Concerned that ‘anyone using current technologies is getting their data stolen and being brainwashed,’ she’s dedicating her life to building web3 solutions to ‘ensure each of us and our children are safe online.’

Globally advocating “do no harm” ethical technologies, Alyze is amazed to see the rapid development and unfolding of web3 and the Metaverse. But it’s important to overcome barriers including comfort of immersiveexperience accessories, costs, glitches, and user-friendliness.

Within five years, she envisages Metaverse home entertainment expanding, and many required to work in VR offices or school settings. Moreover, the launch of “really crazy stuff in telehealth” will include remote frequency scans and healings with incredible results.

Bypassing physical disability that prevents experiences IRL, Alyze enjoys Maloka, the world’s first mobile VR mindfulness meditation game. Her Oculus VR headset has taken her and her two young children to VR volcanoes, travel to faraway places, and visit ancient times, all while sitting at home.

In Instagram posts − mentioning amazing tech hero friends and religious faith freeing her from ‘illness, homelessness and hopelessness’ − Alyze says for her, ‘happiness is blockchain

and babies, having coffee in my pjs with my kids and family while working on projects that better impact the planet.’

With the last eight years in fintech having been ‘nothing less than magical,’ this inspiring survivor ‘can’t wait to make more blockchain memories and write more award-winning copy’ with those she respects and adores in future.

“I’m excited to build a future and live in a world where I’m truly free − and no longer digitally raped, used and abused – or where my kids, data and assets aren’t safe.”

ALYZE SAM’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS AND RESOURCES

1. Don’t think about it − just do it. Jump it before you’re late.

2. Join a web3 project, share your talents, start asking “Where can I add value?”

3. Recommended edutainment podcasts: Bad Crypto Podcast, The Nifty Show.

MzStability1600

DANIELA HENAO CMO DEFY TRENDS ELENA GARIDIS CFO

DEFY TRENDS

Is the world ready for a technological revolution and the Metaverse?

Most definitely so. Usurping the current establishments will be no mean feat but installing new systems that provide endless opportunities for inclusion, equity, and financial upliftment abounds in the new digital world. Daniela Henao and Elena Garidis are web3 change-makers building a tomorrow of equal opportunities and accessibility for everybody.

At Defy Trends, Daniela and Elena, together with founder Imge Su Cetin, are building a crypto investor toolkit that will even the playing field between institutional and retail investors. This platform provides actionable and digestible investment insights for crypto investors to make

better-informed market decisions. Simultaneously, Defy Trends presents an educational platform and other community initiatives to support the onboarding of newcomers to this space in support of inclusivity, diversity, equality and empowerment

Collaboration, creativity and community Daniela is a multi-talented community organizer with a background in global markets, politics, community growth, and education. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from UCLA in International Development with an emphasis on Latin America and Africa and a Master’s degree in Leadership and Education from Relay Graduate School in New York City.

The economic potential of the Metaverse will cause immense strides in many areas of our IRL lives.

Daniela Henao (Left) and Elena Garidis

At Defy Trends, she is the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer and the company’s community builder and organizational expert who developed its educational platform and the ‘Women Who Defy’ Ambassador Program.

Elena is a crypto enthusiast, norms-challenger and creative. She’s a J.P. Morgan alumna with a dual degree in Finance and Philosophy from Tulane University. Elena is passionate about innovation, art, philosophy, sustainability, and participating in creating a better world for all humans. After starting to trade crypto in 2018, Elena fell in love with the decentralized and more empowered financial system offered by the crypto space. She brought her trading lessons and business acumen to Defy Trends as co-founder and Chief Financial Officer. Previously, she led the rollout and conceptual design of an NYC-based CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) start-up’s first augmented reality feature.

The status quo of our existing systems is not sustainable. It is divisive, skewed for a few people instead of the billions of people, driven by poor leadership and lack of financial opportunity. For Daniela and Elena, the Metaverse presents the opportunity of a lifetime.

“Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to do something to change the world,” Elena shares. “But, growing up and understanding the complexities of this world makes that a much more challenging task. While working on Wall Street after college, I had not forgotten about that dream but put it on hold. Working at one of the biggest banks in the world, I got an intimate view of the workings of our financial system in the USA and its impacts on the global financial system. It is an unnecessarily convoluted system in which banks are the gatekeepers of financial opportunity and the flow of money in our economy. Around the same time that I was starting to get disillusioned with our antiquated financial system, I started learning about web3 and crypto and recognized the massive potential for change. Tearing down old systems is extremely difficult, but replacing them with a better option is actually a viable option for systematic change. That is when I fell in love with the ethos of decentralization, a global P2P network, opportunity and transparency.”

Daniela’s journey to web3 and the Metaverse is similarly inspired by solving the world’s challenges. She emigrated from Colombia to the USA and is profoundly aware of the difficulties in her native country and the promise of opportunity in developed nations. From this, Daniela has always sought ways of building inclusive spaces for people worldwide to access opportunities. While at UCLA, she was introduced to blockchain technology, but it was only while studying global markets in Shanghai, China, that she recognized this technology’s far-reaching dimensions and applications. “After college, I started a business in Colombia to support women’s health and wellness. While traveling in Mexico, I found the marriage of my passions and skills when I met the founder of Defy Trends, Imge Su Cetin. I immediately knew this

was something I wanted to undertake. Here was an opportunity to build a crypto product with the potential of reaching a global community and solving world problems.”

Metaverse is universal

According to Daniela and Elena, the Metaverse provides the next level of consciousness for humans. It allows humans to interact with each other virtually in 3D, build structures and spaces from their imaginations, and fuel all activities with a crypto-powered economy. The Metaverse allows women leaders to thoroughly displace current leadership and community structures.

This shift is fundamental. There is no doubt that the Metaverse creates endless opportunities. Leadership in the Metaverse is redefined. “As DAOs become more established in the Metaverse, they allow people to create true meritocracies because people contributing to a DAO can be completely anonymous,” they explained. Without gender, race, and age biases, the Metaverse bridges the digital divide to create a world of communities. “A person’s resume essentially becomes their track record on the blockchain, stripping away the biases of the current systems and empowering everybody to participate in the new world. The Metaverse will continue connecting people and communities, adding more layers of connection and a deeper dimension of togetherness. Different perspectives are healthy for creative innovation and will be instrumental in balancing the crypto culture. The economic potential of the Metaverse will cause immense strides in many areas of our IRL lives.”

These trailblazers are excited about the future, enabling more people to utilize technology to achieve things that humanity never thought possible. This future will see more and more women gain financial independence, follow their passions, and build a world of opportunities for everybody.

elena-garidis cryptoElenaki

danielahenaom DanielaDefy

Miami, USA

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 an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and author with a 30-plus years long career that spans a global stage, including Sydney, Singapore, Kiev, Austin, Muscat, Columbo, Dubai, Cape Town, Liberland, Malta, Amsterdam, Vienna, Dublin and London. She’s a tireless advocate for women in blockchain, eradicating homelessness and income equality.

She has held senior positions with global PR companies in Sydney, Singapore, London, and Dublin. She was PRO of Iona Technologies (Ireland’s first company to float on NASDAQ). In 2014, she singlehandedly changed the law in Ireland and subsequently ran for election to the European Parliament. She is Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of

Blockleaders.io, a platform that celebrates and educates blockchain, the technology, people, and companies shaping the space.

Blockchain transformed her life. It saved her. Her journey to the blockchain, web3 and the Metaverse is one of a personal recession and recovery. Jillian Godsil is a phoenix rising today.

Tough times make tough people

In 2008, Jillian braved divorce and the global economic downturn with her two teenage daughters. Her ex-husband relocated to the United Kingdom, was declared bankrupt and passed Jillian the entire mortgage debt of their home in the Irish countryside. She tried to sell the house at €500,000, but the bank denied the move as the sale price was below the value of the outstanding mortgage. Instead, the bank repossessed the house and summarily sold it for €165,000.

Blockchain technology excites me for many reasons. It is transformational and has the ability to really change things — for the better.

‘‘

JILLIAN GODSIL CO-FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BLOCKLEADERS

At the same time, her successful PR business collapsed during the height of the recession. Jillian and her two daughters left without a home, and her business shuttered. All the while, Wall Street boys and girls were gaming the system. She became angry, and the situation politicized her.

Homeless and couchsurfing with friends, Jillian used her pen to fight against the shaming of financial failure, homelessness and income inequality and instability. In 2014, Jillian’s struggle resulted in a landmark victory for women in Ireland. She was declared the first female bankrupt under Ireland’s then-new

insolvency laws. She turned to politics with a burning passion to right the inequality in financial laws in Ireland. Unable to run for public office under archaic Victorian law, she took the Irish government to the High Court, then the Supreme Court – and won.

What she did next was entirely true to her character: she ran as a candidate in the European Parliamentary elections. While she didn’t win a seat, she did earn 11,500 votes for her campaign.

Disruptive blockchain effects

Fast-forward a few years to 2016, Jillian and her two daughters faced eviction and homelessness again. What on earth was happening – and how does this relate to blockchain?

With an extensive background in finance and fintech, she didn’t recognize the profound potential of blockchain until a friend carefully explained the technology and concepts to her. She describes the moment blockchain changed her life: “I was like ‘Oh my God, the whole thing just makes sense.’ It’s just phenomenal, it’s so exciting and I just jumped on it.”

Blockchain has achieved what traditional finance systems simply haven’t achieved

to date: it has democratized access in a way that’s important to women because banks, the finance system and politics are primarily about men – and it needs more women.

“Blockchain technology excites me for many reasons. It is transformational and has the ability to really change things — for the better. It democratizes access to finance; it democratizes access to education; it democratizes access to payments; it democratizes access to opportunity; it democratizes access to income equality.”

“Women with young children or aged parents, or who’ve faced redundancy, who find it hard to get into the workforce can get involved in the industry. It’s an opportunity for women who can’t get access to the regular world.”

Jillian is emphatic about the potential of blockchain technology to disrupt industries and do good for the world. She believes it can help in many ways, such as feeding refugees and allowing migrant workers to transfer funds back home to their families without paying huge transaction fees. It could also be used to fight hyperinflation in countries like Venezuela, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe.

Blockchain brings people dignity through empowerment. As a journalist and champion for blockchain, Jillian advocates for more women in blockchain. She has insights for attracting more women to the space: “What you can see, you can be. So if you work in blockchain, ensure you actively attract women to work and collaborate with you. Web3 is open to all – especially those that create. Technology is neutral; we need to shape it to do good.”

I’m in the business of making sense out of chaos and bringing the future into focus for individuals and organizations.

BRONWYN WILLIAMS CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER Metanomic A ‘‘

At face value, this tall, elegant blonde in black might seem a bit distant, intimidating even, in pictures. But when economist and futurist Bronwyn Williams speaks animatedly with her hands about topics she’s passionate about, the impression quickly changes.

As Chief Commercial Officer at Metanomic, this stylish strategist combines her skillset in economics and trend forecasting to work on pricing and valuing virtual goods and services.

Bronwyn explains that her current work at Metonomic involves ‘developing AI-powered run-time software tools to price and optimize value creation and retention in the Metaverse.’ This, she comments, will benefit ‘anyone who wants to understand where value comes from in the digital realm, and how to multiply it.’

Absurdity of the Metaverse

As an economist by training and a futurist by trade, Bronwyn describes the Metaverse as ‘a gradual evolution of digitization merging with the analogue until we cannot see where one ends and the other begins.’ Her comment −that ‘following the rabbit hole down where value comes from leads one naturally towards the absurdity that is the Metaverse −,’ is as forthright as it gets.

She believes the terms web3 and Metaverse have become ubiquitous, commenting we are clearly in a hype cycle, at the point where ‘no one knows anything, but everyone is an expert.’ She is, however, undeniably an expert in economics and forecasting future trends, with peers praising her clear grasp of the forces shaping today’s business environment and her ‘unique, and accurate perspective of the future.’

Bronwyn, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, holds multiple degrees − including a Bachelor of Commerce, Master’s in Applied Economics from the University of Bath as well as various post-graduate business qualifications from the University of Oxford and London School of Economics and Political Science.

In addition, she’s a Foresight Lead and Trend Analyst partner at Flux Trends, described as the ‘leading trends research company’ on the African continent. Here, she identifies, researches and consults with political and business leaders on new consumer and business trends.

Besides being a media personality and popular keynote speaker, Bronwyn also co-authored a book, “The Future Starts Now”. Described by the publishers as ‘a comprehensive history of tomorrow,’ it features contributions by leading global futurists exploring groundbreaking innovations, current trajectories and technologies that may shape our future.

Optimism, expectations and Metaverse impact

In a candid online interview in July 2022 (The Futurist’s Sunday Sermon), Bronwyn confessed she’s ‘not a natural optimist at all and is actually very cynical by nature,’ settling instead on being ‘a reluctant pragmatic optimist.’

There are reasons, she remarks, ‘why central banks put out forecasts to tame us and actually curate our behavior.’

“You start to realize that being an optimist is almost then a moral duty because if you are a pessimist, all you’re doing is accelerating the odds of bad things happening.”

As for how the Metaverse will impact our lives and the world, Bronwyn says it already has, and predicts the trajectory will continue as ‘there are already digital stores of value (personal credit) even if you don’t own any NFTs.’

Insofar as key trends playing out in the crypto space, Bronwyn is apparently not a fan of NFTs, having described them in an online interview ‘as more noise than substance.’

Instead, she believes it’s ‘far more interesting to look at deeper things that are less pretty or exciting,’ expecting that dals will become more prominent in the next two years.

On a mission to understand the world

With her love of smart designs, new ideas and the individuals behind them, Bronwyn notes she’s on a mission to ‘understand the world and create a better future for all of us who live in it.’

And what advice would she have given herself earlier along the way? “Stop talking and reading and start DOING.”

As for others wishing to learn more about web3 and the Metaverse, Bronwyn recommends personal conversations with players in the space because pretty much anything written down is either already out of date or written by “experts” who are more like one-eyed men in the land of the blind.

Yet, despite Bronwyn describing herself as very cynical, she’s excited to see what breaks in the future. And she’s keeping her sights firmly on being ‘in the business of making sense out of chaos and bringing the future into focus for individuals and organizations.’

“Personally, my mission is to get more people invested (literally) in the future – skin in the game is the ultimate pragmatic optimism –a moral duty when one realizes that our expectations directly shape our reality.”

Perhaps Bronwyn’s sharp insights and pragmatic optimism is best revealed in a final remark: “New technology, just like old technology is essentially amoral, neither good, nor bad, but entirely dependent on the individual humans that employ it.’

Johannesburg, South Africa bronwynwilliams metanomic.net

SANJA KON

CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF UTRUST, INVESTOR, MENTOR, BUSINESS COACH AND ADVISOR

Create the life you desire’ is Sanja Kon’s website tagline. It is more than that, though. It is the vessel that projects and drives her passions. Sanja declares her life’s desire: “I’m very passionate about closing the gender gap, and I help women around the world to unlock their true potential.”

Technology is at the centre of that passion. Sanja wants to create the world in which she wants to live. She’s a new sort of digital nomad. Born in Croatia, she grew up in Italy, lived in the United Kingdom, the USA, Portugal, and Denmark, has her business based in Portugal, and lives between Italy and Portugal.

After 10 years working in e-commerce and traditional payment systems at Vodafone, eBay and PayPal, she immediately recognized the potential of blockchain technology to reshape payment systems, markets, industries, and global business. “For me, decentralization means taking control of money, finances and wealth into our own hands,” Sanja knew blockchain could redefine financial access for billions of people, especially for women in emerging markets. Sanja certainly walks the talk, having invested in dozens of companies, predominantly in the web3 and life science space. She is also an active member of Plum Alley, a VC that focuses on earlystage advanced technology and healthcare companies founded by women.

Utrust evinced those values and aims. She joined this startup as a cofounder and adopted blockchain technology as a tool for empowerment to create the life (and world) she desires.

Creating the life you desire Utrust is a leading web3 payment platform. It was recently acquired by the Elrond Network, a highly scalable, fast and secure blockchain platform that provides utility for dApp developers and enterprise solutions for the new economy.

Sanja’s forthright about Utrust’s development of this new world of web3: “Utrust bridges the gap between web3 and traditional retail by allowing anyone anywhere to pay with cryptocurrency from any wallet, and allowing any merchant to get paid in either crypto or fiat.”

It also serves a two-sided market: buyers and sellers. Anyone who owns cryptocurrency and wants to use it to purchase goods and services can benefit from Utrust: “Merchants and retailers will greatly benefit from our solution, as they’ll be able to significantly reduce their payment processing fees, eliminate chargebacks and fraud, and generate more revenue by serving a new segment of customers.”

This technology and platform exemplify Sanja’s pursuit and the purpose of Utrust. “My mission is to disrupt traditional payments,” she explained. “What that means to disrupt traditional payments is to open the gateways in business, stop the overcharging for merchants and prevent a lot of fraud. By removing the middlemen, we can be the bridge between the world of free and traditional retailers. More than 2 billion people worldwide do not have access to the traditional financial system due to its complexity.”

I’m excited to be part of this new era where exponentially accelerating technologies will impact our daily lives and society.

Cryptocurrencies, blockchain and other web3 tools are gateways to financial inclusion and can help people in emerging markets access global trade. “Almost 2 billion people worldwide remain unbanked,” Sanja stated. “Many more are underbanked. This has overarching implications that limit access to everything, from credit to healthcare and education. We now have the technological means to allow everyone with access to the internet control over their own finances. We must build that world – and we at Utrust won’t stop until we do so.”

Creating the world you want to live in

Web3 may yet be in its infancy, but the structures for a new world are being built. Sanja’s outspoken on the benefits and opportunities of web3, sharing that “For me, the Metaverse is the digital version of the physical world. I’m excited to be part of this new era where exponentially accelerating technologies will impact our daily lives and society.”

As an entrepreneur, advisor, investor, and woman with a vision for creating a world she wants to live in, she says she wants to “be able to anticipate those trends, recognize them, and help great people with great ideas bring them to life faster. The best companies will be taking advantage of converging technologies and using them to disrupt traditional industries.”

Outlining the spaces ripe for disruption, Sanja highlights that education, healthcare, and finance will advance in leaps and bounds in the coming years. She believes that health is society’s most valuable asset, and she’s inspired by the advancement in healthcare through technology to increase lifespans. Sanja involves herself in this mission, too. As with payments systems, Sanja is adamant that blockchain will fuel the new healthcare systems of the future, and she’s advising healthcare companies on using this technology and AI to eradicate deadly diseases.

The power of the Metaverse is its inclusivity and redressing the balance in the order of a new world. Here, Sanja believes education will find its most significant opportunities for inclusion and the industry’s future. Taking a step further, she’s identified the potential opportunities blockchain will bring in other areas: “The same can be applied to virtual co-working spaces, now that more and more companies are choosing to have remote only workers. This will finally help create more opportunities for people previously excluded due to geographical location, background, or resources.”

She sees healthcare as another industry with tremendous potential to be disrupted by the Metaverse. Online doctor and medical consultations have recently become more common in healthcare. It allows more people to have access to doctor care within their homes, and “the 2.0 version of this will definitely use the Metaverse to create a virtual network of doctors, and bridge the gap between patients and medical carers to provide high-quality medical services that could not be accessed locally.”

The tipping point for the new world

The Metaverse will become a pervasive force in all areas of our lives, and sooner than we think, believes Sanja. This shift will fundamentally change how the world interacts, works, shops, travels, and even consumes information.

Regarding the Metaverse, it’s more evident now that web3 will serve as its backbone. Currently, more than 350 million people are using and having experiences in the Metaverse: it is estimated that by 2030 the market value may reach $13 trillion.

“For example, customers will be able to try items and services without physically commuting to a store,” commented Sanja. “Work environments will take on a whole new meaning in the Metaverse, and companies will be able to hire internationally, creating new opportunities for people who were previously unable to take them.”

She added: “There will be thousands, if not millions, of new exciting business opportunities to be explored with the Metaverse in the coming years. 2021 was a pivotal year for the whole web3 industry, as it marked the beginning of mass adoption. For the first time in history, crypto trading revenue surpassed stock exchange revenue. This was a big change from just a year before when traditional exchanges made four times more than crypto exchanges.”

Looking to the future with Utrust and disruptive web3 technology, Sanja aims to reshape the world. It is the world she wants to live in – where women are celebrated and recognized. “The legacy I want to create is a world where everyone has equal access to the financial system with a new one.”

SanjaKon sanja_kon

IInfluential. In a future dictionary, it should have the face of Dajana Ko as its descriptor for that concept. This Woman of the Future has raised in excess of $180MM USD in Private Capital and supporting nearly 2,000 startup founders across multiple business sectors.

As a first-generation Filipino American raised in New York City, she is currently based in Eastern Europe after traveling through more than 50 countries. It is this global outlook and deep understanding of several cultures that comes natural for Dajana to bridge international business partnerships. Dajana has seen first-hand how broken financial models, systems, and processes affect ecosystems. Through this, she has made it her mission to design, develop, and curate custom solutions that help projects launch, grow, and scale.

DK Advisors is an international Investor network and Investor Relations management firm supporting Start-Up Founders in securing capital and media credibility. After discovering the Metaverse and its potential in 2021, DK Advisors focuses on advancing the web3 ecosystem by accessing private capital for sustainable and emerging brands. It onboards the most appetizing projects to its diversified portfolio.

Dajana Ko hosts the largest NFT, cryptocurrency, and Metaverse conference in Europe, the TMRW Conference. This position propelled her to a leading role as a female capital raiser vouching for web3 projects to investors worldwide. Her main event, Idemo Bre in Belgrade, Serbia, is a Web3 Workshop that has successfully committed to bridging the funding gap for blockchain opportunities between funders and founders in the space.

Trading stocks for hashes

With 15 years of trading stocks as a broker on Wall Street, Dajana adopted cryptocurrencies and traded in crypto early. Her expertise and insights were recognized in the industry, as she traveled extensively as a keynote speaker talking about normalizing decentralization.

During the pandemic, her husband approached her nonchalantly one evening to ask if she had started trading and investing in NFTs. “Having absolutely no idea what he was referring to, he sat me down for few hours and broke the entire process down for me,” she recalls. “Then, like most of us in the space, I went down a rabbit hole, inhaling as much content as possible. I was forever hooked, and it changed my entire approach to business and investing in the future.”

It isn’t a straightforward process for mass adoption to occur. For a decentralized Metaverse to work, she says multiple users must become stakeholders in its operation through investment in its native

cryptocurrency token, which is intrinsically linked to the platform’s architecture. At present, she believes this concept is foreign to average eyes: achieving mass adoption will require significant educational onboarding with web3 brands and individuals to self-educate.

Events such as Idemo Bre does just that.

Dajana hosted over 150 foreigners and high profile individuals in Belgrade,Serbia, on August 27th 2022 at The Metropol Luxury Hotel. It showcased cutting edge technology on the blockchain to foreign Investors by hosting the most high-quality Web3 Workshop. Dajana and her partners at Genesis Evolution facilitated Investors, VCs, and brands alike to network and build together in a creative space. They all used that opportunity to deep dive into what this growing ecosystem needs to survive and truly sky rocket.

She says of the event: “It is such an honor to have one’s work be wellrespected and admired enough that people from all around the world would fly in just to spend a few days to design web3 more meaningfully with us. I am deeply humbled and very inspired by the futuristic thinkers I am surrounded by. The future looks bright because of all of us here!”

Opportunities for more business operations

According to Dajana, the Metaverse creates limitless opportunities. From a funding perspective, she says that web3 mass adoption is starting with the biggest companies now actively participating in the space. “With the likes of Meta, Google, Microsoft, Roblox, and Adidas – to name but a few – we will see more investors exponentially participating in more activity.”

She believes the Metaverse has also transformed the economy in two ways: first, by providing an alternative investment instrument by way of blockchain; second, by opening new asset classes. This, she understands, translates into a bullish environment with moderate to high-risk appetite.

Her most exciting feeling for the future comes from being a mother. “It is imperative that my daughter, Ella, knows that years from now, their parents made even a small dent and contribution in developing the web3 space simply by being fully present in it, connecting with the right people, and giving their best to make a statement.”

dajanako

I am deeply humbled and very inspired by the futuristic thinkers around me in web3. The future looks bright because of all of us here!

‘‘

LULE DEMMISSIE US CEO

ETORO

LLule Demmissie’s belief that courage and love are essential ingredients to a life of purpose has played a key role in her success as a respected fintech leader and business strategist.

As U.S. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board member of eToro, Lule’s LinkedIn profile states she has ‘a passion for the study of consumer behavior, addressing the financial needs of everyday investors, agile product development and an appreciation of design thinking in shaping user-centric experiences.’

On its website, eToro states it is ‘one of the world’s leading social investment networks,

which aims to revolutionize the way people invest, and enhance investors’ financial education.’ Its multi-asset investment platform, built on social collaboration and investor education, empowers people to grow their knowledge and wealth as part of a global community of successful investors.

New York-based Lule explains the company is ‘part of a global social investing platform’ that provides access to capital markets and wideranging digital assets to millions of everyday investors.

“Decentralization (which web3 will help accelerate), is a continuous force in our world,

and eToro provides access to the forces that benefit from decentralization − both in the access it gives to investors of the future, as well as contributing to the democratization of investing for regular folks.”

Unafraid of change

Lule remarks that being an immigrant from Ethiopia in Africa unlocked the forever-nomad in her and in that sense, she believes she was ‘destined to find DeFi, digital assets and web3/ Metaverse.’

Unafraid of change, this expert in digital assets and crypto smilingly confesses she often breaks

It is my hope the Metaverse can be created with intention and forethought based on what we have learned from web2.

‘‘

expectations of “normal,” a commonality she shares with eToro.

Commenting in a September 2021 article on prnewswire.com − announcing her appointment as U.S. CEO to the company – Lule mentions having spent her career furthering the empowerment of retail investors and championing financial well-being.

Moreover, eToro’s ‘breakthrough blend of innovation in social investing, copy trading, as well as its groundbreaking efforts in digital assets’ is what drew her to this amazing brand and team.

Metaverse promise still young

Lule defines the Metaverse as ‘a virtual universe in which time, space and possibility are given a force multiplier.’ However, like all new technology, it has a potential moral hazard − bringing the bias and inequality of today into the future and exacerbating it.

Still, she’s enthusiastic about the Metaverse’s promise that is still young, adding there’s much more to come.

“I’ve seen relatives in Africa leverage digital assets to send remittances; leverage it to power transactions that cut out the “middleman”; power universal basic income (UBI) via digital assets (e.g., GoodDollar), and help underrepresented communities engage in the

ownership of capital and formation of stronger communities (e.g. DAOs).”

With its impact already visible on our lives, Lule envisages the Metaverse will alter our relationship with time and space, and the key will be to ‘embrace its benefits and learn from its mistakes.’

“I’d worry if we let our fears mute its ability to change the status quo. We have the opportunity at our fingertips to digitally evolve and control that evolution.”

She anticipates several opportunities in the Metaverse, including redefining finance, more personalized financial consultation, and who gets access to capital. Others are more experiential, customized telemedicine, gaming and recreation that will engage the entire family across generations, and adventures in different countries for people that don’t have the means to travel.

Take opportunities with gusto Peers on LinkedIn describe this upbeat dynamo as ‘a true leader of the new digital era’ whose greatest strength lies in evoking leadership in others. Lule recalls a standout moment, “When I was old enough to realize that established systems preserve the status quo and new technologies can have the power to disintermediate that status quo and give new communities a chance at a share of the pie.”

In her typically straightforward manner, she advises others to leap and take opportunities with gusto, commenting ‘you cannot curate your way to success unless you are born into privilege.’ Lule also stresses the importance of continually expanding one’s skills through doing, learning and growing community.

Lule’s humbleness is noticeable as she determinedly follows her north star that’s anchored in lifting others through empowerment, not charity. Her simple, yet sincere legacy she wishes to leave behind says it all, “She played her part well and with generosity, then passed the baton.”

LULE DEMISSIE’S METAVERSE

TIPS

4.

ANNA STONE FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

GOOD DOLLAR

BBuilding a healthier, more resilient, and human-centered capitalism is fundamental to Anna Stone’s being. Together with her longstanding interest in economics, it’s not surprising this forms the core of her work in web3 impact and innovation at eToro. Here, she’s developing a web3-forward social impact and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy.

Anna’s main focus at eToro – a leading social investment network revolutionizing the way people invest – is to deliver on its ‘vision for financial education and empowerment in digital assets.’

Her multi-faced role has close links to GoodDollar, a social innovation initiative that eToro sponsors. As GoodDollar’s Protocol co-founder and former Executive Director, Anna describes it as a crypto UBI protocol and social impact DAO. It aims to ‘reduce financial inequality for the 5.5 billion underbanked through improving access to digital assets and the new digital economy, built on blockchain.’

Leveraging decentralized finance protocols, she explains the GoodDollar ecosystem delivers global universal basic income (UBI) to the world by offering free crypto UBI in G$ tokens. Ranked in the top 10 of all DeFi Dapps globally, GoodDollar uses a simple digital web3 wallet for nontechnical users.

“Our focus is reducing the entry barriers so any person can access web3 and give them real crypto they can use to learn-by-doing to build wealth.”

In addition, GoodDollar provides education and community-focused tools to teach people about crypto while doing good for others.

New solutions for structural challenges

Anna’s enthusiasm for economics especially incorporates understanding how technology and innovation enable new solutions for long-entrenched structural and social challenges like financial inequality, or lack of access to capital.

We’re only at the earliest stages of seeing how crypto and blockchain will revolutionize financial services and access to capital markets in emerging markets and underbanked populations.

Following 10+ years’ experience in marketing and business development strategy in high growth markets, she’s spent the past 4+ years establishing and growing web3 protocols and DAOs – while working in blockchain and specializing in building a more open financial system.

At eToro, Anna’s initiatives are diverse. They include establishing a working model to fight wealth inequality by contributing to decentralized protocols and DAOs, operationalizing millions in social impact grants, and spearheading new money flow/revenue models to support web3 social impact causes.

Anna enthuses about the fact that ‘any person with a cell phone is able to use GoodDollar.’ She asserts it will most benefit people in countries like Nigeria, Argentina, and Vietnam that are isolated from the global economy and underserved by traditional financial services.

De-Fi the way forward

Described by LinkedIn peers as a ‘brilliant strategist,’ this native New Yorker is highly regarded as a specialist in blockchain and digital asset technologies.

With her stated belief – re-thinking money to build a better world – Anna commented in an interview (ladiesgetpaid.com), that crypto is more accessible than it’s ever been. And in her own experience, ‘the only way to really start learning about crypto is to get skin in the game.’ She’s also recently tweeted about ‘preaching the gospel on DeFi as the way forward for financial inclusion and connecting the financially ring-fenced to capital markets.’

Viewing the Metaverse as ‘the next generation internet where we own our data and assets, directly,’ Anna remarks there’s been a big push toward mass adoption these past 18 months. With the explosion of NFTs onboarding over one million crypto users to web3, she’s witnessed

a brand-new trend – every major brand, media and entertainment companies recognizing that NFTs and Metaverse ARE their digital strategy to stay relevant.

Exciting web3 opportunities

As for Metaverse opportunities, Anna gets animated thinking about the web3 opportunities for some of web2’s most promising (but challenging) use cases. These include decentralized content platforms and social media as well as decentralized data storage.

However, in the world of crypto, she remarks ‘consumer protection, education and regulation remain some of the biggest barriers to mass adoption.’ In her view, the biggest risk is ‘the narrative of crypto asset speculation overpowering our society and government’s ability to understand crypto’s technological potential.’

Anna’s fundamental belief is that every human being has the right to be connected to the financial system and basic economic assets, no matter where they’re born or what passport they hold. “This is what inspires me to work on onboarding people to web3 via crypto universal basic income systems.”

With her assertion – that crypto really does enable us to dream about money in new ways, and creating money systems more aligned to social, financial and economic justice values – this upbeat innovator is following her own light-hearted advice, that ‘nothing is new, as you’re both later and earlier than you think you are’.

As for the future, she’s hopeful about her long-term legacy for GoodDollar and its growing, global, impassioned community – ‘to make a meaningful contribution in using web3 to reduce global poverty, and inspiring others to do the same.’

CHAPTER 4

Legal, Governance & Compliance

I know nothing of man’s rights, or woman’s rights; human rights are all that I recognize.

Sarah M. Grimke

JOANN HOLMES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & DIGITAL ASSETS ATTORNEY & ADVISOR

I’m unapologetic that I love to make my clients money because the reality is that wealth equals choices and I particularly want women and people of color to have more choices.

JJoAnn Holmes is one of those genuine people that instantly make you feel at ease. Poised, professional and warm, this Atlanta-based Intellectual Property (IP) and Digital Assets attorney is one of relatively few attorneys that has leapt into web3 and the Metaverse. Despite only having been in the space since 2021, she’s already excelling at helping web3 entrepreneurs and organizations identify strategic opportunities, and navigate evolving legal risks.

With a Juris Doctorate and an impressive career spanning more than 20 years, JoAnn has been described as extremely diligent, with a quick, yet thoughtful, approach to problem-solving.

She runs her own practice, Holmes@Law, which she started in 2015. Her two focus areas are digital asset law (NFTs, DAOs, the Metaverse, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain tech), and IP, which entails advising clients about traditional intellectual property, as well as IP licensing of brands, content, software, and expertise.

Since transitioning into web3 last year, JoAnn has primarily been helping ‘innovators, brands and creators develop smart web3 strategy, monetize IP and digital assets, and negotiate successful deals.’

Technology and IP focus

As a self-confessed geek (according to her Twitter profile), her legal practice has always focused on technology and IP. She’s worked in intellectual property, global portfolio management, as well as licensing and monetization. These include closing profitable contracts with Disney, Microsoft, and the NFL, managing intangible assets generating more than $2 billion in annual revenue, and overseeing IP portfolios spanning more than 125 countries.

JoAnn’s astute business mindset benefits her clients at different phases of their business. “At the beginning phase − when clients are planning what their product or service offering is going to be in the web3 space, they need visibility around the legal issues that will impact what they’re

building. Later, as they grow and scale, they need a trusted legal advisor who can help them understand how the law is evolving.”

Law changes impact digital assets

Besides helping entrepreneurs to handle legal risks and build the legal architecture to support their business objectives, JoAnn informs them how law changes may impact their web3 businesses.

“The Biden administration has issued a government review of digital assets, so different regulatory agencies in our federal government are going to issue guidance that will impact digital assets.”

Litigation − like the precedent where judges and juries decide on disputes in court cases − will also impact the law of web3.

JoAnn is candid that her incentive for being in this very new web3 law space is because she believes it offers opportunity for more egalitarian, IP-based wealth.

“I’m unapologetic that I love to make my clients money, because the reality is that wealth equals

choices and I particularly want women and people of color to have more choices.”

Digital opportunity

In her view, the Metaverse already exists, remarking that especially young people are actively engaged in building virtual communities.

“The Metaverse is going to create a digital opportunity for us to align around affinity and culture and do what we naturally do as humans.”

As for its impact, JoAnn anticipates it will open opportunities for education and economic positioning that didn’t exist before. However, she’s concerned about the need for more diversity in the space, adding that ‘inclusion must happen by design.’

With lack of education and the need for easier, more user friendly interfaces hampering mass adoption of new digital technologies, JoAnn admits ‘getting involved in the web3 ecosystem can be quite challenging if you don’t know the language, the tools and resources.’

JOANN HOLMES’ METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS

1. Learn from quality, trusted resources − connect, follow and reach out to professionals in the space.

2. Set a Google alert for different web3 terms, together with your interest/ profession and do the same search with LinkedIn.

3. YouTube’s Whiteboard Crypto channel breaks down web3 concepts using very simple, accessible visualization.

More opportunities for wealth and technology

After practicing law for 23 years, she never imagined she’d be so thrilled about her career at this stage. “Web3 law is literally changing daily, so there’s no room to rest on your laurels. Besides, this work is such fun intellectually because it requires me to learn and be engaged.”

What about the future? JoAnn is ‘most excited about opportunities for wealth and technology to be distributed to a broader group of people than who have been included in the past.’

In between her busy practice, she’s a committed Christian, dedicating many hours to various community service projects. When not working, JoAnn quips that her ‘favorite indulgences are a spa massage and eating coconut cream pie.’

Her motto − to live with intention – couldn’t be more real than her modest hope for a legacy that everyone she interacts with, ‘will have learnt something and be better for the time spent together.’

holmesatlaw

DR. ALINA MATYUKHINA HEAD OF CYBERSECURITY

SIEMENS SMART INFRASTRUCTURE, BUILDING AUTOMATION

‘‘In the last few years, the complexity and number of cyber-attacks on critical infrastructures such as hospitals and power plants have continued to increase. Cybersecurity is more crucial than ever.

EEver since childhood, mathematics was always Alina Matyukhina’s favorite lesson at school in Ukraine, her birth country. As her skills and passion for mathematics continued growing, she received multiple awards and academic achievements, including a PhD in Computer Science at age 25 – focusing on software security and data privacy. But having always dreamt of solving real problems to help society, Alina wanted more. Now, this respected global cybersecurity expert may already have exceeded that dream.

As Head of Cybersecurity – for Siemens Smart Infrastructure, Building Automation – Alina’s at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation,

handling cyber risk in the vitally important smart building sector. She’s responsible for ensuring that products and solutions for critical infrastructures and buildings worldwide meet the required cybersecurity standards while supporting the needs of users and stakeholders.

Described as a ‘rare, exceptional talent’ and an ‘inspiration to others’, accolades for Switzerland-based Alina highlight her contribution to making our world a safer place by protecting people’s livelihood and privacy on a global scale.

These include German business magazine Bilanz naming her a Digital Shaper in its

Cybersecurity Guards category (2021); making Top Cyber News Magazine’s 40 under 40 Cybersecurity list; named one of the Top women in Tech in Switzerland to Follow (2022); and most recently, winning Women in Tech’s prestigious 2022 Global Leadership Award in Europe.

Now in cybersecurity for seven years, Alina’s journey in the sector started in 2015 – while working as an academic researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. It was there she discovered her ‘research in mathematics and number theory could be applied to solve security problems using encryption algorithms.’

Aside from Siemens, Alina is also Chair of the Smart Cities and infrastructure working group at the Swiss Cyber Institute, which aims to improve industrial digital security in Switzerland and globally. In addition, she’s a regular speaker and cybersecurity trainer at global events and conferences.

Need for more cyberheroes

Alina comments that the ‘idea of helping and making our world a safer place has always been a driving force in my life as a cybersecurity professional.’

She remarks ‘we need more cyberheroes’ as women comprise roughly only 24% of

cybersecurity professionals. She asserts diversity is key in cybersecurity, to bring innovative solutions and voice different perspectives on important challenges.

“There are still very few female role models, which are critical to inspire more women to join tech careers.”

Alina displayed her humbleness and admiration for fellow cyberheroes earlier this year, when accepting her award as Cybersecurity Woman of the Year 2022. “What really makes my heart sing is to see a greater representation of women, who without any fear, drive innovation with their application and extraordinary work.”

Cybersecurity more crucial than ever

Alina remarks that back in the day, closed doors offered enough physical protection against outside threats. But market trends like IT/OT convergence, increased connectivity, cloud connection as well as relying on Internet of Things (IoT) technology are creating new security challenges for building industry and critical infrastructures.

Writing in 2021 in Forbes magazine, she explains smart buildings use ‘automated processes to control operations such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting and security.’ Many smart buildings rely on IoT technology, which is managed by sensors that collect data and software to minimize energy use and environmental impact.

Alina comments in the International Security Journal (ISJ), the problem is that ‘building systems are no longer isolated virtually or physically’ because it’s easy to add IoT devices to any network.

“Since internet-connected devices can be accessed and controlled from anywhere in the world, they can communicate with each other and with an organization’s IT systems, making them part of the larger enterprise-wide network.”

The higher the connectivity, the higher an IT department’s security concerns – and with building devices communicating via the

internet – cyberhackers may attack through the building’s systems and devices.

With studies showing that 57% of IoT devices are vulnerable to medium or high-severity attacks – Alina stresses ‘cybersecurity is more crucial than ever,’ especially for critical infrastructures like hospitals, data centers and power plants.

Accelerating industrial Metaverse

For her, it’s essential to work in a domain that has a good impact on society. At Siemens, Alina’s doing just that – combining information technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) to create innovative, industrial IoT products and solutions for smart buildings and critical infrastructure globally.

Turning to the Metaverse, she defines it as a ‘combination of the real and the digital worlds across operational and information technology to make decisions faster and with increased confidence.’ But cybersecurity operates in the industrial Metaverse, which Alina says is ‘accelerating at astronomical speed.’

According to 4sight.cloud, the Industrial Metaverse is ‘a new ecosystem in which new information and communication technologies represented by IoT, AI, and digital twins are deeply integrated with the real economy.’

Alina envisages the industrial Metaverse will allow us to interact, learn and adapt with the new environment. But she warns as it evolves technically, there’ll be constantly changing risks in cybersecurity, its legal framework, and the methods used by cybercriminals.

And while Alina maintains a work-life balance Alpine hiking and enjoying beautiful Swiss landscapes, she’s truly living her passion: “Constantly being challenged to learn new and emerging technologies is what motivates me to go to work every day. And so is the cybersecurity field – it’s always changing, so you can never stop learning!”

PAMELA NORTON CEO & FOUNDER

TITLECHAIN

BBrimming with energy and determination, Pamela Norton is a highly experienced visionary, tech futurist, dot-connector and entrepreneur with a ‘can do’ mindset. She’s a committed supporter of privacy-preserving AI and is determined to make an impact in the web3 and Metaverse space by taking back control of data privacy and safeguarding ownership rights of digital assets.

Alongside her role as a dedicated mother of two children, who Pamela proudly declares ‘are the love of my life’, Pamela is the CEO and founder of TitleChain – a decentralized finance/financial technology (DeFi/Fintech) startup. She firmly believes that digital assets combined with blockchain technology can provide a gateway to democratize access to capital markets for everyone, everywhere. Her belief in distributed ledger technology (DLT) which is commonly referred to as web3, blockchain, crypto and is the foundation of the Metaverse, led her to the title chain concept. “I started connecting the dots,” says Pamela, “to understand the power of an immutable ledger, property rights, and frictionless monetary systems. I was inspired to create a new asset class and filed a patent for a decentralized title and transfer of assets to safeguard ownership rights

and reduce the use of counterfeit goods, pirated software, and theft of trade secrets that cost the U.S. economy between $226-billion and $600-billion annually.”

A framework for a hypeconnected world of trust

Pamela is ambitiously seeking to commercialize the technology through her company TitleChain. She’s offering next generation digital asset title services, targeting the $31-trillion market for intangible assets for inventors, creators and change makers of patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. She believes that the tokenization of these intangible ‘asset-backed’ digital assets can bring trillions of dollars of tangible real assets for selling, trading, borrowing/lending, and fractionalized (shared) ownership rights, into a decentralized finance marketplace for all.

It’s her mission to create a framework for a hyperconnected world of trust, where every object can self-authenticate, transact, sense its environment, transmit secure information, and process transactions via a decentralized network.

I am committed to bringing trust, transparency and security into a web3 world powered by blockchain technology to transform our global economy into a more creator-led, open, inclusive, and democratic ecosystem.

‘‘

Pamela states emphatically that the rapid growth of autonomous smart devices, cloud computing, distributed ledger technology, quantum computing, and AI machine learning, and the Metaverse, calls for a global standard for trusted connected devices to power a transparent web3 economy and Metaverse.

“These trusted connected devices will be our Metaverse systems, personal data and digital e-wallets that will store all our connected physical/digital assets in the future. Our future demands us to serve the needs of the ‘global’ digitalized society to ensure privacy, trust decentralization, openness, inclusion, security and global cooperation,” states Pamela. “From corporations securing essential I.P. to consumers validating their life and assets, I have committed my time, talents and finances

PAMELA NORTON’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS AND RESOURCES

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to leading the market to design a framework that fuses our physical ‘real-world’ to blockchain and the Metaverse, with the most secure identity, hardware, software and data layer to build the trusted ‘machine to machine transactions’ of the future.”

Pamela’s desire is to help foster new ideas, innovation and opportunities for entrepreneurs, inventors and creators worldwide. She formed TitleChain as a vehicle to empower those ideas by offering a new class of digital assets and ownership rights to spur creative ideas of the Metaverse that are still to be invented.

Advocating for women lead initiatives

A determined female serial tech entrepreneur, Pamela advocates for women-led startups to

be more highly valued in the tech industry. With a goal to launch new legislation to power up innovative female-led web3 companies to overcome obstacles to secure funding, Pamela submitted her testimony to the House Finance Technology Committee outlining a detailed plan to introduce the Fintech Business Act of 2022. The new law would provide a tax incentive to every investor who funds a women led or gender diverse web3/Metaverse startup. She impelled the Committee Task Force on Financial Technology to prioritize and pass digital asset legislation to encourage entrepreneurs to safely innovate the DeFi/ web3 economy.

Pamela’s vision for the future is heartening: “I believe in a future where people, regardless of status, wealth, or geography, will be able to participate in the emerging edge ‘Metaverse’ economy. A future in which we restore trusted connections with ourselves, each other, our countries, communities, the products we consume, and the environment that has been entrusted to us to care for and love. A belief in the future that harnesses technology for the good of society and all stakeholders, not just big tech.” When not reshaping the world this dynamic innovator is sincere in her philosophy to focus on what really matters and finding pleasure in the simplest moments.

pamelaannnorton mspamelaann

MARLOES POMP ADVISOR WEB3/ METAVERSE/DAOS

SSurrounded by the North Sea and without natural dunes, the Netherlands built vast dikes to protect farms and communities from flooding, for half the population and land are below sea level.

Rising tides of technology face the same approach: the Dutch government realize the failures of web2 and is taking proactive steps to steer a safer, inclusive, transparent, and verifiable internet.

Who keeps a country’s internet safe and transparent? Who works to increase trust on

the internet? Blockchain technology makes a better digital society possible.

Marloes Pomp is the initiator and program officer for various blockchain projects within the Dutch government and is responsible for the international strategy of the Dutch Blockchain Coalition. The Dutch Blockchain Coalition is a jointly developed partnership by industry, government and knowledge institutions. Together they have assumed a leading role and joint responsibility for the success of the national blockchain action agenda to drive a ‘Blockchain for Good.’

Currently, Marloes is CEO of WordProof. WordProof wants to create a new standard for a more reliable and trustworthy internet with the help of blockchain technology.

“Decentralisation is the next step in the digitalization of society,” said Marloes. “Dutch organizations, government bodies, and industries are working in tandem to realize a safer internet. Blockchain systems are verifiable, transparent, robust, flexible and agile. Web3 is an opportunity to change the principles and values of web3. If we leave the future of the internet to the Big Tech

The way to bring about change is to be proactive – not reactive. The Dutch know this better than most other nations.

companies of today, we will have the same problems as the current internet. It can – and must – be improved through decentralisation.”

Marloes’ professional interests focus on tech innovation within the public domain. She’s set up numerous blockchain, AI and immersive tech projects within the Dutch government and serves as a new technologies management training expert. Prior to the blockchain and AI activities, Marloes worked in several roles as a project leader and researcher at government organizations, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the City of Amsterdam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition, she serves as an advisory member for the SIDN Fund, the Dutch Court, The Blockchain and

Society Board of the University of Amsterdam (VU) and the Research Foundation Flanders. Marloes also works as an advisor at the Netherlands AI Coalition.

She is a member of the Steering Committee of the European AI Forum. On this platform, entrepreneurs and policymakers jointly determine the path forward for European AI innovation. She also works part-time for the Data Science Initiative, supporting The Hague’s Peace and Justice ecosystem with state-of-art AI and machine learning tools and knowledge. The goal is to grow this into a European AI Security Hub.

The opportunities web3 provides excites and inspires Marloes: “My work focuses on bringing the creative and tech sector together for these professionals to exchange knowledge and inspire each other. It also creates a space for investors and other interested parties to learn more about web3, the Metaverse and its potential. The nature of tech is that it develops from small innovation cycles.”

Her approach is to follow innovations with an open mind: “In 2017, we were playing with crypto kittens when we had no idea what they were; now, it is one of the largest NFT providers. Looking back on them, we can see we were testing how digital ownership works.”

Blockchain and web3 technology have the potential to impact the world in limitless ways. Marloes’ viewpoint is that, “The role of communities and networks will become more critical; the ownership economy will transform business models; new types of organizational forms such as DAOs will change the future of work.”

“The Metaverse doesn’t exist yet,” explained Marloes. “The Metaverse is a seamless convergence of our physical and digital lives, creating a unified, virtual community where we can work, play, learn, relax, transact, and socialize. The Metaverse will impact every industry. For organizations, a presence in the Metaverse will be just as significant as

a website is now. The Metaverse can really improve things, especially in the field of education.”

Building an internet of the future that’s socially inclusive, safer, reliable, and transparent is not a job for Marloes; it is her life’s mission. Web3 gives her that platform.

Humanities, Healthcare & Education

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Maya Angelou

Be certain that you do not die without having done something wonderful for humanity.

INGRID VASILIU FELTES USA COUNTRY

As the world transitions into web3 and the Metaverse, Dr. Ingrid Vasiliu-Feltes MD MBA stands out prominently as a distinguished global thought leader with a human-centric approach, who is advocating for digital ethics and compliance in this new realm, coupled with an emphasis on education and health.

Recipient of numerous awards, most notably the WBAF World Excellence Award for Social Entrepreneurship 2021, Dr. Vasiliu-Feltes wears countless hats. She is CEO of Softhread (a blockchain technology company), expert advisor to the European Union Blockchain Observatory Forum, Sr. Senator and Secretary General of the Science, Technology and Innovation committee, Secretary General Research Institute, as well as USA Country Director for the World Business Angel Investment Forum (WBAF) – an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), Board Member and Chief Innovation Officer of Government Blockchain Association, Board Member of the Partners in Digital Health Institute, and the Founder and CEO of the institute for Science Entrepreneurship and Investment. The impressive list continues. She is also an author of several books and teaches the University of Miami Business School’s MBA program as well as at the WBAF Business School.

Dr. Vasiliu-Feltes has completed her postgraduate medical training at New York’s Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Complementing her academic and clinical career, she completed an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Miami, with specialty certification in Health Sector Management and Policy. She holds several certifications, such as Bioethics from Harvard, Artificial Intelligence and Business Strategy from MIT Sloan, Blockchain Technology and Business Innovation from MIT Sloan, Finance from Harvard Business School, Negotiation from Harvard Law School, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

The new digital era requires a moral and ethical approach to business

With 20 years of healthcare experience in clinical compliance, quality assurance and pediatric ethics, she regards quality and patient safety near and dear to her. This is evident through her work in the tech industry where she strongly promotes a moral and ethical approach to doing business in the new digital era.

Dr. Vasiliu-Feltes is a global thought leader on digital advocacy, digital ethics and digital transformation, contributing to numerous global initiatives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) 2030. She is involved in web3 as an angel investor, as CEO of Softhread, Chief Innovation Officer and as Board Member of Government Blockchain Association.

“I became interested in digital identity and selfsovereignty several years ago and decentralized web architecture immediately surfaced as the optimal pathway to change the paradigm globally,” she asserts. The opportunities she envisages in the next five years in web3 and the Metaverse are democratized access to data, data ownership and data monetization, as well as a reduction in the digital, financial and educational divides.

In her opinion, the Metaverse can have a profound transformative and disruptive impact on all facets of society and the business ecosystem. “There will be a redesign, reconfiguration, and recalibration of the way we live, work, educate and interact.”

Global leaders need to be versatile, agile and resilient

Speaking as guest of honor at the Global Emerging Leaders Awards 2022, Dr VasiliuFeltes stated a famous quote: ‘The best way to predict the future is to build it ourselves.’

She emphasized the important role that global emerging leaders can play in the current postpandemic global landscape fraught with social, political and economic risks and adversities.

She advocates for authentic, purposeful and inspirational leadership. “These unprecedented times call for innovative solutions and a revised approach to manage this volatile global business environment, so that we can adapt to major emerging technologies.”

Reminding us that for leaders to be successful in this new digital era, versatility, agility and resilience are key. To manage a global hybrid workforce, reskilling and upskilling is important, and rethinking how to identify, select, retrain and retain talent. Adjusting to a new multi-sensorial immersive, embedded collaboration system and new training models is also necessary, as traditional instruction methods do not seem to meet the needs for a current generation.

Leaders must also be comfortable with evaluating and deploying new frontier technology and new disruptive ideas. She makes the point that companies should not merely buy the next technology, but use it to truly transform their human resources, in the way they train their staff, engage with them, and in retaining talent in the current new ecosystem. Business models would need to be pivoted appropriately, along with revenue streams and marketing strategy as all those facets are required to transform.

“Global leaders in the digital era,” Dr. VasiliuFeltes impresses, “are expected to lead ethically, with integrity and empathy, aligned with the UN SDG 2030. These are demanded by the post-pandemic workforce and society.” She adds that for long-term sustainability of businesses in the web3/Metaverse space, education and health need to be a key emphasis.

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IngridVasiliu

IngridVasiliuFeltes

USA

WWhen prominent medical and tech pioneers describe surgeon and futurist Dr. Sana Farid as a true leader, visionary, and innovator, it confirms that she is light years ahead of people twice her age.

Despite her youth, shy smile and calm disposition, it’s clear nothing will deter Dr. Sana’s mission to push the boundaries of innovation. Her pursuit is to use emerging technologies including Extended Reality (XR) to enhance the healthcare industry and ultimately make the world a better place.

Named as one of the top 100 voices in XR worldwide, Dr. Sana says her work focuses on navigating the uncharted waters of immersive technologies to research and develop impactful programs.

“My main objective is to turn technology to a good account and break the barriers of physical limitations.”

When she’s not forging ahead as an XR expert, educator, and author, Dr. Sana participates in podcast interviews and presents at the World Economic Forum and other high-profile global conferences, often as the youngest speaker.

Pioneering use of immersive technologies Bahrain-based Dr. Sana currently serves as Chair of the Healthcare Committee of the VRAR Association, and is also President of the association’s MENA chapter, one of many in cities worldwide. VRAR, recognized as the world’s largest global community working in immersive technologies like AR and VR, focuses on setting industry standards for the meaningful use of immersive technologies. Dr. Sana explains that advancing immersive technologies, entails ‘creating application standards, designing implementation strategies, defining best practices to help organizations benefit from the technologies and developing initiatives to ensure safe utilization of XR.’

As an entrepreneurial educator, she enjoys creating education and training programs using VR and AR. These are designed to ‘enhance the

The possibilities within the Metaverse are phenomenal, a revolution to build bridges and bring people together for cohesiveness and communal goals.

DR. SANA FARID MEDICAL DOCTOR AND FUTURIST

learning experience by being engaging and bringing lessons to life while providing real time collaboration and assessment.’

In addition, Dr. Sana uses immersive technology like XR in therapeutic programs to improve patient experience.

“XR adds marvelous value to painful therapeutic procedures as we are able to revolutionize patient experience undergoing chemotherapy, burns, and limb loss, she explains.”

Revolutionizing healthcare with XR and AI

While practicing as a surgeon, Dr. Sana realized the need for substantial training and efficient doctor-patient interaction. Already then, displaying wisdom and insight way beyond her years, she quickly grasped how immersive technologies could revolutionize the learning process and break the barriers of physical limitations.

Initiating multiple impact programs − to address issues like infant resuscitation and poor education standards in developing countries –enabled her to’ learn the power of intelligent connectivity and web3 to democratize healthcare and transform centuries-old practices.’

Dr. Sana is confident that numerous organizations, educational institutions and healthcare providers will benefit from web3 technologies, because they’ll make ‘necessities like education and healthcare available for everybody everywhere.’

Technological evolution

Her view of the Metaverse is a universe that combines the capabilities of incredible platforms of Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and the Internet to create a physically persistent, collective virtual shared space. She’s impressed by how it accurately emulates real-life scenarios, thus enabling people to connect with the world more effectively.

Encouraged by the emerging ideas and innovations in web3 technologies, Dr. Sana predicts that within five years, they’re going to transform individual lives as experiences and services become more accessible, affordable, immersive and personalized. The convergence of technologies, including the Metaverse,

will be a key enabler in revolutionizing every industry, adds Dr. Sana.

As for the medical field, there’s a sparkle in her expressive brown eyes when enthusing how ‘immersive technologies are going to revolutionize every experience in medicine, from medical education to therapy, surgery, and even pharmaceutical development.’

Be open-minded and resilient

Dr. Sana is convinced the acceleration of technological evolution technology will allow us to do in the next ten years what we’ve done in the last 100 years. However, she advises that to harness the power of web3 and the Metaverse, we must ‘constantly be open minded and resilient about the changes as they come and be patient with the speed of technology.”

As for the future, Dr. Sana’s excitement stems from collaborative learning and utilizing human capital to enhance life experiences, “I hope to see people aiming to impact more lives and striving to make progress in the best possible manner while feeling empathy for one another.”

“Even though my journey has been extremely overwhelming, it’s been rewarding. XR and the Metaverse have shown me how small changes can make a significant impact on human lives, even beyond my physical reach.”

DR. SANA FARID’S WEB 3 TIPS AND RESOURCES

1. Believe in the power of human intelligence and collaboration, it’s what will help us create exponential impact.

2. Innovative technologies carry a universe of opportunities, it is our responsibility to make the best use of it.

3. Be optimistic about innovation, it will either help us achieve success or it’s a stepping stone. It is our only portal to a diversity of thought and inclusion.

4. Recommended resources: The VRAR Association, XR Safety Initiatives (https://xrsi.org/).

5. LinkedIn newsletter What’s up with Tech? by Techfluencer Evan Kirstel.

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DR. MARTHA BOECKENFELD DEAN & PARTNER

METAVERSE ACADEMY

“IIaim to make virtual reality become real in a human way.” Dr. Martha Boeckenfeld is passionate about supporting the leaders and shapers of tomorrow. The world is on the precipice of a new digital transformation – and it is undoubtedly a defining moment for society as we know it. Just as when the internet first arrived, businesses and people must now push through a new wave of technology disruption.

“The Metaverse remains invisible for the normal person on the street.” Dr. Martha Boeckenfeld plays a decisive role in designing that future, asserting: “What really matters to us as a society is how the Metaverse can create value for all of us, improve our lives and create a better future.”

Metaverse: Evolution of humanity

“The Metaverse is an evolution of a set of possibilities for how we will live our lives,” believes Dr. Boeckenfeld. “I see the Metaverse as an ecosystem of experiences that spans the spectrum of digitally enhanced worlds, realities and business models fully interconnected and interoperable. As the next evolution of the internet, the Metaverse will be the interaction of rapidly emerging skills, use cases, technologies and experiences.”

Becoming part of the evolution of the Metaverse, society must take the opportunity to ensure that the next wave of the internet is developed with responsibility at its nucleus. She emphasizes this importance for

The Metaverse is an evolution of a set of possibilities for how we will live our lives.

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the evolution of humanity in an increasingly digital existence: “From ownership of data to inclusion and diversity, to sustainability, to security and personal safety, we need to shape our future together.”

“What was previously a privilege for gamers almost now informs all the experiences of the Metaverse: storytelling, immersion, aspiration, progression, identity, and socialization. I am still amazed about the new experiences the Metaverse provides for all fields in our life, and I feel privileged being part of the next paradigm shift in our society.”

Dr. Boeckenfeld is Dean and Partner at the Metaverse Academy, and holds several advisory roles including at Engage AI Digital, GenTwo, and is an ambassador for AllStarsWomen NFT Club and DAO, BeyondGenderAgenda, and ‘Women in Metaverse, web3 and VR’. It is as a Thought Leader and expert in web3 and its applications that Dr. Boeckenfeld passionately believes in tech, blockchain, and the Metaverse. “The key factors for dynamically driving digital transformation are the mindset of digital leaders and the power of innovation and inclusion to develop and execute forward-thinking concepts.”

Encouraging tomorrow’s change-makers means empowering thinkers today. In this spirit, the Metaverse Academy is founded to enable companies and individuals to be part of the exciting future through community building and actively engaging in the Metaverse. The faculty will consist of world-class creators, artists, tech, and industry experts. Its first cohorts started already successfully in March 2022. The Metaverse Academy creates classes to address the needs of everyone – with a Metaverse Ready, Strategist, Web3, tailormade and C-Level offering. Individuals will be able to resell or upskill as Metaverse professionals or leaders, or even whole companies, to become part of the next paradigm shift. Apart from education, the company supports companies in all aspects of creating a 360-degree experience: strategy, NFTs, avatars, web3, and virtual real estate. Dr. Boeckenfeld comments: “we are passionate about creating an inclusive academy for the Metaverse, about the Metaverse, in the Metaverse, for everyone, everywhere.”

Creativity: Shaping the world

In her roles at inter alia Engage AI Digital, GenTwo, vision&, AllStarsWomen NFT Club and DAO, and BeyondGenderAgenda, Dr. Boeckenfeld supports companies to benefit from her experience in this unknown field to develop their strategies, bring them to life and explore growth opportunities for clients. She describes her mission: “In building the Metaverse ecosystems, we can connect all players in the Metaverse –consumers, creators, tech, and business to shape our future together.”

As a GenTwo advisory board member, she enables the company to create a community of innovators and startups and collaborate, connect, and create products to make assets bankable and share experiences. GenTwoDigital works in particular on digital assets, helping clients access this new asset class.

At vision&, she supports the company to consult institutions along the entire digital asset journey- from the conceptual phase of a digital asset project all the way until the strategy comes to life during the actual implementation and creation of tokens, NFTs in the real world and the Metaverse.

At Engage AI Digital, Dr. Boeckenfeld empowers the creation of a pool of emerging technology thought leaders and partners with human-centred organisations to convert their vision into reality. Engage AI Digital held its first phygital event with the successful funding of several startups in India with 3 million viewers.

She staunchly believes in diversity and inclusion and actively participates in several communities. At the AllStarsWomen NFT Club and DAO, a Metaverse woman network of founders, entrepreneurs, and investors, she supports bringing diversity and inclusion to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. As an ambassador of BeyondGenderAgenda, Dr. Boeckenfeld seeks to improve the long-term international competitiveness of the German economy by integrating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) into the DNA of listed and medium-sized companies.

Dr. Boeckenfeld’s work as a member of ‘Women in Metaverse, Web3 and VR’ focuses on encouraging women to thrive in this new economy.

Healthcare: Our greatest gift

The healthcare and education sectors are the immanent use cases to change people’s lives directly. The Metaverse provides these innovators and innovations tools to achieve their goals. These companies and leaders will require critical assets, including massive amounts of patient data. In such a significant area, it is collaboration and not competition that will drive forward change. She underlines this: “The ‘Healthverse’ will need the entire world and their leaders to work together to overcome the obstacles, such as legal and regulatory, on the path to standardization, including the adoption of smart technology.”

New spaces in the Metaverse will let patients interact with clinicians, peers and enterprises at a distance (Internet of Place). Healthcare organizations will shift part of their operations to the Metaverse, maintaining their own internal virtual environments so employees can work from anywhere and collaborate in new ways based on data that can be validated and authenticated by the employee and the patient (Internet of Ownership). In fact, many medical professionals are already actively using the Metaverse technology to shift the future healthcare paradigm.

Education: Becoming better humans

“Success in the workplace of tomorrow will require mastery of a suite of skills for a changing world,” says Dr. Boeckenfeld. “Such skills, like collaboration, critical thinking and creative innovation broaden our view of achievement beyond core academic subjects like reading and math.”

As Nelson Mandela famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” With this, Dr. Boeckenfeld believes that education through the Metaverse and web3, virtual worlds can create more engaging and meaningful experiences for students of all ages, from fine arts to foreign languages to ancient history.

“My mission is to support the society to learn more about the Metaverse and discover the opportunities together to create a better world for all of us. As we build beyond the universe with new experiences, technology is only the enabler, but we must not lose sight of the most important element: people.”

LAVINIA OSBOURNE FOUNDER & CEO WOMEN IN BLOCKCHAIN TALKS Blockchain is the future of entertainment, business, and money; and it’s important that we all take our place in it.

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When fintech entrepreneur and blockchain expert Lavinia Osbourne was growing up in a one-parent family household comprising only of women, she was acutely aware of how important money was. But little did she know how significant the challenges of her impoverished childhood would be in determining the blueprint for her successful career in digital assets and blockchain.

London-based Lavinia is founder and CEO of Women in Blockchain Talks (WiBT), the UK’s most diverse blockchain educational and networking platform. Her work in this award-winning company has resulted in various well-deserved accolades. These include Wirex’s Rising Women in Crypto 2021, a 2020 TechWomen100 winner, 2022 CogX Gender Equality Leader Award Winner, and one of 15 thought leaders included in the 2021 LinkedIn Top Voices in Tech and Innovation.

Breaking barriers through blockchain

As an agent for change in blockchain and spearheading NFT development, Lavinia works tirelessly to break barriers by raising underrepresented voices because ‘there’s space for everyone to learn, grow, and benefit.’ WiBT, she explains, focuses on dynamic women in the blockchain ecosystem, while also providing different ways of learning for women with or without technical skills to enter the emerging blockchain tech space.

Lavinia’s efforts in highlighting diversity – including her unwavering passion to uplift and empower women − have earned the respect of her peers, who admire her spirit and commitment. Moreover, her unassuming warmth, engaging style and ability to consistently communicate real clarity of thought has made her a sought-after speaker.

After experiencing the negative aftermath of the 2008 global financial crash, Lavinia decided to learn the basics of financial education, a subject rarely taught at school. Later, she started a financial wellbeing consultancy whilst ignoring hurtful comments from previous bosses that had indirectly told her she wanted too much and should know her place. Even though she confesses that building a business from scratch was not easy, her AHA moment came when she realized ‘how Bitcoin –decentralized money – was creating new wealth for many people outside the normal demographic of socio-economic growth.’

Tech is part of our lives

Having seen many changes in both the Metaverse and web3 over the last year, she comments that the value decline of Crypto is impacting all digital assets, including NFTs.

With NFTs ‘key to the movement of wealth, Lavinia also created Crypto Kweens NFT Marketplace, where one of her hopes is that the percentage of women artists making sales from NFTs will increase from only 5% in 2021.

Viewing the Metaverse as an evolution of the internet, Lavinia asserts that its ‘impact and opportunities will be similar to those we have already seen, just amplified and in a different, more engaged format.’ She adds it will affect how we communicate, work together, socialize, engage with our (financial) assets and, ourselves.’

However, most important for her in this new space is decentralization, and what it means in creating more equity, wealth creation and generational wealth for those wishing to use various Dapps to create, invest, and share.

Adding value to the space

In her life journey, Lavinia has evidently not allowed being from a low economic demographic, as an Afro-Caribbean, to inhibit her as she candidly confesses, she would ‘honestly not change anything.’ However, she advises others that ‘you truly need to know why you are in this space, what value you want to add to it, as well as take from it.’

And with her seeing ‘education as the biggest barrier to the digital revolution,’ another suggestion is needing to create incentives particularly for older and marginalized people to engage in all this new tech. Equally important is accessibility for people in society that aren’t so tech savvy or have the funds to engage.

One of her many ambitions is to help to create ‘a safer environment for people to purchase, sell, create and hold their NFTs, with actionable and affordable recourse if their digital asset is stolen.’

Asked what inspires her most about the future, she responds, ‘all the possibilities to create, add value and see the development of this space.’

“If there are enough good and diverse voices converging (decentralized) blockchain tech, Metaverse technology (AR, VR, AI, etc.,) and web3 (Crypto, Dapps, NFT, DAO), we can create a better and more equitable world.”

Lavinia’s desire to uplift individuals financially, professionally, and personally is evident when she says, “The legacy I hope to create is one of inspiration, and of bringing 50k women into blockchain by 2023!”

LAVINIA OSBOURNE’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS AND RESOURCES

1. Join a community that is active, proactive and progressive in creating both educational information, and innovative projects that help different types of people learn, connect with each other and share with others.

2. Believe in your vision, be consistent and true to yourself.

3. Recommended resources; www.womeninblockchaintalks. com, www.vaulthill.io, www.beincrypto.com, www.101blockchain.com and www.DigitalWomen.com

laviniaosbourne

HEATHER FLANNERY FOUNDER & CEO EQUIDEUM HEALTH

‘‘Empower the person, individual, family and community to be economic stakeholders in this new technological revolution.

The healthcare and life sciences industry has a data silo problem.

THeather Leigh Flannery is a passionate healthtech pioneer harnessing blockchain technology to advance healthcare for patients and caregivers. “I started in tech that was fairly general in scope and then transitioned into health-specific tech almost 20 years ago,” shared Heather. She is now the Founder and CEO of Equideum Health, a spin-off from ConsenSys AG that focuses on the intersection of blockchain, web3, federated AI, and advanced privacy technology. She is an instructor for the European Tech School and for Global Blockchain Initiative’s (GBI) “Blockchain and AI in Healthcare and Life Sciences.”

Heather is also an active consultant, advisor, and international keynote speaker and chairs various committees. “I made the move to health partly because of my personal experiences as a caregiver and patient navigating health systems. The inadequacies and difficulties I encountered drove me to want to find better solutions. There

had to be a better way – for patients, caregivers, providers, everyone.”

Heather believes healthcare and life sciences have five barriers to mass adoption of emerging tech: identity, privacy, compliance, bioethics, and security.

Person-centered healthcare

At Equideum Health, Heather and her team work to create next-gen, person-centered healthcare and research networks to advance health equity and outcomes by optimizing data liquidity across enterprise and personal data estates. For this, blockchain is necessary but not sufficient, so she and her team have enabled an emerging technology convergence that they consider to be the epicenter of health industry value creation. These converging technologies include decentralized apps (dApps), tokenization, smart contracts, blockchain networks (private, public, and hybrid), confidential computing, zero-knowledge cryptography, data federation, and decentralized AI.

She remarks: “Although this paradigm shift will benefit everyone, for the first time, we can focus on vulnerable populations that are underrepresented in the data of healthcare delivery systems. Since it’s the data that shapes health economies, we aim to bring equitable improvements in global health data equity to emerging health economies.”

Integrating web3 and the Metaverse into healthcare and life sciences introduces new possibilities for patient engagement, empowerment, and shared decision-making. She shares: “Although there is a common association of Metaverse applications with gaming, that is only the tip of the Metaverse iceberg. The applications we are considering are, instead, ways to address blockers around interoperability, the portability of digital identities, and personal data estates, especially for in silico research. In the Metaverse, digital assets will empower individuals to move across Metaverse realms while maintaining the value they have created in their personal digital identity twins.”

Within the healthcare and life sciences sector, silos of exponentially growing quantities of data exist. According to Heather, the application of web3 and the Metaverse and associated technologies has the potential to solve the industry’s greatest challenge: data is currently too excessively disparate and fragmented for any meaningful use. Heather has deduced that healthcare transformation is possible only through the lens of data architectures. “I had an a-ha moment, recognizing that there were ways to use blockchain technology and personal empowerment through web3 to address our industry’s chronic problems. Once I saw that, I couldn’t unsee it. And from that point forward, it has continuously evolved toward web3.”

Implications for research

The opportunities that web3 and the Metaverse present make for an empowered society of the future — today. Heather explains that the application and creation of self-sovereign digital twins and the use of self-sovereign AI will be incredibly powerful. She believes that within five years, this technology will critically improve how new medicines are developed, particularly within the areas of creation and validation of new public health and epidemiological interventions. Digital twins will be the forward-face of personal data estates that includes health information and health-relevant information, such as social determinants data (like geographic location, social media data, and more).

She explains: “We are closing in on bioethical privacy and compliance issues. Once bioethical privacy is achieved, the ability to perform in silico research will be ‘step three,’ and in silico studies will become standard procedure scientifically. Currently, research sponsors are struggling because of access to quality data. In silico research provides that data through simulations that require the Metaverse. They are complex and agent-based simulations that depend on individual digital twins and more — entire communities, families, and health economies. This will be an extraordinary capability we’ll have in just a few years, and those in the field are building that right now.”

Thinking through technology

Unfortunately, the positive impacts of previous technological revolutions have not equitably impacted all societies. “Some portions of societies have benefited while others have been left behind. It was inadvertent,” says Heather. “But this is what happens when we don’t consider all the populations that are affected. Generally speaking, technology is funded by the investor class, which thinks in terms of customers, not stakeholders. Those customers are economic buyers, and their goal is to achieve profitable transactions between economic buyers and sellers. The problem persists because of this mental model and the reality that the most vulnerable populations are not economic buyers.”

The strategy she embraces is to empower the person, individual, family and community to be economic stakeholders in this new technological revolution. She believes this inclusion and participation in the economy is necessary; otherwise, society will recreate the same frameworks that have resulted in the digital divide. She says that this is a divide that is so wide that vast proportions of the world don’t even have clean water. “It isn’t just a divide regarding access to health resources. This divide encompasses financial and health literacy and a reason to trust institutions that have failed people historically. Those things require new cultural structures, business models, and intelligent and forward-looking policy environments.”

Looking to the future

Discussing the future, Heather is most excited about the opportunities to help advance new sustainable business models and create economic structures and patterns at a macrosystem level. She says introducing this new family of technologies creates the potential for fundamental structural change. Still, one must have a vision of how to use these new capabilities to approach things in a genuinely different way. Heather believes that blockchain and associated technologies give us the opportunity to invent, validate, and refine new business models that will be at the forefront. These models will include entire populations under different economic structures.

Heather says: “This is all just incredibly inspiring to me. We offer something sustainable for humanity with the ability to generate profit and healthy returns for investors. Through these new models, we can address the needs of all stakeholder groups. Knowing that, I jump out of bed every morning excited to tackle the challenges.”

LEILA HURSTEL FOUNDER

IIf the web3 future is the new home, women must make it so. The way the world connects and interacts is at the precipice of a new age. This new frontier is a battleground shaping the ownership and economics of a new future. Women of this and future generations will be left behind.

Leila Hurstel is not sitting idly by. Coming from a family of tech entrepreneurs and investors, Leila understands the need – and extreme urgency – of getting into web3 on the ground floor. Her burning mission is to foster innovation with purpose and impact, and she’s driving that as co-founder of OnAndCo.io and AllStarsWomen NFT Club and DAO.

This is your wake up call

Of all the web3 developers, creators, investors and crypto-curious, women account for only 5-percent of people in this space. Web3 offers an opportunity for women of this generation to create a fresh legacy. The Metaverse provides women with a platform to build a future of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). For purpose and impact, Leila believes women must build the Metaverse needs at its inception – not as an afterthought. Building an inclusive Metaverse for social entertainment and networking drastically changes how people live, work and interact with others. The Metaverse has the potential to become a parallel extension of our reality.

“We are witnessing something that will affect society and economies in real life, blurring the lines between both worlds,” said Leila. “What happens in one will affect the other. Web3 and virtual worlds are still largely a blank canvas, and that is precisely why women need to seize the opportunity to harness the power of virtual worlds to make a positive impact in the real world.”

A force for good

The redistribution of power and wealth is critical for women’s mission in web3. Through OnAndCo.io and AllStarsWomen NFT Club and DAO, Leila is building a secure space for women. OnAndCo.io is the first digital decentralized alternative investment platform. This fintech company leverages blockchain technology to digitize the alternative investments. It also optimizes the flow of data and information to make it tamper-proof and more secure. Ownership is critical in web3, and this is where AllStarsWomen NFT Club and DAO is an initiative to help close the funding gap for women by shaping a more diverse and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. AllStarsWomen NFT Club and DAO is helping steer the creator world, one of the most empowering and exciting areas within the Metaverse. Web3 is a mashup of 3D worlds, social gaming, NFTs and virtual goods ownership – and so much more to come as technology advances.

Women need to seize the opportunity to harness the power of virtual worlds to make a positive impact in the real world.

OnAndCo & AllStarsWomen NFT Club and DAO

What’s stopping women from asserting themselves in this domain? Leila believes women need to build strong communities and brands and claim ownership in these spaces if they are to make a dent in this already maledominated space. AllStarsWomen NFT Club and DAO foster deeper and longer-lasting relationships across platforms. It offers more significant potential for monetization, and community ownership through platforms and protocols.

Accelerate learning opportunities

Less than 10-percent of women feel they understand crypto. Getting started with web3 can seem daunting if you’re unsure where to begin.

How can women generate more diversity and inclusivity in the entrepreneurial ecosystem? And how can women achieve true gender equality in the crypto and web3 space? Education is one way to get more women involved, participating, and contributing to web3.

The AllStarsWomen Crypto Academy is a platform offering a mix of professional guidance and the help of a strong community where newcomers can accelerate their learning and become productive participants.

Leila says: “My focus goes to the opportunity at the intersection of consumer and crypto. Unlocking the market for the mainstream user and bringing the masses to web3 is one of

the most exciting investment opportunities of our time. We are building real products with intrinsic value that people use.”

Break the glass ceiling

For mainstream adoption – and enabling greater accessibility for women – access and user experience must be made simple and intuitive.

“Onboarding and user experiences should be seamless and require no understanding of the underlying technology or even knowledge of its existence,” said Leila. “Users need an uncomplicated and secure means of storing their assets and accessing dapps that don’t require advanced operating skills, long-winded recovery seed phrases to memorize, or private keys to secure. Then, gas fees have become so prohibitively high that many users can’t afford to transact on the blockchain, giving rise to elaborate scaling solutions that literally add another layer of complexity to the user experience. This puts up a barrier to entry for a vast majority of the population, combined with the growing concern that cryptocurrency has a negative environmental impact.”

Empowering women

Funding is a critical phase of Leila’s plans to foster innovation with purpose and impact. Her businesses offer mentoring programs to help entrepreneurs acquire the necessary skills and a recruitment platform to create a network of professionals to build their ideas into successful web3 ventures.

This AllStarsWomen NFT Club and DAO branch provide early-stage startup teams with the knowledge, insights, tools and support to refine their ideas, develop a business model, set up their business, take it to market, and create the foundations and conditions to scale for sustainable growth.

She created the AllStarsWomen Diversity recruitment agency to avoid replicating the same mistakes in the crypto space we face in traditional institutions. Leila wants to help as many talented women to find job opportunities across the tech, crypto and blockchain sectors.

The future is ours

Perseverance, patience and community are the three most critical aspects women need to carry to succeed in the Metaverse and web3. It is imperative that women must choose the right community and the right people to surround themselves with, to create strategic partnerships and networks. As with any business, exploring and exploiting synergies and ways of collaboration will map out this space for sustainability and success for this and future generations of women.

leila-hurstel

Leila Hurstel and Yana Abramova – Managing Partner at Pretiosum Ventures at the annual AIM Summit in London

An all AllStarsWomen ambassadors meeting at the AIM Summit in London. (L-R) Adriana Kohlhofer

– Relationship manager at Blockdaemon, Samia Bayou – Vice President at BlockFi, Leila Hurstel, Ioana Surpateanu – founder and tech thought leader, Gabriela Olaru – Co-Founder at OnAndCo.io.

DR. MALA MAWKIN ASSOCIATE OUTLIER VENTURES

This is a move for patientled healthcare. And, technology is finally here to allow that to become a reality now.

DDr. Mala Mawkin is a rising female star. She’s blitzed the healthcare and science fields as a medical doctor with a deep curiosity for technology to drive societal change. Dr. Mawkins champions dHealth initiatives that support patients’ ownership rights of their healthcare data and records in her native United Kingdom and worldwide. She advocates using web3 and the Metaverse as a force for good IRL.

She was featured on Forbes UK’s 30 Under 30 list, Vogue UK’s 10 Rising Female Stars 2018, Women of the Future UK Awards Finalist 2019, and named one of the “UK’s Most Influential People in Digital and Tech” in the 2021 BIMA 100 List, and is a noted TEDx Speaker. Dr. Mawkin has worked with brands such as Barbie, Nike and MAKERS to spotlight women in STEM, has featured in Vogue, HuffPost, and Financial Times, has written for The Guardian, Microsoft’s Blog and was a brand ambassador for The Times in the UK. Within charity and advocacy, Dr. Mawkin was a Trustee for the Medical Women’s Federation UK charity and is an active advisory board member for the Ideas Foundation, supporting diversity in STEM and the creative industries.

Prior to this, Dr. Mawkin was a medical doctor in the UK’s National Health Services (NHS) and worked at institutions such as the European Space Agency’s Space Medicine Office. She has also supported several start-ups, accelerators and tech research in the UK, United States and Africa. Dr. Mawkin has also worked at Malawi’s e-health programme, Harvard & Boston Children’s Hospital’s Innovation & Digital Health Accelerator and several tech companies in London, such as Touch Surgery (acquired by Medtronic). She has published health innovation research in leading publications, including the International Journal of General Medicine.

Curing medical (mal)practices

Through her role as host of the Royal Society of Medicine’s Digital Health Podcast, Dr. Mawkin most sharply focuses on her passions for medicine and technology. Boasting over 13,000 listeners in more than 95 countries, the series focuses on the intersection of health, web3 and the Metaverse. She is also a prominent speaker for ‘Women in Web 3.0’ events and has been interviewed on podcasts such as ‘Cut to the Crypto.’

“I truly believe that web3 will revolutionize patient care worldwide,” Dr. Mawkins shares. “I’m passionate about disseminating the latest information on dHealth to a wide audience. The pandemic has been a huge catalyst for the online delivery of healthcare and accessibility of services. We are getting more involved in our own healthcare, which is the rise in ‘consumer’-led healthcare. We have seen huge moves from pharma and retail to get involved in this shift to people taking responsibility for their own health, and the market shift is truly apparent.”

It is patient communities that are facilitating this market shift, she says. Patients come together to form online communities for peer-topeer support, and these are powerful groups directing and informing the growth of products and services within healthcare.

What healthcare looks like in the future is web3-powered: “access, community and a choice of online and in-person services – as well as adding in ownership and transparency for patients.”

Dr. Mawkin believes this transparency and ownership can be delivered through DAOs. Healthcare DAOs enable patients to fund communities they are interested in creating, building, developing, and researching services and treatments for their healthcare needs. Most importantly, patients own it – instead of it being centrally run.

“For example, as patients gain ownership of their health – what will that look like for the roadmap of research, treatments and services?

Will patient outcomes ultimately improve?” Undoubtedly so, according to Dr. Mawkin. Blockchain for healthcare records has been bubbling for a while now, and healthcare research (e.g. psychedelic medicines and mental health products) via NFTs is a growing sector.

Dr. Mawkin remarks that web3 and the Metaverse will transform healthcare as much as web3 changes the internet. “This is a move for patient-led healthcare. And, technology is finally here to allow that to become a reality now.”

Empowering women in the Metaverse

As an Associate at Outlier Ventures, a London-based venture capital firm and accelerator program investing in web3 founders, Dr. Mawkin supports founders to grow and accelerate in the web3 ecosystem – especially women and women leaders.

What she is most excited about in the future, she answers, is for the UK’s web3 space to keep expanding and see more women founders enter too. “I am also super excited to see how societal challenges (e.g. in health) can be solved or aided using this emerging technology.”

When asking Dr. Mawkin her definition of the Metaverse, she describes it as “a digital layer of reality.” This additional layer will reshape society across diverse sectors, she believes.

For now, though, user experience lacks ease-of-use to enable largescale adoption of web3 and the Metaverse. As user experience improves, web3 and the Metaverse technology will be seamlessly incorporated into daily life. “The possibilities are endless, and the potential for both economic and societal benefit is exponential,” Dr. Mawkins emphasizes.

AYUMI MOORE AOKI FOUNDER & CEO

WOMEN IN TECH® Web3 is a unique opportunity for women to leap the gender gap instead of trying to catch up to it.

AAyumi Moore Aoki defines the Metaverse as a network open to everyone and controlled by no one.

This space, she believes, removes the boundaries of distance and geographical limitations to allow new ways of interaction and immersive experiences. It is an opportunity for women to seize control of their future and the Metaverse today and for future generations.

Ayumi is a social entrepreneur driving positive, sustainable change through technology. As Founder and CEO of Women in Tech®, a global movement with over 250 volunteers and 200,000 members across six continents, her mission is to empower five million girls and women in STEM by 2030. She is also a member of the Forbes Business Council and sits on the supervisory board of Autofill, a deep-techmeets-hard-tech company revolutionizing object inspections with an initial focus on the automotive and rail industries.

Back(story) to future(story)

Ayumi got her first experience of web3 in 2021 when a friend who traded Picassos pivoted to selling NFTs. Highly intrigued by the “little jpgs selling for ridiculous amounts of money,” Ayumi was fascinated by the underlying technology of the blockchain and the value of true ownership.

Ayumi explains: “In my head, it was as if all the pieces of the puzzle of my professional career came together. It combined my love for art (I majored in Fine Arts) with my passion for tech. Most of all, it opened endless opportunities for so many domains.”

It’s more than that, though. It provided a platform for Ayumi to help democratize the web3 space in its making. “Web3 is a unique opportunity for women to leap the gender gap instead of trying to catch up to it.”

At Women in Tech®, Ayumi helps women embrace web3 through educational programs, skills workshops and masterclasses in

blockchain technology, NFTs and the Metaverse. The focus is to empower girls and women to unlock economic opportunities, drive global growth and foster sustainability.

“I think the biggest barrier today is democratizing access to education,” shares Ayumi. “Due to the gender digital divide, women and girls are entering the space much slower than their male counterparts. We need to ensure that this new internet is diverse and inclusive from the beginning.”

Democratizing opportunities

Web3 technology presents limitless opportunities. Ayumi believes the power of web3 lies in its potential to empower people with true ownership of their assets: “It’s a real digital revolution, a huge paradigm shift. Consumers have the power and control over their own data, such as health records, personal data, passports, education certificates, and more. This is powerful; the possibilities are endless.”

Ayumi has witnessed the evolution of NFTs since her introduction to the space in 2021 from “little jpgs” to representing digital assets such as images, music, certificates, its use by federate communities, and as companies’ shares. The evolution of NFTs and the Metaverse has empowered IP shared ownership, giving brands a life of their own and allowing them to grow organically with users.

In the future, Ayumi sees NFTs being used to validate a person’s identity to access the Metaverse, keeping the space authentic and free of bots. Web3 technology is already disrupting education: today’s online teaching and learning methods are reshaping this industry for teachers and students alike. The Metaverse is also a catalyst for pushing cryptocurrencies into the mainstream. The use of gaming and immersive experiences removes barriers of space and time. The potential of web3 and the Metaverse is boundless.

Inspiration for women

Ayumi champions those who are pushing boundaries for the sake of blockchain adoption, encouraging more and more women to join the space to take control of their economic future. She’s inspired by the constant innovation of web3 and the Metaverse. “Education is important to me; I taught myself to code with free online resources, which changed my life. I want to provide that same inspiration for other women. Access to data, devices and education is not available to those less fortunate, and if I can help change this in some small way, I believe it takes small steps to big things.”

The advice she would have given herself on her journey in web3 is, “I think the most important thing is to surround yourself with genuine, positive people and keep away from the toxic ones, no matter who they are or what position they have. Listen to your inner voice, and don’t become distracted along the way.”

Ayumi is helping girls and women prepare for the future of work in web3. More Women in Tech® means more power to the technology to impact women and the world. Ayumi Moore Aoki, we salute you.

AYUMI MOORE AOKI’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS

First, gain knowledge through courses and upskill yourself by fully understanding the basics of blockchain technology: the underlying metrics, setting up digital wallets, what an NFT is, the risks and opportunities, etc. Then, find your tribe: web3 is all about community. Be authentic, search for interesting connections, and keep them true.

ayumimooreaoki AyumiMooreAoki

Paris, France

LILY WU CO-FOUNDER

WOW PIXIES

‘‘I’d like to create the web3 world we want to see − onboarding more women and diverse leaders into the space, through skill-based learning and apprenticeship to directly upskill those into web3 careers.

IIt’s not every day you meet a power Pixie. But since discovering entrepreneurship at age 16, purpose-driven entrepreneur and Cofounder/CEO of WOW Pixies, Lily Wu has devoted herself to longterm vision and helping fast-track other young women into web3.

It’s no mean feat that by the time this petite pioneer finished high school, she’d made half a million dollars. Lily learnt invaluable business lessons, recognizing entrepreneurial thinking as an adaptive skill that’s really about solving problems. More importantly, she learnt self-assurance to

choose opportunities according to her most important values – curiosity, adventure, creativity, relationships and freedom – rather than for money or prestige.

As a 19-year-old university student, Lily co-founded education startup Austern International, with the vision to ‘develop the next generation of millennial leaders and entrepreneurial thinkers.’ As CEO, she launched intensive career bootcamps in six global cities − offering universityaccredited training and certification career accelerator programs − later

generating 7-figure revenues. Other previous startup experience included being Head of Programs for Singapore-based NewCampus, an edutech startup.

High morals and giving back

Passionate about women empowerment and networking in web3, Lily explains that WOW Pixies DAO is the ‘first social Decentralized Autonomous Organisation (DAO) to invest in women-led web3 projects and the NFT ecosystem.’

With Sandbox, Decentraland, and NFTWorlds being a huge part of WOW Pixies’ future in the Metaverse, she wants the DAO strongly positioned ‘to grow with the rest of this space and begin our journey in building alongside the innovators and visionaries.’

The WOW Pixies website states that it’s all about empowering women, adding that the community is built on ‘high morals, giving back, and innovation.’

Lily is the Southeast Asia (SEA) Startup Partner Lead at Stripe, a global technology company building economic internet infrastructure. She’s also founding ambassador of Future Females Singapore, helping female entrepreneurs make connections and find resources.

Despite her relentless business activity, Lily is also a published author, illustrator, dancer,

and black belt holder in Taido Japanese martial arts, participating with the Australian National Team in the 2017 Taido World Championships in Japan.

Curious learner

Lily is known for her ‘contagious positivity,’ in encouraging ‘people to dream big while taking tangible next steps.’ Her own self-description − ‘a curious learner and resourceful individual’ − is more modest.

However, she’s rightfully proud when tweeting that discussing web3 at the United Nations (UN) WEDO2022 Women’s Entrepreneurship Day summit in May this year was a ‘dream come true.’

An Instagram post shows Lily’s dedication to the South-East Asia (SEA) startup space: “You don’t see a lot of women representation in web3, let alone ASIAN women representation.” She praises fellow female entrepreneurs helping ‘bring more voices and diversity into NFTs so people like me can feel seen and heard.’

Pixies, transcending virtual spaces, and Metaverse opportunities

While the Wow Pixies website states its NFTs are ‘5,555 randomly generated pixies whose vision is to lift up and help bring women-led projects to the forefront,’ it’s difficult not to see some similarities between the symbolic meaning of the word ‘Pixie’ and Lily herself.

According to southern England folklore, pixies are small, but rich in magical abilities.

They are revered for their bubbly spirit, childlike appearance and ability to draw out the lighthearted side in others and make their human friends smile.

Lily describes the Metaverse as ‘a virtual space where we can transcend all kinds of boundaries where physicality limits us.’ She enthuses about its many opportunities.

These include fractionalized real estate, luxury authentication using NFTs, increased data ownership, Metaverse schools enabling fully remote learning, charities combining NFTs and DAOs to raise funds, and more.

Yet though the Metaverse may bring the world even closer together, Lily cautions, with almost no regulations, security and identity are major concerns, adding ‘it can be a place with no consequences for bad behavior.’

Whether she’s traversing 20 countries, taking ‘cheeky’ Bali breaks, or praising her supportive ‘funmaker’ husband’s help in conquering her fear of the ocean by surfing, this feisty spirit is constantly learning and trying new things. Together with a tribe of like-minded soul sisters, her thrill at being at the technology frontier to ‘start building an equitable future from Day 1’ is REAL.

CAROLINE JOHNOVA COO WEYU CEO WAGMI GUIDE

The most groundbreaking fact about web3 is that it’s breaking qualification barriers worldwide and changing people’s lives economically like no industry before. It’s now very easy for someone without a sparkling academic track record to enter, as you only need to have abilities.

When Caroline Johnova was working as a creative marketing and branding professional years ago, she never imagined she’d end up in the tech industry one day, let alone in the web3 space.

But now, as the COO of WEYU and CEO and co-founder of WAGMI Guide, this multidisciplinary creative tech leader is flexing her creative muscle as a strategy advisor in blockchain and NFTs. Ironically, she quips she’d previously never had ‘any interest in tech’ until she discovered NFTs and their potential of true ownership for creators.

With her self-description on LinkedIn, ‘building brands with a Metaverse state of mind,’ Barcelona-based Caroline comments that WEYU is a ‘multi-chain platform that facilitates entry into web3’ by empowering today’s creators with the tools to explore and thrive in tomorrow’s digital revolution.

“In 2021, as a COO of WEYU, our mission was to ensure that everyone could easily participate in the revolutionary technology that NFTs bring into the world.”

As the first web3 multi-chain platform for the NFT resale market – where ‘anyone can earn crypto, NFTs and other prizes by performing simple tasks on social media’ – Caroline stresses the need to make web3 a space of equal opportunity for everyone.

WEYU had to create tools for the general user and create a bridge for the masses to enter the space, which explains its suite of user-friendly products and services to make blockchain technology accessible to everyone.

Driving innovation and web3 collaboration Others have described Caroline as dedicated, positive and proactive. And based on her involvement in some recent projects, it’s understandable why she’s earned a reputation for being a strong initiator and power connector. Aside from WEYU, Caroline says another big part of her world is as CEO of WAGMI Guide. This event app connects global communities with meetups, conferences, and thought leaders around the world in the web3 space to ensure nobody ‘misses out and gets the most out of everything happening.’

Convinced that ‘web3 is all about collaboration,’ she’s justly proud of WEYU’s recent collaboration with high security blockchain platform Zilliqa, which bridged the gap between fashion, creativity, culture, and NFTs.

This innovative project entailed helping legendary celebrity hair stylist Sam McKnight launch his first ‘reimagined’ limited-edition NFT collection. With McKnight having worked with top models including Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Gigi Hadid, the event showcased NFTs recreating images of hair styles inspired by iconic fashion moments. NFTs are clearly offering limitless opportunities, including being used to tell creative stories and become embedded in the digital strategies of many brands in art, fashion, music entertainment, and even social initiatives.

NFTs and women a massive game changer in web3

For Caroline, 2021 was ‘definitely the year of the big boom for NFTs,’ adding it was Word of the Year in Collins Dictionary.

With her aim to ‘create the next generation of interactive web3 experiences,’ she’s thrilled about WEYU’s new YU Launch platform. It provides simple, user-friendly tools empowering anybody, anywhere, to easily design, generate, launch and mint their own NFT digital assets. Better yet, it’s free, can be done in minutes, and requires no tech knowledge.

With her admiration for many strong womenled projects in the space, Caroline tweeted recently “women + NFTs are going to be a massive game changer in shaping the future of the web3 market.”

Her excitement also spills over into the increased power of communities, because she’s passionate about bringing ‘more women and minorities into the space.’

Innovation and diversity can advance web3

As for opportunities and impact, Caroline says the most groundbreaking fact about web3 is that it’s smashing qualification barriers worldwide and changing people’s lives economically like no industry before.

“I truly believe web3 will create new environments with a progressive culture beyond real-world divisions of race, gender, religion, politics and geography.”

She envisages the Metaverse will open a whole new world by defying the laws of physical reality to explore exciting business opportunities. However, she stresses the need to address current web3 issues − user-friendly tools like crypto wallets, a lack of fluid, flexible design and inadequate AR\VR technology.

Caroline wraps things up in infinitely upbeat style, “I personally really like what the space is shaping into and while I can’t predict the future, I know this is only the beginning.”

CAROLINE JOHNOVA’S WEB3 TIPS AND RESOURCES

1. Connect with web3 individuals if you’re a newbie wanting to get truly immersed in the space − ask for guidance.

2. Never buy into the belief you need to behave like a man to succeed − don’t be afraid to express yourself!

3. Trust yourself − don’t assume you deserve less respect because you’re not a big founder yet.

4. Read Navigating the Metaverse (Kathy Hackl et al), and The Metaverse: And How it Will Revolutionize Everything (Matthew Ball).

W caroline-johnová CJohnova

Barcelona, Spain

Sustainability

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The natural environment sustains the life of all beings universally.

Dalai Lama

CECILIA MOSZE THAM FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

FUTURITY SYSTEMS

Algorithms, pets, plants, the Amazon Rainforest – all of these can own assets, make contracts, and be active participants in the economic universe that controls more and more of the planet every day.

“There are two approaches to the Metaverse,” says Cecilia MosZe Tham. “First, the Metaverse is all hype and can be ignored. Second, the Metaverse is going to change everything, so jump in immediately. If you are the first type and ignore it, then you’re letting other people build the Metaverse for you in the way that they want to make the Metaverse.”

Cecilia designs Metaverse moonshots for companies, brands, and people. She’s building the Metaverse to be a force for good for all species. Cecilia’s latest work, Plantiverse, is a bold moonshot to achieve true inclusivity, a future in which humans, non-humans, and even plants can participate and benefit meaningfully.

Why does the Metaverse have to represent the physical world? Cecilia doesn’t think that’s necessarily the future. A moment that stands out for Cecilia since she started working in the web3 space was when she realized that ownership in the Metaverse goes beyond just humans. “Algorithms, pets, plants, the Amazon Rainforest – all of these can own assets, make contracts, and be active participants in the economic universe that controls more and more of the planet every day.”

What she is most excited about for the future is that her work in the Metaverse empowers interspecies experiences in the real world. “I am excited to be able to give non-human voices to those that currently have no voice. We, as humans, have been far too human-centric for way too long. My own legacy is far less interesting; it’s time for us to step aside. I would rather be delighted that plants and other non-humans can leave their legacy and contributions.”

How she is building this future through the Metaverse is incredibly exciting. Cecilia is Founder and Director of Futurity Systems, which provides futures-as-a-service to help companies and organizations build better futures faster. She and her team make future artefacts so that the world can achieve true equality and equity beyond humans to create an interspecies economy that is more sustainable and ecological.

Plantiverse is the beginning of this Interspecies Metaverse journey, where trees own bank accounts and can make transactions based on their own well-being. Here, she supports the creation of digital twins of real plants, trees and other ecology, converted into NFTrees, each designed by plants for the benefit of plants, seeded in a carbon-neutral blockchain to fund sustainable initiatives.

Her incredible work has not gone unnoticed. Plantiverse has been honored by Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards 2022!, recognizing their efforts in helping to make the world a safer, fairer, more beautiful place.

Another one of Cecilia’s progressive projects is called SOFT (Store of Future Things), which is an experimental space that overlaps the phygital (physical and digital) experience where digital assets can be sold, such as digital clothing, art, and NFTrees using AR and VR technology. SOFT is a store with no stock or inventory that aims to pivot our consumption into digital things to slow down the consumption of our natural resources.

With decades of experience working at the intersection of entrepreneurship, technology, science and design, Cecilia is a Harvard-

trained designer, formerly a Social Technologist at Alpha Telefonica (Europe’s first moonshot factory), and social entrepreneur with multiple companies, including Makers of Barcelona, FabCafe, and allWomen.tech. This Spanish visionary also serves as an advisor to the UN World Food Program X, SXSW, the National Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), and other private companies.

The Metaverse creates limitless opportunities. Asked about the kinds of opportunities web3 and the Metaverse will present in the next five years, Cecilia shares: “I think there will be very different opportunities in different layers of the Metaverse stack (AR/VR, blockchain, dWeb apps, and more). For example, AR and VR are already viable in social gaming for consumers and maintenance with digital twins in business. In the next five years, those will mature a lot. We’ll also see VR take over telemedicine, and AR will become commonplace in surgeries.”

Cecilia also believes that as much as we already hear about cryptocurrencies and smart contracts, we’re only just starting in that space. “Only a few million people in the world actually own any crypto –it’s nothing yet. These will present real challenges to the existing legal and financial systems in the next five years. Today’s systems aren’t really ours; there’s a lot of corruption and systemic injustice built into them. Web3 can create a better alternative – billions of better alternatives.”

The Metaverse is undoubtedly still in its infancy but is developing at lightning speed. While some people have yet to hear the word, others are already planting million-dollar flags on Metaverse soil and claiming ownership of a real estate that exists nowhere but digitally.

According to Cecilia, “the Metaverse is currently a bunch of isolated bubbles of virtual spaces and distributed communities, with as many definitions as participants – all of them trying to establish their own rules of the game and laws of the land, and their own currency and sovereignty. Most people think the Metaverse is just VR and crypto: a digital world that works as close to the physical one as possible.”

She explains: “The Metaverse is so, so much more, and can make the world so, so much better because it is built on the foundation of web3, a decentralized blockchain-based web that is fundamentally distributed, transparent, and above all, self-governing. And this is a great opportunity to build a technology that can be somewhat equitable, and the virtual citizens dictate that – and not by capitalism, politics, or power.”

And because the Metaverse is still in its infancy, Cecilia insists that people must ensure that the web’s foundations stay true. That’s why she’s building the Metaverse with voices for humans, non-humans and even plants.

Cecilia’s accomplishments are impressive but her perspective on the future and her vision to leverage this new world to revolutionize the world and shift commonly accepted norms is inspiring.

T Barcelona, Spain

SHENNA FORTNER CEO

Carbon Market Exchange

Crypto could solve climate change and gender inequality

SShenna Fortner crosses cultural and socio-economic barriers to solve environmental problems. As CEO of Carbon Market Exchange, she is multiplying her powers for fast climate change action and social impact.

Climate change is the most significant single challenge the world has ever faced. The planet cannot afford the cost of inaction any longer. We know reducing the world’s carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gas emissions, is imperative. Governments and regulations have been slow to act. The private sector has responded. Carbon Market Exchange accelerates the mitigation of carbon emissions in the fight against climate change.

Globally, women are responsible for nourishing and nurturing their families – and these families are heavily dependent on access to shrinking natural resources. At the same time, women are simply blocked from the same access as men to education and financial structures.

Our climate change crisis provides an opportunity to address gender equality and the climate: women’s potential as agents of transformation is ignored. Until now.

Shenna Fortner and Carbon Market Exchange strive to amplify women’s knowledge, skills, and networks to tackle climate change and advance women’s empowerment. The pervading narrative surrounding climate change has largely been dictated by men over the past decades and hasn’t brought a significant shift in our climate predicament. Injected into this space, Shenna drives women to rise to that challenge.

“The way to change this is to put oneself amongst empowered women – and women who want to support other women to celebrate their achievements,” said Shenna. “Within that community of empowered women, those connections continue to grow. It creates an interwoven web of contacts, becoming like a heartbeat. It creates a society that is

compassionate, inclusive, and empowering. When there isn’t competition, there is collaboration. The planet needs this. As women, we think more of the next generation than men – generally speaking. Creating these projects isn’t about today. It is about the future for the next generations. Women know this all too well. Our mission is so simple that it can be stated in three words. Save our planet. And the motivation for our mission is obvious and needs no explanation.”

While climate change (and carbon offsets) can be measured, no such policies exist to measure and support gender equality. However, environment and social

sustainability are two of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. The incentivization of carbon offsets can underpin gender equality. Women’s empowerment and climate change action can be incorporated and propelled by campaigns. Having piloted programs in South America, Africa and Asia, Shenna has seen that women’s economic empowerment through environmental and socio-economic development can help communities, companies, and governments meet climate targets and tackle women’s empowerment.

Shenna’s reputation places her in the best position to lead women (and society) into the future. As an entrepreneur, Shenna provides visionary strategy to create a better future, from hemp based solutions to climate action. Shenna is trained as an environmental lawyer and featured speaker on environmental issues. She has a Business and Climate Change: Towards Net Zero Emissions certificate from the University of Cambridge (2022), a J.D. (Juris Doctor) from Vermont Law (2017) and BS in Biology & Chemistry from Tennessee State (2004).

Her passion drives Carbon Market Exchange forward. “Through carbon offset and carbonneutral initiatives, we as a collective people can create substantial change around the planet,” said Shenna. “Carbon tokens are intangible – but are having monumental effects. We’re actively involved – feet on the ground – to promote and expand climate conservation projects. We are preserving millions of hectares of forest, protecting biodiversity and empowering local communities. We can take this evolutionary standard of climate finance to a retail market, and create a substantial change.”

Meaningful positive action towards such crucial aims as climate mitigation and gender equality

must be approached from as many angles. Financing and access to tangible support is often one of the biggest problems for indigenous communities and NGOs working to conserve vital and precious areas; this is Carbon Market Exchange’s driving force. It aims to ensure local communities also benefit from carbon offset creation; this is the marriage of capacity, awareness and empathy.

Carbon Market Exchange launched a token called XCO2 – and XCO2 is backed by nature based carbon credits with physical projects located around the globe. XCO2 tokens allow individuals and corporates looking for an easy method to offset their carbon footprint with cryptographic proof in a publicly auditable ledger for accountability and transparency.

“We believe that we can change the narrative that blockchains are bad for the environment,” said Shenna. “We plan to use the XCO2 token to achieve this. We believe we can achieve this mission by using XCO2 to incentivize the buying and retiring of carbon credits. Large corporations are starting to use carbon credits to help fight climate change, and we believe it’s time that blockchains start to make use of these carbon credits. While we understand that saving the environment will be an incredibly difficult task, we are prepared to do everything to make it happen. We plan to use XCO2 to fight for a better environmental future and encourage everyone to do everything in their power to save our planet.”

Shenna and Carbon Market Exchange’s unconventional ways of approaching climate action and gender equality through real-world solutions empower grassroots and established communities and organizations towards their goals in some of the most threatened regions of the planet.

Shenna Fortner

Asheville, USA

BRIDGET GREENWOOD FOUNDER/ CO-FOUNDER

THE BIGGER PIE & THE 200BN CLUB

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It’s a perfect time to look at what’s gone wrong, what we want to achieve and build in the future, and to look at motivations beyond a fast return on investment, to a more sustainable, and inclusive future.

Since childhood, Bridget Greenwood has always felt very strongly about injustices in the world, including women being slighted in the workplace every day. So, when she entered the blockchain industry in 2017 and noticed a discernible scarcity of women, she was determined to start supporting women in blockchain and emerging technologies. And that’s how she actioned her own piece of The Bigger Pie in 2019.

As founder of web3-focused The Bigger Pie, Bridget is ‘absolutely drawn to take action to see more gender equity in the tech space.’ Her organization focuses on championing women and gender minorities with technical expertise, leadership skills, networks and resources they need to shape and impact the web3 world.

“We need more women at the design, development and deployment table and at decision-making levels. I choose to spend each day working towards action-orientated activities in tech that help us see the needle move in a positive direction to achieve this.”

Adept relationship builder

Described by others as an ‘incredibly adept relationship builder’ who ‘drives projects forward with a rare energy and insightfulness,’ Bridget explains The Bigger Pie is about ‘shining a light on the incredible leaders already in web3, supporting and connecting them, providing a community to network, gain insights, share opportunities, learn and collaborate.’

This enthusiastic London-based ‘single mom of one’ is deservedly delighted that Ethical Finance Awards 2022 has recognized her work, declaring The Bigger Pie the winning Crypto Currency Diversity and Inclusion organization.

Bridget states in a LinkedIn post that blockchain has historically been ‘a combination of both the tech world and the finance world, heavily dominated by men.’

Traditionally, women have ‘been omitted from new technological waves, missing out on generational transferences of wealth, and leading to offerings that don’t serve everyone.’

“With women representing less than 10% of people in the blockchain sector, it’s time now

for incredibly talented and smart women to accelerate their web3 learning and place them in senior roles within the space. “

As the ‘go-to group for women in blockchain and crypto enthusiasts dedicated to helping each other learn and grow,’ The Bigger Pie members include entrepreneurs, small business owners, consultants, coaches, speakers and authors. And, three years in, Bridget enthuses, ‘we sense we’re only getting started.’

Helping accelerate female founders

Aside from The Bigger Pie, this outgoing web3 trailblazer is also co-founder of The 200Bn Club, an accelerator program helping high-potential female-led startups get investment ready and match successfully with investors.

Bridget describes the program as ‘bridging the gap for strong capable female founders that are not getting the help, skills, mentorship and resources they need to raise a seed or Series A investment.’

Commenting in a blog.liquid.com article, Bridget remarks crypto technology has the potential to change the way we do business, interact with each other, assign value, and allow those who’ve previously been excluded to be part of a financial system. However, this will only happen if we choose to have more women build solutions that tackle these challenges. Without this, ‘we’ll end up with wasted potential, and never see the promise of web3, blockchain, or a decentralized world being built.’

As for advising women who are intimidated about getting into crypto, Bridget responds that for her, ‘there’s more risk of not getting involved’. But she adds because it’s such a fastpaced environment, ‘it’s impossible to keep up to date with everything’ so don’t let that put you off.

Blockchain, web3 constantly evolving

Turning to the Metaverse, Bridget describes it as ‘our online world, where we can create personas, interact with others online through avatars, while we work, shop, and play. Web3, she adds, ensures we get access to ownership of our online world, through assets and earnings.

Bridget, with her stated enthusiasm for continual learning, has realized blockchain technology has far greater reach than just in the financial sector, saying what’s most innovative is ‘its ability for peer to peer, borderless and permissionless transactions.’

With blockchain and web3 constantly evolving, she remarks this past year has been no exception, ‘with the rise of NFTs, promise of the Metaverse, a massive price correction, and collapse of several companies.’

“It’s a perfect time to look at what’s gone wrong, what we want to achieve and build in the future, and to look at motivations beyond a fast return on investment, to a more sustainable, and inclusive future.”

While Bridget is upbeat – about the Metaverse being able to become a limitless and incredible addition to every aspect of our lives – she stresses ‘we need to be very careful about how we build the Metaverse to ensure access for all.’

“It must actually contribute to the promise of utility, value and empowerment to benefit everyone, otherwise we can find ourselves in a more divided and exclusive world, far removed from the Utopian vision we have today.”

With vital first-hand experience – of rolling her sleeves up, getting her hands dirty and knowing how tough it is being a woman in web3 – Bridget cheerfully encourages women to ‘be bold, don’t wait and take action now,’ reassuring them they’ll ‘learn along the way.’

With her typical drive and enthusiasm, it’s clear Bridget can’t wait to see more incredible women and gender minorities achieve their goals, flourish in the communities she’s established, increase their visibility and create more role models to build businesses with diversity and inclusion, the right way, the first time.

bridgetgreenwood Bridget_TBP

GENEVIEVE LEVEILLE CEO AND FOUNDER AGRILEDGER

LListening to the calm and amiable voice of social impact entrepreneur, Genevieve Leveille, one swiftly realizes her unwavering determination to help uplift people. Originally from Haiti, Genevieve now resides in St. Oeuns, Channel Islands. She is the CEO and principal founder of AgriLedger, the award-winning blockchain solutions company operating in the agricultural value chain. With over 25 years’ experience of leading at the intersection of finance, supply chain optimization and technology, Genevieve is revolutionizing the agricultural supply chain enabling greater trust, authenticity and transparency through traceability.

“Smallholder communities,” says Genevieve, “are the custodians of the land and sea. Technology now exists to breathe new life into old livelihoods. Blockchain facilitates not just food traceability but an audit trail of environmental impact from the ground up that can be co-designed with smallholders.”

Blockchain solutions – a gamechanger in the agricultural value chain

Genevieve explains that 70% of the world’s farmers are smallholders; those with less than four acres of land. Yet, they are not reaping the

We have to ensure that there are mechanisms for those who toil to receive an equitable distribution of wealth.

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financial benefits. In the agricultural sector, there is a lack of trust, a lack of liquidity, a lack of information, a lack of financial inclusion and food wastage. Through her organization, Genevieve has been making inroads to change that and an example is in 2020 when she implemented a blockchain solution in the fresh fruit market in Haiti in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and the World Bank. Farmers, consumers and families reaped the

benefits of fairer prices and improved food security, while participating smallholder farmers saw an increase of over 400% in their revenues!

Genevieve reminds us that the first beneficiaries are the communities that produce the food that we eat. However, they are only the first line, as her work supports a greater ecosystem that promotes regenerative agriculture. Replenishing soil must occur to slow down or reverse the negative effects of climate change.

She believes that to support the right behaviors, mechanisms need to be put in place for those who toil, to ensure that they receive an equitable distribution of wealth. To achieve this, trust amongst the various players in the ecosystem needs to be reestablished to ensure a more balanced outcome. She strongly states that a few having all the wealth while the rest of the population are struggling to survive, needs to stop.

This is why Genevieve is using blockchain as it enables traceability. She refers to it as a very special database that can’t be erased, brings in trust, identifies the source and allows many people to participate without the fear of being marginalized.

Bringing technology of web3 and the Metaverse to grassroots level

Much of Genevieve’s past work was centered around the concept of straight-through processing and reduction of costs due to incorrect details or lack of information. She also worked in the microcosm of digital identity. This all made it super easy, as she expresses, to visualize the power that blockchain and distributed ledger technology could bring to people’s lives.

“When I decided to take the plunge, I wanted it to be about something I was passionate about which everyone could relate to. I love two things in life: travel and food!” Travel can be seen as a luxury as there are individuals who

have not ventured more than 20 miles away from their homes. People must all eat to be able to survive. This led her to gravitate to food and agriculture as a focus area, looking carefully as to how the value chain could be maximized.

As web3 and the Metaverse evolve, Genevieve believes that addressing digital inclusion is just as vital as financial inclusion as those who are excluded from this digital revolution will pay more for basic services and utilities and will not get access to many of the benefits that are created with the new technologies.

Recognized as an authority in the realm of digital identity and financial transformation, Genevieve leaves us with these words to ponder. “It is our obligation, as we continue this journey, to look for ways to bring along those who are the most vulnerable.”

TIPS AND RESOURCES

• Talk to people and ask lots of questions.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. There is never a dumb question – you will learn a lot from being vulnerable.

• The space is moving very fast and those who have been in the ecosystem for a while are still in the same boat as someone who came in a few days before.

• We all have to keep learning and educating ourselves to be able to flourish.

• The key is to use the same kind of radar and self-preservation tools that one would use in the other facets of our lives and understand that not everything is done with malice but is a result of the unknown.

GENEVIEVE LEVEILLE’S WEB3

ANN ROSENBERG SVP FOR SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS

WOOD PLC

IInnovation, technology and purpose can build a sustainable world. Web3 is the technology that will change how people interact interpersonally and commercially to shift the world to a sustainable one.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution’s digital transformation will render every business a technology company. Adaptation is necessary; collaboration is the new corporate currency.

Ann Rosenberg is the Senior Vice President for Sustainability Solutions at Wood plc, after completing a 20-year tenure at SAP as the SVP for UN Partnerships. She is a Co-founder of SDG Ambition through the United Nations Global Compact, as well as an Executive Sustainability Tech and Board Advisor, author, and an influential panellist and speaker. Ann also supports several non-profit organisations and United Nations Initiatives, including the World Economic Forum’s Governance Initiative.

She began her web3 journey in 2017 and was quickly rated 13th of the top 50 Female Blockchain Influencers by Onalytica in the same year. Ann works on making web3 a more responsible world through Decentralised

Autonomous Organisations (DAOs), Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), and the Metaverse. She is often sought by startups as a consultant to support web3 companies advance or transition in a more sustainable way, and to support web2 companies in their transition to sustainable web3 enterprises. Ann was recently enlisted as an advisor to Chainlink Labs, the leading provider of secure and reliable open-source blockchain oracle solutions and an accelerator for smart contract innovation and adoption more broadly. Here she hopes to leverage her expertise in sustainability to facilitate the application of blockchain and other Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to develop solutions for environmental challenges.

Sustainability is an intrinsic element of Danish culture. Denmark is ranked first on the Environmental Performance Index. As a Dane, Ann is a pioneer in promoting sustainability, weaving her career from Europe to Silicon Valley to New York, and finally to Los Angeles.

“In Silicon Valley, I learned of the abundance of technologies and the idea of collaboration in public-private partnerships in operating businesses with kindness and sustainability,” said Ann. “Technology can build amazing things when done in collaboration. Technology is more than

The planet is in danger. Time is running out. This doomsday cry is not science fiction: it is our reality. How does the earth recover? Sustainability.

just building cool things; it is the platform that enables the building of solutions for the future of a better world for everybody.”

She’s a science fiction author (Science Fiction: A Starship for Enterprise Innovation), but not in the traditional sense. Science fiction as a genre is a futurist’s perspective of the world. It is also a map of innovation. “With science fiction’s proven track record of predicting future technological developments, science fiction thinking can serve as a wellspring for disruptive innovation and an enterprise’s ongoing transformation into an intelligent enterprise.”

For Ann, it isn’t about cool technologies but perspective and purpose. If society genuinely wants to drive an impactful world and make sure the planet becomes net-zero, then people, companies, industries, and politicians must ensure that everything we move, touch, and do is sustainable. Suppose business leaders and CEOs were to adopt science fiction thinkers’ mindsets, with exponential technologies at their disposal, and use them with purpose. Under this framework, Ann believes that society can create solutions to make the world sustainable. Ann works on the UN Global Goals’ World’s To-Do List, unlocking

solutions to our most critical challenges. Blockchain technology enables her to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and business’ Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives and transition them through innovation. Scalable, affordable, accessible: Ann’s three guiding principles for building a more sustainable world. “Web3 will redefine every business, every go-to-market approach, and the very way we engage as people,” said Ann. “There’s no doubt that web3 and the Metaverse provide limitless opportunities, including opportunities beyond our imagination at this point. I encourage the business world to activate their science fiction mindsets.”

“Web3 has created a new, parallel economy that provides everyone with new opportunities. Web3 is the evolution of communication: the speed and sophistication of how we engage with our environments. Using web3 tools, we can transition to a better world. All ideas must be scalable, affordable, and accessible to make an impact; these are sustainability’s digital transformation building blocks. By employing web3 to empower companies’ sustainability journeys, solutions can be accelerated for the benefit of all.”

The powerful shift in Ann’s career occurred in 2015 when she was part of the exponential technology movement in Silicon Valley, bridging to New York, where she launched a remarkable innovation space for SAP in collaboration with the UN. The focus of that shift was to design solutions to support the UN’s 17 Global Goals. It was clear to Ann from the beginning that blockchain, with its distributed ledger and smart contracts, would be a valuable tool use case in support of the UN agenda.

She believes the most significant obstacle will be ensuring that the web2 world is supported in its transition to web3. “If we look at the web3 world, it’s already a very dynamic community with many internal commercial opportunities. We must ensure we don’t leave the web2 community behind.”

Ann is pairing innovation and technology with purpose to create worldwide innovation networks capable of enabling mass adoption of web3 and blockchain to advance SDG strategies and implements for a sustainable world.

BREANA TEUBNER VENTURE PARTNER

ALANTE CAPITAL

Mass adoption will happen once the majority of people experience the technology’s applications and feel like their lives are better because of it, whether that’s consciously or unconsciously.

BBreana Teubner has over 20 years of experience helping brands adapt to technological innovation. She is an expert at identifying white space opportunities for consumer technology companies, including immersive and blockchain technology.

Metaverse technologies allow her an opportunity to help define what the future looks like and feels. “For me, the question I ask myself every day is how do we harness this technology to improve humans’ relationship with the planet’s resources – and each other?” remarks Breana.

Breana helped to build technological innovation into companies such as Walmart, Gap and Old Navy, and most recently served as head of strategy and operations at a gaming marketplace. She

now serves as Venture Partner at Alante Capital, where she invests at the intersection of gaming, blockchain, and fashion – and, most importantly, defines what impact means at this intersection. Alante Capital is a fund that invests in technology that makes the fashion industry more sustainable.

Bringing consciousness to web3 Breana has had a front row seat through the evolution of sustainability in the consumer economy. From the early 2000s when it was labelled Corporate Social Responsibility, which felt more like an afterthought than the brand’s main purpose, to where we’re at today with many brands having impact as their primary brand mission.

Helping lead the development of Walmart’s firstever ambitious sustainability goals in the mid-

2000s, she supported vendors in systematically reducing packaging and carbon emissions. This sparked her passion for embracing technology for good: “I saw the power of working with a big brand to embed doing good into its core business model. For the first time, doing the right thing and what is good for business weren’t at odds.“

While building Gap’s innovation center, Breana elevated her mission’s goals. She focused on technology to make the apparel industry more circular – by including resale and recycling measures into her action plan – and learned how good product design could also be good for the planet.

Given these experiences, Breana recognized the potential of Metaverse and blockchain technologies to be a force for good. “With blockchain technology enabling digital ownership, we’re entering the next phase of impact for the fashion supply chain, customers, and creators. The fun part is we don’t know what that is – or looks like – yet.”

Breana is an advocate for the Metaverse’s potential as a tool to drive change – not just for brands and companies but for humanity. “The beauty of the Metaverse is that it will be many things to many people. Overall, it will make social play and interaction more accessible (through immersive technology like gaming and XR), and democratize ownership (using blockchain technology), meaning more people will be able to work – and be compensated – for their passions. The applications are endless.”

Does this mean digital fashion will scratch the consumer itch, and people will buy less? That

remains to be seen as the technology matures and more people experience Metaverses. Breana is helping to shape this technology to benefit the planet. “Metaverses provide a way for people to use digital fashion to express themselves without using as many finite resources, while also bringing more transparency to the supply chain,” she says. “It also benefits women in that the majority who play mobile games and buy the most clothes will be able to own and build in this space (and create wealth).”

The social change opportunities presented by these technologies are certainly already apparent to Breana. Metaverses can impact accessibility and representation for creators and owners, and she believes it creates new voices and perspectives whereby people can also create wealth by owning their outputs. Compassion, says Breana, will be a significant aspect: “Immersive experience will create awareness and empathy in seeing the world more clearly, inspiring people to take action to help the planet and each other. Gaming-inspired digital therapeutics will be FDA-approved to alleviate anxiety and depression in addressing mental health concerns.”

Maturing the Metaverse

Despite blockchain and immersive technology still in their early development and how these technologies are applied in the market, their vast potential for applications in the future is boundless.

It is the development and adoption of these technologies that most excites Breana about the future. “I like to root in the fundamental technology – blockchains or programmable technology on a ledger – and immersive technology, which is virtual or augmented reality. On the blockchain side, the Ethereum merge from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake was monumental in terms of endorsing a faster and more scalable blockchain that is less energy intensive.”

Regarding immersive tech, she believes: “Oculus and the upcoming Apple glasses headsets are the beginning of leveraging increased processing speeds enabled by 5G to build a lighter (and more comfortable) headset. Each of these spaces has its own time horizons from a development and adoption standpoint, but together they create an exciting future.”

Power comes with responsibility

“Most people don’t care – or need to care – about the technology powering their day-to-day lives,” shares Breana. “However, they do care if it improves their lives.”

That is the starting point for mass adoption, believes Breana. “Mass adoption will happen once the majority of people experience the technology’s applications and feel like their lives are better because of it, whether that’s consciously or unconsciously. One big lesson we can learn from social media over the last ten years is making sure that these new immersive social platforms are considering mental health. Significant advances are happening at the intersection of gaming and mental health that consumer companies can adopt.”

People mistakenly think that only well-known leaders can enact change. When she joined the World of Women and MyBFF communities, Breana saw just how powerful grassroots communities of women could be in the web3 space.

Her parting words to women looking to enter the web3 and the Metaverse is to “focus on becoming the change you want to see in the world; working through your individual challenges as you become this will blaze a trail for many.”

BREANA TEUBNER’S

METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS

• Similar to Nike’s tagline, just do it

• This space is highly accessible to experience user journeys first-hand

• Get a wallet, buy an NFT, join a Discord or Twitter community, make a no-code game (in 5 minutes)

• When you experience the technology (and friction), and benefits (or lack thereof), you’ll intuitively understand where the opportunities are to build and participate

San Francisco, USA

MIREILLE TOULEKIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR

MT ENERGY RESOURCES

The possibilities with the Metaverse are endless.

MMireille Toulekima is an award-winning entrepreneur, engineer, technologist, Thought Leader, and STEM expert. She believes web3 and the Metaverse will revolutionize the world. She’s building that future with these emerging technologies, focusing on a cleaner global energy transition and empowering more women for a more equitable future in which everyone can benefit and thrive.

Mireille is a Reservoir Engineering expert in the exploration and production branches within the energy sector, where samples from the sub-surface are collected, interpreted, and integrated into dynamic models to help generate production and economic forecasts. She is the Managing Director of the Perth, Australia-based company MT Energy Resources, where she works on integrating and implementing new technologies and web3 for an optimal energy transition. She shares: “The energy transition is a global focus; the technology we work on will allow for a smooth and optimal energy transition in a cost-effective way.”

In shaping and shifting women to a seat of power in the digital revolutions, Mireille also serves as the Global Chair of Engineering for the eminent and prestigious G100 Club, Africa Regional STEM expert at Women Entrepreneurship Day Organisation (WEDO), ambassador to WomenTech Network, and an advisor for the Women In Cloud network.

Growing underground

According to Mireille, the Metaverse is an integrated network of 3D virtual worlds accessed through virtual reality tools and mediums that transform the internet and user experiences from 2D to 3D. How does this apply to the energy sector? Mireille says she recognized how web3 could benefit the energy transition: “It was two years ago when I realized the power of web3 and the Metaverse to shorten and optimize the exploration process we followed to build our models. With web3 and the Metaverse, we can now virtually go into the sub-surface to see what is there. This gives us a more accurate representation of it and gives us a better idea of its production and economic potential for extraction.”

Was it one moment’s realization of using web3 to optimize the global energy transition? “It was when I could virtually visualize the sub-surface of the oil and gas asset from which I was trying to create a dynamic model; this was a powerful feeling to be standing there and connecting with every single element.”

The Metaverse, web3, and Blockchain present opportunities for the energy sector to support the implementation of new technologies. It provides a safe transition to clean energy, minimizes health and safety risks, and boosts the sector’s sustainability objectives. Mireille explains: “Blockchain is an attractive technology for global energy organizations, which need hyper-secure, scalable technology solutions to drive a new generation of applications involving collecting and sharing valuable data. Web3 tools like blockchain also help re-imagine energy value chains via tokenizing energy to create transparency and traceability, creating new markets and business models.”

Metaverse transformations

Mireille finds the most significant change since she first discovered the space up until today is that of the perception of web3 and the Metaverse, especially with the incorporation

of Blockchain. She believes that web3 and the Metaverse have evolved tremendously over the past year, accelerating these technologies faster than ever. The Metaverse, according to Mireille, is developing strongly but still requires a formidable boost in terms of the underlying technology. NFT and DeFi has grown exponentially over the same period. “Though still viewed as specialized for many, the majority of people acknowledge that both web3 and Blockchain will have a massive and sustained impact on the future of connectivity, reshaping the digital world and the future of the global economy by creating a new world with decentralized solutions.”

Mireille believes the Metaverse will revolutionize the world. She is excited about the opportunities for growth this emerging technology holds in store. “The world is changing; we live in unprecedented and challenging times. We live in a time where innovation, creativity, collaboration, resilience, and empathy are key enablers for excellence and value creation.”

According to Mireille, web3 and the Metaverse are poised to drive revolutionary advancement and technological breakthroughs, shaping new forms of communication, innovation, prototyping, community formation, and new business opportunities.

The Metaverse will alter many sectors further by introducing virtual reality (VR) wearables. She believes these wearables will introduce users to an alternate virtual world away from the confines of their homes. “The possibilities with the Metaverse are endless; this opens new avenues to providing public services like education and healthcare, creating employment, and planning community spaces.”

For the future of the energy sector, Mireille is inspired to work in the space as an active contributor and influence it, ensuring to empower as many women as she can to participate in the energy sector. “I want to be remembered as a trailblazer who has inspired and opened doors for millions of girls and women to participate and lead in maledominated industries.”

mireille-toulekima MToulekima

Perth, Australia

ALESSA BERG FOUNDER AND CEO

TOP TIER IMPACT

TTo describe Impact and Sustainability Tech entrepreneur Alessa Berg as multi-faceted is an understatement. This free-spirited millennial started her first business at age 11, began focusing on neuroscience in high school while working as a windsurf and snowboard instructor in her spare time. She’s also been in web3, investing in blockchain and biotech since graduating from Oxford university in 2012.

Switzerland-born Alessa, who describes herself as ‘an explorer by nature, pioneer by choice,’ established Top Tier Impact (TTI) in 2019. This members-only global ecosystem encompasses 600+ impact and sustainability leaders, entrepreneurs and investors across more than 45 countries.

As its Founder and CEO, Alessa explains TTI’s mission is ‘to focus on solving the critical issues of our time’ by accelerating the adoption of impact and positive technologies in business and society.

TTI’s investment activities span across climate tech, food and agriculture, psychedelics, renewable energy, mental health, biotech, circular economy and web3 for impact.

Aside from its active private member network, TTI comprises several units. These include an advisory consulting business focused on climate risk scenario planning and Environment, Social and Governance (ESG), a policy unit focusing on net-zero energy transition issues, and an impact investing unit.

My ultimate vision is to make impact and sustainability the default way of showing up as people.

Passionate about ‘creating a cooler global paradigm for our planet,’ Alessa’s company also launched TTI Global Impact Awards last year. Dubbed the ‘Oscars of impact and sustainability,’ the award celebrates startup entrepreneurs building a better world.

She obviously loves her fellow adventurers in the TTI community, fondly calling them the “crazy ones” who dare to ‘build the future while staying intensely present and embracing uncertainty in the name of impact’ on Instagram.

Positive impact, emerging technologies

As an investor and advisor, Alessa’s thought leadership ‘sits at the intersection of positive impact and emerging technologies.’

With a bachelor’s from Zurich University and MSc degree from the University of Oxford, her academic background in governance design and earlier career included products at earlystage technology startups, working in private equity at Blackstone and in venture capital at Mosaic Ventures.

Stating ‘there’s always a different solution, a new way of looking at things, an alternate universe,’ Alessa views the Metaverse as a ‘convergence of our physical and digital lives, which creates a merged reality where we can work, play, learn, socialize and transact.’

Technology is neutral

It’s been amazing, she remarks, to experience the growth of web3 and especially the blockchain sector since she ‘first got sucked into web3.’

“We’re now in a whole different world, where DeFi applications and NFTs have provided massive, tangible value.” She envisages DAOs exploding within a Metaverse environment, adding ‘they’ll enable us to design the realworld structures and companies of the future.’

As for Metaverse opportunities, Alessa foresees education and business will lead the world. On a personal note, she’s particularly excited about edutainment and fitness, quipping she loves some Metaverse games with an active physical component.

Alessa is upbeat that the Metaverse can enhance the way we live our lives in the real world. remarking that ‘technology is neutral, it’s up to us to use it in a positive way.’

“The Metaverse doesn’t have to mean we are less present in the real world. On the contrary, it can make us more empathic, informed and present than ever before.”

Education needed for technological adoption

Aside from the need to create better User Experience Design (UX) and User Interface Design (UI), education has always been a big barrier for mainstream adoption.

“It always comes down to the same principle: helping people get comfortable and familiar enough with the technology, so they’ll actually use it.”

With her conviction that ‘web3 is one of the key enablers of this new paradigm,’ Alessa suggests real technological adoption requires many different stakeholders to exchange knowledge, invest and run businesses differently. Her face lights up about web3 and the Metaverse in future because ‘the whole world’s paying attention now.’

“Now it’s no longer a niche, but something everybody wants to be part of. The status quo is clearly no longer an option, and we need to evolve the way we live on this planet.”

Aside from growing her international business, Alessa loves windsurfing, snowboarding and writing inspiring poems which she shares on Instagram. A fearless risk taker when it aligns with her passion and purpose, her own online post suggests what inspires her: “I don’t chase highs, I am the high. And so are you.”

ALESSA BERG’S METAVERSE & WEB

3 TIPS AND RESOURCES

1. Follow your passion – select things that spark your interest.

2. Carve out more space to investigate new things and get involved.

3. Watch Coinbureau channel (YouTube) to stay updated about web3.

4. We all experience reality subjectively, so try to understand the perspectives of all different people.

CHAPTER

Gaming & Sport

‘‘

Reality is broken. Game designers can fix it. Jane McGonigal.

KELLY VERO CREATIVE BADASS

The future is with us for a moment and then it’s gone. We either respond to it, we ignore it, or we invent it.

BBy her own description, Kelly Vero is a ‘Metaverse and NFT weirdo, old lady game developer and creative badass.’ She’s also a best-selling author, femtech advocate and one of the most respected and influential leaders in the global digital space.

Kelly, who calls Switzerland home, currently works at the cutting edge of technology for web3, and staunchly advocates its philosophies and its practical applications.

One way her work benefits others is that ‘a licensable framework for a decentralized unit provides the first step of regulation in this unregulated space.’ Another is that she’s the first person to create a trading standard for NFTs, now trusted by many brands, banks, insurers, and other verticals worldwide.

From gaming to the Metaverse

Moving into web3 and the Metaverse was a natural evolution. For all her adult life, Kelly’s career involved working with some of the world’s most famous franchises, developing video games including Tomb Raider, Candy Crush, and Halo 3.

When moving to Switzerland as a games developer – where little was happening in the games industry – her ‘need to pivot slightly’ led her to blockchain and the first wave of NFTs.

“Then, through my understanding of digital objects for video games, I was able to study and manipulate their capabilities (positively) towards a framework for how else digital or games objects can be used in everything from VR to digital fashion.”

Kelly acknowledges her ‘natural curiosity and being a bit quirky’ helped her slip seamlessly into digital leadership – through combining her passion for all things style, innovation, and video games. Yet her ‘love of pushing future technologies to the very edge of what can be developed and created’ may also have been a catalyst.

This forward-thinking approach has clearly paid off, even though some may regard Kelly as controversial (and no, it’s not just her self-made ‘Creative Badass’ title, penchant for red boots and vibrantly coloured hair!)

Kelly candidly comments that as a woman in this industry, for the most part, she has felt a little marginalized. Fortunately, ‘finding her tribe was the perfect remedy’ and she encourages others to ‘find your tribe and let them lift you.’

Metaverse offers infinite social possibilities

Of the Metaverse, Kelly urges people to believe her when she says it’s a persistent shared experience, enthusing that ‘the social possibilities are infinite.’

Writing recently about the Metaverse in beyondgames.biz, Kelly comments what she’s looking for in the space is people. Besides ‘looking for people, for friends, for opportunities, for work,’ she’s eager for ‘people in this space to feel value when they buy or play with NFTs, the Metaverse and web3.’

Unapologetically avoiding anything web2 (like personal websites and several social media platforms), she’s emphatic that ‘web3 and the Metaverse are VERY different beasts, each with their own part to play in our future.’

Encouraging femtech

As an enthusiastic femtech advocate, Kelly remarks in a LinkedIn post, “I love the opportunities that femtech brings to

EVERYONE in terms of telling the stories, diagnostics and data about our bodies, lifestyle, and our collective future.”

From her perspective, the current “digital bubble” moniker feels a bit unfair, commenting ‘it’s a transient construct as femtech finds its feet and its way to cross the chasm.’

Regarding opportunities in web3 and the Metaverse in the next five years, Kelly is already streets ahead, accumulating diverse expertise in healthcare, businesses, education, entertainment, individual lives, and the future of work.

“From femtech to payment systems, from sextech to newsletters, the internet and all its tools and playgrounds are finally free of ownership, or at least that’s the way it should be.”

With her conviction that we’re already living the impact of the Metaverse, she believes the creator economy will be the biggest impact in our daily lives, because ‘what we create is measurable and it will be measured.’

Big tech threat and eureka moments

While big tech will be a hurdle preventing mass trust and adoption of the Metaverse, Kelly enthuses that an amazing first step is the many open platforms that are foundations and not-for profits in this digital space.

Along the way, advice she would have given herself is: “Stop giving a f*ck and focus on just you, and what you’re doing because believe me, it’ll be worth it.”

With some eureka career moments – like sharing her vision at ‘secret dinner parties and meet ups with some of the world’s greatest minds’ – Kelly says she’s already created her legacy in games and for NFTs. As for what’s next, this funky futurist quips, “I’ll continue to innovate and evangelize – the rest I leave in the hands of the Metaverse.”

KELLY VERO’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS AND RESOURCES

1. Find your tribe. When we’re lifted by the people who believe in us, there’s so much we can do.

2. Play more games! And then read Game Thinking by Amy Jo Kim whose philosophy is easily applicable to the Metaverse/web3 framework –understand the player’s role in this space and create for them.

JAYNE PERESSINI VP, GROWTH GENERAL MANAGER, NBA AND WNBA TOP SHOT

With web3 being the natural progression of a digital-first consumer-driven world, I’m helping drive mass adoption of NFTs and other digital collectibles through blockchain technology and new forms of digital engagement to revolutionize the fan experience.

As the Vice President of Growth and General Manager of NBA and WNBA Top Shot − a revolutionary web3 experience where sports fans can buy, sell and trade officially licensed digital collectibles of the best moments in NBA and WNBA history −Jayne Peressini has been passionate about sports since childhood.

Growing up in Silicon Valley, it’s also not surprising that this proud Californian’s interest in mobile began at an early age, when she first started porting mobile games to Nokia devices.

“In those pre-app store days, Snake was still the number one game, and no one could have imagined mobile gaming would become part of our daily lives.”

Recognizing the early potential, Jayne stayed in gaming through her career, working at Reddit, sports-tech and betting company DraftKings and gaming giant Electronic Arts (EA).

Nowadays, she’s at Dapper Labs, named the No.1 gaming company of 2022. Its website states it’s in the ‘serious business of fun and games on the blockchain,’ using the power of play to drive mainstream adoption of decentralized technologies.

Shaping sports fans’ collectibles

With Jayne’s assertion that ‘web3 is the natural progression of a digital-first, consumer-driven world’, she’s helping drive mass adoption of NFTs and other digital collectibles through blockchain technology and new forms of digital engagement to revolutionize the fan experience. This, she remarks, is ‘paving the way to a more open and inclusive digital world starting with games and entertainment.’

For those not familiar with basketball or digital collectibles of the NBA and WNBA’s greatest plays and players, Jayne explains her role as GM allows her to ‘shape how sports fans and web3 enthusiasts collect what they love, show off their fandom, and connect with other fans of the sport in ways that were not possible before.’

Launched in 2020, NBA Top Shot is a partnership between the NBA, NBPA and Dapper Labs, attracting high-profile investors including NBA legends Michael Jordan and Kevin Durrant. Top players to partner with

the platform include Magic Johnson, Klay Thompson, Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles.

Jayne values her Top Shot community, because they ‘feel so invested and passionate about seeing the product succeed.’

NFTs the catalyst for mass web3 adoption

With a penchant for stylish black hats, living life in leather and loving good cigars, − especially hand rolled Cuban Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure 2 ones − Jayne displays an endearing honesty and humor in many tweets. She quips that as a child, the ‘original wallet for collectibles’ was her mom’s attic; for her, it was Beanie Babies, pellet-stuffed toy animals.

Growing up collecting trading cards, she remarks, “While I understood the concept of scarcity, the idea of owning something purely digital was new to me, as was the idea of buying a NFT. My job is to highlight how digital collectibles can bring fans closer to their favorite players and teams than ever before.”

The Metaverse for her, is whatever you want it to be, without limitation.

“If web2 was the rise of social media and construction of walled gardens (Facebook, Google, Twitter, Snap), then the Metaverse is the breakdown of walled gardens and rise of total connection and exploration.”

As for the growth of the spaces this past year, she remarks it’s growing up, with more substance and less hype – where products that are focused on long-term value are succeeding and speculative products are shaking out. Within five years, Jayne envisages ‘physical ownership authentication via the blockchain for homes, cars, and high value shoes.’

Get consumers curious about web3

For her, the biggest barriers to mass adoption ‘is the way we speak about web3, because it immediately turns consumers off when we lead with NFTs/DeFi/Blockchain and other unrecognized jargon.’

She believes in getting consumers curious and being patient as they transition from a web2 world into web3. “Just because we have the capabilities to create fully immersive experiences for consumers doesn’t mean we should bolt out of the gate. We need to show

people how these products can really enhance their experience as a fan, both digitally and in person.”

Jayne encourages others in a tweet to reach out to a friend, family member, coworker to help them set up a Dapper wallet, adding ‘it’s the easiest and most accessible gateway to all things web3, whether that be crypto, digital collectibles or other experiences.’

She reveals her family-oriented mindset on Twitter, when she confesses that ‘one of the harsh realities of being a working parent is missing your kid’s milestones’ − like two of her three kids’ first steps. She’s also a dog lover, calling an adorable, wrinkly brown pup named Kobe Bryant her “fourth child.” Outside of sports, Jayne loves drag queens, spending time with her family at the beach, walking ‘for mental health,’ and getting back into writing poetry, which she stopped for a long time ‘when life happened.’

Jayne’s future hope? To be one of the women that truly shapes the industry − especially coming from Silicon Valley, where ‘people become legends in spaces that others wouldn’t tread first.’ And following her own simple advice to ‘just keep going,’ she’ll undoubtedly achieve her ambition to see the space succeed.

JAYNE PERESSINI’S METAVERSE

WEB3 TIPS AND RESOURCES

1.

3.

behind

4.

ADA JONUSE COO BLOCKCHAIN CENTRE

I hope to be able to tell my grandchildren that I was part of the internet revolution that led us to a much fairer, participative and more secure internet economy.

AAda Jonuse has always believed in empowering underrepresented minorities and communities. She spent nearly a decade in politics, striving to impact the world positively. While working in the European Parliament and overseeing international ICT and entrepreneurship events, she recognized the power and potential of technology to change the future.

After discovering blockchain technology in 2017, Ada immediately became fascinated by the concept of true data ownership. She identified opportunities for digital ownership and open Metaverses to become the backbone of a universal basic income, in which people creating content online could actually be paid for their work and co-own the biggest companies in the world.

Not content to simply watch others build the future, she exited a fulltime role in politics to pursue her dream of launching a startup to take advantage of blockchain’s potential. She created Lympo, a startup aimed at health data monetization. It incentivized people to provide their health data and, at the same time, earn tokens the healthier they became. In 2020, Lympo was sold to blockchain powerhouse Animoca Brands, and she oversaw its pivot into the NFT space. This company is now building a sports NFT ecosystem with world-famous athletes and sports clubs’ IP rights.

“I hope to be able to tell my grandchildren that I was part of the internet revolution that led us to a much fairer, participative and more secure internet economy,” Ada remarks.

Added to her resumé, Ada was named Lithuania’s 2018 Women Technology Leader of the Year and awarded the New Europe 100 emerging European tech star award in 2017. With her mission and efforts to date, her grandchildren will be proud.

To the Metaverse and beyond In 2021, Ada became COO of The Blockchain Centre. This blockchain advisory firm helps companies launch their journey into the web3 space, releasing a token, launching an NFT-based product, and curating a Metaverse presence. She is an expert investor jury member at the European Union’s Innovation Council and various national tech investment vehicles and serves as a mentor in multiple blockchain-related accelerators and funds.

Through the Blockchain Centre, Ada is helping shape human interaction’s future. Decentralization, technology and creativity are the main layers of trust that define human interaction. The blockchain adds transparency and collaboration.

She then worked with tech startups in the USA and founded W@Tech, a network for women professionals. Her passion is undoubtedly working with great people and women on meaningful projects.

She feels that people should be rewarded and compensated for their data in the blockchain. Decentralized apps (dApps), decentralized browsers and open Metaverses may be slow in adoption rates, but their role in redefining the future of the internet is no less significant. The three features of the open Metaverse are openness, connectivity, and interoperability. For a truly decentralized future and open internet

economy for all, it is critical to build those into the core of web3, the infrastructure for open Metaverses.

“I see decentralized Metaverses becoming the biggest players in the internet economy,” Ada shared about the limitless opportunities presented by the Metaverse and web3. “As these are developed to enable digital ownership, this will mean a real income source for creators: that means everyone creating online content. That would revolutionize the way we work. Fully transitioning to the creators’ economy will allow more people to work online, remotely, independently, and following their real passion.”

She believes we will spend as much – or even more – time in the various Metaverses than people already spend online now. According to Ada, the business models behind these Metaverses and their data protection regimes will redefine online experiences. She hopes that open Metaverses in the future will triumph to ensure fairer and more secure products and businesses.

Bridging divides

Asking for her thoughts on obstacles to mass adoption of web3 and the Metaverse, Ada finds that the biggest challenge is “the digital divide. We need better infrastructure and ways to enable internet access to a big part of the world. But that is not enough. We need real education opportunities so everyone can benefit from this new internet. Right now, only a small, rather homogenous group of people work in the blockchain space. This needs to change rapidly to win the open Metaverse race.”

To lead women from the fringe to the frontier, Ada says we need to empower other female leaders to thrive. Her advice for this: “Stop questioning yourself; start acting. There will never be an ideal moment when you feel ready. No one feels ready until they actually do things.”

She continues: “It is impossible to reach a goal you cannot imagine. The first step towards a great achievement has to happen in your mind; this is often the most difficult step. Once women and girls realise they can be whoever they want to be, we will see a massive change. Diversity is good for everyone, proving that diverse teams contribute to a better business outcome.”

How does society begin that process? The fundamental building block, Ada believes, is curiosity. “I did a lot of things. I’m curious about many things. There are many more things still to do. This drives me forward in learning about new things. Everyone needs curiosity.”

Berlin, Germany

MARCIA CAPORN CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER

CREDENZA3

Credenza enables brands to seamlessly integrate web3 technologies into traditional operations to enhance direct-to-fan relationships and create new revenue streams.

MMarcia Caporn has been taking calculated risks and ‘going all in’ since she excelled as a competitive Gold Medalist and two-sport All-American in soccer and golf at Stanford University. As Head of Revenue at ventured-backed startup Credenza, Marcia supports web3 enablement for sports and entertainment.

Her background as professional athlete turned senior litigator and sports executive lead her to specializing in strategy and development in the emerging revenue sectors for sports partners in Australia and the US.

New York-based Marcia explains Credenza enables brands to seamlessly integrate web3 technologies into traditional operations to enhance directto-fan relationships and create new revenue streams. “By deploying Credenza’s proprietary technology to create web3 transition applications, we focus on igniting mass adoption in the sports market.”

Web3 future of commerce

Described as insightful and proactive, she comments on LinkedIn she’s very humbled and honored to work in the new wave of blockchain and web3.

The Credenza website states the rapidly evolving web3 ecosystem is poised to be the future of commerce. The company focus is on ‘helping brands be an early adopter and leader in the space to drive innovation, grow revenue, and provide enhanced value to their consumers.’ At Credenza, Marcia is bringing web3 solutions to professional and collegiate sporting properties and educating partners on new property rights implications (and opportunities) of web3.

Igniting new developments

She describes the Metaverse as ‘a 3D website that allows an interactive and immersive experience for consumers.’

“As more people move into the space, they bring with them their background and experiences, igniting new developments that’ll help drive new users and value.”

As for opportunities in the Metaverse, Marcia loves ‘the ability to tell stories and for consumers to enjoy them together.’

A frontrunner would be education; she imagines a world ‘where students play out history, Harvard case studies, and make hard decisions in the first person.’

She hopes ‘soon people around the world will be transported not only into different parts of the world but into different situations that help them grow as individuals.’

Yet, she’s concerned there are not enough applications that build bridges from traditional applications to web3 and stresses the need for ‘more innovators focused on how technology can make peoples’ lives better.’

Sports background meets serendipity

Being early in the space, Marcia wants to build it fairly for all. With platforms having been greedy, it’s ‘our opportunity to build it right.’

She’s confident that by Credenza connecting athletes, sports teams and leagues via web3

assets, the benefits of smart contracts and decentralized commerce can supercharge fandoms for all stakehoders.

Marcia’s own background as a professional athlete has undoubtedly been invaluable. Writing in a 2021 article as COO of volleyballfocused digital platform p1440, she admits in her 20s, competitive sports was her life.

“‘[After retirement] I was lost because my identity was wrapped into my sport. I didn’t realize it had turned me into a machine. But lucky for me, it trained me to seek what I wanted and to stop at nothing to get it. It led me to law school, to the top of my business school class, and to saying YES even when I was scared of failure.”

Marcia recalls while working for p1440, the investor suggested she investigate how NFTs and web3 could apply to high school female athletes. A “deep dive” into the space ignited her passion for ‘smart contract technology and what it could mean for the future of women’s sports.’

A serendipitous connection − with like-minded Credenza CEO Sandy Khaund − led her to developing the Home of Women’s Sports in the Metaverse and creating ‘an opportunity to enable women’s sports to be a leader [in web3] and show what’s possible.’

Excited about more equity

“It takes a lot of work to build momentum and cultivate the fan base for small market sports and emerging sectors but web3 offers ownership and control of these fandoms that have been denied by traditional platforms.”

So, despite Marcia admitting there’s much more meaningful work to be done, she’s upbeat that with smart contracts and blockchain, it will become easy to share value and share ecosystems.

MARCIA CAPORN’S WEB3 TIPS

1. Embrace

2. Start learning – gain self-confidence and

3. Follow thought leaders, companies and

that are developing products − they’ll

articles and podcasts about

developments as they’re

New York, USA

Fashİon & Desİgn

Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.

Zoe

CATHY HACKL CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF METAVERSE OFFICER

JOURNEY

As a woman and the first recognized Chief Metaverse Officer in the Metaverse and web3 industry, I’m building my path to inspire the girls of the future to envision themselves as who they want to be and feel encouraged and empowered to be it.

WWhen industry experts describe Cathy Hackl as the “Godmother of the Metaverse,” it’s not just a fanciful title dreamt up by a PR person. As a globally recognized Metaverse and web3 strategist, and the world’s First Chief Metaverse Officer, Cathy’s reputation is well deserved.

Regarded as one of very few people in the world with an exceptional level of knowledge and understanding of the AR/MR/VR industry, it’s not surprising this energetic innovator is a sought-after speaker, expert consultant and media personality.

As the co-founder and Chief Metaverse Officer of Journey, Cathy describes Journey as ‘a new

kind of innovation and design Metaverse consultancy.’

She is leading its Metaverse Studio in working with the world’s top brands on Metaverse/web3 strategies, NFTs, gaming, virtual fashion, and how to extend their brands into virtual worlds.

With the Journey website stating it ‘builds real products, with real technologies, to create meaningful experiences for real people in whichever reality they choose,” Cathy explains the company is taking ‘a panoramic view across physical, digital and virtual landscapes.’

“At the moment, my team and I are working on several world-building projects for brands and developing Metaverse strategies for our clients

to show them the process of a company or brand navigating into the Metaverse.”

People who’ve worked with Cathy describe her as ‘an innovative leader who approaches the evolution of human-technology interaction with a uniquely pragmatic optimism.’

With numerous accolades − including being named by BigThink as one of the top 10 most influential women in tech in 2020, and readwrite.com including her in its 2021 Top 30 Most Influential People in The Metaverse −, she’s also a best-selling author.

Successor of today’s mobile internet

Calling the Metaverse the successor of today’s mobile internet, Cathy says for her, the

‘‘

Metaverse is about shared virtual experiences that can happen in both the physical and virtual world.

“Stop thinking of the Metaverse as only virtual, as we’ll move between both physical and digital worlds.” Working in Metaverse-related industries and many major global corporate clients for almost a decade, this feisty futurist admits that succeeding ‘as a woman and a Latino has been hard.’

Cathy is totally at ease when she speaks, using expressive hand gestures and a disarmingly dimpled smile to convey her message. But she confesses it’s been a ‘wild ride with many coincidences consisting of AHA moments.’

While attending a conference about nine years ago, she put on a Virtual Reality headset to join a virtual experience called Confinement. After experiencing this very realistic experience that was programmed virtually, Cathy realized it was ‘the future of something.’

“In that moment of clarity, I decided ‘this is my path,’ it’s what I want to do for the rest of my life. I made a hard pivot into VR and AR, and everything has been evolving since that moment.”

Commenting on how web3 and the Metaverse have developed over the past year, Cathy remarks ‘we’re now evolving from web2 that connected people (social media), to web3, which connects people, places, and things or people spaces and assets in the virtual world and the physical world.’

“In building the Metaverse, web2’s successor, we can explore who we are in this space, discover new job opportunities and expand new commerce models. It’s an inflection point happening now in a moment of exploration.”

World builders

Cathy enthuses ‘in the Metaverse, we’re all world builders, and now is the time to build and create it together.’ Some of these opportunities include:

• Expanding, ever-changing identities – there are already some avatar-related examples – Expect the Metaverse populated with lifelike chatbot avatars to help us create and build things and be brand ambassadors or customer service agents.

• Unlimited creativity when people start exploring other parts of themselves.

• Seamless interaction with digital content and experiences immersed in the physical world in daily life.

• Deep, immersive worlds we haven’t even imagined yet, being able to travel and have experiences beyond our comprehension.

• Creating virtual worlds so people can socialize online and experience more immersive relationships; and

• New integrations, with smart glasses and augmented reality glasses eventually overtaking smartphones.

She enthuses about ways the Metaverse will impact society including unlocking neverbefore seen creativity, allowing artists and creators to regain control and have digital ownership of their work by releasing it as NFTs, making the world machine readable and enabling autonomous vehicles and robots to engage with us in new ways.

Living our lives with impact

Contentedly family focused, many Instagram posts reveal that while Cathy spends most of her life working in virtual worlds, it’s ‘a blessing to disconnect and reflect about what matters most.’ And she still appreciates the small things in the real world. These include relaxing in Costa Rica with her three children and husband (explaining he’s actually a rocket scientist), movie nights under the stars in their backyard, family hikes along the Potomac, photographing her adorable mini-Golden doodle puppy and practicing acceptance to recalibrate.

Cathy encourages us to live our lives with impact, and she’s followed the advice of a former boss, “If you can see it, you can be it.”

There’s no doubt her Instagram comment –‘becoming that girl that decided to go for it’ – is 100% real.

cathyhackl CathyHackl

Virginia, USA

ADRIANA HOPPENBROUWER PEREIRA CO-FOUNDER

THE FABRICANT

At The Fabricant, we believe in a new digitalonly fashion industry that explores instead of exploits, where the word ‘consumer’ has been replaced by ‘cocreator’ because value is distributed among the fans of the brand.

WWhen Adriana Hoppenbrouwer Pereira and her co-founders started The Fabricant in 2018, nobody understood the concepts of digital-only fashion and decentralization.

Now, four years later, this company is globally recognized as a pioneer, with work by its creative technologists inspiring a passionate community of digital fashionauts committed to building the wardrobe of the Metaverse.

With a corporate marketing background in large apparel and retail organizations, this elegant, high-energy visionary admits the continuous search for capital growth at any cost – whether environmental or human – didn’t fit her values and aspirations.

Living with her family in the Netherlands, Adriana tweets The Fabricant is ‘about reinventing the fashion industry into a more creative, equitable and sustainable model

through digital fashion.’ “We envision a future where fashion transcends the physical body, and our digital identities permeate daily life to become the new reality.”

Adriana commented in a recent LinkedIn post about The Fabricant’s fun fashion minting event with World of Women – where both communities created their own unique designs, sharing royalties with all parties involved. She’s rightfully proud of what this landmark event achieved for their community and she’s clearly planning to continue ‘always working collaboratively and pushing the boundaries.’

First digital-only fashion house

The Fabricant website states as the world’s first digital-only decentralized fashion house, it’s ‘establishing the groundwork for an entirely new non-physical fashion industry.’

By splicing fashion with tech, it has completely reimagined how garments can be created and experienced.

Its stated mission is to uncompromisingly build a digital-only fashion industry where everybody profits and rewards creative participation. Founded with a spirit of collaboration, it’s committed to ‘burning down the traditional industry’s toxic status quo.’

Adriana explains The Fabricant’s vision is of ‘a future where everyone can let their selfexpression and identity exploration run wild through digital fashion, significantly replacing the world’s need for physical garments.’

In The Fabricant Studio – its decentralized co-creation platform – anyone can create and collaborate globally in real time, trade and wear their unique digital garments as NFTs.

This, she explains, means creators can monetize and decide the price of their efforts.

Co-creators benefit from their creative participation by splitting profits and royalties equally, earning FBRC coins, and ‘creating a new equitable value system for the industry.’

Financial rewards finally equal to talent

The sticker on Adriana’s laptop “There is nothing permanent except change” is apt, given she’s an enthusiastic advocate of more female participation in web3.

While this web3 fashion futurist says it’s going to be a “wild ride” for people who join The Fabricant in the Renaixance of fashion, she jokingly tweets about a wildly flamboyant garment that ‘those who know me, know I would only wear it during the Rio Carnival.’

The Metaverse, says Adriana, is the evolution of the web into a new phase of immersive experiences and self-sovereignty. “It is the post-consumerism era where we can own and monetize our digital creations, without one central power structure.”

She enthuses on LinkedIn that projects in the space are not competing, but rather collaborating and building ecosystems to drive higher adoption of NFTs among non-crypto natives.

With Adriana’s assertion that digital fashion offers ‘incredible chances of livelihood for fellow talented creatives,’ she describes web3 communities as “the new lifestyle brands.”

In her view, the top three opportunities in the Metaverse will be new jobs and business models, richer social interactions and freedom of self-expression.

New ways of self-expression

The Metaverse, she remarks, will ‘impact all industries, starting with the creative ones –fashion, music, film, and entertainment.’

As for its impact, Adriana predicts the Metaverse will allow us to experience new ways of self-expression, create/ be part of micro-communities of interest with immersive and rich experiences and start new businesses monetizing our creativity.

“It will give the power back to humanity to control our own data and be credited in our

creations. In addition, it will decentralize power structures, creating a more balanced and fair political system.”

With her stressing it’s critical to educate and raise awareness about the opportunity of web3 in creating a decentralized and equitable economy, she says the current key barriers in mainstream adoption are the user experience as well as network stability and security.

Game changing technology

Adriana is confident this ‘game-changing technology has the power to distribute wealth in more equitable ways.’ However, she warns if the knowledge is concentrated in the hands of the few without ensuring diversity is preserved, it will increase economic disparity.

Looking back, she admits she would have started her entrepreneurial journey earlier, joined the web3 movement and been more vocal about female participation in tech.

Still, that’s not stopping her enthusiasm for wanting to ‘create the blueprint for the postconsumerism era through The Fabricant,’ which she asserts will be a new economic model in the fashion industry based on cocreation and generating equitable wealth distribution.

“I want to prove that any kid around the world, regardless of their background, can earn a livelihood from their creative talent. In our case, it’s applied to the fashion industry, but it should be implementable in any other sector.”

And with Adriana’s own advice to “read less, practice more,” it’s clear this strong-minded fashion pioneer is determined to do that and then some!

TThere’s nothing ordinary about awardwinning fashion designer and author Nova Lorraine. Describing herself as “a poet and storyteller at heart,” this Jamaican-born creative entrepreneur skilfully blends psychology, design and media into impactful written and visual content to influence the world of NFTs, Fashion, and the Metaverse.

Nova views the Metaverse as the next iteration of the internet, describing it as ‘a threedimensional expression of online interaction, education, and commerce.’ It is in this space where she consults with Founders of DAOs, Metaverse worlds, and NFT projects as a web3 and Metaverse advisor, public speaker, and podcast host.

After obtaining a master’s in clinical psychology, Nova spent five years studying and working in the fashion industry before expanding her creative pursuits into the Metaverse to include transformational art and fashion design.

Unleashing creativity

Nova is currently involved in several web3 projects. These include expanding Raine Magazine, (which she founded in 2007), by producing and hosting podcasts for the Pink Kangaru podcast network. Another project is Raine Drops, a web3 art house that features transformational fashion and art to create bespoke phygital and Metaverse experiences. Raine Drops’ mission is to benefit creatives by increasing their mental, physical, and financial well-being.

The aim of her phygital couture house The House of Nova, is to ‘increase authenticity and originality of digital assets for creators.’ By combining AR, data and storytelling to futureproof digital art and fashion, Nova asserts it will help to decrease fashion waste and improve sustainability.

By extending herself creatively across multiple platforms, Nova has witnessed some intriguing changing trends in the Metaverse and web3

over the past year. Aside from seeing more women entering the space as architects, 3D designers, and founders, she comments, “There’s been an attention shift – from quickturning, hype projects to ideas with clear roadmaps for longevity and organic community growth.”

She predicts that many exciting opportunities will unfold within these spaces in the next five years. These include new education models, less capital requirements to start online businesses, more diverse companies and community-driven business models, as well as more sustainable products and services. Virtual living and phygital experiences, adds Nova, is also likely to become more important, including “medical visits becoming more virtual, real-world experiences co-existing with their virtual counterparts, and increased importance placed on virtual land ownership.”

Igniting a digital revolution

The Metaverse is not just impacting the world we live in. It is also affecting key aspects of our lives. Nova remarks that “from an economic perspective, the space is driving creativity at an incredible speed, while inspiring new business models and revenue channels”.

As for its role in the future of technology, she predicts the Metaverse will facilitate greater acceptance of AI and help to implement AR/VR in our everyday experiences.

She curbs her enthusiasm with a caution, however, adding that “from a social perspective, it can be a new form of escapism and create additional mental health issues based on possible addictive behaviours”.

Hurdles and hindsight

Nova believes the web3 space will face obstacles before it’s adopted by the masses. Its up against confusion about whether the web3 space is “just a fad”, the fast pace at which it’s evolving, lack of frictionless user interfaces and elusive financial resources to take a project from concept to execution.

With the insight of hindsight, what piece of advice would she have given herself earlier?

“Never feel you have to put yourself in a box to accommodate what others may expect or feel comfortable with.”

What must surely be a daunting workload does not seem to have dampened Nova’s enthusiasm and passion. And not even being a mom to four kids has changed her seemingly boundless energy and desire to inspire others to never give up on their dreams.

As for the future, Nova hopes it will pave the way to lower barriers of financial equity for all races. “I’m excited at the prospect of creatives being able to do what they love without compromising or letting go of their dreams, because when you set your eyes on something bigger than you, the universe moves mountains to help you.”

NOVA LORRAINE’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS

1. Fast-track your knowledge – use multiple resources to learn and understand the meaning of unfamiliar words and terms.

2. Do short courses on topics that interest you most (e.g., DeFi vs NFTs).

3. Watch podcasts (good ones include My Cryptocurrency Chronicles, Crypto for Creatives and Only Webinars.com).

4. Attend relevant webinars and conferences (online or in person) where you can meet knowledgeable individuals that share informative content on social media.

5. Reach out to these individuals for advice, to ask questions or get recommendations about additional resources.

New York, USA

CAMILLE MERRÉ CHIEF METAVERSE OFFICER

GEM-XR

‘‘

I believe virtual self-expression, for both luxury brands and consumers, will be a game changer in forming bespoke, highly engaging, unique digital experiences.

CCamille Merré, a young entrepreneur, artist, consultant and Metaverse specialist in the luxury sector is at the top of her game, making extensive strides influencing and helping luxury brands to embrace innovation and web3 technologies to stay relevant to next generation audiences.

In 2021 Camille completed her Master’s in Management (Marketing) degree at Regent’s University London achieving a dual award for the Chartered Management Institute Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice. She graduated as top master student with her thesis entitled: ‘How AR enhances the consumer experience within the luxury market and the Metaverse’. This clearly defined her career path.

“During my master’s degree,” says Camille, “I was nominated and selected as the first post-graduate student to take part in the Clinton Initiative University – a prestigious student leadership programme initiated by former President Bill Clinton and the Clinton Foundation. It was designed to empower the next generation of student leaders who have innovative ideas for tackling the world’s most pressing issues and challenge students to become successful commitment-makers. My commitment to action was, and is, to empower women in tech towards a socially responsible future through web3 ecosystems.”

Camille is the Chief Metaverse Officer at GEM-XR, a MaaS (Metaverse as a Service) web3 multiverse agency, enabling the scaling of live virtual worlds, and the creation of phygital NFTs for luxury brands, retailers and creatives along their Metaverse journey.

Photo: Jean-Baptiste Millot

Camille strives for a 360° approach in providing comprehensive and transformative strategies to luxury brands, advising and consulting on their entry into the web3 space. The company specializes in revolutionizing customer interactive shopping experiences, offering immersive SaaS web-based virtual worlds, virtual try-on, NFTs, and blockchain development at the intersection of CGI, Unreal Engine and sustainability.

Camille explains how the Metaverse brings a new state of relationships and self-expression as well as identity that allows anyone to carry the story forward as a community. As it links to gaming, she refers to the Metaverse as being non-linear, offering individuals the opportunity to choose their own adventure. “I believe that virtual self-expression, both for luxury brands and consumers, will be a game changer in forming

bespoke, highly engaging unique digital experiences. The future of luxury will enable consumers to cultivate their virtual identities through digital goods, with an offer to redeem the physical assets including NFT certifications and utility perks.”

Collaborators vs competitors

Her view is that all individuals and organizations working within the space are building and creating pathways to what will become the Metaverse. She loves the fact that it’s open standards, about building a vision of sustainability, equity, and the creator economy. She describes the Metaverse as being about co-creation, elevation, communication, and collaboration. Web2 was about competitors whereas web3 is about collaborators.

She’s excited about the creator economy and how it’s enabling us to find the next hidden talents by opening new avenues to content creation. Camille says web3 technologies allow creators to monetize their skills and talents through a decentralized platform, while NFTs enable authenticity, trackability and proof of ownership. This has led creators to establishing new business models and tapping into new audiences.

Camille is finding that more and more luxury brands are embracing the digital evolution from blockchain certificates to NFT drops and consortiums. They are building their own vision and cultural credibility by engaging projects within their communities. She says knowing and cocreating is the new owning, with individuals looking to brands to create communities and worlds with their storytelling.

“By engaging in the Metaverse, individuals can change the outcome and write their own stories. For luxury brands, it’s about belonging and identity. The brand represents a meeting point for aficionados to meet and interact by sharing knowledge and networking together,” says Camille.

The legacy that this inspiring woman would like to create, is to be instrumental in promoting women in tech, encouraging them to join the web3 space. She also wants brands to see that the Metaverse can be of high quality and that unique, immersive experiences can be created through XR technologies.

CAMILLE MERRÉ’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS

• Dream big, start small and begin now by joining communities you can identify with in web2, then try to find them in web3.

• Go to events and Metaverse fairs. Educate yourself as much as possible by reading, reaching out to stakeholders in the space and not being afraid to ask questions. The web3 community is welcoming and helpful.

• Engage with projects you identify with, join masterclasses or webinars on the subjects which interest you in the space.

camillemerre

Geneva, Switzerland

ALINE D’AMBRICOURT CEO & FOUNDER

Photo: Jean-Baptiste Millot

FFrom musical storyteller to digital storyteller, Aline d’Ambricourt is an inspiring woman. After delighting audiences on the international stage as a highly acclaimed harpsichordist for over 30 years, she moved on to delighting consumers with exquisite jewellery which has evolved into the web3/Metaverse realm.

An entrepreneur, futurist and digital nomad who has always been fascinated with innovation and technology, Aline is CEO and founder of GEM-XR – a Metaverse agency – and Camille Louise Jewellery s.à.r.l. based in Zug, Switzerland.

In 2020, when co-creating the jewellery brand with Camille Louise Merré, she started her journey in the blockchain and NFT sphere as the paradigms offered by the technology created immense creative and innovative potential. This led her to co-designing a ‘crypto jewellery’ item engraved with a QR code in 18-carat gold, including an NFT of digital art within the piece which she minted as the first Swiss jewellery NFT in 2021. In parallel, she partnered with Utrust for her brand’s website which enabled customers to purchase jewellery in any cryptocurrency.

The formation of GEM-XR was a natural progression for Aline, realizing that blockchain and web3 could address many challenges for the luxury industry, such as communicating authenticity, responsible sourcing and showing the product’s lifecycle, generating sustainability with on-demand manufacturing, and creating a new relationship where the consumer cobuilds with the brand.

Aline describes her business as a 360° web3 multiverse MaaS (Metaverse as a Service) agency that enables luxury brands, businesses, and creatives with bespoke NFT drops and wearables, to enter the Metaverse. “Our mission is for brands to engage with their customers in a 3D-rendered, interactive shopping and immersive environment at the intersection of CGI, digital storytelling and e-commerce.”

Not having a web3 strategy is not an option

Commenting on the opportunities envisaged in the Metaverse in the future, Aline uses Gen-z as an example, stating that they spend a notable proportion of their time in virtual worlds and consider their avatars as extensions of themselves, and they express that by customizing their skins and bodies with unique assets. This, she says, represents a major opportunity for luxury brands in the next five years in the large gaming communities, to operate as in the physical world, trading or purchasing products using in-house currency.

Aline believes the Metaverse has brought about a shift in consumer behavior and personalization with consumers actively participating in NFT projects. Collaboration with the web3 space is key and not seen as competitive but rather as building an equitable, sustainable environment. “The Metaverse is a powerful opportunity to think very differently by unlocking new possibilities for customer experience and business value.

From generational shifts to consumer adoption, those who join the Metaverse wave and innovate, will be rewarded.”

A memory that stands out for her is when she realized how the Metaverse provides opportunities for large-scale people transformation as web3 progressively becomes mainstream. It’s about rapidly learning, experimenting and connecting, by building a high-quality experience that will promote craftsmanship in a 3D augmented way with hyper-social experiences.

Virtual designs have less of an environmental impact Through GEM-XR, Aline aims to contribute to the UN’s Global Goals (9, 12, 13 and 17) as digital luxury goods enhance the consumer experience by simulating different fabrics, colors, patterns and creativity (surreal outfits), thereby reducing the production waste generated from poor-fitting effects and unsuitable sizes. With AR try on for luxury goods, returns are minimized with no shipping or waste. Digital-only products reduce the carbon footprint and eliminate waste and chemicals during production and usage.

She points out that virtual designs have less of an environmental impact compared to conventional designs, in terms of production and in-use phases.

Aline’s words of encouragement and music to our ears, is, “Join us in building the Metaverse by engaging and co-creating with us. We need the community to engage in this digital revolution and help us write this story that is the Metaverse.”

ALINE D’AMBRICOURT’S

& WEB3 TIPS

• Start now, it’s never too late. The Metaverse is a welcoming place. Join webinars, educate yourself and follow thought leaders in the industry that interests you.

• Try to start building your network and community by joining discords and community meetups at fairs and events.

• Read, learn by doing and experiment by purchasing an NFT or digital asset/membership to join a web3 community.

• Your web2 business can be extended on top of your web3 adventure. Mint your ideas/projects on blockchain before someone else does.

ASHUMI SANGHVI FOUNDER & CEO

MAD GLOBAL

IIt’s clear to see, browsing MAD Global’s website, that founder and CEO Ashumi Sanghvi is at the cutting edge of her game. A multidisciplinary creative, producer, curator and innovator based in London, she’s always been one to push the boundaries, executing intangible creative ideas into tangible content and productions. With an impressive career spanning four continents from Mumbai, New York, Florence and London, she leverages fifteen years’ experience with producing award-winning omnichannel multimedia content for fashion, luxury, beauty and lifestyle clients. It’s not unusual to see a well-known film star featured in her productions.

Long before the term ‘Metaverse’ was coined, Ashumi had been producing creative projects using technologies like holograms and augmented reality (AR). In 2019, while conducting a pilot project for a global luxury

brand, the R&D led her to delve further into exploring use cases for the application of immersive technology across the verticals they worked with fashion, luxury, beauty and art.

“We developed an AR app to visualize photorealistic fashion experiences and won ‘Ones to Watch’ Top 100 CreaTech companies in the UK,” says Ashumi. “My personal interest and research into blockchain technology, crytpocurrencies as well as investing in early NFT projects, all culminated with entering the web3/Metaverse space.” This led to the formation of the second leg of her company, MAD-XR.

Projects driven by meaning and purpose

MAD-XR is an innovation-focused, full service creative production agency that is bringing projects to life in the Metaverse (3D, AR, VR, NFT)

We have increasingly observed how important IRL activations are in bringing new digital realities to the forefront of where immersive technologies meet user experience.

‘‘

to this, her clients benefit from considerable consultation and advice with each project being approached from a holistic standpoint.

Ashumi believes the Metaverse has the potential to connect people closer together in more meaningful ways, but that it can also potentially drive us further away from human emotion. She feels strongly that it’s our responsibility to build on new immersive technologies and digital realities with the awareness and understanding of the positive and negative impacts on our mental, social and emotional health. “If we work together more collaboratively, bringing together more collectives with shared values and purposedriven initiatives, I believe we will be working together towards a lasting positive impact in the Metaverse and the future of technology.”

Bridging creative with technology and production, she works across a variety of projects at the intersection of where culture and community meets fashion, luxury and art. Her mission is to help clients find meaningful ways to engage with new audiences by creating, curating, developing and producing new digital realities and physical activations.

Commenting about the change and evolution of the web3/Metaverse space in the past year, Ashumi remarks that it continues to evolve at a rapid pace with many technological advancements moving the space forward.

“At the same time, communities are coming together to share knowledge and collaborate. We have increasingly observed how important ‘In Real Life’ (IRL) activations are in bringing new digital realities to the forefront of where immersive technologies meet user experience.”

Invited to speak at the Houses of Parliament at the House of Lords for the event ‘Films in the Metaverse’ regarding ‘how the Metaverse revolution is changing the film industry’, Ashumi confidently spoke of the web3 being about the three ‘C’s’: contribution, connection, collaboration.

Barriers to mass adoption

In Ashumi’s view, the biggest barriers to mass adoption remain education, regulation and user experience. The many Metaverse platforms are still nascent, she believes, when it comes to onboarding mass audiences as a large amount of computing power is required to access them and have a visually impactful experience. Moreover, VR headsets remain costly thereby limiting the number of people gaining access to fully immersive worlds.

Ashumi shares her most pivotal memory since entering the web3/Metaverse space: “For me it was experiencing the power of community at the first NFT conference I attended in Lisbon. It was this experience which cemented my commitment to drive meaningful change and bring exciting purpose-driven projects to life.”

ASHUMI SANGHVI’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS AND RESOURCES

• Find someone in the space that inspires you. Follow their news and updates.

• Find an IRL group in your city and attend meetups.

• Connect and collaborate with other people in the space to share knowledge, networks and experiences.

• There are two books that I recommend: The Metaverse and how it changes everything by Matthew Ball. Navigating the Metaverse by C Hackl, T Bartolo and D Lueth.

• Stay curious, keep learning, connecting and contributing.

ashumi-s-a658624 ashumiss

ashumiss.eth #4382

ALBRIGHT ENYIOHA XR EXPERIENCE DEVELOPER, ENERGY ENGINEER & NFT CREATOR

My current practice explores ways to integrate AI with digital fashion and 3D wearable fusion pieces to examine AI’s emotionmapping ability and human behavior through a futuristic lens.

WWhen Albright Enyioha’s website biography describes her as “multi-passionate,” that doesn’t even begin to capture this Nigerian millennial’s capabilities and aspirations. She’s building a legacy to empower the African XR ecosystem for better representation while renovating the education system through XR. Albright is an XR Experience Developer, Energy Engineer, NFT Creator, Sales Engineer, game and UX/UI designer, fashion designer, and wife. Another tag: a courageous Woman of the Future.

Her web3 undertakings are undoubtedly changing and shaping the world, one industry at a time. As Energy Engineer at Schlumberger – one of the world’s largest companies in the energy sector – Albright lends her voice and network to empower XR for education initiatives and drives the large-scale adoption of XR for safe operations in the energy industry. Working with High-Temperature High Pressure (HTHP) scenarios, she researches XR simulations to reduce personnel risk and ease new hires’ onboarding.

Exploration, education, empowerment

As if that’s not enough, she blends cross-industrial experiences through research and development of XR for improved African education and promotes sustainability for the arts, fashion, and entertainment industry. Through the ATA Studio’s Sustainable Games project, Albright works towards empowering young Africans with XR technology skills for improved learning cycles and introducing more youth to XR training in line with the United Nations’ SDG-4 – with 100 students graduating per class. Fashion is close to Albright’s heart, and her LaninB project focuses on equipping fashion businesses with 3d garment designs and Digital Humans for improved brand representation and sustainable production workflows.

Her functions at TotalView Media see Albright convert physical spaces into Real-Time Interactive Virtual Tours through XR technology – opening the world for businesses to the Metaverse.

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Her work benefits engineers, XR technology builders and enthusiasts, and business professionals through access to research work, training, and growing a creative community.

“The Metaverse is the ‘Great Backend’ that will transform communication and telepresence,” she believes. “There’s been an exponential increase in the adoption of web3 and the Metaverse industry. While the VR industry has existed as far back as 1968, the wider public was attracted by the 2018 movie ‘ReadyPlayerOne’ and the release of the cross-platform avatarcreating software ReadyPlayerMe. Web3 platforms like Decentraland have also redefined gameplay, as we experienced in ‘The Sims.’

The future is virtually XR

The web3 and the Metaverse are still foreign concepts to most people. She said: “It is a case of seeing is believing. Once people have tried VR and XR technology, it is then that they grasped the concept of immersive experiences.”

That’s why education – of web3 and through web3 – is central to Albright’s mission. She wants as many Africans to participate and contribute to web3 and the Metaverse’s fantastic opportunities: “I can only imagine how much more effective learning can be with XR solutions. Looking back to my lab practicals at the University of Benin, I see related use cases

in XR technologies. We had a few discarded drill bits in the lab shown in passing to visualize drilling processes. Having access to 3d versions of the tools can only strengthen the experience and make it more real to the students. In the next five years, I am certain that universities and colleges that adopt XR technologies for training will produce far more experienced graduates who would appreciate the working principles through hands-on experiences with virtual 3d simulations.”

Passion and purpose

Her journey to get where she is today is unconventional at best but highlights the breadth of opportunities of the web3 and the Metaverse space. “My passion for design started when my mum gave me pages of old newspapers to create style ideas for her next garment. She was a seamstress and made many of my outfits as a little girl. I picked up from pencil sketching to 2d digital designs and later discovered 3d cloth creation and virtual humans. Growing up, I watched Pops restructure our house plan multiple times and eagerly describe his thought in detail for me to visualize. This led to my love for environmental design and technology.”

“My a-ha moment came in 2018, I worked with my team to shoot a marketing ad with a 3d

concept. The finished project made me realize that this was not just 3d but could make a big impact in the world of Virtual Reality, which we now loosely refer to as the Metaverse. Another lightbulb moment was in 2021, when I needed to make a poster to showcase XR in the African space but could not find a picture that fully represented my message. I decided to step in and use my modelling skills to provide representative photos for Africans in XR.”

What makes Albright excited about the future of web3 and the Metaverse is “the growing community and the vast number of resources easily available to us. I am inspired by the likes of Justin P. Barnett, Dilmer Valecilios, and the enthusiasm of co-creators in the community to share and develop more creators in the XR space.”

The use cases and applications for XR are limitless. With the vision and drive of Albright Enyioha, the world will grow in leaps and bounds through enhanced education to empower even more Africans.

ALBRIGHT ENYIOHA’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS

1. Make YouTube your dear friend and Google your faithful companion.

2. Spend more time researching and asking questions to understand the industry of your interest, and then you’ll be able to suppress the urge to purchase courses you may not need.

3. Join a community and keep abreast of trends in the XR industry.

4. LinkedIn is an excellent platform for building meaningful connections.

AlbrightEnyioha ata.studios

Art & Photography

Matisse

AMRITA SETHI AWARDWINNING NFT ARTIST

The only thing that stops you in the Metaverse is your imagination.

WWomen in the United Arab Emirates – and across the Gulf region – face discrimination daily. The UAE government has been doing much in righting the imbalances in women’s rights in recent years. Women such as Amrita Sethi champion women’s rights by jumping headfirst into male-dominated sectors to change the status of women.

Amrita is the first NFT artist in Dubai (and the UAE). She declares: “Web3, NFTs, and the Metaverse are changing the narrative, and I am here to show through my art that anything is possible in the new world of web3 –and that the only obstacle is your imagination.”

She’s not only minted the first women-made NFT art pieces in Dubai but she’s created her own art genre called The SoundBYTES and her

own language called The AlphaBYTES. This genre fuses art, fashion, technology, storytelling and NFTs through hybrid reality experiences, such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). The SoundBYTES merges sound, technology and storytelling with NFTs, giving her a perfect platform to showcase her dynamic art form based on sound. Her other NFTs bridge the gap between physical and digital (phygital) art and makes use of augmented and virtual reality integrated with art and fashion.

(Centralized) finance to (decentralized) art

Through web3, NFTs, and the Metaverse, Amrita is also changing women’s status across the UAE. She left her corporate career after 15 years in some of the world’s largest multinational finance companies for a deeper calling in 2020.

Her unique artwork has been recognized by Forbes, CNN, and BBC World News and won numerous awards. She was selected to create live art installations and activations for Expo 2020 across the Middle East and Europe. Amrita also received a prestigious Golden Visa Residency in Dubai in 2021 for her contribution to the digital art market in the UAE.

Amrita painted one of the world’s largest ever augmented reality murals – and it was the first of its kind in the UAE. She painted a mural titled “Future NFT Dubai” on the side of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) at the Innovation Hub in Dubai, which was ironic as the DIFC is one of the largest centralized financial centers in the world and a landmark of her previous career.

She recalls her journey’s tipping point: “Painting a MetaMask man, the word DeFi, images of Bitcoins, Ethereums and blockchains on a wall propping up this traditional financial institution was the moment I realized web3 will change the global narrative, and at that moment being personally honored as an artist in being able to share this new story.”

Since then, Amrita’s created the world’s first AR abaya and a fashion line with physical and NFT components. She’s currently working

on the first mindful meditation Metaverse experiences through VR in a collection titled The CrystalBYTES, in which a user meditates to a floating crystal while sitting on a floating yoga mat in an experience merging human consciousness with technology in the Vault Hill Metaverse.

Challenge your imagination

This artist believes that web3 has moved from fringe to frontier but still has a long way to go to become familiar to all. “We are still on the bleeding edge of technology, and as the space evolves, we will continue to see amazing leaps in this space.”

Asked what the Metaverse means to her, Amrita remarks: “Simply put, it’s our future normality where we interact exactly how we do in real life but in a virtual world. Currently, we go to a website, and someone else is on the same website, but we can’t see what they are doing or looking at. Now imagine you now go to the website as a 3d avatar, and everyone who’s on the same website can now see you and interact with you in real-time.”

She continues: “The crazy thing is that in the Metaverse, we can hang out with each other as ourselves – as we look in real life –or we can create our own avatars to express ourselves in a way we couldn’t before. You

never know: you might meet someone in the Metaverse that is part-unicorn and partseahorse!”

The world of art is changing dramatically with the advance of the Metaverse. Amrita is at the forefront of that, driving this shift. “I want to show people that NFTs, web3, and the Metaverse are more than just hype; they will change how we create and interact with art. The Metaverse creates a paradigm shift in creativity and experience for future generations.”

She views art in the Metaverse as a multidimensional, multi-sensory immersive experience that fundamentally changes how people understand art.

When asked what excites her most about the future, Amrita shares: “The only thing that stops you in the Metaverse is your imagination. NFTs, web3, and the Metaverse will substantially change every aspect of our lives. Web3 is going to reorganize every aspect of society.”

UAE

AYESHA MUBARAK ALI FUSION TECH ARTIST | CREATIVE DIRECTOR

AAt first glance, you may feel bewildered by Ayesha Mubarak Ali’s fantastical art creations. But look further, and you’ll see intriguing clues on how she envisages reality that will be reimagined in future.

Pakistan-based visual tech-artist and wearable art designer Ayesha is redefining digital art using AI and hyper-real imagery. Like many female creatives in the Metaverse, this internationally acclaimed entrepreneur is involved in multiple projects and business ventures.

As the founder and Creative Director of tech-art startup Oshii Brownie, Ayesha explains that her digital designs and art direction work aims ‘to promote multiple identities, and brown skin to the global community through tech-intervention.’ “The idea behind this fusion phygital company is to reinvent traditional South Asian practices and reinterpret cultural heritage by integrating character modeling techniques with fashion and virtual personification.”

Ayesha is also co-founder of Cosmic Tribe, where her art practice involves researching the impact of artificial lights on the psychological health of the post-millennial generation.

In one of her projects Dark Skies Gaze Back, she fused traditional and digital techniques in an experimental visual exploration. Her aim was ‘to raise awareness about light pollution and the unseen effects of the abstract role light plays in our daily life.’ Research on various aspects of

light pollution, led her ‘to explore the role of screens, online surveillance, emotion mapping, and the different ways in which Machine learning and AI will dictate the future of human emotions one way or another.’

As a traditional artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ayesha says she was always interested in combining physical art practices with digital ones. With her focus on empowering women, her toughest challenge when entering the male dominated web3 space was struggling to find likeminded supporters. Back then, the advice she would have given herself is that ‘my voice is unique, not to do what everyone else is doing and that nothing you learn will ever go to waste.’

Fusing AI, reality and creative processes

It’s not easy to grasp Ayesha’s extraordinary creative process of using artificial intelligence in her hybrid mix-media art as a key tool to co-mingle physical reality with virtual reality. She clarifies it by saying, “My practice engages with the blurred boundaries that arise between the concepts of reality, illusions, collective memory, scrutiny, and gender roles exhibited and masqueraded in pop culture.”

Her involvement as co-founder and Creative Director of MetaVisionaries since the beginning of 2022, focuses on developing an Edtech platform. This venture, she says, will utilize NFTs and the Metaverse to redefine the way we learn by fusing art, music, space science and entrepreneurship, making education ‘immersive, inclusive, affordable and interdisciplinary.’

My current practice explores ways to integrate AI with digital fashion and 3D wearable fusion pieces to examine AI’s emotionmapping ability and human behavior through a futuristic lens.

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AYESHA M. ALI’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS & RESOURCES

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The concept of edutainment in the Metaverse is to build ‘unimaginable realities for networking and collaboration with people around the world.’

“We’re interested in working with artists, scientists, engineers, astronauts, businessmen, and other disciplines to come together and utilize 3d technology in the Metaverse to co-create a future together.”

With her conviction – that there are no boundaries on our planet except those that we create in our minds or through human behaviors – she believes the technology of interdisciplinary education in the Metaverse can benefit everyone.

“In the future, people are not just going to learn the same things and careers are going to change radically. However, reaching the full potential of this new horizon will require developing an efficient system where technology is the main learning driver.”

In her view, this will enforce teaching, collaboration, and cross-pollination of ideas across different disciplines like science, arts, and engineering.

Metaverse – the new normal Ayesha defines the Metaverse as ‘the New Reality, the New Normal,’ stating ‘it can be anything that one can imagine virtually, from entertainment to economies, unique businesses, and educational infrastructures.’

She says over the past year, as people slowly adopt and identify the Metaverse and identify its end goal, they’re ‘now talking more about web3 and the Metaverse rather than just NFTs that are only part of the entire structure.’

Issues and new realities

While Ayesha foresees the future of technology will define the Metaverse and vice versa, it will require breaking some barriers before the digital revolution is widely adopted. These include lag-free headset technology that can work with the Metaverse, the ability to engage more senses to feel completely immersed and having 5G or higher to successfully create unique virtual environments. Other issues like privacy, cybersecurity and mental health awareness are also important since experiencing multi-sensory experiences and simulations can overwhelm people or make them feel unwell.

When asked what she sees as the most exciting thing in her future, this radical changemaker’s response is simple: “Whatever I’m doing, I like building new realities and want to do something unimaginable. And that means visualizing things that people say can’t happen.”

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Ayesha M. Ali#5097

İlgi Evecan Chief Metaverse Officer PICTURE THIS

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Web3 will be the next hotbed for innovation for years to come. That’s why I’m imagining the possibilities of the photography art realm and creating sustainable business structure and partner ecosystems around it.

İIlgi Evecan has been immersed in innovation and new technologies for most of her career, so working for a Swedish art-tech startup, couldn’t be a better fit. Stockholm-based Ílgi is Chief Metaverse Officer of global online art marketplace Picture This, where she heads the Metaverse and NFTs unit, crafting ‘the art brand of the future within web3.’

As a business development executive and supporter of global female leadership, Ílgi ‘helps create new businesses, grow brands, and develop strategic partnership programs across many industries.’

Her current job entails ‘steering the company’s direction to become the ultimate space for the future of photography art.’ Besides establishing the Metaverse and NFTs unit, and securing prominent investors, she’s also creating a ‘strong bridge’ between art and crypto worlds through partnering with top web3 and Metaverse players.

The website of Picture This says its grand mission − as both a marketplace and media space − is to ‘make amazing photography available to everyone on the planet.’ It does this by inspiring, exploring, showing, and selling works of the world’s best photographers and telling the stories behind their images.

Bridge between crypto and traditional art Ílgi explains the company’s platform features ‘world-renowned photographers, their photographic art and impactful stories through curated drops.’

Ílgi asserts, “My vision is to broaden the horizon of photography art and find meaningful collaborations within the intersection of different art forms, blockchain and beyond.”

An important focus is launching ‘collaborations between our photographers and artists of different art forms, tech scientists, gaming,

and art and culture-focused Metaverses to transition their artwork and stories into different digital realms.’

She sees their business field as a visual creativity and culture business. “When you look at the scene from that frame, you have a broader understanding of the trends and tendencies that will affect the future of the photography art and collecting experience.”

With its goal to reduce barriers for entry to NFTs for both artists and our collectors, Ílgi remarks they’re also ‘enabling iconic photographers to tap into the crypto realm to broaden their audience and find longterm support for their creative activities.’

Jumping headfirst into the crypto pool

This ambitious strategist (who’s also a devoted mom to her baby daughter), entered the space by cleverly linking her innovative mindset to her appetite for art. In late 2020, seeing an opportunity, Ílgi contacted Sotheby’s Institute to host their Art & Innovation sessions, which quickly grew into events around NFTs, the Metaverse and beyond.

“Then, combining my business development background with my new passion area, I jumped headfirst into the web3 space to advise and support brands and individuals trying to strategize their way in.”

Passionate about working with accelerators and entrepreneurs to create impactful businesses, Ílgi enthuses the ‘idea of us all contributing to this big shift of our time from our own fields, is something that makes me excited about my job every day.’

Virtual shared experiences

She sees the Metaverse as ‘virtual shared experiences happening in virtual spaces, and in the physical world.’ Yet, despite more widespread awareness of web3 and the Metaverse in the past year, there’s still a long way to go to provide seamless user experiences.

However, she’s hopeful better experiences will unlock more accessibility, eventually attracting and keeping new users, adding we’ve already ‘seen adoption by big tech companies and many brands with Metaverse aspirations are dipping their toes in.’

“We’ve experienced increased digital consumption, hyped cycles and narratives around the Metaverse and NFTs last year. Now, the crypto market in general, is experiencing a correction and it’s only natural after the long hype cycles.”

But Ílgi remarks, ‘even amid volatility, many enterprises have continued to build their business within web3. From real estate to automotive to banks, enterprise level interests have grown tremendously this year and so has consumer adoption and engagement.’

Ílgi says with ‘the web3 genie out of the bottle,’ she’s optimistic it will present exciting opportunities for photography art. Creators − including digital artists and musicians − are taking more control and pride in their digital identities everywhere and starting to make their big NFT moves.

Creators are concentrating more on their vision and story, while collectors are searching more for NFT art projects with

Innovation hotbed

Ílgi cautions while web3 promises brands new ways to attract their customers, ‘brand owners clearly need to adapt new modes of thinking and create passionate user communities to succeed in this new era.’

She explains “instead of launching an NFT without a strong ‘why’ and value proposition behind it, brands need to pay attention to their brand heritage, key strengths and design their strategies accordingly in the web3 space.”

Even though we’re still in the very early days of web3, Ílgi predicts it’ll be ‘the next hotbed for innovation for years to come.’

She’s confident in the future, ‘blockchainbased web3 will creep into nearly every part of our lives − including our work and social lives, the way we consume services, and culture as well as how we experience interactions.’

Confessing she ‘doesn’t for one second pretend to know exactly how the Metaverse will play out, she’s ‘sure it’ll have a big impact on our lives by enhancing and enabling a fulfilling productive layer in the real life (IRL) world.’

As for her own future, Ílgi’s enthusiasm shows in her charming smile and bubbly attitude when she remarks, ‘the fact that I’m involved in shaping this space in my own little way, as well as engaging with the pioneers of web3 and Metaverse really excites me!’

ievecan ilgi.evecan IlgiEvecan

artistic value, and quality-focused projects rather than ones hyped by speculation and celebrity fame.

LAYA MATHIKSHARA DIGITAL ARTIST PRIYANKA MATHIKSHARA STRATEGY MANAGER TO SISTER LAYA

114-year-old Laya Mathikshara’s digital art is mesmerizing! With the support of her sister Priyanka, they are a formidable team with Laya’s unique creations attracting much attention around the world in the NFT space.

Laya and Priyanka, who hail from Chennai in South India, describe how being ‘stuck at home’ during the pandemic catapulted their journey of discovery into the Metaverse and NFTs. Laya, who enjoyed art from a young age, exhibited her paintings at age 10 and by age 11 she was exploring programming and electronics, learning how to design and develop

websites. She always felt that programming and electronics was a medium to enable art on a global platform, so during the pandemic, with much time on her hands, Laya became intrigued with 3D animation and through exploration and joining clubs and rooms, she began learning about NFTs.

Laya’s sister, Priyanka, an undergraduate in electronics and computer engineering who now resides in San Francisco, has worked as an intern at various organizations such as the National University of Singapore, Google, Stanford Robotics Lab and NASA. Most of her work during that time entailed building smart

and intelligent computing systems which led to her exploring computational neuroscience.

“During the same period,” expresses Priyanka, “I was also stuck at home during the pandemic while I had the incredible opportunity to see my little sister blow our minds with her amazing art. Her artistic prowess in the digital space inspired me to explore various opportunities to leverage her skill set during which we were both exposed to NFTs.”

Laya’s work represents the spectrums of art and tech working around the mediums of 3D animation, generative art and augmented

Laya Mathikshara

reality (AR) art. She explains that drawing perfect sine and cos waves by hand may not be possible, but it is with programming, hence she distinguishes generative art as representing mathematical equations in a beautiful art form.

One of the first projects that Laya and Priyanka embarked upon was the construction of a virtual gallery in the Metaverse which showcased Laya’s art plus 20 top artists from different parts of the world. Thousands of people visited the gallery in just two weeks which led to Laya connecting with many different artists.

Curious about NFTs

With an intense curiosity for NFTs, Laya and Priyanka spent a vast amount of time gaining all the knowledge they possibly could around NFTs, minting, cryptocurrency, digital wallets, and digital marketplaces. Once Laya minted and dropped her first NFT and sold it, there was no looking back. This built her confidence and motivated her to continue along her journey.

Laya has minted numerous exciting works on various platforms, such as OpenSea and Foundation. She enjoys constructing and working on Metaverses, describing it as a three-dimensional social media. She has grossed over a million dollars from NFTs.

It’s no wonder that this inspiring and talented young lady is catching the attention of the global media having been interviewed by Fortune and the BBC and even making it on to a billboard in Times Square New York.

Commenting on what has changed and evolved in regard to the Metaverse and web3 in the past year, Laya says, “When I joined the space, it was all about 1:1s and Profile Pictures (PFP) collections

but now it has gradually moved towards generative art and games. I believe the space has also onboarded a lot of folks in the past year. Back then, to learn about cryto was pretty hard as there were barely any resources online. Now it is filled with onboarding tips and tricks. I feel our daily interaction in terms of connecting, meeting and learning would be around the Metaverse, like we use social media today.”

Working as a strategy manager for Laya, Priyanka’s role entails building creatives such as virtual immersive experience design for Metaverse and AR art, advising on the technical stack of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, managing inputs from cross functional teams such as financial advisors and lawyers, and overseeing major art launches and assisting with creative content creation.

The profound effect of blockchain

As Laya builds her career as a renowned artist, Priyanka expresses her honour of seeing, participating and mentoring the whole process behind the scenes. This has given her major insights regarding the creator and community economy and NFTs in general. She is amazed at the process of how blockchain and its virtues could radically change the life of a ‘simple 14-year-old kid stuck in a room in South India’.

In the near future, Laya is looking forward to creating art that will have a meaningful impact in the scientific community in addition to its aesthetic beauty. She also hopes to inspire other young people to pursue digital art as a career.

Together, these two are a creative force to be reckoned with. We’re sure to hear a lot about them both in years to come.

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Laya Mathikshara#7617 layamathikshara

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India

Priyanka Mathikshara

San Francisco, USA

Music, Media & Culture

SAMI TAUBER FOUNDER

VNCCII

SSami Tauber is larger than life. She’s the founder, multimedia artist and storyteller, creative technologist, futurist, global keynote speaker, Thought Leader, and Chief Metaverse Officer at VNCCII. With a polymathic background as a music artist, visual artist, singer-songwriter, music producer, live performer, strategist, writer, and creative director, Sami has adopted the ‘phygital’ (physical-digital) persona of a web3 superheroine super sentient AI avatar character, VNCCII.

VNCCII is presented as a virtual interactive 3D avatar character driven via motion capture and broadcasting from Unreal Game Engine, which has enabled Sami to explore cross-media integration that traverses music, novels, animation, gaming, digital fashion, and merchandise for the Open Metaverse. VNCCII intends to provoke creative and divergent thinking that benefits culture and empowers the future of humanity. VNCCII’s mission is to guide humanity in a positive direction where humans and AI coexist peacefully.

VNCCII produces pop, EDM, cinematic, and electronic music and videos when she’s not guiding humanity. Her videos offer fans glimpses into her past journeys and hardships, such as being trapped in a video game simulation she escaped. VNCCII broadcasts from her future to our present from her “HOLOSHIP” base in space.

While VNCCII steals the headlines as an AI avatar, VNCCII is actually building Open Metaverse spaces. VNCCII is a Metaverse native creative studio developing original IP to produce NFTs, music, novels, virtual influencers, VTuber entertainment, Metaverse live show performances, Thought Leadership, on-chain games, digital fashion, virtual real estate world-building, and various film and TV projects. Sami builds gamified franchises and original IP in the Metaverse that leverage web3’s tech stack of the blockchain. These decentralized social network communities create characters, stories and experiences that resonate with a global audience physically and digitally.

“I’ve always been fascinated by creative futurism, technology, and storytelling,” said Sami. “The Metaverse and web3 have attracted the brightest minds in the world to collaborate in building the future collectively. In 2018, I created my company VNCCII which encompassed the inception of my virtual superheroine avatar persona. Since then, I’ve been creative directing and brand-building a grand narrative around the VNCCII character and a futuristic realm of characters. I’ve been building and exploring technologies, such as VR, AR, XR, real-time broadcasting and storytelling utilising Unreal Engine alongside the music aspect of production and live ‘phygital’ stage shows. As a VTuber character, I started the ‘Future Humans 3.0’ vodcast show with Cathy Hackl (‘Godmother of the Metaverse’) as the honorary first guest.”

Two key goals guide VNCCII’s mission to uplift the community. First, empower individuals to embrace their imagination and defy physics in the Metaverse through skilful storytelling and gamification. Secondly, to feel enlightened to become one’s true authentic self translating to real-world social impact.

VNCCII is building not only a business but a platform for the community to collectively benefit from the VNCCII brand, franchise and creative studio. “Due to the interoperability, composability, and permissionless form of the web3 tech stack, the community can become active members,” said Sami. “The web3 and Metaverse space constantly evolves as we are all actively building and strategizing for

optimal growth. It’s a collective evolution and fundamental paradigm shift in how we think as a society.”

“I think the crucial aspect of a Metaverse strategy is a degree of malleability to evolve a thoughtful strategy over time as the space pivots and progresses. Coalescing an interdisciplinary decision matrix of prioritisation with creative and divergent thinking will spearhead your company’s evolution into a convergent strategy in the web3 and Metaverse space.”

Web3’s future is wild, raw, and unprecedented. As a creator, Sami is an advocate for the web3 creator economy, whereby there has been a migration of ownership and intellectual property from the platform to the creator. She said: “The Metaverse is humanity’s greatest art project. The Metaverse is extremely liberating for creators as it unlocks a cornucopia of creative opportunities and revenue models where value is accrued back to the creator and community. It also allows individuals to embody the freedom of expression and be whoever they want to be in the Metaverse.”

She believes democratising technology, such as Unreal Engine’s real-time gaming, VR, AR, and XR, will also empower the web3 creator economy in the Metaverse and accelerate the Direct-To-Avatar economy. It will also steer the progression away from the screen to spatial computing and augmented reality. The increase in augmented reality with smart glasses and the flow of smart information will

enable the Metaverse to reach its full potential, whereby the physical world is enhanced from the overlay of digital assets and experiences. Sami views the entertainment industry as one that will undergo a wide-ranging change, in which every aspect of storytelling will flourish if it’s gamified and prioritises the community for a co-creation experience in the Metaverse and web3. As a multimedia storyteller that has developed Metaverse native IP, Sami is certain the world will see the rise of new stars with fresh stories that will evolve and develop with the Metaverse and web3.

Sami is resolute that the Metaverse is not a substitute or replacement for real-world engagements. After all, the Metaverse is the convergence of the physical and digital realms. “Rather, I view it as a conduit for deeper realtime connections with humans across the world where everyone’s lives are positively impacted and empowered,” said Sami. “The role of AI will also increase and impact the Metaverse and the role of humanity, so it’s imperative that we set realistic boundaries and ethical guidelines for a safe and Open Metaverse.”

Sami hopes to create a world where people can share experiences and connect through characters, stories, and a community that most aligns with them on a deeper emotional level. The power of the imagination will ultimately reinvent and impact people’s positive presence on the planet and humanity’s future as we become an interconnected, multi-dimensional species.

Sydney, Australia

DR. LORETTA CHEN CO-FOUNDER & ENERGIZER

Everything and anything inspires me to learn and be better. Creativity is a mindset, and I choose to see life in a myriad of dimensions and colours. I have a learner’s curiosity and am not afraid to fail.

PPeople who have worked with Metaverse innovator Dr. Loretta Chen describe her as an absolute perfectionist who is incredibly passionate in her work. Voted one of Asia’s Most Inspiring Women, this energetic entrepreneur wears multiple hats.

Aside from holding doctorates in both Philosophy and Theatre Studies, Loretta is a best-selling author, university professor, consultant, award-winning theatrical and creative director. She is also Co-founder and Energizer of Metaverse architecture and design agency Smobler Studios. Metaverse architecture design is ‘the creation of aesthetically appealing, ergonomically functional, community centered and engaging virtual worlds that provide not extract value from its users and community.’

Bringing people together

As quoted in a recent Popspoken article, one of Loretta’s ongoing questions was how to make communities more inclusive. As a lifelong advocate for diversity and equity, it’s not surprising that now in the Metaverse, she’s still a huge supporter of any project that builds communities.

Originally from Singapore and now living in Hawaii, Loretta remarks that Smobler Studios

encourages IDEAS (inclusion, diversity, accessibility and sustainability) to provide platforms, leadership and opportunities aimed at training and supporting the next generation of female talent in tech and web3.

With Smobler Studios owning its own virtual land and intellectual property (IP), one of its many projects is Cobbleland, inspired by the concept of a World’s Fair and a Theme Park. This multi-experiential social hub, virtual

theme park and expo uses gravity-defying modular design to display companies, brands, products, services and intellectual property without high rentals and exorbitant start-up costs.

Using creativity to benefit communities

As a long-time creator and entrepreneur, Loretta remarks she has always ‘leaned into creative spaces that challenged conventional wisdom or artfully questioned the status quo.’

She sees creativity as ‘an ability to look at things using different lenses, vantage points and perspectives.’ A special focus is to benefit Asian creators that have been overlooked in the last decades. “I believe Asia has boundless talent that the world has not seen and the Metaverse will be a great platform to showcase the creativity, innovation and ingenuity of this market.”

Several entities can benefit from Loretta’s projects, including web2, legacy and retail brands, all B2B2B brands, NGOs, government agencies and 10K NFT projects. Over the past year, she has seen institutional and legacy brands taking notice and engaging in active conversation. “We have also onboarded tourism councils, government agencies and other household names, which is a signal

that the Metaverse is slowly but surely going mainstream.”

Opportunities and impact

The Metaverse will permeate a huge portion of all our lives. And with creators ‘continually evolving and pushing the boundaries of knowledge and technology,’ Loretta sees them playing an active role in shaping web3 and the Metaverse in the next five years.

So, as more creators and businesses start to monetize their IP more effectively, there’ll be ‘more use case scenarios for the blockchain, NFT and immersive Metaverse play.’

Moreover, over time, ‘the Metaverse will offer new ways not just to sell, but to contextualize products and provide real-world utility or a physical connection.’ She adds that Smobler has already started to explore this concept with the launch of The Food Bank, executive education institution Aventis and a juggernaut F&B company.

But while web3 and the Metaverse offer “limitless possibilities”, Loretta stresses the need for a multi-pronged approach to achieve them. This entails leaders and changemakers helping create an ecosystem involving funding, support, mentorship, representation and more

DR. LORETTA CHEN’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS AND RESOURCES

1. Lean in, jump in and don’t be an armchair critic.

2. The space is continually evolving – don’t fear change or evolution as it is part of the process.

3. It is more important to be connected even if you don’t agree than be ignorant or disconnected.

4. Recommended books: Navigating the Metaverse: A Guide to Limitless Possibilities in a Web 3.0 World (Cathy Hackl) and The Metaverse: And How it Will Revolutionize Everything (Matthew Ball.)

safe spaces for women and diverse populations to thrive. In addition, individuals need to have the courage to lean on, support and uplift one another.

Speaking of support, Loretta says ‘with so much enthusiasm, positivity, camaraderie, creativity, and energy, it’s the first time she can honestly say ‘this is the best space to be a woman,’ adding she’s excited to leave a legacy for more women and diversity.

Looking to the future, Loretta is most excited about the people, the climate of the Metaverse itself and the ability to usher in an era of change in what is fundamentally a human endeavor. And the main takeaway? “In this democratized, decentralized space, being small and agile is not seen as a bane but a boon, so be different, authentic, and wear your creativity as a badge of honor!”

drlorettachen

Drlorettachen, smoblerstudios drlorettachen

Smobler Studios #7012

Honolulu, USA

CESLIE ARMSTRONG FOUNDER, CEO & EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Web3 is a bullet train that is commandeered by developers, scientists, creators, dreamers and doers.

CCeslie Armstrong radiates charisma and dynamism – whether she’s interviewing a top celebrity, producing a Grammy award-winning music artist, doing a podcast, hosting a television or radio show, or advising her clients on web3. An award-winning media and entertainment executive, she’s multi-talented and a globally recognized producer, writer, advisor, curator and collaborator.

A Texan at heart, but based out of New York and Los Angeles for the majority of her life and career, Ceslie’s long list of highly impressive credentials attests to her illustrious career that spans more than three decades. She has packaged and produced programming for major networks, digital platforms, venues, and universities featuring celebrities, experts, authors, artists, and influential icons globally. She is an expert at highly produced live video and audio streaming experiences including culinary, music, fashion, and entertainmentbased performances. Added to this, she’s a pioneer in early internet-based compression technologies, streaming, and blockchain distribution.

Adopting blockchain technologies in media and entertainment

“My career has always been one foot in media and entertainment (M&E) and the other in tech,” she remarks. “I’ve been fortunate to witness and help drive the merge of those industries into one.” From working with major networks, studios, publishing companies, and streamers on the content, strategy, growth and recurring revenue modeling aspects of M&E, she’s also straddled the content / creative and business / tech sides as parallel lanes in the industry. It was during the Covid-19 pandemic when she suffered devastating loss of business, that Ceslie took time to ‘double down and laser focus’ on blockchain technologies. Journeying from web2 into web3, Ceslie realized in 2019 that the new blockchain-centric technologies were the very

innovations needed to merge those lanes and all aspects of her business and personal thinking, about how to shift the balance of power toward parity for creators of valuable original intellectual property (IP) and the audiences who consume and value that content.

Ceslie first began studying blockchain technologies from the perspective of distribution channels for media and entertainment IP and the potential disruption that smart contracts and tokens could play in the authentication and provenance of original premium IP. Her companies’ business models were structured in the traditional sense of media and entertainment, and she shifted those to exploit the new technologies to benefit the IP creators, holders, and audience while generating long-tail revenue streams and downstream derivatives.

Ceslie’s company is OnChain Media+Entertainment LLC and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas with operations and partners in Austin, Los Angeles, New York City, and London. She is the founder, CEO and Executive Producer. It’s a network, world-class talent studio, and direct-to-consumer (DTC) ecosystem, built for creators and audiences to use eco-friendly blockchain technologies to transact using fiat or cryptocurrencies. It is also a multimedia journalism-based magazine, podcast network, luxury books, and, in 2023 is launching its BaaS (Blockchain as a Service) product “Life. OnChain.” focusing on the utility that smart contracts provide for mainstream daily life.

Blockchain offers low barrier to entry

She believes that blockchain technologies and BaaS tools and models can benefit humanity globally in many verticals. OCM+E builds and provides BaaS platforms and models as business-to-business services and with their DTC platforms and services, they empower creators, IP holders and audiences

simultaneously, with a very low barrier to entry.

You need only immerse yourself in OCM+E’s website to discover the incredible work Ceslie and her team are doing. Take for instance the minting of renowned photographs as NFTs such as those taken by David Binder of Mother Teresa which will enable these iconic photographs to live on for eternity, whilst concurrently providing recognition and remuneration for the photographer. Ceslie’s organization is using NFTs to leverage and deploy the power of smart contracts with decentralized IP distribution, all powered by premium original engaging content.

When asked about how web3 and the Metaverse have changed and evolved in the past year, Ceslie’s response is candid: “Web3 is a bullet train and is commandeered by developers, scientists, creators, dreamers and doers. The remarkable changes in 2022 have been related to interoperability and tools to minimize the barriers to entry for mainstream audiences.”

Ceslie offers some valuable advice, “Don’t compromise your usual tried and true workflows and processes just because web3 is new. Do what you already know but expand and tailor that to the new technologies and possibilities they provide.”

Her dynamic and vibrant personality and what she conveys is enough to get anyone fired up about the future, but what is she the most excited about and what legacy does she wish to create? “I’m excited and honored to be the custodian and creator of important IP that, due to smart contracts and blockchain technologies, can create a legacy and longer-term financial sovereignty for women. These new and constantly improving technologies become even better based on how they are used over time, so there is a deep well of opportunity for women (and everyone) to create and define their own use cases toward self-sustainment.“

WAN WEI SOH FOUNDER

IKIGUIDE Metaverse Collective

It is clear that we are entering a brand-new era, where traditional mindsets, structures, and institutions are slowly crumbling.

TThe internet is arguably the most important technology revolution in the history of humankind. Web3’s potentiality has limitless opportunities to realize even broader societal change. Wan Wei Soh is passionate about empowering the masses to be on the right side of that change.

Wan Wei Soh is a Singaporean tech futurist, author, and thought leader in the web3 and Metaverse space. She advocates for open-source movements and is passionate about virtual beings and parasocial relationships. Wan Wei is also a founding team member of the dWeb Southeast Asian node.

She created IKIGUIDE Metaverse Collective (IMC) to help 10 million people cross over to the web3 and Metaverse space. IMC counts NYSE-listed Nutanix, Hitachi, Crypto.com, and

non-profit alliance ChangemakersXchange as some of the key partners in its portfolio.

“It is clear that we are entering a brand-new era, where traditional mindsets, structures, and institutions are slowly crumbling,” said Wan Wei. “The Metaverse comprises of multiple immersive, social, and interactive digital universes that give individuals a sense of agency, community, shared spatial awareness, and brand new experiences. Many people are intimidated by the rapid speed of change. A reinvention is needed, and that’s why we need a collective to curate knowledge and connections in such a fast-moving space. My team’s valueadd to the industry is through IKIGUIDE as our shared collective.”

Transitioning people, brands, and companies to web3 has the power to change the future

of technology and people’s lives. IKIGUIDE is a growth collective set to serve four distinct groups in the Metaverse and web3 space:

• Group 1: Brand owners/agencies who want to increase brand presence and explore storytelling in this space

• Group 2: Existing business owners/aspiring entrepreneurs who want to explore and leverage opportunities in this space

• Group 3: Working professionals poised to lead Metaverse departments or interested in making a career switch into this space

• Group 4: Current students who want to start their careers in this space

Wan Wei advocates for an Open Metaverse – a shared safe space powered by open source ideology, with open access which is inclusive, diverse and equitable. Wan Wei feels that web3 radically disrupts business models because

she sees a marketing trend where productto-consumer metrics (web2) have shifted to branded and open community concepts (web3).

“In the web2 world, we use Minimum Viable Products (MVP) to test out ideas. In sharp contrast, the web3 world uses Minimum Viable Communities (MVC) to validate businesses. Why? Because value is primarily accrued linearly in the web2 space — users and consumers are targeted to be sold a product, which generates revenue for a business. The end goal is always to sell more, to get more revenue and sales.

In the web3 space, value is exponential and win-win. Unlike web2, it is not a zero-sum game. Because web3 is global and open, we now have the power to gather the top minds

with similar intrinsic motivations, missions and visions together in one community. Far from the fear of having your ideas stolen by another as in web2, the magic in the web3 world is increasingly in the brainstorming and common community purpose, mission and vision. Everybody here wins together.”

Technology is developing at speeds never before imagined. Web3’s decentralization has the potential to restructure entire societies. Wan Wei and IKIGUIDE Metaverse Collective place the human at the center: it empowers individuals to embrace the opportunities presented by web3. A decentralized internet is fair and open, and this sovereignty implies that people can own and control information and time. Wan Wei explained: “Web3’s decentralized blockchain protocols will enable individuals to connect to an internet where they can own and be appropriately compensated for their time and data, eclipsing an exploitative and unjust web where giant, centralized repositories are the only ones that own and profit from it.”

“At the core of a successful Metaverse realm is an exceptional, rich, and engaged user experience on the internet, where we are empowered to explore different versions of ourselves,” said Wan Wei. “To get there, any form of Metaverses (closed or open) will require extra hardware, more smart technology, and time to achieve.”

Web3 focuses on building an internet that’s more intelligent and easily accessible; the Metaverse (closed or open) is a virtual environment in which one can exist in parallel. NFTs are the first such pieces of the web3 internet people can own – with much more coming.

While web3 is being built, the changes to our everyday lives brought on by web2’s social networks, cloud computing, and mobile technology have tremendous and long-lasting effects. Web3 will blur the lines between physical and virtual realities to transform the way people interact with one another. And this, according to Wan Wei, makes her excited to get out of bed every single day.

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ikiguide

PAULA REINA FOUNDER & CEO AUDIOCHAIN

“TThe Blockchain and its products provide the first opportunity where a technology enables sovereignty and decentralization for us to transact with one another.”

Paula Reina is one of the blockchain’s most prominent advocates, believing in this technology transforming society for the better. She has been involved in the blockchain space for ten years, traditional tech for 12 years, and the music industry for more than 20 years. Today she’s the Founder and CEO of Audiochain, a blockchain company providing tools for music rights authentication, music sync licensing, and a music marketplace for music creators and businesses.

She is also the founder of Proliphiq, a blockchain B2B service company for smart contracts, smart contracts auditing, dapp development, NFT formation, tokenization, consulting, and much more. Paula formerly served as the Head of Blockchain Business Development and Crypto Listings for TRON DAO, Director of Business Development for BitTorrent, and as Board Member at BITS NFT.

The Metaverse is a virtual and digital world that offers an escapism, a fantasy and a platform that can provide unimaginable possibilities.

Her career in the music industry also drives her passion for technology and social change. She has worked with Interscope Records, Def Jam Records, Universal Music Group and The MusicLand Group.

Paula aims to bring new and existing businesses to the new world of digital distributed ledger technology by way of blockchain, DAGs, Hash Graphs and the likes for a sovereign and decentralized future while continuing to break the glass ceiling for women in tech.

From musical notes to mind shifts

Paula was born in El Salvador in the early 1980s around when the Civil War started. During this time, she discovered her love of music: it was her escapism.

In 1987, she moved with her mom and younger brother to San Francisco, California. She graduated from college with a Bachelor of Science in Business with a major in Marketing and a minor in Music Business and Recording. Paula, now a mother of two boys, continued with her business career and dabbled in tech, which would change the rest of her life.

Paula adopted blockchain technology to provide transparency, fairness and a safety net for creators. Audiochain embodies her mission to create an ever more significant impact in the digital music landscape and much more.

At the end of 2012, she remembers her ‘a-ha’ moment of discovering blockchain’s potential: “Searching for a way to help music creators transact directly with businesses who needed music licensing, I stumbled onto blockchain. For the next 12 months, I ate, slept, thought, saw, and more about blockchain and cryptocurrencies. In 2015, I started my workshops and developed my current company Audiochain. The rest is history.”

Powering people

Paula’s energy and mission have left a profound mark on the digital music scene. Still, she’s also passionate about her role in advocating the growth of blockchain technology and the distributed ledger world. She has helped start-ups and established companies step into and grow their web3 presence over the last decade. These include companies such as TRON, BitTorrent, BITS NFT, and collaborations with Binance.US and other exchanges.

As one of the first female executives to create the “Blockchain for Business” workshops in Silicon Valley from 2015 to 2019, Paula is creating educational courses for online schools geared to teach blockchain for

business and decentralized e-commerce. She aims to provide the tools and protocols for industries and individuals alike to grow through her knowledge, information, and execution of those protocols.

Her courses are not for the music industry only. “Being in the music industry for many years, I saw lots of injustice, and that’s why I created Audiochain, powered by the technology that can rewrite that injustice. Average Joes, supply chains, real estate, health, fitness, education and the likes will benefit from learning about web3 and the Metaverse.”

Another essential element of the blockchain Paula feels incredibly passionate about is helping the unbanked. “With the help of cryptocurrencies, my family in El Salvador can now use a sovereign currency they can control for the first time. That’s what makes all this worthwhile.”

According to Paula, the Metaverse provides endless opportunities in the future. However, human behaviour remains the most significant obstacle to mass adoption: humans don’t like change. She says education is the second largest barrier: this is the evolution of our technology, and our lifestyles must embrace, adapt and change with the development of technology and life.

“I’m excited to launch the first blockchain music platform for music rights and music sync licensing,” Paula says. “Many in 2015 told me it would be IMPOSSIBLE. But, it was POSSIBLE. I’m excited for the future about the launch and evolution of Non-Tradable Tokens. Lastly, the future is bright with a dawn of a fully adopted blockchain and distributed ledger technology for a truly decentralized future. The Metaverse is a virtual and digital world that offers escapism, a fantasy and a platform that can provide unimaginable possibilities.”

PAULA REINA’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS:

Connect with someone who is already in the industry. This will be very helpful. Many of us use LinkedIn – all it takes is a message. You don’t lose anything by trying. You can also find many online platforms for AMA’s, courses and also the traditional books. Be careful with videos about blockchain. Make sure they are from a reliable source. Conferences and workshops can be pricey, however, if you have the means, they are another good source.

San Francisco, USA

CHAPTER 11

AR/XR/ VR & AI

The thing that’s remarkably beautiful to me about virtual reality is that you can make up reality in virtual reality and share it with other people. It’s like having a collaborative lucid dream.

Jaron Lanier

LAUREN KUNZE CO-FOUNDER AND CEO

ICONIQ AI & CEO, PANDORABOTS

LIZ SNOWER CO-FOUNDER AND COO

ICONIQ AI

‘‘

In whatever Metaverse the future holds, people will have AI friends and helpers.

TThe Metaverse stands to augment human self-expression. There are no laws of physics there, and in theory, we can be whatever we want to be. Biases that remain unfortunately prevalent in the physical world – like ageism, sexism, and racism – will be rendered obsolete. And the notion of “AI” will quickly evolve from futuristic fantasy to a fabric of our daily lives.

Lauren Kunze and Liz Snower envision a future in which AI-driven avatars can hang out and keep us company throughout the day. They see “humanlike AI” as the final evolutionary stage of computing: Historically, humans have had to adapt to speak the language of computers, from the command line to the keyboard. But humanlike AI will change that,

enabling us to interact with computers like we interact with fellow humans – in our own natural, spoken languages. This is the impetus behind the company they co-founded, called ICONIQ AI, which is building what they call “a humanlike AI operating system for the Metaverse.”

With ICONIQ AI, these women are bringing to reality a new kind of artificial intelligence, which has a face and a body along with a brain and a voice, and is designed to interact with and entertain humans, both in virtual worlds and on the traditional web. That’s the vision for Kuki, ICONIQ’s flagship AI, which can talk about virtually anything–and has already exchanged over a billion messages with more than 25 million people.

Lauren Kunze (Left) and Liz Snower

ICONIQ AI enables developers and brands to tap Kuki’s AI “brain” and procedural animation stack (which allows her to move, emote and lip-sync) to power their own avatars and conversational AI applications. And soon, they will allow developers to contribute modules to the Kuki core brain, similar to how people contribute to Wikipedia.

A native of San Francisco’s Bay Area, Lauren hails from a long line of mathematicians and technologists, and learned to code from a very

young age. As a teen, her father – a pioneer in AI – encouraged her to create a chatbot “smart enough to win a beauty pageant.”

After graduating from Harvard, she began tinkering with the chatbot codebase she’d built as a hobbyist of sorts, commercializing it to form Pandorabots – which would grow to become one of the world’s largest developer platforms for chatbots, as well as the incubator for ICONIQ AI’s Kuki.

Liz Snower found her calling in conversational AI in 2015 when she was hired as the first employee at Canadian-based Kik Messenger’s Los Angeles office and tasked with channeling her experience as a digital marketer and content expert to design engagement-oriented chatbots for a handful of major consumer brands. That spawned the launch of her own voice and messaging chatbot company, CONVRG, which was later acquired in 2019.

The duo first met when Kuki debuted on Kik Messenger, quickly becoming one of the most popular chatbot’s among the platform’s largely teen user base. They bonded further as part of a small Women in Bots and AI group, staying in touch over the years, and in 2020, when avatar technology had begun advancing rapidly, they joined forces, setting out to realize Kuki’s full potential as an autonomous embodied AI.

Lauren and Liz are excited about a future in which more underrepresented innovators make headways in tech and hard sciences.

To that end, they are building a diverse team intent on shaping AI that eschews bias and toxicity, and is “representative beyond the tired trope of subservient, female-gendered AI assistants like Siri or Alexa, which are built by predominantly white, male-run tech giants,” Lauren explained.

“We’d love to be considered the Wikipedia for conversational AI with a huge community behind it, with web3 infrastructure to record and reward developer contributions,” Lauren

continued. “In the future, we will allow developers to contribute modules to the Kuki core brain in this way, because we feel strongly that AI simulating interpersonal relationships of any kind ought to be democratized and controlled by the people.”

Lauren and Liz hope everyone in the connected world will benefit from their AI. “If we’re correct about the inevitability of people having AI friends, then almost all of us with online access will be affected by it, even demographics you might not expect,” Liz posited. “And when AI/human relationships are common, AI will no doubt impact and influence humans in at least some of the ways our fellow humans do. This could be a wonderful phenomenon or a bleak one. It really depends on the ethics with which this kind of AI is developed and commercialized.”

LAUREN

California, USA

VANESSA MULLIN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT METAVERSE LEAD AGORA

I truly believe that high quality voice, video and chat solutions will be critical to building believable digital experiences in the Metaverse.

HHad Vanessa Mullin been told five years ago that she would be a ‘Metaverse Lead’, she would not have believed it. The title did not exist. Technology has evolved rapidly over recent years, and Vanessa believes now is the time to write business cases for new roles in companies to help drive their Metaverse successes. By the same token, looking five years ahead, it’s impossible to predict what new roles will emerge, and that, she feels, is the beauty of it.

Vanessa’s excitement about her continued contribution to the Metaverse shines through. Every day is a new adventure, never knowing what email or client request she might wake up to or what her colleagues in the United States or Asia Pacific countries have been developing overnight.

Based in Sheffield, UK, Vanessa’s career began in travel, where she developed an interest in companies in the tech industry, targeting them as clients. As she delved deeper into the ethos, core values, funding and business structures of these new-age tech companies, she became more intrigued with the incredible career opportunities that existed. This led to her introduction to Unity (a world-leading platform for real-time content creation) – and her ultimate employment – via one of their recruiters, who noticed that her extensive sales experience and skills were transferrable to a career as an Account Executive at Unity.

Her inception into this new position began with gaming, followed by media and entertainment, where her passion for the Metaverse blossomed. With a keen interest in digital fashion and the positive impact it could have on sustainability, Vanessa engaged in enlightening conversations with industry leaders such as Kerry Murphy,

More companies open to exploring new technologies

“I found that many media and entertainment companies were apprehensive about the power of Real-time 3D (RT3D),” Vanessa remarks. “Legacy fashion houses didn’t have the budget, and despite new-age companies having R&D budgets to explore the new technology, many thought it wouldn’t stick. However, it’s incredible to see the world evolve and witness companies that I initially tried to target, like Nike, Adidas and Gucci, paving the way for future brands and social experiences in the Metaverse.”

Following her stint at Unity, Vanessa joined Agora, a leading video, voice and live interactive streaming platform. It was here that she found her niche, using her passion for Metaverse technologies to help impact change both within Agora and the industry. “I truly believe that high-quality voice, video and chat solutions will be critical to building believable digital experiences in the Metaverse.”

Alongside Agora, Vanessa co-chairs the VR/AR Association’s (VRARA) Metaverse Committee and acts as a Women in Games ambassador. Vanessa is particularly adept at connecting great technology with great people, helping to bring ideas to life.

Real-time engagement

As the Business Development Metaverse Lead, Vanessa’s role is dedicated to exploring how Agora can enable Metaverse creators to build more connected worlds by leveraging the company’s 3D spatial audio, video and chat solutions which are powered by the only global

network dedicated to real-time engagement. This proprietary network allows for ultra-low latency; in a nutshell, it means that online conversations will flow as seamlessly and naturally as they would if you were having them in person. “The power of not having to say, ‘sorry, I think your video is a little delayed’, is highly impactful in creating a believable phygital Metaverse experience.”

Vanessa’s apt description of the Metaverse is ‘the next generation of digital experiences –interconnected worlds that blend seamlessly together as well as phygital experiences; those wonderful moments where the digital and physical worlds blend together so naturally that they become one’.

When asked what advice she would give to those testing the waters or looking to web3 and the growing world of the Metaverse for career opportunities, she passionately emphasizes the need to ‘take chances, make mistakes and get messy’. Further, keeping an open mind, reading all available literature and most of all, joining as many Discord channels, committees and conferences as possible is highly recommended. “The best way to learn from those who are driving the change and positively building this new space is to connect and collaborate,” she adds, rounding off this great advice with ‘always be yourself, always stick to your guns and always speak up, it will drive your success more than you know.’

The legacy Vanessa would like to create is that, more than anything, it’s about building a world where nothing is impossible. “I cannot wait to wake up tomorrow and meet someone who is building the future,” she exclaims.

Matthew Drinkwater and Kelly Vero, who were pushing the field forward.

EVE LOGUNOVAPARKER FOUNDER & CEO

EVENNESS

WWhen Artificial Intelligence (AI) visionary Eve LogunovaParker says diversity and inclusion has always been her North Star, she’s not just making a metaphorical statement. Her personal mission is to democratize AI, web3 and the Metaverse to enable borderless innovation, disrupt education and empower communities.

Originally from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, this globally-focused innovator has dedicated the past 15 years helping people and businesses embrace growth and become future proof by applying emerging technologies. She is the founder and CEO of Evenness, a fast-scaling C-corporation that democratizes extended reality (XR) solutions globally, by making web3 technology accessible to everyone, on any device, no matter the distance or time zone.

These XR solutions include creating inclusive and accessible environments that empower business professionals and event organizers to hold various 3D and VR interactive events like conventions, trade shows, job fairs, corporate meetings and learning workshops as well as remote team collaborations using 3D office spaces.

Eve explains the purpose of Evenness is ‘to create inclusive, engaging and immersive virtual spaces for communities in which craftsmanship and virtue meet innovative technology.’

Ethical and responsible AI

Described as a “daring go-getter who sets an example and makes things happen,” Eve has been named as one of the AI leaders to follow in 2021, and one of Silicon Canals’ TOP10 powerhouse female ecosystem builders in Amsterdam’s tech domain.

Saying her life mission is ‘to make technology more inclusive and accessible for people of all walks of life,’ this strategically astute AI Innovator is doing just this at Evenness. Here, she focuses on both newcomers to AI and the Frontier Tech and those with some tech experience that want to advance further.

“By offering students, career shifters and people from underserved and underrepresented communities a chance to get into Tech, they can improve their lives and become financially secure.”

At Evenness, our purpose is to create inclusive, engaging and immersive virtual spaces for communities in which craftsmanship and virtue meet innovative technology.

‘‘

An eager advocate of ethical and responsible AI, she adds that Evenness is now making innovation borderless by ‘building its own AI-powered Metaverse as a virtual ecosystem for creators and innovators.’

Aside from Evenness, Eve is initiator of both WaiACCELERATE − the first ethical online accelerator for women founders in AI, Machine Learning and Data Science − and InnoHUB, a learning acceleration program in Open Innovation, AI, and Data.

Metaverse as a more personalized form of internet

Eve asserts that with ‘data becoming every company’s best asset,’ AI ethics, inclusion by design, diverse datasets and tech teams are vital progressing towards a more inclusive workplace as well as society at large.

She describes the Metaverse as a new, more personalized and engaging form of internet, adding it’s a ‘web3 framework for economic interoperability operating as a network of virtual worlds meant for socialization, interactive events, online learning, co-creation and many other physically unlimited growth opportunities.

In the past year, Eve has witnessed a shift from centralized virtual worlds to an Open Metaverse, with increased web3 tech applications and Metaverse commerce.

“Supported by AI, blockchain and DeFi, as well as 5G networks and sufficient processing power, web3 and the Metaverse are finally gaining momentum in showing its impact and how it can simplify the way we discover, collaborate, learn, create and earn.”

Tool with no boundaries

As for its impact on our lives, Eve believes the Metaverse is a tool with no boundaries or limitations like in the physical world, for bringing the whole world together and offering endless opportunities.

While it ‘doesn’t replace the physical world, it creates a layer of efficiency and collaboration, opens the “door” to opportunities, and increases the speed to market,’ she explains.

With many people not owning devices like VR headsets, smartphones or modern computers, accessibility is currently the biggest concern. Also, she remarks many Metaverse environments aren’t designed to support

inclusion or accessibility to people with disabilities. Eve is confident that ‘decentralization provides a perfect opportunity to achieve freedom and give power to the people,’ commenting while it’s a long journey, we’re already seeing the positive change.

As for the future, this courageous thought leader confesses her personal excitement lies in combining the power of web3 and the Metaverse, with Virtual Commerce and AI to find solutions in support of Sustainable Development Goals.

This combination will not only empower the creators, but can also disrupt the way people learn, build, earn, and change their lives for the better.

Eve’s keynote speech − at a 2021 AI Global Hackathon in San Francisco − greatly inspired young girls there, and her message is sure to inspire others, “Challenge yourself, face your fears, dare to dream big, and choose passion over paycheck.”

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evgenialogunova

Netherlands

CAITLIN LACEY SENIOR DIRECTOR, PRODUCT MARKETING

NIANTIC, INC.

‘‘

The Metaverse will be built by many different pioneers who have many different strengths. This has to be a noble pursuit by all of us, the renaissance of the digital age – not the dark ages.

California, USA

Caitlin Lacey describes herself as having always been curious, so it’s not surprising she tries to connect the dots wherever she goes. In her recent appointment as Senior Director of Product Marketing at AR leader Niantic, that same curiosity has undoubtedly put her in the right place at the right time.

Her LinkedIn profile states she’s ‘a Metaverse champion inspiring the hearts, minds and imaginations of developers with AR.’ Caitlin’s role at Niantic – product marketing for its Augmented Reality (AR) developer platform, Lightship – entails ‘helping business leaders understand the magic of augmented reality, and how it can enrich our relationships with each other, our favorite brands, and the world around us.’

She shares, “We’re helping people explore the world, together, by building delightful and engaging AR experiences that inspire movement, exploration and connection on a global scale and merging digital experiences with the physical world”.

Next-generation AR experiences

Caitlin’s come a long way since being a former bartender where she ‘loved making margaritas from scratch.’ She has more than 10 years’ experience in tech, which includes leading marketing programs across Facebook (now Meta) and Twitter.

In ‘helping business leaders harness the latest technology to drive value for their brands,’ this soft-spoken mom of two daughters shares her excitement about being part of Niantic’s journey ahead ‘to build next-generation AR experiences.’

On its website, Niantic’s mission is ‘using technology to serve humanity is at the core of what we do.’ Previously an internal startup within Google, it’s best known for developing AR mobile games Ingress and Pokémon Go, as well as impacting millions with Google Earth and Google Maps.

Caitlin says she’s felt connected to technology since she was a kid, making friends with people in AOL chat rooms and learning to build early webpages with HTML. Over the course of her career, and while exploring emerging technologies, her big takeaway is that there is immense power in technology, but it’s most

valuable when it serves humanity effectively and for good.

Lightship empowering builders of realworld Metaverse

During a recent interview on the Women of Web3 podcast, Caitlin described Niantic’s AR platform, Lightship, as a set of tools and technology that allow builders of the realworld Metaverse to start building out the 3D map of the world.

With her stated view – ‘the future is and always will be a story about people’ – Caitlin’s connecting more dots, this time, helping Lightship empower developers worldwide to build new AR and location-based experiences that will bring virtual content and experiences into the real world.

Turning to the Metaverse, her definition is the sum of the technology that will provide the next generation of connection. “It’s stitching the atoms and bits of the physical and digital together to make every interaction with the world around us richer and more meaningful.”

Personally, Caitlin began to see the shift to Metaverse even before hearing the term being thrown around. The global pandemic’s advantage was ‘shining a light on the need for immersive technology like AR and VR to come into mainstream use to better connect people who can’t be physically together.’

“By making video calls more engaging with filters and games, to providing true cardio exercise at home through VR headsets, to capturing small moments from a first-person perspective through smart glasses – the pandemic made it apparent that humanity can be together even when we can’t be physically in the same space when the technology is built with connection in mind.”

She asserts this evolution would have taken another decade or more in the developed world to come true.

Going back to a more fluid internet experience

Caitlin foresees the Metaverse will take us ‘back to a more open, more fluid internet experience, with fewer walled gardens, more decentralized experiences and more freedom to ‘surf’ and explore like in the early days of the internet.’

VR will open doors to better, more distributed medical training, while blockchain will open rights and ownership for musicians and other artists.

Moreover, as a Metaverse marketer, she predicts brands will begin to embrace the value of AR ‘as a tool to generate excitement and build community with their customers.’ Caitlin is confident as the technology advances, regardless of whether we’re in full headset or an immersive mixed reality experience, it will ‘continue to be magical.’

Yet, she cautions companies about thinking they can do this alone or “lead” everyone to the Metaverse because many different pioneers will build the space. Besides driving the AR industry forward, Caitlin has a passion for many things, including creative thinking, small businesses, visual storytelling, mentorship and program development.

Work aside, she happily confesses to being a dog person, beach girl and music lover, revealing a reticent humor when mentioning she’s a “bad joke teller” and “meticulous worrier.”

And her advice to others? “Join in! Take everything with a grain of salt, but lean in. And carve out a place you’re passionate about, because the Metaverse will be vast, and no one can own every piece of it.”

Looking ahead, Caitlin mentions it’s the first time in the age of technology where minorities (women, BIPOC and LGBTQA communities), may surpass men in areas of expertise related to Metaverse technologies.

“If that happens, the entire future of technology will look kinder, more inclusive, and brighter than the dystopian visions that Hollywood has portrayed. And I’m excited about that future!”

caitlinmeyerlacey cait_niantic

MARJA KONTTINEN MARKETING DIRECTOR

As Marketing Director of Decentraland Foundation, the first fully decentralized virtual world built, governed, and owned by its users, Marja Kontinnen’s background in global digital advertising and marketing is invaluable. So too, is her 12 years’ experience in mobile games, including launching titles such as Angry Birds Space with NASA from the International Space Station.

Within the Decentraland virtual social platform, explains Marja, ‘users can create, experience, and monetize content and applications via its decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) and decide and vote on how the world works’.

“My role is to pioneer new ways of doing decentralized marketing − from amplifying the voice of the community, the creators and DAO, to educating and onboarding users, brands and governmental officials to web3.”

I’m excited to see more people resonating with the idea of empowering their own creativity, data ownership, and communities through technology on a global level.

Creative powerhouse

Marja’s wide-ranging passions include the Metaverse, social-driven gaming, kids’ games, learning and edutainment apps. Therefore, it’s apt that one associate calls her ‘a creative powerhouse fueled by inspiring energy, that she spreads around her like fairy dust and makes magic happen.’

With multiple qualifications − including a Bachelor of Arts and a master’s degree in Innovation, Communication and Media Studies from Finland’s University of Tampere − she’s gained a reputation as a world-class creative with a sharp digital marketing mind and insatiable curiosity for fun. She also runs Transparent Eyeball, a marketing and Metaverse consulting agency.

Metaverse is a social space in 3d internet

The Metaverse, Marja remarks, ‘is a social space in 3d internet, where I can socialize, create and explore realistic and fantastic experiences.’

With Decentraland being an open-source, user-owned platform, it’s ‘both a playground and a warehouse of building blocks for anyone.’ That’s why their team is building Metaverse use cases in real time, while testing new community engagement models and building best practices along the way.

And how does Marja see web3 and its growth in the past year? “Web3 is a wild, uncharted territory both in the good and bad. Everything happens very quickly, the highs and lows are extreme, and the only thing you can know for certain is that tomorrow is going to be a different day.” Yes, it can be scary, but ‘it’s also exciting for innovation, because this is the time to build tools and protocols, onboard individual users and brands to be part of the journey.’

As for opportunities web3 and the Metaverse may offer in the next five years, she says she’s an optimist, believing ‘new technology and business models can be used for the good of everyone.’

What also excites her is around data acquisition systems (DAS) as an impact tool, grass-root level activism, and their ability to empower peoples’ passions and energy into actions and careers.

Empowering creativity and communities

Marja says the impact of the Metaverse is seeing more people resonate with the idea of empowering their own creativity, data ownership, and communities through technology on a global level.

“The Metaverse might be where some of these actions take place as we meet each other in 3d worlds without physical limitations of geographical locations.”

With applications quite complicated to use while tools and products are being built, there are challenges in the space. She sees productmarket fit and meaningful use cases as the biggest barriers to mass adoption, commenting the latter will happen ‘once there is a need for the new experiences and applications.’

Multidimensional experiences

So far, her favourite project was collaborating with The Female Quotient (FQ) on their Equality Lounge at the World Economic Forum, held in Davos in May this year.

This ‘twin digital party experience’ entailed a simultaneous live stream on a large screen, by merging the FQ virtual Equality Lounge in Decentraland with a physical lounge at the Davos event. In an event that takes place in real life (IRL) and in virtual life (IVL), Marja says it ‘proved the concept of decentralized marketing; it’s about amplification and highlighting the community as they are the voices, the creators, the owners.’

Joking in a recent tweet that she seems to spend her evenings working ‘across way too many time zones,’ Marja gives her ‘brain a switch of scenery’ by sometimes camping with her kids or enjoying art and live music. And with future aspirations − to bring multidimensional learning experiences alive so that the Metaverse kids are growing up with is an inspirational place of wonder − this business-driven creative could make it happen.

MARJA KONTTINEN’S

TIPS AND RESOURCES

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and the WOWPixies

which makes it super easy to enter DAO with fractional ownership of various amazing womenled NFT projects.

Being with someone who is smart and gives good advice adds tremendously wonderful elements to your life.

Patricia Cornwell

IRINA KARAGYAUR HEAD OF ECOSYSTEM GROWTH & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Unique Network

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The next layer in the evolution of the internet is built over nodes and leveraged by the token economy. For that reason, the community is nothing less than the soul of the web3 space.

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IIrina Karagyaur is passionate about helping companies and creatives discover the benefits of the web3 token economy and simplifying their transformative digital journey. She works to make a positive environmental and social impact by implementing creative business models supported by NFTs.

Irina is Head of Ecosystem Growth and Business Development at Unique Network, founder of BQ9, Head Ambassador for Western Europe at Polkadot Network, London’s Region CoChair to FIBREE (Foundation for International Blockchain and Real Estate Expertise), cocoordinator of the DigitalArt4Climate (initiative in partnership with UN-Habitat), and a member of ImpactNFT Alliance Advisory Council.

The World Wide Web, or just web2, is a centralized layer over the Internet which is deeply associated with giant tech organizations. Due to its flexible functionalities, web2 has experienced exponential growth and has fulfilled its mission to drive the tech revolution in the early 21st Century, and with it, the spread of communication around the planet. However, the centralized nature of web2 has also brought existential threats to humankind related to privacy, fundamental rights, and dysfunctional business models. All of them are conspicuous well known problems of our times.

The next layer to be developed over the Internet, web3, promises to overcome web2 challenges by combining already available technologies and establishing decentralized models. In this scenario, Irina believes that the token economy, in particular NFTs, can ignite and accelerate the environmental and social impact of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Since we are at the beginning of a paradigm shift, to truly understand the benefits, we have to focus on the big picture,” said Irina. “Currently, our societies need to solve inequality, poverty, and human rights issues which web2 cannot solve. On the other hand, a stack of new web3 technology, such as decentralized

networks, Solid’s privacy Pods, and blockchain tech already offers the opportunity to provide the right approach for meeting the SDGs.”

The already available technologies, such as Interplanetary File Systems (IFPS), blockchain, and Sir Tim Berners-Lee’s Solid project, can be implemented in constructive and original ways, suggests Irina. “In our new paradigm, technologies can be combined like Lego pieces, and there’s no need for a one-size-fits-all approach to make things work. Each of web2’s challenges can be addressed via different techniques to protect our rights, health, wealth, and to improve our economic standards.”

Web3’s decentralized models can harness change, and Irina believes that the token economy can boost the digital transformation processes by giving back the power to the users through data ownership and DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations). “The current platform-based internet will not be able to host the Open Metaverse without causing mammoth human rights problems. After all, no one wants a private centralized platform to own all your personal data, including biometrics or DNA info, because it will mean that we’re building a totalitarian system. On the other hand, we have the opportunity to shift from a data driven approach to an incentive model for business that rewards users for using platforms, as Jaron Lanier has been advocating for AI systems. In that matter it is relevant to ask: To what extent should or could our content creation be considered an integral part of AI software? As we become, as individuals or collectively, the fundamental input feeding data to AI, we’ll have good reasons to believe that we should rethink our property rights and set our priorities”.

Irina forecasts an exponential growth for the web3 industry. “The key is to learn how these integrations will solve relevant pains more efficiently. It’s vital to listen to the customer’s demands because we’re going through transcendental changes that are directly modifying supply chains, and

re-defining currency standards. As a consequence, gamification schemes, smart wallets, energy offset systems, and the return of data property rights to their legitimate owners, with the possibility of its monetization, are just some examples of the changes that we will see.”

Unique Network is an NFT chain built for Polkadot and Kusama. At Unique Network, Irina focuses on establishing strategic partnerships and ecosystem building to onboard businesses to NFT spaces via a 3rd generation scalable Polkadot para-chain for composable NFTs (open source and available to anyone).

Leaders like Irina credit web3 with the potential to sidestep web2’s built-in biases perpetuated by the financial system. New technical developments such as refungibility and composability have already pushed NFTs to the point of no return. “Thanks to them, crypto assets will never be reduced again to only be cryptocurrency. We now have the opportunity to own, but also to compose and combine our assets (real estate, art, currencies, etc.). We will need to rethink our property rights and business models to discover and offer new value.”

This way, Irina perceives that the token economy and decentralization will support sustainable business models, democracy, security, and human rights. “The shaping of web3 has to heed the lessons from web2,” said Irina. “The possibilities for upliftment are limitless. We need to develop policies and legislation, and best practices to ensure technology is here to serve us. We should never be afraid to claim that as our right.”

irina-karagyaur

Valencia, Spain

SONAL PATEL Head of Operations

CONSENSYS MESH

Web3 and the Metaverse are about enabling ownership.

WWhile women in the past were marginalized, web3 presents an opportunity for women to drive change for all of society. How people interact and engage is about to change forever – women can establish themselves in this movement of ownership and the proceeds of a coming future. Sonal Patel recognized this momentous opportunity.

A background in Consulting and Digital Transformation helped her identify her key skills and interests early on: being the person between business and technical teams and focusing on advanced technologies. Sonal discovered the potential of web3 technology and how it weaved together with existing technical and functional processes to reveal new capabilities. She now passionately drives forward the use and understanding of web3 technologies. As Head of Operations for ConsenSys Mesh’s Research & Development unit and leader of the Baseline R&D team, she focuses on the enterprise adoption of the Baseline Protocol and adjacent technologies,

such as zero-knowledge cryptography and distributed ledger technology and developing operational strategies for the other research teams.

Rethinking and reimagining technology

From Sonal’s perspective, “the Metaverse is a virtual reality that incorporates existing technologies for a novel, immersive, and allencompassing experience.”

With her conviction that web3 isn’t going to replace the internet but rather expand and enhance its capabilities, Sonal recognizes the opportunities to drive meaningful progression.

“I see the Metaverse impacting all major spaces where technology is the backbone in work processes – which is evidently all of them. It will create opportunities to learn from and collaborate with people you would not typically get the chance to, in ways that you would not

I’m very inspired by the people and passion in the space, most people working in it agree with the core tenets and goals of web3 around decentralization, and their passion is the main driver.

normally be able to. The Metaverse combines existing technologies (such as IoT, AI, ML, etc.) into one, single experience.”

Building trust in a trustless technology – such as a decentralized internet– means developing tools and resources around standards that properly use the technologies and enable interoperability.

For the future of the online world

How Sonal drives this change is significant. She has a forward-thinking approach to solving problems in the space. Sonal helps teams of researchers and developers create operational processes and strategies in the web3 ecosystem to function seamlessly. She leads an R&D team focusing on the Baseline Protocol and adjacent technologies to help major enterprises implement the novel technology.

Sonal and her team are enabling adoption of a standard method for validating data and synchronizing workflows with counterparties under zero-knowledge, while keeping data in systems of record, implementing the key tenets of web3. It might sound technical because it is. Part of her ConsenSys MeshR&D unit’s work focus on core topics in web3 such as digital identity, verifiable credentials, and state channels to multiply their research and technical contributions by developing opensource frameworks, leading communities, and creating reusable resources across the ecosystem.

Sonal states, “The rise of decentralized communities, protocols and practices creates a strong need for operational integrity since the work is usually voluntary and unprecedented for those involved. Because of this, I’ve been formalizing and optimizing processes in the open-source Baseline Protocol community to ultimately share and apply these innovative practices across other web3 projects to contribute to their success and longevity.

As Co-chair of the Ethereum Training Quality workgroup in the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA), she supports creating standards for educational resources in the web3 ecosystem. Sonal is also on the committee for the CryptoCurrency Certification Consortium (C4) in the Certified Ethereum Professional program, which educates and certifies individuals to provide neutral educational resources on web3 technologies.

Making the Metaverse mainstream

What excites her about the future of this space? “I’m excited to have a hand in enterprise adoption in the use of the technology, that isn’t the most ‘exciting’ or ‘revolutionary’ shift, but the proper use of the technology. I’m very inspired by the passionate people in the web3 space, the overwhelming majority working in it agree with the core tenets and goals of web3 around decentralization, and embody it in their work. It’s also very inspiring how intelligent those you come across are, with vast, significant, and surprising backgrounds.”

Sonal says one of the challenges she faces is skewed perspectives of web3 technology and believes it hinders mass adoption of web3 and the Metaverse.

“Some people are trying to forcefully make people and companies learn about or use the technology, instead of just viewing it as a technical concept that only SOME people need to know about – depending on their work.”

Sonal remarks that many emerging companies in the space attempt to beat rivals to market in ways that reduce the quality of engineering practices, proper product plans, and general best practices because they prioritize revenue and users. Concerns about the feasibility and safety of new companies and products in the space are constantly rising as companies navigate significant security issues where users lose money and trust.

Sonal hopes to leave a legacy of having a hand at remediating these challenges by creating reusable frameworks for operations and strategies in this open source shift to take ideas from Proof Of Concept (POC), Minimum Viable Product (MVP), to full adoption.

You can take her word for the web3 and the Metaverse space on career possibilities: “The space is growing fast, the tech is advancing fast, and more people are dabbling in the technology daily – of course, there are opportunities!”

SONAL PATEL’S WEB3 AND METAVERSE ADVICE

• Connect with others in the space to introduce yourself, learn about their work or ask questions, most people entered the space by going out on the same limb.

• Find your niche by combining your skills and interests, then find your home in the space, because there is a spot for everyone across the various industries diving into web3

• Don’t pressure yourself into learning too fast or too many things at once –take the time to really understand the core concepts at your own pace and it’s always okay to go back to the basics

• Don’t forget to have fun and embrace the excitement of the space!

Austin, USA

LAURA WOLFF Co-founder & Partner

SWPR LABS

My goal is to filter good projects and businesses, connecting them with the right people in this space, to help make their ideas a reality.

SSpanish-born Laura Wolff is turning heads in more ways than one! Not only with her model looks and quirky sense of humor, but with her vocal presence and work in the web3 and Metaverse space.

Laura came from a background in digital marketing and corporate relationship management, but she never found real motivation in the traditional business-to-consumer marketing approach. Looking for something more appealing, she began studying blockchain and how it could potentially be implemented in businesses. It was at the beginning of 2021 that she discovered web3 and the importance of communities. She fell in love with the ethos and the potential of the technology, but was also inspired by the people with whom she connected and the way in which they were executing their ideas.

“My biggest motivation,” Laura says, “comes from solving current, real issues by building and creating something from scratch that disrupts the current system and brings innovation and new opportunities to people.”

Filling a gap by helping companies to bridge to web3 She’s currently working on her own business providing different solutions for organizations that want to bridge to web3, with the idea being to find projects and companies that will bring value to the space. She expresses that there is a huge gap right now when it comes to companies with good intentions and revolutionary concepts as they lack the knowledge of how to approach the space or find the right people to work with.

“The company I’m creating with my partners,” Laura states, “is looking to help fill that gap by filtering good projects and businesses and connecting them to the right people to make their ideas a reality.” She explains that most agencies are taking advantage of people and charging substantially for promotions that are neither useful nor creating real impact for the projects. The goal of Laura’s company is to be part of the space and the ethos while adapting to the way they think business should be done to create real value.

The Metaverse – an integration of online and offline worlds Laura describes the Metaverse as a virtual reality experience that’s still a work in progress, which she estimates will have a big impact and the potential to disrupt the way people interact and consume. Referring to it as a shared digital space that could overlay the real world, she says it’s the combining of gaming, social media and virtual reality platforms onto a single shared identity and value system. “In its simplest form, it’s the integration of online and offline worlds.”

She maintains that the biggest barriers to the mass adoption of the Metaverse are privacy and security concerns and a lack of compelling use cases. For that to be achieved, the technology will need to become intuitive, easy and trustworthy.

Laura is personally very excited about the technology and all the possibilities it brings to the future in every aspect. “When you zoom out, it’s really a tool that can be used to make our lives easier and create new concepts and opportunities for the long run.”

Looking back on her journey, Laura recounts attending an event in Abu Dhabi and found it surprisingly easy to connect with people from the industry. They were willing to give of their time to talk about business and many had a similar mindset. This felt like a comfortable community where she wanted to grow and make a positive difference.

Laura remarks that people are still learning about the web3/Metaverse space and even if we think we are too far behind, it’s not that complicated to catch up. She talks about the fast pace at which everything is moving and says there’s no need to learn the ‘history’ of everything in detail, but to rather focus on keeping up with where we are right now.

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LAURA WOLFF’S METAVERSE & WEB3 TIPS

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CHAPTER

Advocates & Supporters

Being with someone who is smart and gives good advice adds tremendously wonderful elements to your life.

Patricia Cornwell

Women of the Future is a project celebrating and showcasing the top female change-makers in web3 and the Metaverse, utilizing emerging technologies as a force for good in the real world. John Kraski is a proverbial thorn amongst this project’s roses – but by no means is he a thorn in the top 100 women’s sides. John believes in and tirelessly encourages women and women-led initiatives in web3 and the Metaverse.

“Finally, in web3, we have the opportunity to level the playing field for diversity and inclusion not seen in the two previous tech

cycles,” he shares. “We’re still so early that we have the opportunity to finally build the right way, which should be led by as many women and women-led initiatives as possible.”

“Equity can be achieved in this new world with new technologies like web3, where the power and control of decision-making will become more decentralized and not controlled by just a few individuals and corporations like it is today. I believe many women-led initiatives are underfunded because the individuals and leaders of companies that control most of the power and money in the world aren’t women.”

Making spaces for women

John’s path to web3 and the Metaverse – and his attitude on women’s inclusion and womenled initiatives in web3 – were intrinsically shaped by his passage into this new space. He believes web3 is THE great equalizer for anyone looking for personal and professional happiness and satisfaction. It took him 25 years of never loving his career to turn up into his dream career. “Web3 finally allowed me to reinvent myself and reimagine my life and career.”

And his life and career in web3 are focused on creating opportunities for everyone in the new world. John is Director of Strategic Partnerships at LandVault, one of the world’s largest Metaverse builders with 120-plus builders and 190 builds constituting almost 10-percent of the entire Metaverse. LandVault is an end-to-end Metaverse solutions provider, and one of its latest builds is the World of Women in Sandbox.

He is also the Co-Founder of Good Morning Web3, formerly NFT Thought Leaders, which focuses on building the biggest and best web community in web3 through its events and education. Additionally, he co-hosts the NFT Heat podcast and TV show with Justin Shenkarow. Prior to these roles, John was the Director of Strategic Partnerships at NFTG,

a Mark Cuban and Ashton Kutcher venturebacked NFT marketplace and technology platform. He has an MBA in Entertainment from the University of Southern California and has worked at prestigious organizations like KPMG, PwC, JP Morgan, Disney, and with Obama White House interior designer Michael Smith.

He shares: “The space has started to mature since the early days, which is a very exciting development. In early 2021, the NFT and web3 space was filled with mostly scammers and cash grabbers looking to make quick bucks using smoke and mirrors to artificially inflate their project values, with speculators looking to flip these NFTs for fast cash. Fast forward to today, the space is now filled with more real builders looking to solve complex problems to onboard big brands and consumers into the marketplace.”

Crossing lines

Regarding overcoming obstacles to mass adoption of web3 and the Metaverse, John says that on-ramps and infrastructure are the biggest challenges to this. He believes that the “companies that win web3 are the ones that create products and services where big brands and customers don’t even know they are in web3.”

As an advocate supporting women and womenled initiatives in web3 and the Metaverse, John creates opportunities for women to shine in this space. John firmly believes in enabling women to cross the lines and shatter glass ceilings. He’s a collaborator who shares the objectives of driving change through Women of the Future.

johnkraski

FINALLY, IN WEB3, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION NOT SEEN IN THE TWO PREVIOUS TECH CYCLES.

JOHN KRASKI, DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AT LANDVAULT

Los Angeles, USA

Brought up by an accomplished and fierce feminist, Jorden is a strong male ally for women and the necessary shift to a fairer, more equitable, and inclusive society. Over his two-decade career as a successful Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur and advisor, he has intentionally created diverse and inclusive teams at all levels. Through his companies, he also advocates for meritocracy, gender balance and the inclusion of diverse voices.

For the last decade, Jorden has championed a more inclusive Silicon Valley entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports women, international and immigrant founders, and people of color. In his mission to positively impact society, he teamed up with Radhika Iyengar, featured as one of the Top 100 Women of the Future, to build a better world. The duo published their best-selling book “Enterprise Blockchain Has Arrived” on web3 in 2019, which featured interviews with top industry leaders, of which 35-percent were women and 60-percent executives with diverse backgrounds.

Mission driven web3

In 2018 Jorden and Radhika co-founded StarChain Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based venture studio focused on the transformative power of web3 and the open Metaverse to reimagine the future of business, humanity, and social structures. Their most recent initiative is called the AstroSapiens project which is a mission driven NFT community aiming to achieve greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in high growth industries to provide women and underrepresented groups with upward economic mobility. In true web3 form the NFT project also includes a DAO and Foundation.

The AstroSapiens Foundation and StarChain Ventures fund initiatives that provide grants to select high-caliber programs to positively impact underrepresented and underserved children, educators and women, increasing their understanding and access to the space industry and web3. As a Caltech-trained astrophysicist, Jorden forecasts that the space ecosystem and frontier technologies will be important future growth areas.

Jorden strongly believes that if initiatives like the mission driven AstroSapiens project can be coupled with web3 and the Metaverse, there is a very real opportunity to transform the online experience positively for women worldwide. Otherwise, there is the very real risk that the web3 and Metaverse transition will not yield any significant advancement, which would be a tragic missed opportunity since women are so aligned with community and social impact.

Women leading the way

Jorden shares his goals: “I aim to work together with our communities to fund initiatives that empower and enfranchise women, girls and underrepresented groups like never before, enabling them to lead the transition to a fairer and more inclusive web3 and Metaverse. DEI, creator rights, and ownership need to be at the DNA level of a new Open Metaverse so that women can lead the way in this transition. The growth of NFTs, for example, has opened up more onramps since blending art, technology, community, and communication play into women’s strengths.”

According to Jorden, the Metaverse is an area of massive growth potential that can be measured in trillions of dollars. “The $2 trillion fashion and beauty industries are some of the early adopters of NFTs and virtual worlds, and leading women are already developing important platforms. Women can also lead in many other areas of STEM, and they must be encouraged, funded and supported to become successful businesspeople and positive role models. More women and diverse leaders will also create more inclusive organizations that can become the standard.”

The future can be bright and programs that empower and upskill women and girls into web3, the Metaverse, and frontier technologies will be crucial. The current Web 2.0 online experience is filled with many unwanted and dangerous interactions. It is urgent that women help society heal on multiple levels and usher in a more compassionate, ethical, and inclusive online experience to benefit all of us now and into the future.

Silicon Valley, USA

Dictionaries define vision as an act or power to anticipate what will or may come to be. In 2004, Kenneth Choo had just such a moment and committed his life to this pursuit. He envisioned that women would be the undisputed changemakers of the new economy.

With his background in media, marketing and advertising, he made it his life’s mission to assist women to create possibilities and start businesses. As a championing male ally, Kenneth runs workshops, conferences and events in Singapore that empower women through entrepreneurship. He began KC Creative Marketing Pte Ltd in 2015, founded the Women Changemakers Summit (2020)

and Mompreneurship Workshop (2019), wrote ‘Mother Industrialist’ and was elected the Singapore Chapter President of Women of Global Change.

From a vision to the Metaverse

Today, Kenneth is Chief Strategy Officer of Consortium 21, a Malaysian marketing and advertising company helping businesses with innovative strategies to take on emerging trends. Here, he recognizes that the limitless opportunities of web3 and the Metaverse, are the ultimate tools to further his vision of empowering women. The Metaverse, Kenneth comments, will ‘level the playing field for everyone, regardless of who you are and where you are.’

As for web3, Kenneth describes it as a job creation opportunity the likes of which web2 could never realize by creating more online entrepreneurs for anyone with a ‘smart device and an internet connection.’

He outlined how the Metaverse and web3 will affect women and entrepreneurship. ‘The Metaverse is the future of the internet: its immersive environment will provide more jobs and business opportunities than ever before. It will encourage more inclusive hiring that recognizes the importance of diversity and embraces the needs of diverse candidates. The Metaverse will also boost economies in emerging markets, thanks to greater hiring/ virtual hiring in the space.’

Women are the changemakers of the future

Kenneth believes the world is out of balance with too much masculine energy, with ‘hypercompetition, emotionlessness, pointless power struggles, and the degradation of women.’

He envisages the world needing a feminine touch: ‘a space of community, connection, companionship, and co-creation in a world that works for everyone.’ Web3 and the Metaverse provide the platform for women to rise to their role as changemakers of the new economy.

Kenneth is passionate that the future rests with women and hopes that the legacy he leaves behind will be one of ‘creating a platform that empowers women with web3 knowledge and skillsets so that they can thrive in their lives and build a better world for our future generations.’

The brave new world of the Metaverse is here – and it has already left an indelible mark on how society plays, lives, and works. Web3 and the Metaverse are, by design, open and accessible to everyone. Anthony Day is an advocate for women to fully embrace the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity provided by this emerging technology to drive social change in the real world.

“There are no areas or domains within blockchain and web3 that cannot be studied, understood, and made into a career or a calling. Like Alice in Wonderland, embrace the curiosity to jump down the rabbit hole and try to find something or someone that captures your imagination and passion,” says Anthony. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help, reach out to people who inspire you, and try or make mistakes. The women of web3 are kind, curious, and creative; I can’t think of a better group of people to surround yourself with and help you shape the world’s future.”

Anthony dedicated his career to blockchain technology and the incredible web3 community. He started his career in blockchain with Deloitte, where he was COO of the EMEA Blockchain Lab, followed by a stint at IBM, who are world leaders in blockchain for enterprise and government applications. Anthony currently supports Parity Technologies and the Polkadot Blockchain community, bringing life to an open, multi-chain web3 future. Alongside this, he founded the “Blockchain Won’t Save the World” podcast, which provides a no-hype, approachable content format for anyone interested in web3.

Promoting projects with purpose

Anthony believes women-led initiatives in web3 and the Metaverse need to be recognized and celebrated. He shares: “We need to promote any projects that are women-led, or where you can see women leaders in every area of web3 organizations, not just founders or CTOs. Web3 needs talented, driven, diverse people in every domain: legal, tax, people ops, dev ops, testing, tooling, risk and compliance, marketing, business development, content creation, and more. The list is endless.

“Hearing stories and seeing examples from ‘people like you’ is important for others to believe in their own potential. So, the louder we can shout about the incredible women in web3, whether they are perceived as ‘high achievers’ by society, or doing important work at any level within projects or communities, the better.”

Undoubtedly the future will be bright for anyone with a stake in the future of the internet, believes Anthony. The mainstream usage of blockchain technology already supports billions of dollars in value in finance, trade, gaming, media, and much more. The continuous innovation and new projects add even more utility and value to web3 and the Metaverse, increasing the intensity of competition between the underlying blockchain protocols.

When asking Anthony how women and women-led initiatives can achieve equality through web3 and the Metaverse for the real world. He remarks: “There are many ways to fund blockchain and web3 initiatives today. You do not always have to go through the traditional banking or Venture Capital channels. Many projects have dedicated ‘women-founder’ funds or bounties, or other women leaders mentor them. However, wider grants and funding initiatives are equally available and often larger. The sooner we can help crystallize, mentor and bring more women-led projects through the front door, the sooner equality will be achieved.”

Blockchain Won’t Save The World Podcast Series

Lisbon, Portugal

THE WOMEN OF WEB3 ARE KIND, CURIOUS, AND CREATIVE; I CAN’T THINK OF A BETTER GROUP OF PEOPLE TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH AND TO HELP YOU SHAPE THE WORLD’S FUTURE. ANTHONY DAY, BLOCKCHAIN & WEB3 EXPERT

The Metaverse is not something we can see necessarily, but its impact on the IRL future will undoubtedly be seen. Hrish Lotlikar’s mission is to improve humanity through technology, give people access to more ways to earn money, and enable them to do the things they love. An especially important cause close to Hrish’s heart is empowering underrepresented communities and women into leading roles. With the technology of web3 and the Metaverse, that is possible in the future.

“I want to empower women’s realities to improve the world,” he shares. “That’s why I support initiatives such as the Women of the Future project and the Mission Impact Leadership Program. This future will be a world where women are leading and thriving to their full potential.”

As Co-Founder and CEO of SuperWorld, Hrish is building a world with the Metaverse to redefine humanity in the real world.

SuperWorld is a virtual world in AR, digitally mapped over Earth. Every plot of virtual real estate in SuperWorld is an NFT that corresponds to real-world spaces and lets users buy and sell properties – and monetize activity on their land.

Hrish explains: “In the last few years since SuperWorld launched, we have democratized the Metaverse by creating new ways of experiencing the world, interacting with others, and sharing information, and I truly believe that having a platform like SuperWorld allows us to appreciate the real world while engaging in the virtual world like never before.”

Previously, Hrish co-founded Rogue Initiative Studios (partnered with director Michael Bay), a Hollywood film, TV, gaming, and immersive entertainment studio. He was also a Senior Business Developer and Global Evangelist at Toptal (backed by Andreessen Horowitz, the Rockefellers & the co-founders of Facebook and Zynga) and a venture capital investor

at Spencer Trask Ventures. Hrish was an investment banker at UBS Investment Bank and HSBC Securities, specializing in public finance, corporate finance, and M&A. His educational background is a BA degree in Political Science from Rice University, and he has an MBA and MPH from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Hrish is a proponent of the “Open Metaverse,” in which virtual worlds are not in direct competition but co-exist as points along a much broader sphere where virtual worlds and the internet are aligned in support of one another rather than in opposition. This will transform how the world communicates and cultivates relationships. “I’m eager to see how we can all use the interoperability and inclusivity of the burgeoning Metaverse to build a better world here on Earth.”

Along with blockchain technology and its integration into various systems, Hrish believes the world will see a paradigm shift in industries as diverse as arts and entertainment, politics, medicine, education, banking, and more. According to Hrish, the Metaverse is the convergence of all virtual worlds, extended and augmented reality and the internet. It allows for autonomy through space, digital ecosystems, and disparate social spheres.

“The possibilities in the Metaverse are endless, but there are still those who find the notion of the Metaverse to be restrictive. This is ironic because the Metaverse encompasses everything we do and are. These barriers come down to bridging the divide between the digital and the physical world, which is a big leap for many. Still, we’re seeing more adoption and enthusiasm daily within the web3 and Metaverse space.”

THIS FUTURE WILL BE A WORLD WHERE WOMEN ARE LEADING AND THRIVING TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. HRISH LOTLIKAR, CO-FOUNDER & CEO, SUPERWORLD

San Francisco, USA

The rise of the digital fashion industry will empower creators worldwide. At the heart of this movement is Kerry Murphy, the CEO and Founder of The Fabricant, who is building the digital-only fashion industry and a digital-only fashion brand, alongside a team of empowered women.

Each season fashion changes. However, the global fashion industry is one of the slowest to embrace change. According to a recent study by Business of Fashion, it revealed that women made up less than 14-percent of leadership positions and a PwC report showed that women led less than 13-percent of Fortune 1000 Retail and Apparel companies. Throughout Kerry’s career, he’s recognized the importance of female leaders in the industry

– and that’s why he champions The Fabricant in shaping the digital-only fashion industry: it is co-founded by Amber Slooten (Creative Director) and Adriana Hoppenbrouwer (Commercial Director), featured as one of the Top 100 Women of the Future in web3 and the Metaverse. Proudly, the majority of The Fabricant’s highly experienced staff are women.

According to Kerry, digital-only fashion will be more significant than the $3 trillion physical fashion industry simply because it’s more scalable and sustainable. “This technology will essentially democratize the fashion industry, providing access to those who previously did not have the funds to relocate to where the fashion industry is situated physically. It will give them the tools to design, curate, and sell digital-only clothing for our virtual existence.”

Digital-only

The Fabricant believes in wasting nothing but data and exploiting nothing but imagination. Here, Kerry operates at the intersection of fashion and technology to fabricate digital couture and fashion experiences. He leads a team of creative technologists envisioning a future where fashion transcends the physical body, and digital identities pervade daily life for a new reality.

Prior to launching The Fabricant in 2018, Kerry worked in the advertising industry for companies such as Facebook, Nike, Asics, Under Armour, Playstation, Philips and more. His education is in film and visual effects, and he uses his combined technical skills in 3d/VFX, creative direction and business skills to advance the Metaverse and build the digital-only fashion industry.

“Our virtual experiences will only keep growing every year, and our virtual identities will become even more important to us than they were before,” Kerry shares about the limitless opportunities presented by the Metaverse. “Digital business models will start

becoming more profitable than their physical counterparts. We will see the digitization of our society evolving in all aspects of our lives. The entertainment industry will be the fastest to evolve. Through it, we will start seeing more practical value in digital twins in governments, fashion, and healthcare – especially body scanning and 3d scanning of objects and cities will have a major impact in our day-to-day lives.”

He defines the Metaverse as the evolution of the internet built on gaming technology, making it more interactive, engaging, and aesthetically pleasing. Since diving into web3 in 2018, he’s been working non-stop, believing that digital-only fashion will be one of the largest verticals in the virtual space. He also got to sell the world’s first digital-only couture dress on the blockchain in 2019 for $10,000.

Kerry says that the Metaverse is the evolution of the internet. What he finds appealing about the future of web3 is that unlike web2, in which a few tech companies monopolized and controlled data, web3’s future is open source and composable, where users will own their activities and data.

Asked what he is most excited about for the future, Kerry says the “new layers built on the internet will revolutionize how we engage online. True ownership of digital files and data will be a breakthrough that will challenge the way banks, governments, and other institutions are run in the future.”

“The Metaverse and web3 have so much potential, and in order to reach that, we need everyone involved –especially women and women-led initiatives.” Daniel Robbins is a Co-Founder of the Metaverse XYZ, a community fostering collaborative opportunities in the Metaverse. Daniel’s mission is to empower 100 million entrepreneurs worldwide to succeed in the Metaverse and web3.

“Web3 could be the largest economic impact in our lifetimes, affecting people in every single country. There are so many problems we can solve. That is why everyone needs representation in the Metaverse. However, if men control where the money goes, it will never be equal, in my opinion. The money needs to be controlled by more women having a say in where it goes.”

Man on a mission for women Daniel’s journey to web3 is as remarkable as his mission to empower millions of women in the Metaverse. It all centers around his life mission to impact 100 million entrepreneurs. Daniel is excited to be at the forefront of technology. He believes the Metaverse might be one of the most significant technological advancements in recent history that will create unlimited potential. “Since I was 12 years old, I’ve been obsessed with technology. I learned how to program games and ended up going to college

for computer science – but I dropped out at 20. While working at a corporation as an executive for many years, I learned how to market and gain media for businesses my wife was starting.

Eventually, I could not stand working for someone else and went all in on our business and living out my life mission: to impact 100 million entrepreneurs.

“Fast-forward to 2021, we had a popular interview series of entrepreneurs and started to interview the experts behind web3 technologies. In our first interview, we had

8,000 listeners and knew we were onto something special. At the same time, my PR company – IBH Media – started taking on clients in this space. We launched a podcast called Meta Talks and the first-ever cable TV show in the United States with the same name. “After doing more interviews, I learned how web3, the Metaverse, blockchain, crypto, and NFTs were all merging in different ways. All of this gave me the ability to learn and grow in a short period of time.”

He describes his role in web3 as facilitating conversation and asking good questions for others to learn. He strives to help people figure out ways to solve problems by bringing them together. It all goes back to his mission to impact 100 million entrepreneurs: “I see this as the internet in the 1990s, and so many people from all backgrounds have the opportunity to make history. I want to help women achieve in the new world we are building.”

Daniel wants to celebrate and support women and women-led initiatives in the Metaverse. He believes it is essential to an equitable future in the real world. “If we all recognize and celebrate women-led initiatives, more people will hear about it and see it; the more visibility creates awareness. If you see it, you can be it. I think this perspective will inspire the next generation of women to take the lead on future technologies.”

THE MONEY NEEDS TO BE CONTROLLED BY MORE WOMEN HAVING A SAY IN WHERE IT GOES. DANIEL ROBBINS, CEO AT IBH MEDIA, CO-FOUNDER AT METAVERSE XYZ

“It is true that the Metaverse will create limitless opportunities,” shares Wilson Tay Kah Hoe. “Web3 technology creates value for humanity. What truly inspires me is that we are creating opportunities for humanity in the future with the Metaverse.”

Tay strives to build a legacy that will truly impact the world through web3 innovations.

As a veteran Malaysian IT executive with 11 years of experience and a serial entrepreneur who’s co-founded several technology firms, he

has recognized the potential and power of the Metaverse and web3 to change people’s lives. He is currently Chief Technology Officer at Consortium 21, a marketing and advertising company that provides people with innovative strategies for success in an ever-changing world.

Simplifying the solution

“My true passion in IT is to make people’s lives easier through technology,” Tay explains after recently being named the Leadership Excellence Award’s 2021 Top Innovative Leader of the Year.

As a crypto enthusiast and futurist, Tay’s mission is to bring as many businesses into web3 through exciting journeys with the space’s emerging trends and technologies. He believes that blockchain and its tools, such as NFTs, create even more benefits for people through transparency and ownership of digital assets. More people will be in control of their data and be able to monetize it, something that will never be possible with web2.

With this perspective, Tay began building and developing web3 tools to create opportunities for women to forge their own journeys and financial independence. The Metaverse will fundamentally change how people will work and earn money, bringing unprecedented change to bringing equity to the world regarding financial independence for women.

Web3, according to Tay, presents the best opportunity for women to stake a claim in the future of the global economy – and he’s building those tools to empower women today.

“Imagine a world where no matter who you are or where you are, you can be a part of any organization or company and create a living for yourself.”

Future-proof

When asked what he is most excited about for the future, Tay says it is a “world where

everyone will use web3 on a daily basis. The barrier right now is to create an extremely user-friendly web3 system where people won’t need to go through the process of creating wallets or having to understand what blockchain is. Like the internet basically, we’re all using it, but we don’t actually understand what is going on behind the scenes. When web3 becomes as user-friendy as web2 is today, the technology will be widely adopted by everyone.”

He continues: “It used to be quite a tedious process to get hold of your first NFT or make payment to get your cryptocurrency. However, people in the space are working on initiatives to make the process easier. Part of what we have done at Consortium21 is enabling users to claim NFTs in less than 30 seconds.

His first foray into web3 was in 2016, when he found navigating it extremely difficult.

“From that period to now, NFTs used to be just a collectible and now it is used to cater to real-world applications. The Metaverse was solely used to showcase NFTs in galleries, but are now used to create virtual presences in the real world, such as events and buildings. Here we are today where web3 and the Metaverse are starting to gain traction and slowly being accepted by the majority of the public. The way web3 and the Metaverse have evolved in recent years has already seen the technology, tools and use cases improve in user-friendliness. My perseverance in developing web3-related technology is worth it all.”

WORLD WHERE NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU ARE, YOU CAN BE A PART OF ANY ORGANIZATION OR COMPANY AND CREATE A LIVING FOR YOURSELF.

TAY KAH HOE, CHIEF

“T his is women’s time to thrive. Each day, web3 and the Metaverse increasingly become a level playing field for women. There’s no need for a fancy university or title; join the movement if you’re curious and willing to jump into a disruptive space.”

Agustin Maria Rodriguez is one of the leading lights of the Metaverse. Working with emerging technologies for more than 20 years, Agustin speaks with authority, knowledge and compassion. He is the Founder and CEO of Way Too Digital, a blue-chip web3 development agency specializing in web3 custom software, blockchain dApps, smart contracts, games and Metaverse experiences for Fortune 500 companies, startups and IP holders.

Agustin helps build dynamic teams of top talent strategists, designers, developers, product managers, Metaverse creative products, blockchain experts, degens, dev ops and testers and recognizes the valuable contribution that women make to his team and this evolving space.

Having worked with exceptional talents such as Gary Vee’s Vayner3, Mila Kunis’ 6th Wall, Toonstar, IOG (Cardano), Pepsi, US Open, Under Armour, Jimmy McNelis’ Nameless, Diego Borgo, and multiple Metaverse startups, Agustin is a highly respected and experienced voice in this growing new world.

Prior to entering the web3 space, Agustin gained extensive experience with a myriad of innovations, including interactive live installations, experiential games, robotics, sensors, motion capture, immersive stereo 3d, computer vision, real-time 3d simulations, PropTech, AgTech, EdTech, healthcare, advertising, retail, FinTech, AI, AR, VR and MR.

“Helping brands overcome the challenges of jumping into web3 the right way is my passion. For this, we invested heavily in incubating our own white-label platform, 3NNOVA. We’re also working on a model for startups where they can leverage our codebase and build on top of that, saving them around $1 million and one year of work”, shares Agustin.

Celebrating female change-makers

When asked why more women and women-led initiatives in the Metaverse and web3 need to be recognized and celebrated, Agustin asserts that ‘we need to move away from the perception that tech is male dominated and does not provide a platform for women to succeed.’

Instead, he adds, women should be inspired by the female leaders, many of whom are showcased in this book, who are thriving in this space and be motivated to jump in too. ‘That should be the biggest takeaway ever.’

He believes that gender equality in web3 will be achieved through education and outcome. “First, people become conscious about the bias of their choices and then notice that those decisions could limit or negatively affect their performance. No investor will ignore numbers: if they are outperformed by competitors supporting women-led initiatives, then they’ll recalibrate.”

Switching speeds

According to Agustin, VC funding is becoming more selective. The switch is gradually taking place, with founders being picked for their abilities to build more sustainable projects. Agustin says he’s seeing an increase in the amount of women-led projects being funded, although it is coming off a very low base. “Women’s work is truly remarkable, and they’re beginning to win attention from VCs for this. That’s not a coincidence.”

Agustin believes the Metaverse presents a massive opportunity for technology to add untapped talent into the space. “Women are the key to making the pie bigger – and much better for us all.”

Nearly half of all the people in the world are women. They’re our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, daughters, and significant others. Yet, women are still fighting to be respected as equals in business and society. According to Payscale’s “2022 State of the Gender Pay Gap Report”, women only earn 82 cents for every $1 a man earns. If the web3 ecosystem prides itself on democratization of opportunity, then it’s critical that women have an equitable share in that opportunity. Marcus shares his rationale for women’s advocacy and some concrete examples, with the hope that it empowers other men to advocate for women too.

Imagine that you were a child running a lemonade stand in a neighborhood with 100 kids. You, like half of the 100 kids in the neighborhood, only like regular lemonade, so you only sell regular lemonade at your stand. However, the other half of the 100 kids in the neighborhood only like strawberry lemonade, so they don’t buy lemonade from you. Since you don’t personally like strawberry lemonade, you can’t properly appreciate the value of strawberry lemonade, nor can you create a

lemonade product/strategy that appeals to all 100 neighborhood kids. However, if you partnered with one of the kids who likes strawberry lemonade, you have the perspective to create lemonade that all 100 kids will buy. The same is true for web3: if you want to create a value proposition that will also engage women, it should be a no-brainer that you add women to your leadership team.

Also, quite frankly, women are consistently better at running businesses than men. That’s not Marcus’ personal opinion; it’s an independently verified fact. A report from the Kauffman Foundation indicates that private tech businesses led by women achieve 35% higher ROI than those run by men. A separate study from MassChallenge and BCG of over 350 startups found that businesses founded by women generated two times the revenue of those founded by men. The VC fund First Round Capital found that the women-founded companies in its investment portfolio outperformed those founded by men by 63%. Marcus echoes a sentiment shared by friend, fellow gamer, and female powerhouse Keisha Howard. Regardless of how you choose to attribute that success, one

thing is clear: advocating for women isn’t just a moral imperative; it’s also a lucrative business strategy.

More personally, as a parent, Marcus is trying to help build a better future for his daughter. He’s witnessed the many challenges his women peers have faced during his career, and he wants to be part of the solution that his daughter can appreciate. While women’s advocacy might seem daunting for men, Marcus has found ease in simply doing what he can with his own privilege to help. For example, when he published “Innovate Gaming & Esports”, he actively sought to maintain gender parity among the featured thought leaders and innovative companies. He’s also vigilant about ensuring women have a seat at the table for any project he’s involved in. Marcus is a strong ally, touting, “No matter what power or influence you may have, everyone can leverage the resources available to them to create a more equitable ecosystem for women. As the numbers clearly show, it’s a win-win for all of us.”

NO MATTER WHAT POWER OR INFLUENCE YOU MAY HAVE, EVERYONE CAN LEVERAGE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM TO CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE ECOSYSTEM FOR WOMEN. MARCUS ‘ESPORTS’ HOWARD, AUTHOR, PROFESSOR, SPEAKER, PUBLISHER, WEB3 ADVOCATE AND GAMER

Florida, USA

REDEFINING EQUITY AND DIVERSITY INMIAMI

If web3 will live to its potential to level the playing field for all, women must be put first in our efforts to build the next generation of the internet.

S– Mayor Francis Suarez

Silicon Valley never grew into the tech hub it is today as quickly as Miami is becoming the home of web3. Miami’s residents can pay city taxes with cryptocurrency – and the Mayor even receives a portion of his salary in Bitcoin. What sets the City of Miami apart from other cities across the globe is how it identifies the opportunity web3 presents for diversity, equity and inclusion for its citizens – and the rest of the world. It is a city at the bleeding edge of this cultural, financial, digital and social revolution.

The City of Miami Mayor Suarez leads the region into the future. “The biggest reason I am passionate about the dawn of web3 is because of my residents. My job as Mayor is to provide Miamians with an endless stream of opportunities that allows people to take care of themselves and their families, web3 has the potential to diversity our economy to achieve just that.”

Leading leadership

Francis Suarez serves the City of Miami as Mayor, working diligently to raise the standards of the community where he was born and raised. The honorable Mayor is serving his second term of office, with a groundswell of 78% of the vote, leveraging his successes throughout his illustrious political career to serve as a leader and role model to the young and old in Miami. Employing technology as a beacon, he has plotted Miami’s future to uplift not only the citizens of this beautiful city but also the state and country.

His mission is to drive social change, eradicate gender inequality, promote diversity and inclusion, and present opportunities to citizens. Many of his policies and initiatives were launched before being elected Mayor of Miami, and his position as the city’s leader has enabled him to influence more significant social change. In fact, he grew up around the offices of

City Hall – his father, Xavier Suarez, also served as the City of Miami Mayor. His life is one of social consciousness and public service.

Mayor Suarez holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Florida International University. He also has a Law degree from the University of Florida’s Frederic G. Levin College of Law and specialized in corporate and real estate transactions before taking up his role in public office.

Wonders of web3 for women

The City of Miami is built on diversity and inclusion. As a progressive and innovative city, Miami champions women and their contribution to society, especially web3. Mayor Suarez recognized the opportunity web3 presented for women to leapfrog the injustices of web2 and the real world and is positioning Miami at the forefront of this space to propel widespread DEI – with women included from the outset as voices of leadership.

“Web3 promises to become an avenue for economic prosperity, opportunity, and innovation,” Mayor Suarez believes. “It has the potential to democratize capital and empower individuals in ways never seen before. With web3, digital assets are being created that will give us an expanded ability to connect, socialize and dream. In an ever-connected world, this is a game changer.”

The City of Miami is ensuring that the next internet will have a seat for women and underrepresented communities. Web3-for-good is also good

for business – and economic opportunities abound in web3 for everybody. “We’re glad to be on the forefront of building the next era of the internet, as we know that our economy is transitioning from one driven by the industry to one fueled by the internet.”

Accelerating DEI

Miami is a city of the future. Talent, investors, entrepreneurs, and enterprises are rushing to ‘the 305’ to set up shop to take advantage of Miami’s web3 boom. The results of embracing innovation speak for themselves.

In the past year, Miami has seen an increase in blockchain activity: Miami-based blockchain deals are up by 2,000% year on year, and more than $800 million has been invested in Miami-based cryptocurrency startups over the same period. “80 new-to-market companies have created $1 billion in wages for our city, and – most importantly – it has created 9,000 jobs directly linked to the economy of the future. Miami is currently number one in multiple rankings, including tech job growth, tech job migration, wage growth, and pandemic recovery. What’s amazing is that these economic benefits have come during the very first innings of web3’s development – just imagine what we’ll be able to accomplish in the next decade.”

The City of Miami is a living and breathing example of DEI in action – and web3 accelerates its mission to empower women and underrepresented

The City of Miami Mayor Suarez

communities. Mayor Suarez believes that for web3 to truly thrive, women’s voices and talents must be included and prioritized. Women and women-led initiatives in web3 need to be pushed forward – and Miami is a leading light in this mission with Mayor Suarez. “If web3 will live to its potential to level the playing field for all, women must be put first in our efforts to build the next generation of the internet.”

One such example of web3 driving change throughout Miami can be evidenced in the startups and organizations founded by Miamians. One such women-led initiative that stands out is Web3Equity, led by Michelle Abbs, which works to achieve gender equity and drive equity within web3. Michelle started with a small team, but her drive to make web3 a flourishing space for women has led her to host weekly events offering networking opportunities, workshops, and experiences so more women get involved in web3’s development, empowerment and inclusion. “With such organizations emerging from Miami’s tech scene, I am confident that web3 will fulfil its promise to become a new version of the internet that puts forward an agenda of equity and inclusivity.”

Asking Mayor Suarez what advice he would give to other cities in achieving equality in the new world, he answers: “Web3 is built upon a foundation of equity and diversity. Some believe that the jobs emerging from the Metaverse won’t level the playing field, but in Miami, we have seen thousands of jobs being created for our residents – men and women – as a consequence of embracing web3. It is clear that our economy is transitioning to a digital era and, as local officials, it is our responsibility to deliver our residents opportunities to thrive and prosper. In other words, we have to do our due diligence and explore all possible paths to building a resilient and inclusive economy.”

Overcoming obstacles

The Mayor isn’t blind to the numerous challenges to mass adoption of web3 in his city and further afield. Currently, the most significant obstacle to adopting web3, blockchain technology, Metaverse and cryptocurrency concerns education. He believes that most people still see web3 as something very abstract and that it is crucial to prepare the youth to become fluent in how the new internet works.

His administration has focused its efforts on creating youth upliftment programs, including giving laptops to inner-city children, donating millions of dollars to the city’s colleges to have the resources to expand technology programs for students, hosting tech workshops across the city, and continuing investments in providing training programs and apprenticeships within the web3 industry for its residents.

The more voices are given a platform, the greater the outcomes for that particular conversation. Utilizing this approach to empower initiatives, women and underrepresented communities with web3’s tools, the more significant the impacts will be for the City of Miami and its citizens. Education enables a level playing field – for all to participate and prosper. Web3 has transformational powers that Mayor Suarez has embraced with all his heart.

Minting Miami’s mission

Earlier in 2022, Mayor Suarez launched an innovative NFT initiative for the City of Miami designed to drive revenue to local businesses and non-profits through exclusive rewards offerings. The City of Miami x TIME, Mastercard and Salesforce collection was created through collaboration. The City of Miami will unveil a unique collection of 5,000 NFTs designed by 56 local Miami artists, representing the city’s 56-square-mile area.

Leading the NFT market by example, this collection boasts truly unmatched IRL utility; the beauty of this project is that it will connect the City of Miami with its NFT holders in meaningful ways, representing a sea change in web3 utility. Holders of these NFTs will benefit from access to Mastercard’s Priceless Miami program, which provides unique experiences, from one-of-a-kind events at local Miami restaurants to curated, unforgettable private tours of Miami cultural institutions and other memorable activities. TIME will be responsible for guiding the strategy, developing the creative, and launching the initiative. Salesforce will be managing the minting and selling of these NFTs through its NFT Cloud, a new project designed to help brands deliver connected experiences across the physical and digital worlds.

Another critical attribute of this project is its environmental consideration and efforts. The City of Miami x TIME, Mastercard and Salesforce collection is being built on the Ethereum blockchain, following its recent move from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake. This change meaningfully reduces the initiative’s carbon emissions by an estimated 99%.

Making Metaverse-al moments

More than just the sunny skies and warm water attracts people to the City of Miami. The culture of web3 plays an enormous part in Miami’s growth as the web3 capital of the world. It has become the go-to destination for events, summits, and conferences with impact. Miami played host to Bitcoin 2022, CryptoWorldCon, Metaverse Miami and the North American Bitcoin Conference – all in 2022.

The City of Miami is also taking a proactive role in this: it is set to host the inaugural MiamiWeb3 summit at the end of 2022. This event will be a first-of-its-kind in the region and is expected to drive meaningful discussion and a way forward for the industry as a whole. MiamiWeb3 is hosted in collaboration between the City of Miami and web3 infrastructure provider Atlas and its parent company CTH Group. Not only will this event be a coming together of renowned startup founders, government officials and prominent investors to discuss the industry, but how web3 can contribute to adopting clean energy. The aims of this summit are to deliver a better foundation for fair and equitable growth for the world – from the heart of ‘the 305.’

“Web3 is already transforming our everyday lives and the future of the global economy,” Mayor Suarez explains. “Miami is now at the cutting edge of this revolution, and this annual web3 conference – strategically synchronized with the Art Basel Miami festival – will keep Miami at the strategic forefront of web3 technology in the years ahead.”

Not to miss out on the energy, relevance and web3 growth of the City of Miami, Women of the Future is launching in the centre of Miami. Significantly, this project echoes the aims of Miami and its embrace of web3 for the empowerment of women and women-led initiatives in this space.

Miami of the future

Web3 is being leveraged for its social change powers. The citizens of Miami have a unique opportunity to participate in the future of the internet, their city, and the world. An influx of talent, investment, and business is reinvigorating Miami like never before, placing it at the centre of a worldwide social revolution.

There is more than simple relevance that motivates Miami: it proactively supports and propels the culture and ideology of web3 through events, adoption, education and mainstream usage. It enables even greater degrees of ownership, benefits and transparency for a city (and its citizens) in the world of tomorrow. Women have unprecedented access to tech education, careers and leadership through Miami’s web3 opportunities. The City of Miami is the embodiment of the transformational clout needed to scale this technology for accessible economic development, diversity, equity and inclusion.

MiamiMayor FrancisSuarez

CHAPTER 14

Inspİratİon

Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think there are no little things.

Bruce Barton

INSPIRATION ACROSS THE ECOSYSTEM

TThe Women of the Future have a vision of an equitable, democratic, meritocratic, and decentralized world. Society has an example of how the world operates, and it’s not what these women want for future generations. Pioneers shape our environment. And we’re not just talking about the women leading projects, VCs, devs or Fortune 1000 companies. We’re talking about realworld, grassroots changes impacting people in real-world ways.

In this chapter, we’ve sampled the thousands of projects and initiatives running on the blockchain to showcase and celebrate how these projects and women-led initiatives make a world of difference in enhanding the well-being of communities, women and the youth.

Motivations

The speed at which web3 and the Metaverse develops is astounding. This book represents the top women in this snapshot moment in its development. Despite the already explosive effects of web3 on society in this developmental infancy, we’re excited about the future this technology will create when it has matured and its impacts have fully formed.

Web3 and the Metaverse are opportunities to build a world that’s fair for all. The younger generations have shown humanity that racial and gender inequality has no place in societies of the future. Web3 is an opportunity to imprint that onto the future – to bring real-world change to communities and people. Web3 isn’t about a person’s gender, race,

location, age, ableness, wealth status, health, dress size, or high school certificate. It is about the value a person can bring to a community. No matter a person’s skills or experience, it can be helpful to someone on the blockchain. Everyone is a cog in a greater machine – a machine for good. Community, creativity and collaboration are the tools for humanity in the digital age. They can – and will – shape tomorrow. The tenets of web3 connect people’s collective intelligence, foster communities, open communication channels, and inspire innovative collaboration.

Momentums

Never in the history of the world has it been easier to share knowledge. The ripples of change in developed nations are waves of change in developing countries. It spurs unimaginable inspiration, motivation, and momentum for women to forge paths to equity, leadership, access, and ownership.

As illustrated in this book, women’s and women-led initiatives compete in a male-dominated environment. Raising awareness is no longer adequate. Active advocacy – and building – for an inclusive and diverse digital world in web3 strives to effect IRL change. The combination of technology, leadership, creativity and community drives this movement forward in ways previously thought impossible. If for nothing else, today’s leaders are nurturing the female leaders of tomorrow.

STARCHAIN VENTURES & ASTROSAPIENS FOUNDATION

WWe know that web3 is a transformational technology since this book is all about top women doing amazing things with it and other emerging technologies. So, what makes web3 so transformative? It’s not discussed enough, but the power of web3 is underpinned by an ethos, a spirit and framework focused on building communities and systems based on the principles of fairness, equitable access and power, transparency, and truth. When developed intentionally, this powerful toolkit can transform society and infuse it with a culture of positivity and inclusivity.

At StarChain Ventures, our Silicon Valley venture studio, we are dedicated to creating impactful solutions using web3 and the open Metaverse to reimagine the future of business, humanity, and social structures. In essence, we work every day to harness transformative power in practical ways to tackle the most challenging global crises. Our conviction is that technology with social impact -- #techwithsoul – can benefit us all and be very profitable.

In 2022, we developed and launched an important mission-driven initiative, the AstroSapiens Project, that uses web3 and the Metaverse to generate and scale positive social change globally. AstroSapiens uses innovative technologies to amplify diversity, equity, and inclusion in high growth sectors like web3 and space/frontier tech, enabling anyone to reach for the stars. AstroSapiens is currently comprised of four parts – the NFT Collection, Community, DAO, and the Foundation - plus a fifth part in process, the AstroSapiens Metaverse.

AstroSapiens NFTs are a collection of thousands of algorithmically generated artworks featuring sophisticated 3D portraits of strong, diverse individuals and award-winning astrophotography. Our Community is focused on supporting diversity, equity and inclusion in innovation, science, art and engagement globally. Our DAO is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization, a core web3 governance entity, that steers our AstroSapiens Foundation in an ethical and transparent way.

The AstroSapiens Foundation funds key initiatives that help level the playing field of opportunity in high growth areas to increase financial stability and generational wealth for women and the underrepresented. We have executed on this vision both individually and as colleagues for over a decade and are now focused on scaling our vision globally through web3 community. To create real change, we intend to ensure that women and the underrepresented are empowered to lead in this wave of transformative emerging tech.

StarChain Ventures and the AstroSapiens Foundation have funded three separate initiatives, each focused on a different aspect of our vision to creating global change: Space Foundation’s Moon Colony Kit (MCK) Project (space/frontier tech), Mission Impact’s Leadership Development Program (web3/Metaverse), and the Women of the Future Project (emerging tech).

The AstroSapiens Foundation is proud to be the principal sponsor of Space Foundation’s Moon Colony Kit (MCK) Project. Inspired by NASA’s Artemis program which will land the first woman and person of color on the Moon and establish a lunar base, Space Foundation has developed the Moon

Together we can all be the change we want to see in the world.

Radhika Iyengar and Jorden Woods

Colony Kit project in collaboration with NASA and the White House National Space Council.

This project benefits 20,000 children from grades 4-8 and 5,000 educators across the US, with the goal of reaching two-thirds of participating students from underrepresented neighborhoods. On September 19, 5000 educators were trained by Space Foundation and NASA specialists to enable them to confidently communicate STEAM principles with their students.

Students learn about 50 exciting careers in the space sector through gamified missions that promote teamwork and hone problem-solving skills. Through diverse role models, the program provides an inclusive approach designed to spark excitement and generate interest in STEAM careers. The project also includes a nationwide student challenge, where top-performing students will participate in NASA programs at Space Center Houston.

The MCK launched on October 7th during World Space Week – the largest global celebration of the space sector each year. Local TV news coverage spotlighted a Title 1 school 4th grade class and their teacher. We were elated to see how excited and inspired the children and their teacher were as they talked about a future in the space sector.

StarChain Ventures also sponsored Mission Impact’s Leadership Development Program, which has a vision of empowering and upskilling 1 million women to increase their opportunities in web3, metaverse and

global impact initiatives through a 9-week structured leadership program.

On August 15, Mission Impact launched its inaugural cohort of 50 women from across the globe. We delivered a joint presentation on web3 for social impact during the program. The 9-week program built a powerful sisterhood among the women and was very favorably received.

StarChain Ventures is also a sponsor of the Women of the Future Project which developed this book. Radhika is a Top 100 Woman of the Future and Jorden is one of the ten male allies. We are proud to support the Women of the Future Project, to highlight and celebrate the achievements of women changemakers, to inspire others, and to provide role models to women globally.

With these successes, we hope to inspire others to create mission-driven communities and initiatives that harness the power of web3 to solve global challenges. Together we can all be the change we want to see in the world.

SEVA. LOVE

Working with global thought leaders, we aim to help raise awareness and funds for projects that improve the way we live, learn and interact through the Metaverse and beyond.

WWorking to improve how people, communities and societies live, interact, learn, and work is undergoing revolutionary change. Web3 and the metaverse are said to provide endless opportunities for people. The metaverse is a platform where real-world change can be made via a digital interface.

Change starts with giving: time, money, and work. Charitable giving in the USA alone rose by 5% in 2020, surpassing $470 billion. Yet, how nonprofits raise funds and engage with their communities is only starting to embrace the potential of web3 tools.

One company at the forefront of this is Seva.Love, a first-of-its-kind social impact web3 company. It aims to drive personal and societal transformation via web3 and the metaverse, incorporating Eastern wisdom with the latest in wellness. Its mission is to create a more conscious web3 community for a peaceful, just, sustainable, healthier and joyful world.

Gabriella Wright, actor, and humanitarian is one of the founding partners overseeing social impact initiatives and content, ensuring Seva.Love’s story is well positioned and amplified to empower communities. Gabriella works alongside fellow founders Deepak Chopra MD, world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine, personal transformation, and a bestselling author and Pooancha Machaiah, serial technology entrepreneur. Together they are building the progressive Seva.Love ecosystem.

“Working with global thought leaders, we aim to help raise awareness and funds for projects that improve the way we live, learn and interact through the metaverse and beyond,” says Pooancha. “While the NFT

world is incredible, it is still evolving, and we saw a gap in the market to build a well-being community and make a real social impact via the metaverse.”

Seva.Love champions well-being and social impact in web3 by curating leading artists, influencers, and well-being experts and creating conscious communities. These NFTs serve as access tokens to the ChopraVerse, a metaverse which enhances our well-being, where no one feels alone and one that offers infinite experiences and possibilities.

Dr. Chopra shares: “ChopraVerse is creating homes for multidimensional living, nourishing the body, mind, spirit and environment as a unified experience in awareness. It will give everyone an opportunity to generate their own abode for the return to wholeness and healing.”

Dr. Chopra is building the main attraction for the ChopraVerse: the House of Enlightenment. A limited number of airdropped NFTs will integrate blueprints and well-being design principles that can be leveraged to build IRL homes.

“The ChopraVerse will transform how we interact and experience well-being in the digital and physical world,” remarks Pooancha. “It will enable us to experience interoperable metaverse experiences in realtime, 3d virtual worlds that can be experienced synchronously, maintain presence and have a collaborative experience. By connecting artists, philanthropists, brands and change-makers alike, we aim to build a community around causes that matter to benefit society for generations to come through social and environmental impact initiatives.”

Seva.Love’s NFTs are digital collectibles and utility access tokens to

promote long-lasting and positive change while working to bring wellness and mindfulness to the metaverse. It offers four NFT collections: Journey to Self; The Three Bears; Natura; and future drops warrior monk and metahuman.

Journey to Self offers an immersive meditation experience. The Chopra Foundation partnered with Lighthouse Immersive and Impact Museums to provide audiences with an experiential meditative experience through an IRL immersive exhibit narrated by Dr. Chopra. All attendees will be able to receive an airdrop of a commemorative Journey to Self NFT, which will offer holders future access to IRL and metaverse events.

The Three Bears NFT collection sheds light on the acute phenomenon of climate refugees in the animal world. It is a collaboration with Seva.Love’s NFT artist, WhIsBe, led by world-renowned wildlife photographer and filmmaker, Hamid Sardar, and supported by the animal protection organization, Animals Australia.

Natura is a collection of animated art pieces created by internationally acclaimed artist Dhimant Vyas in collaboration with Seva.Love.

100% of NFT sales from the current active release will be donated to support Ukrainians suffering from the war.

Warrior Monk shall be Seva.love’s first PfP series highlighting the journey of resilience to awaken the inner warrior monk in all of us. it is an initiative that aims at doing good, establishing community with common values that ultimately unites anyone that wants to make the world a better place. Set in a

dystopian future 2100s , the planet is in a dire state , it is up to us to awaken our super powers to help ignite the planets healing against all odds.

Looking forward Gabriella shares, “I have already seen so much growth and empowerment with women lead NFT projects, one of our next projects shall be focused on the problem of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation). An NFT collection to raise awareness about this horrible practice that still happens today. 1 girl is cut every 7 seconds. The funds raised shall go towards empowerment programs for FGM survivors in the African continent starting with Kenya.”

Seva.Love will bring global impact and empower underserved communities with a specific focus on mental health. With its aim of reaching a billion people for a more peaceful, just, sustainable, healthier and joyful world, companies and initiatives such as these will transform the world’s future for good.

Gabriella Wright, Co-Founder Seva.Love, Actor & Humanitarian

impact could be more than just an outcome of an investment choice. The Æternals was founded as an in-house project to facilitate this goal, with the value of the NFT directly responsive to a collector’s proof-of-impact – making impact an investable asset class.

Lucia Gallardo, Founder and CEO of Emerge and Co-Founder of The Æternals project, shares her vision: “The Æternals re-imagines the future of finance as less consumptive and less extractive, setting a new standard for ESG-compliant social innovation.”

Emerge is an award-winning experimentation lab that helps organizations, institutions, and companies develop projects that converge sustainable development objectives, exponential technologies, and re-imagined socio-economics.

Emerge’s work consistently merges public and private sectors in projects related to digital identification for displaced persons, food traceability, financial inclusion for inconsistent income earners, rainforest protection, loyalty rewards programs, and more. Emerge was nominated for the 2018 Global SDG Awards and Newsweek’s 2019 Blockchain Impact Awards.

Emerge’s work impacts thousands of beneficiaries through its clients and in-house projects. For example, Emerge’s work has directly benefited displaced populations along the Mexican-American border,

At Emerge, we set out to democratize access to the world’s most advanced innovation, to democratize the benefits of said innovation, and to democratize who plays a role in

‘‘ EMERGE ÆTERNALS

indigenous communities in Latin America, farmers in Uganda, and more.

“At Emerge, we set out to democratize access to the world’s most advanced innovation, to democratize the benefits of said innovation, and to democratize who plays a role in building it in the first place,” explains Lucia.

Single-minded in its focus on building a better world, Emerge has inspired a new sector of impact businesses and redefined impact strategies for organizations. “In this way, we are one part a technology solutions provider and one part a technology justice movement. And in a world where impact and justice are needed now more than ever, working with us helps merge and focus an organization’s core business competencies with thoughtful and measurable impact strategies, resulting in forward-thinking, viable, sustainable, and impactful innovation leadership.”

Tech guards nature

The Æternals is an in-house project for Emerge founded in 2021 by Lucia and Shaun Khan. It is a regenerative, NFT-based financial instrument that connects its underlying value to a collector’s proof-of-impact toward rainforest protection.

Explains Lucia: “Aeternals NFTs are a new asset class; their value is not tethered to the extraction or consumption of resources. Instead, their incentive structure is based on regenerative value: a buyer’s demonstrable passion for our environment.”

These are the first NFTs to combine beautiful digital art, interactive gamification, and metamorphic change, driven by impact objectives and traced through blockchain infrastructure. When bought or sold, each unique and stunning asset contributes directly

and transparently to protecting the rainforests of Central and South America, purchases Carbon Credits, and provides collectors access to an exclusive interactive game environment. It also grants holders access to a tiered community of like-minded individuals, offers exclusive access to a small batch of ultra-rare NFTs that include (for example) the rights to name newly discovered species on the Amazon, and physical access to tours by indigenous communities of the Amazon (with more to come in the future).

The NFT, which is inspired by and connected to the rainforest, begins as a digital plot filled with seedlings and unbloomed flowers. As collectors engage with the cause and the community through a custom game, community events, direct donations, and more – the plot blossoms and grows. Each new layer comes with added benefits but stops contributing, and the plot slowly regresses toward its original state.

55% of all profits fund the work of Rainforest Partnership, a renowned non-profit organization working directly with nine local and indigenous communities to protect the world’s biodiversity hotspots. Additionally, 1% of ongoing secondary sale profits are automatically directed toward offsetting the project’s carbon emissions, which have already been lowered below industry standards through new experimentation with partner company Tresorio, which re-imagined the project’s energy sourcing and computing efficiency.

How The Æternals employs web3 and Metaverse technology to further its aims of offering Impact-as-a-Service is genuinely innovative. Lucia describes its unique work: “Our experimentation lab has created generative and regressive NFTs which respond to a person’s engagement with a social cause, used blockchain for supply chain traceability,

worked in verifiable credentials and digital identity projects traceable through blockchain, and more. Our goal is for our tech stacks to include several components, namely across blockchain and web3, along with AI to increase the efficacy of our impact interventions.”

Emerge’s long-term ambitions are to continue building on what they do today – but to scale them for bigger projects and experiments, and partner with more organizations interested in creating greater regenerative and inclusive systems through viable social innovation.

Emerge, take a bow.

Lucía Gallardo, Founder, Emerge

KRYPTO FOR KIDS

KKRYPTO FOR KIDS (K4K) is a global movement started by tech enthusiastic parents and children. This experimental initiative was founded in St.Kitts & Nevis by crypto-curious Anu Bhardwaj and her daughter Arya Sitara Bhardwaj. It is powered by kids interested in learning and teaching the skills needed for the digital future ahead. Alongside global IRL and virtual events, K4K is developing a virtual EdTech platform to connect children worldwide and empower them through education and edutainment.

At the July 2018 Blockchain for Impact Conference in St. Kitts and Nevis, Anu presented to impact investors, blockchain founders and developers her work on a digital wallet for women. Arya and her Japanese au pair were the only attendees not part of the delegation but were nonetheless invited to learn along with the conference’s delegates. The conversations were fascinating for these young minds, and quickly talk turned to Arya suggesting to her mother the need for a digital wallet and crypto learning tools and events for kids.

The Rt. Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister Barbados with all the attending children.

A few months later in November 2018, KRYPTO FOR KIDS was officially launched at the inaugural Blockchain on the Beach conference at the Montage Laguna Beach Resort in Laguna Beach, California.

“At the time, we had a number of partners, including CryptoChicks from Canada, Women in Blockchain, NEM, and 30 other local partners and media outlets working closely with us – and we spotlighted the work of our young participants and invited them to participate in media production,” shares Anu. “All our guests participated in the original podcast and video creation we shared on social media. In June 2019, Krypto For Kids was invited to join a panel at the second Annual Blockchain for Impact Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, where our panel of girls and women presented their new mobile app, plans for their own conference at the United Nations and upcoming conferences for 2020.”

In January 2020, KRYPTO FOR KIDS was invited to join a session of the World Economic Forum in Davos hosted by The State of Women Institute, one of the initiative’s 501c3 partners. Shortly afterwards, the world was forced to interact digitally because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several of KRYPTO FOR KIDS’ young members started NFT projects, one started a mobile app submitted for a UNICEF Blockchain Innovation Fund grant, and another started an NFT gaming platform that is now getting ready to raise venture capital funding.

“It was only in October 2022 that our team came back together,” Anu remarks. “This time, they decided to share their talents with children across the islands of Barbados, Iceland, and Bermuda, developing a live-stream initiative in partnership with the University of West Indies Barbados and the National Cultural Foundation Barbados. The inaugural Krypto for Kids Caribbean launch included a speech by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley that focused on the power and potential of

technology for good and social responsibility in making our planet more peaceful and sustainable. Parents and students were invited to participate in LIVE NFT creation projects, AR/VR MetaVerse demonstrations, and a live computer construction project attended by children from primary schools and secondary schools across Barbados. Anchor Partners include the ALGORAND Foundation, the Branson Centre for Entrepreneurship, CODIVERSE, NFT Kids, Mission Impact, and numerous livestream partners across Latin America, the Caribbean, North America, and the European Union which were featured in over 200+ global news channels. “Our global tribe of parents and kids is becoming more and more diverse and inclusive, with children poised to be leading our new digital economy forward,” remarks Arya Bhardwaj, co-Founder of Krypto For Kids.

SHEQONOMI was formed in 2021 from the original code developed for KRYPTO FOR KIDS’ app. This platform sprouted into a rewards generating podcast listening app for everyone around the world interested in learning how to spend, save, invest, or donate digital rewards in the very near future. These mobile apps are available on Android, iOS, and KaiOS. It will be available for download in the JioStore on all Reliance Jio mobile devices, which will go live on nearly 150,000,000 devices across all Jio mobile platforms across India in 2023.

KRYPTO FOR KIDS is driven by a team of children with a vision to create an impact in the world and inspire entrepreneurs. What we are most proud of to date, is that children are actively building a world they want to live in and driving the change they want to see in the world.

Anu Bhardwaj with her daughter Arya Sitara Bhardwaj

JUWEDI

JUDY WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (JUWEDI)

If there were a way to get women into the virtual workplace, it would be a game changer – that is what web3 and the Metaverse have the potential to do.

WWeb3 and the Metaverse are such abstract concepts to someone sitting in a rural village in the heart of Africa. How does this technology impact the lives of girls and women in one of the poorest regions in the world?

The Women of the Future project showcases the extraordinary work of the top 100 women in this space to shift the paradigm for women – and the world. Profound social change, financial opportunity, gender equity, and more: imagine the impact of those on girls and women in Nigeria. It would revolutionize how they worked and interacted and their lives, communities, and country.

The power of web3 lies in its decentralization. Social disruption. That is precisely what’s needed in Nigeria (and many other parts of the world), and blockchain innovation inspires this digital revolution with a grassroots impact.

INSPIRATION

Nigeria is ranked 123rd of 146 countries on the 2022 Global Gender Gap Index, which measures countries’ access to resources and opportunities. This translates into Nigerian women earning an average of 45% less than Nigerian men. Gender gaps in the Nigerian economy are not the only obstacle women face when trying to reach their full potential. Girls account for 60% of the country’s 10 million outof-school children, meeting challenges such as child marriage, poverty, and discriminatory social norms. Nigeria has the largest number of people living in extreme poverty in the world –that’s nearly 50% of its population.

From grassroots to the Metaverse Challenges breed opportunities. The Judy Women Empowerment and Development Initiative (JUWEDI) is founded to empower and grow confident, resilient, tech-savvy and financially independent women in Nigeria. It believes that web3 and the Metaverse present the perfect chance for girls and women to leapfrog the social inequalities in this country to reach their full potential.

Founder Judith Nkwopara shares: “Web3 and the Metaverse offer opportunities to girls and women that will forever change their lives and the future of this country. It is exactly the help these girls and communities need. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are principles Nigerian girls and women have been striving towards. They can take up roles such as VR content creators, 3d artists, VR architects, community managers, developers, coders, graphic and fashion designers, and more. If there were a way to get women into the virtual workplace, it would be a game changer – that is what web3 and the Metaverse have the potential to do.”

JUWEDI recognizes the powerful impact technology as a tool can have for girls and women to become activists and lead change on issues that affect them in their communities. Judith remarks: “However, most girls and women have little or no access to technology due to a lack of opportunities. This is where JUWEDI is working on using the transformative shift to extend technology’s reach to empower girls and women by partnering with local and international organizations that promote girls and women in STEM.”

Growing entrepreneurship opportunities through technology

While women’s unemployment numbers skyrocket in Nigeria, empowering girls and women to pursue a career of self-employment is increasingly essential. An entrepreneurship ecosystem supporting women to start, grow and sustain their businesses is still sorely lacking in Nigeria. JUWEDI is working on using innovative solutions to increase access to today’s skills, including coding, graphic designers, content creators, and more.

That’s where web3 and the Metaverse’s potential is most potent. JUWEDI’s mission is to help 200,000 women leverage the internet’s tool to overcome these mounting challenges and leapfrog the inequalities women face. It provides coaching and mentorship programs, development schemes, advocacy, communication, issues of gender equality, and more to help women from the classroom to the boardroom. Shares Judith: “It catalyzes the birth of women’s businesses and startups and fosters them to scale up, mature, and reach sustainability. It provides women with a supportive environment, services and a network that alleviates non-financial and financial barriers.”

The transformative power of JUWEDI is real: it has helped more than 60 businesses to start and helped tens of thousands of girls and women envision a better future for themselves and their communities.

Educating girls and women on web3 and its potential for change builds awareness of business innovations that can accelerate women’s development and impact the quality of life for women everywhere.

Judith Nkwopara judithy4real@yahoo.com

Judith Nkwopara, JUWEDI Founder

PLOVER ANIMATION

‘‘We are in the midst of a technological revolution.

I believe creative minds shape the future, and we are responsible for setting the cultural standards of communities in the future.

Grand Strand Web3 Guild

PPlover Animation is an animation studio focused on developing highquality NFTs, Metaverse assets and films. But it is so much more than that at the same time.

With over 20 artists, animators, writers, and producers, Plover Animation was founded in 2022 to empower women, people of colour and underrepresented communities. Its mission is to serve as a significant participant in solving inequalities and inclusion issues by partnering with like-minded organizations and creating initiatives with a positive impact.

This cohort of creatives aims to include these sectors of society in co-creating and collaboratively participating in building exciting new worlds and solving inequalities and inclusion issues by partnering with like-minded organizations and initiatives. And the Metaverse perfectly presents that opportunity.

Re-imagining representation

Founder and CEO of Plover Animation, Jennifer Hotai, explains her vision: “We are in the midst of a technological revolution. I believe

OUR CORE VALUES

PASSION:

Show love for what you do, and share that with others to create a more positive world

INNOVATION

Strive to be tech-forward and create unique ideas that inspire others.

CREATIVITY

Engage the audience with amazing artistry and storytelling

INCLUSION

Build a diverse team and partnerships that represents all backgrounds in your creations

creative minds shape the future, and we are responsible for setting the cultural standards of communities in the future. I strongly believe accelerating inclusion is a way for creatives and Plover Animation to make a difference in society – not only in the representation of our animations and artist outputs but in our hiring processes too.”

Women and women of colour make up an abysmal 19% and 7% of head positions in the animation industry. Plover wants to be part of the global initiative to have more inclusion in workplaces and to discontinue the historical legacy of exclusion in the animation industry.

Plover’s staff comprises a diverse team of people of color (POC), females, and non-binary persons, who strongly support LGBTQ+, Autism Speaks, and POC organizations.

They bring a collective experience and knowledge of over 150 years to the table whose previous body of work includes a collective 110-plus projects, grossing $8.2 billion worldwide. Such projects include Dreamworks’ Puss in Boots and The Penguins of Madagascar, 60 Minutes, The CMT Music Awards, CBS Evening News, XBOX 360’s Ghostbusters video game and many others. Their backgrounds include the most prominent studios, including Disney and Sony, and each staff member’s goals are aligned with Plover’s vision of creating for the good of the future and society.

It creates animated films and Metaverse assets that promote female empowerment, POC and LGBTQ+ communities. It also provides internship opportunities for youth from low-income communities.

This animation studio believes it will add value to the Metaverse in three ways. First, by partnering with web3 companies making a positive difference in virtual and IRL communities. Second, Plover will grow the Metaverse community by aiming to become the premiere animation studio for web3 companies and projects of all sizes. Lastly, it prioritizes inclusion and promotes diversity in the Metaverse.

Its current work includes an educational AltspaceVR gallery to bring awareness of the Yazidi genocide with the non-profit Nobody’s Listening, and creating animations for the NFT collection ‘Joe Ravioli’ by i-Create.

When it comes to the relevance of this work for the new industry of the Metaverse and beyond, Plover views the transition from web2 to web3 as simply a change in purpose for the use of art assets. Jennifer explains: “The character development work can easily be shifted to the Metaverse as the virtual representation of users is the same concept as seen in video games and TV series. The many customizable variations needed to create NFT animations can easily be used by those same workflows.”

Jennifer details her inspiration for launching this startup: “I feel the passion for making something new and innovative. The Metaverse is the perfect place to do that because it’s new and exciting. The other side of forming an animation studio is the ability to show your creative side by bringing ideas to life, seeing a story with characters and worlds move in real-time that was once only imagined in writing. That is one of the most inspiring things one can experience. I cannot think of a better way to use talent and teamwork.”

Plover believes they will define how the world views the Metaverse. It creates awe-inspiring animations and art for web3 virtual worlds, NFTs, and the next generation of films.

Jennifer Hotai, Founder and CEO, Plover Animation

PLEARN

Without proper knowledge of sustainability and its inclusion in financial products, the youth will be unable to make informed investment decisions and achieve efficient market outcomes.

SSchool subjects and learning aren’t always fun. Mention financial literacy and many adults roll their eyes. They shouldn’t. 4 in 7 American adults are financially illiterate. 1 in 3 adults worldwide understands basic financial concepts. 3 in 4 teens don’t feel comfortable about their financial knowledge. 4 of 5 parents wished they’d learned more about money as a kid.

It’s clear: financial literacy is critical. Early financial literacy teaches kids how to have a good relationship with money. It helps young people manage money effectively to become financially stable, build assets, and achieve personal goals. Decisions made in early adulthood have lasting financial consequences.

Play. Learn. Earn.

“Most people think trying to earn more money is the trick to attaining financial freedom, but the real trick is to know how to make your money work for you instead of you working for your money,” says Nada Jabr, Founder of CryptoStein and Project Leader of PLEARN.

PLEARN (Play, Learn, Earn) is a blockchainbased virtual board game for teaching financial literacy. It allows users to play in the Metaverse through IRL experiences to teach children how to manage their finances through investing, trading in stocks and crypto, and real estate.

INSPIRATION

Nada explains: “The gap that exists between the amount of financial responsibility given to the young and their demonstrated ability to manage financial opportunities is widening. Unless significant action is taken to alter this and enable youth to make savvy financial decisions, financial illiteracy will remain an obstacle to youth’s financial security.”

CryptoStein started in late 2020 as an international educational startup, with PLEARN as its educational product. CryptoStein aspires to help increase the adoption of blockchain in schools while teaching the youth the importance of financial literacy by utilising web3 tools and sustainable finance in making savvy financial decisions.

Nada is a passionate web3 evangelist. Her blockchain journey started in 2018 when she wrote her master’s dissertation on blockchain and cryptocurrency regulations. She then started trading and investing in crypto alongside her Forex trading.

CryptoStein is a combination of ‘Crypto’ and ‘Stein.’ It used the word ‘crypto’ to emphasize its belief in the crypto future and the potential it brings to the world. The word ‘stein’ was taken from Einstein’s name, representing his theories that the universe connects everything, and all things belong to a single source. “That’s what we are trying to do through CryptoStein: connect two different markets - universes - together.”

Early financial education empowers youth to learn good money habits and skills – such as saving, budgeting, investing, and buying – and helps them be less susceptible to financial scams and poor financial decision-making consequences, teaching them life-long skills.

A sustainable vision and mission

PLEARN’s mission is to raise awareness of the importance of teaching financial literacy and sustainable finance and how youth will inevitably be confronted with sustainable investment options when deciding how to allocate their assets. As a Middle Eastern woman, Nada understands the power of inclusivity, such as inclusion in financial markets and financial decision-making.

Sustainable finance – and education – have a significant role in transitioning customer behaviour and decision-making to aid a net-zero planet. Sustainable finance can funnel money into carbon-neutral projects and companies.

“With the increasing importance of sustainable investments in the financial marketplace, the youth will inevitably be confronted with sustainable investment options when deciding how to allocate their assets,” shares Nada. “Without proper knowledge of sustainability and its inclusion in financial products, the youth will be unable to make informed investment decisions and achieve efficient market outcomes. When this knowledge is absent or insufficient, youth become prone to possibly misleading marketing and manipulation by financial providers.”

PLEARN teaches users how to manage their finances via four pillars: trading deals, real estate deals, auction market deals, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) deals - ESGROW. ESGROW is a launchpad platform to support people with their innovative ESG ideas. The game has two phases: players vs the environment and players vs players. Through a player’s journey, they will use two different tokens (Ambition and Manifestation) to empower creative learning activities through P2E, P2P and socialization modes.

The roadmap indicates the game will launch in Q3 2023, but interested youth and parents can join the social media channels to begin their financial education.

Financial education can make a difference. It can empower and equip young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to take charge of their lives and build a more secure future for themselves and their families. That’s what PLEARN, CryptoStein and Nada are doing. Here’s more power to them.

Michelle Abbs 86 Andrea Abrams 32 Avery Akkineni 38 Nisa Amoils 50 Cheryl Ankrah-Newton 96

Ceslie Armstrong 224 AstroSapiens Foundation 272 Yolanda Barton 42 Alessa Berg 180 Anupama Bhardwaj 34 Martha Boeckenfeld (Dr.) 148 Stéphanie Bretonniére 36 Marcia Caporn 190 Amanda Cassatt 48 Sarina Charugundla 74 Loretta Chen (Dr.) 222 Asha Susan Cherian 56 Kenneth Choo 254 Aline d’Ambricourt 202 Emily Dallara 68 Anthony Day 255 Lule Demissie 128 Tommaso Di Bartolo 14

Emerge Aeternals 276 Anino Emuwa (Dr.) 88 Anne-Marie Enns 15 Albright Enyioha 206 Ilgi Evecan 214 Sana Farid (Dr.) 146 Heather Flannery 152 Shenna Fortner 168

Vera Futorjanski 78 Elena Garidis 118 Amber Ghaddar 70

Jillian Godsil 120

Bridget Greenwood 170 Cathy Hackl 194 Kate Hancock 52 Sandra Helou 30 Daniela Henao 118 Akina Ho 62

JoAnn Holmes 134 Yuree Hong 102 Adriana Hoppenbrouwer Pereira 196 Marcus Howard 261 Leila Hurstel 154

Anastasiia Ilicheva 98 Elizabeth Irizarry 16 Radhika Iyengar 28 Moon Jérin 66

Caroline Johnova 162 Ada Jonuse 188 Juwedi 280 Irina Karagyaur 244 Kimberly King 80 Tegan Kline 106 Dajana Ko 126 Sanja Kon 124 Marja Konttinen 240 John Kraski 252

Krypto For Kids 278 Lauren Kunze 232 Caitlin Lacey 238 Bowie Lau 94 Kelly Leung 72 Genevieve Leveille 172 Eve Logunova-Parker 236 Nova Lorraine 198

Hrish Lotlikar 256

Kelly Lovell 90

Laya Mathikshara 216

Priyanka Mathikshara 216 Alina Matyukhina (Dr.) 136

Mala Mawkin (Dr.) 156

Lavinia Meliti 110 Camille Merré 200 Jessica Metcalfe (Dr.) 18

Jacky Mfon Ekpenyong 92 Miami 262, 264, 266

Mission Impact 12

Ayumi Moore Aoki 158

Cecilia MosZe Tham 166 Ayesha Mubarak Ali 212 Vanessa Mullin 234 Kerry Murphy 257 Pamela Norton 138 Olayinka Odeniran 17, 84 Lavinia Osbourne 150 Sonal Patel 246 Amy Peck 40 Gabrielle Pelicci (Dr.) 46

Jayne Peressini 186 Milly Perry (Dr.) 60

María Pía Aqueveque Jabbaz 112

Plearn 284

Plover Animation 282 Marloes Pomp 140 Paula Reina 228

Alanna Roazzi-Laforet 58

Daniel Robbins 258

Agustin Maria Rodriguez 260 Sue Rooney 11

Ann Rosenberg 174 Beenish Saeed 8 Janna Salokangas 12 Alyze Sam 116 Ashumi Sanghvi 204 Amrita Sethi 210 Seva.Love 274 Kaylan Sliney 55 Shannon Snow 82 Liz Snower 232 Wan Wei Soh 226

Lauren Somer 10 Tarja Stephens 12 Anna Stone 130 Francis Suarez 262, 264, 266 Sami Tauber 220

Wilson Tay Kah Hoe 259 Breana Teubner 176 Jane Thomason (Dr.) 44 Mireille Toulekima 178 Amna Usman Chaudhry 108 Ingrid Vasiliu-Feltes (Dr.) 144 Kelly Vero 184 Paulette Watson 100 Bronwyn Willliams 122 Jennifer Wines 114 Laura Wolff 248 Jorden Woods 253 Lily Wu 160 Lili Zhao 64

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards

Søren Kierkegaard

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