We're excited to unveil the winners of the 2023 Rising Women in Crypto Power List, done in collaboration with The Cryptonomist!
After a careful selection process, a panel of six experienced judges from the crypto industry had the tough job of choosing the standouts. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Amelia Tomasicchio, Ani Petrova, Diana Carrasco-Vime, Eleonora Rocca, George Coxon and Georgia Hanias for their dedication and expertise in choosing the winners based on their impressive achievements, potential, influence, ambition, leadership skills, and innovative contributions.
So, let's give it up for the 2023 Rising Women in Crypto Power List winners (listed alphabetically):
Amna Usman Chaudhry, MENA Lead at Climate Chain Coalition
Amna, a dedicated advocate for the transformative power of emerging technologies to create a better world, has been actively involved in the blockchain space since its early stages. A proud member of the inaugural cohort of the Oxford Blockchain Strategy Program at the University of Oxford, this experience ignited her passion for blockchain and its immense potential. Since the inception of her passion for blockchain, Amna has been actively engaged in various tech-for-good initiatives, co-founding projects such as BlockClean, which focuses on reducing plastic pollution through tokenisation since 2018. As a founding member of the Oxford Blockchain Foundation, she contributes to a vibrant global network, serving as a think tank and startup incubator/accelerator.
Audrey Akwenye, Co-Founder of Black@
Audrey started her career transition from educator to software engineer back in 2017. At the time, it felt like a sudden shift from one world to another. However, in hindsight, her journey reveals itself as various expressions of the same profound desire to learn, educate, and expand access. With the official launch of her accelerator, Audrey aspires to assist other diverse founders in building tech companies that can scale and make a meaningful impact. Leading the way is Black@, the first token-gated all-Black digital community boasting over 250 members, serving as a digital third space for Black creators, founders, and funders.
Belinda Lim, Head of Partnerships SG at The Sandbox
Belinda is the CEO and Co-founder of Embolden Ventures, which aims to empower and support women entrepreneurs in building successful, innovative companies that make a positive impact on the world. She also is the lead of the SG chapter of Women in Blockchain Asia (WIBA) - a non-profit organization with the vision to create an inclusive economy with women in Asia as leaders in the blockchain industry. It aims to inspire more female participation in blockchain-based causes and empower women with knowledge, skills, tools, and resources. It is also a platform to shape an inclusive future and a collaborative ecosystem of women supporting women. She's also an author, speaker and Head of Partnerships SG for The Sandbox, a leading metaverse company. Prior to The Sandbox, she raised USD$2M for her blockchain wallet startup from top VCs such as Outlier Ventures, Kakao Games (Bora Network) etc.
Bridget Greenwood, Founder of The Bigger Pie, Co-founder of 200Bn Club
Bridget is an accomplished and dynamic leader in the realm of web3. As the founder of The Bigger Pie, an organization dedicated to supporting outstanding women in fintech and web3, and co-founder of The 200Bn Club, she actively addresses the funding gap for female and underrepresented founders. Bridget brings a data-driven and holistic approach to her work, a methodology that has played a pivotal role in the success of her endeavors. Under her leadership, The Bigger Pie has expanded its reach to support a global network of over 10,000 women and has facilitated the growth of multiple other women-focused communities.
Caterina Ferrara, Senior Blockchain Consultant & Analyst ay AlmavivA
Caterina has successfully established herself as a prominent figure and leader in the cryptocurrency industry, earning a nomination as a "LinkedIn Top Voice" that stands as a testament to her authority and influence in the field. Her commitment to social causes is exemplified by her role as a testimonial in the cryptocurrency fundraising campaign for the Umberto Veronesi Foundation, a renowned Italian cancer research organization. This underscores her dedication to leveraging cryptocurrencies for charitable and humanitarian purposes, showcasing a commitment to responsible leadership.
Caterina, who won the Rising Women in Crypto Power List in 2021, has now clinched the award again in 2023, making her the first woman to achieve this twice!
Charmaine Short, Operational Test Manager at Fnality International
Charmaine is a cryptocurrency enthusiast since 2019. In 2020, she volunteered to co-found a DAO called Women of Crypto Art. Provided education to onboard artists and collectors to blockchain and promote women’s NFT art. Published many articles on Medium under pseudonym Etta Tottie, including a white paper on building diversity and inclusivity in web3 applications. Member of NFT Design Awards judging panel. On the list of Crypto Hotshots of 2022 as one of the top 100 personalities who made noticeable contributions to the blockchain and crypto space. In 2022, she founded web3 consultancy Ettaverse, to provide leadership, vision and education to onboard organisations to blockchain technology and build successful DeFi projects.
Lianna Adams, Founder of Impactful Artistry, Web3 advocate
Lianna is a dedicated advocate for creating a humanity-first culture within communities, with a focus on arts, culture, technology and social impact. With over 18,000 hours of speaking experience, she has shared valuable insights and knowledge with numerous communities about the potential of Web3 technologies, mental health and social impact. As an advisor to ARTXV, a neurodivergent collective in the web3 space, Lianna contributes her expertise to empower and support diverse voices within the community. She is also a member of Top Tier Impact Network, an organization that recognises leaders who drive positive change in their communities after having served as the Vice President and Curation Lead for The Dream Conduit, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that helps creatives enter the web3 space, fostering innovation and inclusivity. Recognising the importance of mental health, Lianna actively advocates for mental well-being and hosts weekly rooms and guided meditation sessions in the Web3 space.
Lori Souza, Co-Founder and COO at MetaFusion
In navigating the realms of Web3, Blockchain, FINTECH, and EdTech, Lori brings a diverse background encompassing Management, Brokerage, Business, Economics, Education, Coaching, Process Engineering, and Technical Support Management. Aligned with FBBA, FIBREE, GBA, NAR, and AAR, Lori actively shapes the industry's future as an Organizer of Women in Crypto and an Advisor to Women in Digital, holding the title of a Certified International Blockchain Advisor. Her consultancy zeroes in on key areas: Financial Future Education, Crypto Payments, Compliance, Money Transmission Licensing, and Crypto Transaction Forensic Reporting. Lori seamlessly bridges the gap between business and technology, guiding companies through the dynamic digital landscape, particularly in EdTech and FinTech. A strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, she champions Women in Crypto, recognizing their pivotal role.
Priya Guliani, CEO of Earth.ID
Priya is a technology and impact entrepreneur and advisor to an impact fund and start-ups utilizing the skills she has gained over the years and giving it back to community. In response to the world succumbing to the global pandemic, losing lives and livelihoods, battering all segments of the economy, Priya formed and leads the Sustainable Environmental Stewardship, working group within the Government Blockchain Association (GBA). The group’s mission is to help public and private organizations, both big and small, from start-ups to multinational corporations, create Sustainable, Attainable, and Maintainable solutions to combat climate change. She is focused on diversity initiatives and promoting young girls to embrace careers in technology as well as explore entrepreneurship.
Yaliwe Soko, Chairperson at United Africa Blockchain Association
Globally recognized as a prominent speaker in the Web 3 space, Yaliwe is a driving force behind the "1 million For Blockchain in Africa (1MB)" program, where she and the UABA team aim to raise awareness of blockchain technology among a million people in Africa. Under her leadership, UABA has established chapters in nine African countries, including Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Togo, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Yaliwe's impact extends to bringing venture capital to emerging African tech start-ups through the UABA Start-up Initiative, and she led the inaugural Blockchain for Social Good Pilot Project in Zambia last year. Through her efforts, UABA achieved formal society status at the University of Zambia, and Yaliwe has played a crucial role in educating African governments on the significance of implementing blockchain in the public sector.
Social Media Influencer of the Year - Randi Zuckerberg, CEO and Founder of HUG
Randi Zuckerberg's passions in life is helping more women get ahead in business, investing, web3, entrepreneurship and life. It is her life mission in this next chapter of her career to helping hold the door open for creators, artists and entrepreneurs. As a Harvard graduate and early employee at Facebook, she helped shape Web 2.0 technology for billions of people worldwide. She also performed on Broadway in Rock of Ages, won three Tony awards for producing Hadestown, Oklahoma!, and The Inhertitance, and produced the first-ever simulcast run of a commercial Broadway show during the height of COVID. Now in Web3, she's bringing her two loves together. Randi is one of the most prominent voices for women in the NFT space and is passionate about uplifting creators — that's why she founded HUG! She now gets to work with 50+ of the top emerging Web3 creators through HUG Studios programs. She is also the Host of the Crypto Cafe podcast & RZMB on SiriusXM Business.
Compliance Leader of the Year - Natalia Latka, Crypto Compliance Regulatory Advisor at Merkle Science
Natalia, as a female Compliance Advisor in the cryptocurrency industry, has made a significant impact on the field. Her presence is not just a symbol of diversity and inclusion, but a testament to her expertise and dedication to ensuring that the crypto space adheres to regulatory standards. Furthermore, Natalia has been instrumental in educating both industry professionals and the public about the importance of compliance in the crypto world. Through webinars, conferences, and informative articles, she has raised awareness about the risks associated with non-compliance and the benefits of a well-regulated market.
Big congratulations to all the winners once again! Even though this campaign is wrapping up, the conversation doesn't stop here!
Join the Rising Women in Crypto Community on LinkedIn and be part of ongoing discussions and initiatives shaping the future of the crypto space.