#6 Crypto Coffee — Women in tech: what does the future look like?
The January edition of Crypto Coffee was all about women in tech, an issue that is as vital as it is fraught, so we couldn’t be happier with the enlightening and deep conversations that resulted from this initiative. Sanja Kon (@SanjaKon), our VP of global partnerships, represented Utrust and we were delighted to have Kristina Lucrezia Cornèr (@KristinaLCorner), the head of features for Cointelegraph, and Marta Piekarska (@mpiekarska8), the director of ecosystem at Hyperledger join her.
Before we get started on this written recap, I encourage you to follow Utrust on Twitter (@Utrust), if you haven’t already, so you can keep up with all of our activity and follow future #CryptoCoffee editions live as they happen.
Now let’s get into it:
#cryptocoffee Q1: Our contributors’ colorful backgrounds
Q1: Where are you typing from at the moment? Also, please tell our followers a little bit about what you do. #cryptocoffee
— @UTRUST
The first question helps place everyone, so you know who our guests are and what they are up to. We are fortunate to host some really impressive professionals on these exchanges, and it’s always good to know they too sometimes work with a cat on their lap.
@UTRUST Hi everybody, I am currently in my Italian home office with a cat on my lap(top). I am head of features at @Cointelegraph. Working with people from all over the world and translating their cultures (incl. tech) to others - that's what fascinates me every day of my life.
@UTRUST Hello everyone, I'm currently typing from Braga, Portugal, from the #Utrust office. My role is VP of partnerships at Utrust, where I take care of growing our collaborations with Retailers, Merchants, Merchant Enablers and Technical/ Service Partners.
@UTRUST Hey! I'm in a lovely Cambridge Cafe called Toms Cake. I am Director of Ecosystem at @Hyperledger and help our members and the community in collaboration, case study analysis and networking.
#cryptocoffee Q2: How they got into Blockchain & Crypto
Q2: When did your interest & start begin with this new tech? #cryptocoffee
— @UTRUST
It’s always interesting to find out the stories of how our contributors got into this technology. It is, after all, relatively new, so not a lot of top professionals in the area got into tech thinking about blockchain. It’s just something that happens, and the stories are different for everyone. Marta got a PhD in computer security and privacy, so it’s no surprise she found her home in blockchain. Sanja worked in traditional ecommerce and fintech for a decade and Kristina has had a strong focus on innovation for her whole career. Three completely different paths.
@UTRUST I started in 2015 with Blockstream and then moved on to Hyperledger in 2017. Seems like I've done nothing but Blockchain! But my first love, and field of my PhD was computer security and privacy
@UTRUST I worked in other innovative sectors (energy efficiency, urbanism, IT) before discovering crypto in September 2017. During my first months with Cointelegraph, BTC jumped from $2K to $20K, that was really exciting to follow .
@UTRUST I joined the #blockchain space in September 2018, after spending more than a decade in traditional #ecommerce and #fintech (@VodafoneIT, @eBay_UK and @paypal).
#cryptocoffee Q3: Some strong references for women in tech
Q3: Let's talk about the women in tech that you admire. Mention or tag 3 women who are great examples of #leadership, and are leading their respective fields! #cryptocoffee
— @UTRUST
When asked about their references, we get to see some different perspectives. Sanja brings up some household names, like Sheryl Sandberg and Susan Wojcicki, who are leaders not only in the tech world, but in the business world at large, helming some of the world’s largest corporations. Kristina highlights women who have done great things this very year of 2019, like Kelly Loeffler, who has become a senator after leading Bakkt. Marta is less keen on picking people as references, but she does bring up Ada Lovelace, which is a more than welcome reminder that women in tech is not a new thing.
@UTRUST @SusanWojcicki, Youtube's CEO is a great example in this field, having 5 children! She often speaks publicly about topics such as balancing career and personal life. (3/3)
@UTRUST Kelly Loeffler @kloeffler, former Bakkt CEO - She ensured a smooth start for the digital assets platform and managed to pursue a political career, becoming a U.S. senator by the end of the year. 💪
@UTRUST That's a good question. I don't quite distinguish between genders and do not have many heroes. I am inspired by people who have strong motivation, are humble and want to make an impact.
#cryptocoffee Q4: The true impact of sexism in blockchain
Q4: Be honest: do you feel that there is still sexism in the #blockchain field? Have you encountered any? #cryptocoffee
— @UTRUST
Question 4 brings up one of the most important issues facing women in the workplace: sexism. All our guests seem to be on the same page about one thing, claiming that blockchain as a field is no different from other fields with regards to sexism. They also agree that whenever sexism manifests, it must be confronted immediately and assuredly. Fear of repercussions is the reason sometimes this doesn’t happen, but all three are in agreement that this is a necessity. There is a sense, however, that despite having experienced it, none of our guests have been deterred by sexism in their careers, which is to be celebrated.
@UTRUST I have experienced sexism and discrimination when I've started my career in Vodafone, and that was a useful experience for me as it allowed me to learn how to cope with sexism and any form of discrimination. (2/4)
@UTRUST The one thing I cannot accept, however, is using good looking female employees to staff booths at trade shows. That's just yuck.(2)
@UTRUST @SanjaKon I recommend every woman read an article by Anne-Marie Slaughter, the first woman to hold the position of U.S. Director of Policy Planning. She is talking here about the differences women and men encounter in their prof life. "Why Women Still Can't Have It All," in The Atlantic
And the article she recommends is here: http://bit.ly/2uk8wTw
@UTRUST Nope, I doubt there was widespread sexism in the first place as well. All of the companies I have come into contact with seem to want to be as productive as they can, and you don't get results by engaging in sexism. Now outside of US maybe it's more of an issue.
#cryptocoffee Q5: Checking the stats on women’s engagement in Blockchain
Q5: In May 2018, this article from @Cointelegraph (https://t.co/qtcqjuoO7T) says only 5% of engagement in #crypto is by women. Do you think this has improved? Are we moving forward? #cryptocoffee
— @UTRUST
Question number five brings up another important point: why are women so disengaged from blockchain technology? Are we moving forward? We have some very interesting and diverging answers. While Kristina seems to think there’s a natural risk aversion that dissuades women from investing in the adventure that crypto still is, Marta seems to think things are looking better, with more female speakers and fewer “booth babes”. Sanja, however, seems to believe the stats can be interpreted differently. She provides some really encouraging numbers.
@UTRUST @Cointelegraph There is still stigma around girls doing well in science, but I think it's slowly going away. Being smart becomes sexy.
@UTRUST @Cointelegraph A 2019 investor study from @grayscaleinvest, indicates women have a healthy interest in #Bitcoin as well - 43% of respondents who expressed interest in Bitcoin were female. https://t.co/NrwEwgrUh4 (2/4)
#cryptocoffee Q6: Strategies to effect change
Q6: Recently in an interview with @karaswisher at @Recode, @reshmasaujani mentioned "...You have to start a company out with a diverse team and build a culture where, actually, you want to have diverse talent". Can change happen within established companies? #cryptocoffee
— @UTRUST
This question opposes so-called “startup culture” to the corporate structure of established companies. Where is it easier to effect change? Kristina seems to believe the security and knowledge that comes with working with the same people for years is good to promote change. But everyone agrees that with the right leadership, diversity can happen anywhere.
@UTRUST @karaswisher @Recode @reshmasaujani I personally think changes can happen, rather, within established companies. It is not a coincidence that the largest successes were seen by companies that went forward for years with the same team.
@UTRUST @karaswisher @Recode @reshmasaujani Absolutely. If there is a culture of change and innovation in a company, it will happen. The leadership, dynamics between teams and vision can encourage or shut down any innovation. (1/2)
#cryptocoffee Q7: How to help women be successful
Q7: Speaking of empowering younger women, @KweilinE from @McKinsey wrote an excellent article detailing how Girls and Women are underrepresented in computer science. What do you think companies can do to change this? #cryptocoffee The article: https://t.co/An6uIiE3DX
— @UTRUST
So, what can be done? How can we improve parity, and make sure women thrive as successfully as men in tech? Sanja puts the focus on corporate culture. She feels like there needs to be active policies in place by the companies themselves. Marta and Kristina emphasize education more, and want more competent, skilled women entering the job market.
@UTRUST @KweilinE @McKinsey If every company was focusing on having a policy on diversity and inclusion, and actually implementing it across all the organisational roles, the current scenario would drastically improve. (1/2)
@UTRUST @KweilinE @McKinsey It is about the general culture and upbringing. Even if we introduce a quota on female employees in tech, if we do not have enough well educated girls, the pool of people to choose from won't be big enough.
@UTRUST @KweilinE @McKinsey I think we lack educational support and incentives to develop computer skills at the early stages of life decision-making.
#cryptocoffee Q8: The roadblocks that women have to face
Q8: What needs to be changed to empower more #women to become involved in the field of #blockchain? As a woman in this industry, what do you believe are the major barriers? #cryptocoffee
— @UTRUST
We want more women in tech, and we want more women in blockchain specifically. It’s an area in which empowerment and independence are ingrained from the get-go, so it only makes sense. What can be done about this? Marta makes an excellent point about language. English is a necessity, and a lot of careers are hindered by not speaking it fluently. Education is the focus for all three of our hosts, and the promotion of positive role models is also seen as very important.
@UTRUST I was brought up bilingual, so it's much easier for me, though I, too, sometimes struggle. Travelling around the world I meet many smart people whose carrier is stuck because they are not fluent in English. You don't often hear language being brought up as part of diversity.
@UTRUST @Cointelegraph And of course different people have different points of reference and backgrounds. Women as anyone else deserve to have information prepared for them and see cases that are inspiring to them.
#cryptocoffee Q9: Some awesome advice from our contributors
Q9: Scenario: I'm a woman looking to start a career in the tech industry. Tell us: what are the most important pieces of advice you have for me? #cryptocoffee
— @UTRUST
Huge consensus here, when asked for advice. Speak up. Ask questions and learn. Follow your passions. Words to live by, indeed, and quite inspiring.
@UTRUST Believe in yourself, be bulimic for information, meet people who inspire you, speak up your ideas, don't be afraid to ask, be proud of being a woman.
@UTRUST Learn from everyone, don't be discouraged and find passion. If what you are doing is only because, say, blockchain jobs pay well, but you are actually passionate about system administration - go for an admin job.
@UTRUST 1. Don't be intimidated by the fact that you'll be one of the few women in the room, hold onto your confidence as a professional. (1/3)
#cryptocoffee Q10: Full agreement: the future is bright for women in tech
Q10: From your perspective now, looking forward - what does the future look like for #womenintech? #cryptocoffee
— @UTRUST
The future is always a key aspect in all conversations about tech in general and blockchain in particular, so it was very invigorating to see that all three of our hosts look at the future with hope and positivity. The space for women in tech is growing, and it’s our job, women and men, to make sure this growth continues.
@UTRUST Women occupy their place in the industry, and they won't give it away. It will keep developing. I am happy to tease that several women will be present in the @cointelegraph top 100 list that we are going to reveal very soon.
@UTRUST Achieving equality in tech business requires willpower-from both men and women. I don't believe that the global gender gap will be closed any time soon, but we can for sure all contribute to speed up this process. (1/2)
@UTRUST It is bright. I think that we will see more and more women feeling empowered and willing to put themselves out there. I worry that Blockchain space is becoming a bit quiet, but it will bloom again soon enough.
And that brings us to the end. It was a heartfelt discussion, with valuable and rich insights from all three of our hosts, which definitely bring not just one fresh perspective but several.
This diversity of thought is what inclusiveness brings to the table, and this conversation was a perfect example of why no voices must ever be kept out if we want to build a healthy, growing ecosystem for blockchain and crypto.
#CryptoCoffee 6 is finished, but the conversation never stops. If you have anything to add, any questions or suggestions, feel free to drop us a line, here or on Twitter.
Until then, we say goodbye 👋
#6 Crypto Coffee — Women in tech: what does the future look like? was originally published in UTRUST on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.