In the rapidly evolving world of technology, Web3 has emerged as a transformative force, revolutionising various industries and opening up new opportunities for professionals worldwide. As the Head of Web3 Marketing for CUDOS, a decentralised cloud computing network powering Web3 applications, I have witnessed the potential this emerging field holds for women. From my experience, I strongly believe women shouldn’t hesitate to pursue a career in this technology of the future.

Whilst Web 2.0 is about creating content and interacting with websites, Web3 means immersing yourself in the digital experience, control of personal data, cryptocurrency, and decentralised record keeping on the blockchain. Web3 relies on cryptocurrencies and a decentralised finance model. As part of the decentralisation objective, it shifts control from centralised companies or governments to users – essentially creating more access to the web for all.

Breaking Barriers: Debunking the Male-Dominated Image

While the tech industry has existed long enough to not be perceived as a purely male-dominated realm, with various “anti-gender discrimination practices” in place, Web3 is different. Being a niche industry, built mostly by males with a certain bad reputation of being crowded with “crypto bros”, it often discourages women to seek a career in the industry. I personally went down the crypto rabbit hole following my best friend, who promised me that it was “crazy but never boring, and will change my life” – so it happened. Once you start working in Web3, there is no desire to go back.

Whilst the spaces women have found themselves in within Web3 have proven to be ubiquitous, a disparity across genders still exists. A large reason for that is knowledge in Web3 and how to use it, accompanied by a fear of it being too complicated. Fortunately, Web3 is still in its infancy so female-founded mentoring organisations, like WomanRise, EveryRealm, Meta Angels, World of Women and BFF are majorly contributing in building inclusiveness by making it accessible and less daunting for crypto-curious women.

Women often face financial barriers to economic freedom, therefore, the increased use of digital assets can improve gender inclusion in the financial sector. Enabling greater access to financial opportunities and allowing them to invest in emerging technologies without relying on anyone else. A UK survey revealed 35% of crypto owners are women, while 48% say they will buy cryptocurrency in the future.

Web3 is allowing us to address the challenges faced by women and other groups in society in the digital realm through the use of AI to combat gender bias to lessen the inequalities women face online. Also, with AI, the more data input into these systems, the more representative these systems can be. aired with the decentralised nature of it, women would also have greater autonomy of their identities and data.

Examples of women owning the space:

As I ventured into the world of Web3, I was pleasantly surprised by some great educational resources tailored to both newcomers and seasoned professionals. I highly recommend the book “The Bitcoin Standard” for anyone eager to start their journey in blockchain—the foundational technology behind Web3. It talks about the history of money, how it was developed over the course of history and how bitcoin became an inevitable tool in attempting to take back some control from the government to society. The industry is interested in wider adoption of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology so it’s a great educational tool.

The industry is constantly evolving, with new projects and technologies emerging. It presents endless possibilities for career progression and innovation. A dynamic environment celebrating diverse perspectives, providing unparalleled opportunity for women to actively shape the future of technology and its applications.

Inspiring women in this space include Randi Zuckerberg and Debbie Soon, co-CEOs and founders of HUG, a platform that supports creators and collectors through its community and growth initiatives. By creating a community and fostering individuality in an inclusive environment, these women have turned the tables on the centralised Web2 model.

Finding Support in the Global Web3 Community

For those entering the Web3 space, finding support is crucial. In my own journey, having my best friend alongside me has been invaluable. A companion who understands the challenges and celebrates the successes creates a strong support system. Additionally, I’ve been fortunate to work in a company like CUDOS, where amazing women make valuable contributions and community-based associations like the CUDOS Foundation – help developers of all backgrounds enter the industry. Furthermore, there are female-centred Web3 communities like the Crypto Girls Club that foster collaboration and solidarity, empowering women in a currently male-dominated industry.

With a background in Economics and Brand Management, I embarked on my marketing career over a decade ago. The turning point came in 2019 when I began consulting for a Web3 project, opening up a world of exciting opportunities. From working with NFT Marketplaces to joining Genius Yield, a Cardano-powered DEX and Accelerator, my experiences have shown me that Web3 marketing is community-centred and promotion-driven, making it a uniquely rewarding space.

As Web3 continues to reshape the tech landscape, it is essential for women not to shy away from this innovative industry. By challenging the male-dominated image, embracing the diverse opportunities, and leveraging the educational resources available, women can thrive in Web3. With the support of an empowering global community, Web3 presents an unprecedented time for women to excel and leave their mark in this transformative tech revolution.

If anyone in the industry wants advice or someone to talk to, you can reach me on LinkedIn.

About the author

As the Head of Web3 Marketing for CUDOS, Emma Mkrtchian is an established expert in Web3 and innovative technology. She has a proven record in shaping effective marketing strategies for notable Web3 startups, including Genius Yield and CNFT.IO. Educated to Masters degree level, her background in Economics and Brand Management drives her expertise in growth marketing, strategy, and content creation. She is leading the way for CUDOS’ growth plans, providing valuable insights into community-focused and promotion-driven marketing approaches.

31octAll Day01novWomen in Tech Festival 2023

01novAll Day02Bletchley Park to Host AI Safety Summit | Bletchley Park

Event Details

Iconic Bletchley Park to host UK AI Safety Summit in early November

Release issued by: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP, The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, and The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP

Published 24 August 2023

UK to host world first summit on artificial intelligence safety in November
Talks will explore and build consensus on rapid, international action to guarantee safety and security at the frontier of AI technology
Bletchley Park, one of the birthplaces of computer science, to host the summit

International governments, leading AI companies and experts in research will unite for crucial talks in November on the safe development and use of frontier AI technology, as the UK Government announces Bletchley Park as the location for the UK summit.

The major global event will take place on the 1st and 2nd November to consider the risks of AI, especially at the frontier of development, and discuss how they can be mitigated through internationally coordinated action. Frontier AI models hold enormous potential to power economic growth, drive scientific progress and wider public benefits, while also posing potential safety risks if not developed responsibly.

To be hosted at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire, a significant location in the history of computer science development and once the home of British Enigma codebreaking – it will see coordinated action to agree a set of rapid, targeted measures for furthering safety in global AI use.

Preparations for the summit are already in full flow, with Matt Clifford and Jonathan Black recently appointed as the Prime Minister’s Representatives. Together they’ll spearhead talks and negotiations, as they rally leading AI nations and experts over the next three months to ensure the summit provides a platform for countries to work together on further developing a shared approach to agree the safety measures needed to mitigate the risks of AI.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

“The UK has long been home to the transformative technologies of the future, so there is no better place to host the first ever global AI safety summit than at Bletchley Park this November.

“To fully embrace the extraordinary opportunities of artificial intelligence, we must grip and tackle the risks to ensure it develops safely in the years ahead.

“With the combined strength of our international partners, thriving AI industry and expert academic community, we can secure the rapid international action we need for the safe and responsible development of AI around the world.”

Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

“International collaboration is the cornerstone of our approach to AI regulation, and we want the summit to result in leading nations and experts agreeing on a shared approach to its safe use.

“The UK is consistently recognised as a world leader in AI and we are well placed to lead these discussions. The location of Bletchley Park as the backdrop will reaffirm our historic leadership in overseeing the development of new technologies.

“AI is already improving lives from new innovations in healthcare to supporting efforts to tackle climate change, and November’s summit will make sure we can all realise the technology’s huge benefits safely and securely for decades to come.”

The summit will also build on ongoing work at international forums including the OECD, Global Partnership on AI, Council of Europe, and the UN and standards-development organisations, as well as the recently agreed G7 Hiroshima AI Process.

The UK boasts strong credentials as a world leader in AI. The technology employs over 50,000 people, directly supports one of the Prime Minister’s five priorities by contributing £3.7 billion to the economy, and is the birthplace of leading AI companies such as Google DeepMind. It has also invested more on AI safety research than any other nation, backing the creation of the Foundation Model Taskforce with an initial £100 million.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

“No country will be untouched by AI, and no country alone will solve the challenges posed by this technology. In our interconnected world, we must have an international approach.

“The origins of modern AI can be traced back to Bletchley Park. Now, it will also be home to the global effort to shape the responsible use of AI.”

Bletchley Park’s role in hosting the summit reflects the UK’s proud tradition of being at the frontier of new technology advancements. Since Alan Turing’s celebrated work some eight decades ago, computing and computer science have become fundamental pillars of life both in the UK and across the globe.

Iain Standen, CEO of the Bletchley Park Trust, said:

“Bletchley Park Trust is immensely privileged to have been chosen as the venue for the first major international summit on AI safety this November, and we look forward to welcoming the world to our historic site.

“It is fitting that the very spot where leading minds harnessed emerging technologies to influence the successful outcome of World War Two will, once again, be the crucible for international co-ordinated action.

“We are incredibly excited to be providing the stage for discussions on global safety standards, which will help everyone manage and monitor the risks of artificial intelligence”.

The roots of AI can be traced back to the leading minds who worked at Bletchley during the Second World War, with codebreakers Jack Good and Donald Michie among those who went on to write extensive works on the technology. In November, it will once again take centre stage as the international community comes together to agree on important guardrails which ensure the opportunities of AI can be realised, and its risks safely managed.

The announcement follows the UK Government allocating £13 million to revolutionise healthcare research through AI, unveiled last week. The funding supports a raft of new projects including transformations to brain tumour surgeries, new approaches to treating chronic nerve pain, and a system to predict a patient’s risk of developing future health problems based on existing conditions.

To be able to host this event of global importance, Bletchley Park will be closed to the public from Saturday 28 October to Friday 3 November 2023 inclusive.

Local residents who will be affected by the AI Safety Summit taking place at Bletchley Park in early November will be contacted directly by Thames Valley Police with further information.

Milton Keynes City Council will be working closely with Thames Valley Police on the details of the impact of the event for Bletchley and the wider MK area, and will be issuing further details regarding road closures from 21 September 2023.

All those whose pre-booked visit falls within the period of closure will be contacted. If your booking was through a partner organisation and not directly with Bletchley Park, please contact them for information. For all other enquiries relating to visits please contact our Bookings team at [email protected]

For any media enquiries about the planned event please contact Rebecca Foy, Bletchley Park’s Director of Public Engagement, at [email protected]

Read more here.

Time

november 1 (Wednesday) - 2 (Thursday)

Location

The Mansion, Bletchley Park,

Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK3 6EB

Calendar GoogleCal

01novAll Day02Manchester Tech Festival

06nov(nov 6)9:00 AM07(nov 7)3:30 PMClimate Tech Summit 2023

08nov6:00 PM7:30 PMLessons from Leading Women Tech Entrepreneurs - WiTT