Q&A with Bridget Greenwood, Founder of The Bigger Pie

We recently caught up with Bridget Greenwood, one of the awesome winners of the Rising Women in Crypto Power List, for a quick Q&A session. Check it out!

Reflecting on your recognition on the Rising Women in Crypto Power List, what's one moment recently that made you go, "Wow, I'm really making a mark in this crypto journey"?

A defining moment in my crypto journey was when The Bigger Pie successfully offered 100 fully sponsored places for the ConsenSys Academy Blockchain Developer Program 2021 with the help of Genevieve Leveille.

From this initiative spun many impactful outcomes, including the story of Sarah, a diligent Zambian student and aspiring web developer, faced a major setback with a broken laptop, impeding her progress in the ConsenSys Academy Blockchain Developer Program, The Bigger Pie community rallied together.

Thirteen women generously contributed to purchase a replacement laptop, overcoming logistical challenges in the process. We were able to further facilitate this support, connecting Sarah with Lena Hierz, who was looking to start mentoring female developers. Through hard work, ongoing mentorship with Lena, and community backing, Sarah not only completed the challenging program but has continued to excel in Web3.

Back in early 2022 Sarah wrote to me saying: “I wanted to thank you for everything, especially for Lena she has been a great help. Also to let you know that I wouldn't have done this without your help... I'll forever be grateful to you, you should know that this boot camp has pushed me beyond what I thought I could ever do, so I'm going to learn every single day, be my best and show you that the laptop didn't go to waste.”

This year with Lena’s continued help she was able to attend the DotSafari in Kenya where her Team won the Hackathon, and she gained acceptance to attend the EthGlobal in Istanbul as a Devconnect scholar.

I’m honoured that we have so many more stories like this, where The Bigger Pie’s community support and incredible members have inspired others to enter and excel in the Web3 space with a lasting impact, and I know our work has inspired many others to build their own communities to support women across the globe in Web 3.

What's one everyday skill you think has been your secret weapon in dealing with the challenges of the crypto world?

The belief in yourself to be creative and innovative in unchartered territories and that your ideas are just as worthy to be pursued as other peoples - this has been essential.

If you weren't involved in crypto, what job or career would you be interested in?

The Bigger Pie is focused on women in crypto & Web3, The200BnClub is sector agnostic regarding the support it gives to female founders. I would continue to strive for talented founders to secure the funding they deserve.

What's one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you first jumped into the crypto space?

Find communities that will help you learn, ask questions, support and lead, who open doors for you. At the time I joined the crypto world there weren’t very many female-focused communities, hence The Bigger Pie. We’ve seen an improvement in women and gender-fluid communities in the space. It’s a question of finding the right one or two that really fit your needs and finding your tribe. Then learning to speak up for yourself and others.

How do you maintain your well-being?

I’ve learned that to maintain my well-being you have to balance professional commitments with personal passions and appropriate downtime. This equilibrium is essential for sustaining energy and creativity in the fast-paced crypto world. This environment is like having to sprint for the duration of a marathon. Your energy needs to be reserved to keep going.

Who/what inspires you?

My co-founder of The200BnClub, Dr Amber Ghaddar  inspires me daily. She and the hundreds of other women I know in the crypto world who really are exemplary, ambitious, talented and visionary, with incredible hearts and generosity in helping newer entrants into the space. OGs like Thessy Mehrain, Veronica Mihai, Jannah Patchay, Helen Disneyl, Emily Rose Dallara, Kelly LeValley Hunt, Gyan Lakshmi, spring to mind immediately, as well as Chrissy Hill, Devina Paul, Sarah Gottwald, Ginette Harvey…..There are so many others I’ve not mentioned.

How do you stay informed and adapt to emerging trends and technologies within the industry?

It can certainly be overwhelming. I focus on the core principles of what decentralisation means, and follow the developments with that lens. It helps cut out the noise and hype of a latest fad that has no substance behind it, while focusing on the important developments that happen over time.

Can you recommend a good read?

Invisible women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men" by Caroline Criado Perez. This groundbreaking book uncovers the hidden bias in data that has proliferated a gender gap. It's an insightful read that aligns with my focus on addressing gender disparities in the tech and financial sectors, particularly in the realm of emerging tech. Now we’ve seen OpenAI has booted off all the women on the board and replace them with Silicon Valley men - it’s even more important that women in crypto and emerging tech step forward.

Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations, both personally and in your contributions to the crypto space?

We have the Web 3 DEIB Playbook in mind, during the latest crypto winter there haven’t been the resources available to really see this come to fruition. It’s my intention that we are ready to take full advantage of the coming bull market to make sure we attract the resources to create, build and maintain this playbook for the industry. So many people across the globe are ready and excited to be part of it. We’d love to hear from anyone who is interested in joining us and getting involved.