2018-7-23 19:57 |
The increasing number of women in the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain has been increasing in the last few years. According to the most commonly cited research papers, women make about 9% of the total personalities in the field consisting of developers, managers, and investors. In the last six months the number has increased to 13% showing an increasing interest from females in the field.
This huge male dominance has been a cause of concern for most of the women trying to enter the industry. This compared to percentages above 20% in other technological companies in the world shows the field has a long way to go yet on resolving the issue.
Earlier this year, Amber Baldet, who has worked as a blockchain project ‘leader at JP Morgan Chase cryptocurrency wing, held a conference advocating for more women to join her path in the blockchain industry. The meeting in New York provided an opportunity for one of crypto’s strongest women to preach to the women on the advantages cryptocurrencies and blockchain will offer them as they revolutionize the world. The persistent focus on crypto and technological fields as a male dominated industry led to Amber starting her own company, Clovyyr.
The story of Amber triumphing in the cryptocurrency industry is however not the only case as more women take charge in the industry. Some of these alpha females in the industry include Preethi Kasireedy, a software engineer and founder of TruStory, Meltem Demirors, Athena Capital founder and Jen Greyson, the head of Neureal Network.
Amber Baldet
Amber Baldet Giving a speech at JP Morgan Chase
It is only right to start with one of most influential corporate speakers on more women getting recognition for the efforts put in blockchain transformation, Amber Baldet. She was named as one of ‘Coindesk’s most influential personalities’ in 2017 for her efforts in integrating public and private blockchains to ease connectivity with banks.
Baldet’s journey in the field commenced in 2011 after she joined JP Morgan Chase as an employee. During her time she learnt about Bitcoin related projects that interested her. When JP Morgan started the Quorum project back in 2016, Amber was heavily involved in the process as she was well equipped in technology knowledge. She learnt computer science on her own at 11 years old.
“I sit in the middle. I'm a product person that knows about technology. Depending on the community I'm in, I wear different hats,” she said during a meetup with Z-Cash officials at JP Morgan.
Preethi Kasireedy
Preethi Kasireedy
Having worked at Goldman Sachs, Andreessen Horowitz and as a software engineer at different points of her career, Preethi Kasireedy, decided to build a startup, TruStory.
Preethi had to quit her job on one of Sillicon Valley’s largest tech companies and focus on software engineering. The blockchain engineer created TruStory as a blockchain that allows its users to view, post and vote on claims made online. The platform filters the internet for blogs, social media posts, website content, and any other online post which users will vote on the validity of the content. It aims to make the internet a better place to transfer information by making the story true. On a Medium post, “Why I left Silicon Valley”, she talks of the wonders of blockchain and how it changed her mind to leave one of the world’s best technological hub to blockchain engineering.
“Beyond this, what really nudged me was when I realized that the blockchain revolution is global. I’ve spent the past year doing research and development in blockchain technologies, and noticed that many cities outside of the valley. For once, I noticed that Silicon Valley isn’t the center of it.” – Preethi on Medium (@Preethi Kasireddy)
Meltem Demirors
Meltem Demirors on SlidesLive
A leader in her field, Meltem Demirors has for the last few years been on the map of most influential persons in the field. Currently, she is the Chief Strategy Officer and Head of CS Treasury at CoinShares, a company focusing on crypto investments and market research on cryptocurrency related products. She has gone on to start Athena Capital, an independent investment advisor and wealth management firm for high-net-worth individuals and families and institutional investors.
She also writes a blog on Medium, The Future Collective, which empowers women in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space. The future is female.
Conclusion
The women in power above show the continued possibility of women participation in the world of blockchain and related cryptocurrencies. Hailing these leaders more is tapped as the easiest way to increase overall interest in the field.
“This is *exactly* what I tell journalists every time they ask me to be quoted in an article about “women in crypto”. Stop marginalizing and write about the awesome work that women are doing.” – Elizabeth Stark (@starkness)
With these big personalities continuing to hit the screens, we hope to see the participation of women increase in the field.
Similar to Notcoin - Blum - Airdrops In 2024