6 Women Leaders Shaping The Future

According to the WomenTech Network research, only one-third of American employees in STEM companies are women. Less than 10 percent of women hold positions like CIO, CTO, or IT manager, or serve as technical team leaders.

These six women are shattering the glass ceiling: Kate Hancock, Jillian Godsil, Lisa Loud, Maria Cho, Lee Lin Liew, and Shivvy Jervis. All are founders of influential tech companies in the blockchain, crypto, Web3 and AI spaces.

Kate Hancock, Global AI Council

Kate Hancock is the founder of the Global AI Council, a nonprofit organization that leads efforts to foster innovation, collaboration, and ethical practices in artificial intelligence. The Global AI Council brings together industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to address critical challenges and explore new opportunities in tech while providing free education for all.

“From a young age, I was fascinated by technology and its potential to revolutionize the world,” Hancock said in an exclusive interview with me. “I started using AI in business back in 2012 to help streamline e-commerce sales. I was speaking last year in Nigeria at a tech conference, and I saw how much excitement they had for AI. I realized I needed to help others learn the correct skills and bring the right people together.”

The greatest challenges Hancock faces are ethical in nature. “We know many jobs may be lost and people may turn AI tools into negative and biased ones,” she says. But she also sees the positive impact of AI solutions across healthcare, sustainability and other industries. “Knowing that my work contributes to creating a better, more equitable world provides a deep sense of purpose and motivation.”

If you’re looking to tap into your life purpose, Hancock advises embracing your curiosity. “Pursue interests and passions with enthusiasm, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone,” she counsels. “Also, it’s essential to stay resilient and adaptable. The path to finding your purpose may not be linear, and setbacks are a natural part of the journey. Learn from each experience, and use those lessons to guide your next steps. Lastly, always stay true to your values and be authentic in your pursuits.”

Jillian Godsil, Blockleaders.io

Jillian Godsil is the cofounder and editor of Blockleaders.io, a news and media brand dedicated to Web3 projects and leaders. She founded Blockleaders in 2018 upon first entering the world of Web3, blockchain and crypto sector, only to discover a lack of quality journalism within the sector. In addition, Godsil serves as an advisor for Satz, an organization that aims to make Bitcoin more useful.

“It has been my greatest joy to be a journalist, broadcaster, chair and author in Web3,” Godsil said in an exclusive interview with me. “It has given me access to the most amazing people, projects and ideas within a fast moving, ever changing setting. There is magic in this sector.”

Prior to founding Blockleaders, Godsil went through a rough period. She got divorced at the same time that a recession hit Ireland in the 2010s. “I swirled in a downward trajectory of business collapse, relationship breakdown, home repossession and total devastation,” she says.

The experience showed her that banks hold “a despicable narrative saying people are gaming the system,” Godsil says. She became “an accidental activist, saying wherever I could that while financial failure was painful, it was not a crime.” When she learned that she would not be allowed to run for public office due to having declared bankruptcy, she even took the Irish Government to court and succeeded in changing the law.

Although Godsil finds it challenging to be an entrepreneur, regardless of sector, she loves her current work sharing what she has learned about Web3 and blockchain with other people. “Web3 rethinks the world and disrupts many traditional practices, including finance, supply chain, energy, education and more. Also, people in Web3 want to make the world a better place,” she says.

To young people, Godsil offers this advice. “Do your passion. Mine is writing and it has led me on a wonderful, diverse and rewarding career with many ups and downs. Writing makes me happy, writing about Web3 makes me even happier. I work very hard in my job but I love it — and that is very sweet. So, find your passion!”

Lisa Loud, Secret Network Foundation

Lisa Loud works at the forefront of confidential computing technologies. A former employee at Apple and PayPal, she has emerged as a force for innovation in decentralized finance (DeFi) and Web3. Following a stint as COO of ShapeShift, she founded a digital asset management company, Fluidefi, which provides the first auditable DeFi data to Google, the Canadian RCMP, and Ernst & Young.

Then, in 2023, Loud took the helm as executive director of the Secret Network Foundation in order to further the utility of blockchain and empower innovation within the FinTech space. Through encrypted data computation, Secret allows data to be processed while safeguarding privacy and enabling new fintech capabilities.

“I was bullied in elementary school and didn’t fit in throughout high school,” Loud said in an exclusive interview with me. “Somewhere along the way, I decided to become a strong personality in the world. I ran into unsupportive managers, an industry biased against me, preconceived notions about women’s capabilities, and unscrupulous coworkers. Each experience taught me something, strengthened my resolve and fine-tuned my strategic abilities. The greatest challenge was changing my view of myself so that it didn’t depend on outside validation from my peers.”

Loud says that there are no words to describe the sense of fulfillment that comes from knowing you are doing the work you were made to do, especially if you had to overcome serious challenges to get there. “I could not possibly be more grateful to have a voice that can speak for women, for people on the fringes, and for those whose rights are overruled in power wars over control of finances and the flow of money,” she emphasizes.

To those looking to go in a new direction with their careers, Loud recommends finding a coach who understands and motivates you. Also, remember that “anything you admire in someone else, whether they are a leader in your company or a friend who seems to have a magic gift, is something you can aspire to yourself. If you can see it in someone else, you can be it yourself.”

Maria Cho, Triplebar

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

Cho grew up wanting to be a medical doctor. But as she was about to enter medical school, she realized she could make an impact in human health by focusing on the drug development process. She spent a large portion of her career testing and developing new therapeutics drugs. Next, she got together with a cofounder to invent a microbiome editing technology for the skin.

Triplebar Bio has a proprietary hyper-throughput screening system (HyTS), which Cho describes as “the biological equivalent of a microprocessor.” It enables rapid, microscopic analysis of single cells, proteins, antibodies, and virtually any biological entity, thereby accelerating the development of solutions for human health and nutrition.

“Being a woman executive is hard. If anyone tells you otherwise, they are in denial,” Cho states. She advises young women to seek wisdom and counsel from people that inspire you. “Don’t take no for an answer. Be committed to solving hard problems. Often, your dreams will feel too hard to achieve in the moment. Pull that inner strength through to everything you do. This is the moment when you grow the most. Strength builds through adversity.”

Lee Lin Liew, DogLibre

Founder of DogLibre Lee Lin Liew is a seasoned technologist and growth strategist with extensive experience in the blockchain and startup ecosystems. She has played a critical role in launching two successful multi-billion dollar Web3 startups, and has driven growth for several blockchain applications, including Decentraland. She also mentors at R3 and Outliers Venture Capital.

With DogLibre, Liew has married her technical expertise with her deep passion for animal rights. DogLibre harnesses blockchain technology and crypto economics to ensure a safer future for animals by improving the lives of stray and pet dogs worldwide.

“The inspiration behind DogLibre is deeply personal to me,” said Liew in an exclusive interview with me. “During my childhood, I witnessed stray dogs being struck by cars on a busy road while waiting for my school bus. It was a sight that deeply impacted me.”

During and after the Covid pandemic, shelters struggled to survive and feed their animals. The plight of stray dogs became even more dire. This motivated Liew to found DogLibre. While she finds it challenging to navigate the fast-paced and ever-evolving landscape of technology and blockchain, Liew finds immense satisfaction in knowing that her work makes a positive impact on society. “When your career aligns with your values and passions, you perform better, and the benefits extend to the community as a whole,” she says.

Young people can tap into their life purpose by reflecting on their passions and values, seeking advice from mentors, and observing the world around them, Liew advises. “It’s essential to stay curious, ask questions, and be open to new experiences. Get out of your comfort zone and don’t be afraid of making mistakes, as they are essential for learning and growth.”

Shivvy Jervis, Futurist

Shivvy Jervis is an innovation futurist or forecaster who identifies, writes and speaks about the most sustainable and useful digital technology tools to help people and their businesses thrive. “One week I could be doing the opening keynote talk for 1,500 people, and the next I’ll be knee-deep in fascinating research about sustainable innovations or meeting founders, engineers or inventors,” Jervis said in an exclusive interview with me.

“There’s a large focus on human-centered AI,” Jervis explains. “My criteria is always: Does this technology keep people in the equation?” She loves her work identifying those inventions that most help people with their money, health, travel, learning and education, and then sharing this news through storytelling with as many people as possible.

Jervis, who hails from Bangalore, India, has risen to the top, becoming Europe’s most in-demand female keynote speaker. Along the way, she has faced numerous challenges being one of the few women in the space, often the youngest in the room, and as well an immigrant of Indian origin. But she loves “being able to put in the time and energy to help people by sifting through thousands of apps, online platforms, gadgets and new approaches that have the potential to meaningfully impact your everyday life.”

“Find what lights your fire and pursue every possible avenue to learn about it,” Jervis advises. “Don’t skip steps. Patience really does pay dividends! Second, remain self-assured. You are the greatest advocate for yourself. Finally, it’s easy to forget how incredible each of us are. Remember how unique you are when you’re trying a new career or starting out. You don’t need to be the same as others to do well.”