NEAR Foundation, the Swiss non-profit that supports the governance and development of the NEAR protocol, recently published the final Top Women in Web3 Changemakers 2023 list.
The women were chosen by the public from a shortlist selected from hundreds of applications based on the following judging criteria: inclusion – driving ideas that are good for society and sustainable; influence – making an impact in the Web3 community and among peers; and innovation – contributing to important and necessary projects at work or independently.
The list of award winners highlights the achievements of women in Web3 and the importance of having visible female role models in the ecosystem.
Commenting on the winners, Marieke Flament, CEO of the NEAR Foundation said: “This is a remarkable list of outstanding women who have truly made their mark in a highly competitive and challenging environment, where opportunities are not always accessible to everyone, especially women.”
Despite the potential advantages of this new technology, women face particular difficulties in the Web3 industry. Women have many challenges that can make it more difficult for them to succeed in the decentralized web, from a lack of diversity in the business to gender bias in funding.
The NEAR Foundation’s Women in Web3 Changemakers program is anticipated to increase women’s access to Web3 and secure their involvement in emerging technology.
Marieke Flament added that the Changemakers show that women could forge their path into the ecosystem and create a collective narrative that has the power to break down barriers to entry and make Web3 more inclusive for everyone.
I am extremely honored to be championing this initiative and to spotlight these exceptionally talented women. I am equally grateful for the hundreds of nominations we received from peers and employers who took the time to highlight the many achievements that the global female workforce has made to their organizations. By casting their ballot, the international community has shown that the contributions of women are being noticed and that together we can make a positive difference to the collective good of Web3
Flament added: “It is important that we continue to help one another and maintain a strong, international community that includes both men and women. Together we can inspire one another, become each other’s role models and level the playing field for the next generation of women.”
The women on this year’s 10 Changemakers list, in alphabetical order:
- Emily Rose Dallara, Web3 Leadership Coach, and Podcast Producer
- Bridget Greenwood, Founder, The Bigger Pie
- Janine Grainger, CEO and Cofounder, Easy Crypto AI
- Cathy Hackl, Founder, and Chief Metaverse Officer
- Erica Kang, Founder, and CEO, Krypto Seoul
- Irina Karagyaur, Founder and Director, BQ9
- Veronica Korzh, Cofoudner and CEO, Geekpay
- Zoe Leavitt, Founder, and CEO, Glass
- Alana Podrx, CEO and Founder, Eve Wealth
- Yaliwe Soko, Chair, United Africa Blockchain Association
There is much space for improvement in the representation of women in emerging technologies. We should inspire more women to broaden their horizons in the cryptocurrency industry. If this keeps up, it creates a favorable precedent for the sector, enables it to realize its full potential, and promotes sustained growth.