Six women leaders shaping the future

According to a study by the WomenTech Network, only one-third of American employees at STEM companies are women, and less than 10% hold roles such as CIO, CTO, IT manager, or lead technical teams.

Six women are shattering the glass ceiling: Kate Hancock, Gillian Godzill, Lisa Loud, Maria Cho, Li Lin Liu and Sivi Jarvis. All are founders of influential technology companies in the fields of blockchain, cryptocurrency, Web3 and AI.

Kate Hancock, Global AI Council

Kate Hancock is the founder of the Global AI Council, a non-profit organization leading the effort to foster innovation, collaboration, and ethical practices in artificial intelligence. The Global AI Council brings together industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to address important challenges, explore new opportunities in the technology, and provide free education to all.

“Ever since I was a young boy, I've been fascinated by technology and its potential to revolutionize the world,” Hancock told me in an exclusive interview. “I started using AI in my business in 2012 to streamline e-commerce sales. When I spoke at a tech conference in Nigeria last year, I saw first-hand how excited people were about AI. I realised I needed to help others gain the right skills and attract the right talent.”

The biggest challenge Hancock faces is ethical in nature. “I know that a lot of jobs will be lost and that people may view AI tools in a negative and biased way,” she says. But she also recognizes the positive impact AI solutions can have across healthcare, sustainability and other industries. “Knowing that my work is contributing to creating a better, more equitable world gives me a deep sense of purpose and motivation.”

If you want to find your purpose in life, Hancock recommends embracing curiosity. “Pursue your interests and passions with fervor and don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone,” she advises. “It's also important to remain tenacious and adaptable. The path to finding your purpose may not be a straight line, and setbacks are a natural part of the journey. Learn from each experience and let those lessons guide your next steps. Finally, always stay true to your values ​​and stay sincere in your pursuits.”

Jillian Gossil, Blockleaders.io

Gillian Godsill is the co-founder and editor of Blockleaders.io, a news and media brand dedicated to Web3 projects and leaders. She first entered the Web3, blockchain and cryptocurrency space in 2018 and founded Blockleaders after noticing a lack of quality journalism in the space. Additionally, Godsill serves as an advisor to Satz, an organization dedicated to improving the usability of Bitcoin.

“It has been my greatest pleasure to be a journalist, announcer, chair and author at Web3,” Godsil told me in an exclusive interview. “It has allowed me to encounter the most incredible people, projects and ideas in a fast-moving and constantly changing environment. There is magic in this field.”

Before founding Blockleaders, Godsill had been going through a tough time – she got divorced at the same time as Ireland's recession hit in the 2010s. “I was going through a downward spiral of business collapse, relationship collapse, house foreclosure and complete ruin,” she says.

The experience taught her that banks had “a sordid story about people gaming the system,” Godsill said. She “became an accidental activist, able to say everywhere that financial ruin is painful, but it's not a crime.” After learning she couldn't run for office because she'd declared bankruptcy, Godsill sued the Irish government and successfully changed the law.

Godsil finds being an entrepreneur in any industry challenging, but she loves her current job of sharing what she's learned about Web3 and blockchain with others. “Web3 is reimagining the world and disrupting many traditional practices, including finance, supply chain, energy, and education, and Web3 people want to make the world a better place,” she says.

Godsil's advice to young people is, “Do something you're passionate about. For me it's writing, which has led me to a fantastic, varied and rewarding career with lots of ups and downs. Writing makes me happy, but writing about Web3 makes me even happier. I work very hard at my job but I love it, and it's a great thing. So, find your passion!”

Lisa Loud, Secret Network Foundation

Lisa Loud is at the forefront of confidential computing technology. A former Apple and PayPal employee, she has emerged as a driving force behind decentralized finance (DeFi) and Web3 innovation. After serving as COO at ShapeShift, she founded digital asset management company Fluidefi, providing the first auditable DeFi data to Google, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Ernst & Young.

In 2023, Laude became executive director of the Secret Network Foundation to further advance blockchain and foster innovation in the fintech sector. Through encrypted data computation, Secret can process data while protecting privacy, enabling new fintech capabilities.

“I was bullied in elementary school and didn't fit in in high school,” Loud told me in an exclusive interview. “Somewhere along the line, I decided to become a person of strong character in this world. I faced unsupportive bosses, industries that were biased against me, preconceived notions about women's capabilities, and unethical coworkers. Each experience taught me something, strengthened my resolve, and sharpened my strategic capabilities. The biggest challenge was changing the way I saw myself and not relying on external validation from my peers.”

Laud says the fulfillment that comes from knowing you're doing the work you should be doing is hard to put into words, especially when you've had to overcome serious obstacles to get there: “I couldn't be more grateful to be able to speak up for women, marginalized people, and those who have been disenfranchised by power struggles over finances and funding,” she emphasizes.

For those looking to take their career in a new direction, Laud recommends finding a coach who understands and motivates you, and adds, “Remember, everything you admire in others, whether it's a leader in your company or a friend who seems to have magical talents, is something you can aspire to in yourself. If you can see it in others, you can see it in yourself.”

Maria Cho, Triple Bar

As CEO of Triplebar, a Series A funded biotech company, Maria Cho is bringing revolutionary technology to human health, nutrition, and biologic cancer treatments. “Leading this company allows me to combine my passion for science and innovation with the opportunity to make a tangible difference in people’s lives,” she told me in an exclusive interview.

Cho knew she wanted to be a doctor since she was a child. But just before entering medical school, she realized she could contribute to people's health by focusing on the drug development process. She spent the majority of her career testing and developing new therapeutics. Then, working with her co-founder, she invented a skin microbiome editing technology.

Triplebar Bio has a proprietary Hyper-Throughput Screening System (HyTS), which Cho describes as “the biological equivalent of a microprocessor.” The system enables rapid microscopic analysis of single cells, proteins, antibodies and virtually any biological entity, accelerating the development of human health and nutrition solutions.

“It's hard to be a female executive, and if someone tells you otherwise, they're in denial,” Cho says. She advises young women to seek wisdom and guidance from those who inspire them. “Never say no, and always try your best to solve difficult problems. Dreams often feel too difficult to achieve in the moment. Use that inner strength in everything you do. This is when you'll grow the most. Strength is developed through adversity.”

Lee Lin Liu, DogLibre

DogLibre Founder Lee Lin Liew is a seasoned technologist and growth strategist with extensive experience in the blockchain and startup ecosystem. She has played a key role in launching two multi-billion dollar Web3 startups and driven the growth of multiple blockchain applications including Decentraland. She also serves as a mentor at R3 and Outliers Venture Capital.

At DogLibre, Liew is combining his technical expertise with his deep passion for animal rights. DogLibre leverages blockchain technology and the crypto economy to improve the lives of stray and owned dogs around the world and ensure a safer future for them.

“The inspiration behind DogLibre is very personal to me,” Liew told me in an exclusive interview. “As a child, while waiting for the school bus, I witnessed a stray dog ​​being hit by a car on a busy road. It was a sight that affected me deeply.”

During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, shelters struggled to survive and feed their animals. The plight of stray dogs became even more acute. This motivated Liew to found DogLibre. Although Liew finds it challenging to navigate the fast-paced and constantly evolving environment of technology and blockchain, she finds great satisfaction in knowing her work is making a positive impact on society. “When your career is aligned with your values ​​and passions, you perform better and the benefits extend to the entire community,” she says.

Young people can find purpose in life by reflecting on their passions and values, seeking advice from mentors and observing the world around them, Liu advises: “Stay curious, ask questions and be open to new experiences. Step out of your comfort zone and don't be afraid to make mistakes – they are an essential part of learning and growth.”

Sivvi Jarvis, Futurist

Sivvi Jarvis is an innovation futurist or forecaster who writes and speaks about identifying the most sustainable and useful digital technology tools that can help people and businesses thrive. “One week I’ll be delivering a keynote speech to an audience of 1,500 people, and the next week I’ll be immersed in fascinating research on sustainable innovation or meeting founders, engineers and inventors,” Jarvis told me in an exclusive interview.

“There's a big focus on human-centric AI,” Jarvis explains. “My criteria is always: does this technology keep humans in the equation?” She loves her job: identifying inventions that will best help people in terms of money, health, travel, learning and education, and then sharing that news with as many people as possible through storytelling.

A native of Bangalore, India, Jarvis has risen to the top as the most sought-after female keynote speaker in Europe. Along the way, she has faced numerous challenges, including being one of the few women in her field, often the youngest, and an Indian immigrant. But she loves being able to “devote her time and energy to helping people by sifting through thousands of apps, online platforms, gadgets, and new approaches that can have a meaningful impact on their daily lives.”

“Find something that ignites your passion and do everything you can to learn about it,” advises Jarvis. “Don't skip steps; perseverance really pays off! Second, stay confident; you are your own biggest advocate. Finally, it's easy to forget how amazing each of us are. As you venture into a new career or start something new, remember how unique you are. You don't have to be like everyone else to do well.”