Transcript
Angie Lau: Numbers don’t lie. One in three college-educated ladies don’t consider that they’ve equal entry to monetary methods in their very own nation, and 93% of them assume that expertise will have an effect on finance within the subsequent decade. So there’s an enormous disconnect right here. Properly, what can we do about it? Does the answer to a extra inclusive and gender-diverse monetary system lie with crypto?
Welcome to Phrase on the Block, the sequence that takes a deeper dive into blockchain and all of the rising applied sciences that form our world on the intersection of enterprise, politics and economic system. It’s what we cowl proper right here on Forkast. I’m Editor-in-Chief Angie Lau, and at present I’m thrilled. We’re in dialog with Wendy Diamond, CEO and founding father of the Ladies’s Entrepreneurship Day Group, extra popularly generally known as WEDO, which is attempting to bridge the gender chasm right here that we’re actually seeing on the planet. And that’s the place we come to subsequent. We’re speaking to Wendy, what her story is, and the way she thinks crypto is absolutely participating us in a better manner. Wendy, we do, sure, we do.
I’m thrilled that you simply’re right here. You’re a media goddess, I’d say, a media guru who began the primary pet life-style media firm, to huge success. And now you’re in blockchain, you’re in crypto, you’re in Web3. How did this all begin for you?
Wendy Diamond: I grew up in a small city in Ohio — like 2,500 individuals. After I grew up I had horses and canine and cats and the entire thing. And I simply actually cherished neighborhood, as a result of we have been a small neighborhood, however we have been all, like, collectively, and animals performed an enormous half in my life. And after I moved to New York Metropolis, I adopted my canine and cat from the shelter and I realized 12 million animals have been euthanized a 12 months that 12 months. And in addition that 12 months you’d go into the media and also you by no means noticed, like, celebrities or popular culture, otherwise you by no means noticed anyone speaking about adoption or rescue. It was very weird.
So, I knew that by making a media firm and bringing celebrities and popular culture to the animal rescue world, we may educate everybody, ‘You could possibly undertake any breed, any measurement, any age.’ And actually due to beginning animal welfare — Self-importance Truthful, the New York Instances, Forbes, Fox, and so forth. — we introduced celebrities and popular culture to the animal rescue world, that quantity at present is right down to lower than 2 million animals euthanized a 12 months.
We go across the nation and promote and do occasions and help the native animal rescue teams world wide, round the USA, but additionally the world. And what occurred was I ended up getting a loopy stalker who utterly ruined my life, actually. And by 2012, my complete lifetime of what I created, actually — I needed to step again from public life and determine what was happening. And what occurred was I ended up on trip in Honduras, the homicide capital of the world. After I booked the journey, I didn’t understand it was the homicide capital of the world, however I booked it and I used to be, like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ However I’m an adventurer and I’m not hanging out with the drug lords. And what I say to individuals about my story is embracing life. No matter’s put in entrance of you, there’s a constructive — you won’t understand it in a day, a 12 months or 10 years.
Properly, the man who ran the lodge mentioned, ‘There’s a tremendous group that gives micro-loans for poor ladies. Why don’t you go test it out? It’s secure. I do know the event director. Go test it out.’ So, I ended up on this journey the place I realized all concerning the statistics of ladies. This was 2013. So, after I went on this journey to go to this group known as Adelante with this improvement director, I used to be speculated to spend a number of hours. I spent three days — actually filth ground, the entire thing — and met all these unbelievable ladies that have been receiving these US$100 micro-loans.
I met this one girl — she was 72 years outdated and he or she had three little youngsters. And I’m, like, ‘How did you might have these three little youngsters? Whew, it’s a miracle.’ And he or she’s. like, ‘My daughter handed away, the husband ran off.’ And he or she obtained a US$100 micro-loan and was in a position with that US$100 to open up a window in her one-room hut (that) she shared with these three little grandchildren on a dust ground and promote Cokes and toothpaste.
And actually, world wide, there are thousands and thousands of ladies receiving these loans. So, they’re paying it again at a 98% price — 90% of that goes to coach their kids, present for his or her households. One out of eight ladies in America reside in poverty. I’m like, ‘Wow, why is no one speaking about this?’ So, I went again to our governor and our mayor and I mentioned, ‘Can we create a day on the planet known as Ladies’s Entrepreneurship Day?’ — to convey consciousness to empower, have fun and help ladies economically. As a result of if we help ladies economically, we all know 90% of that cash goes to coach the kids, present for his or her households, and uplift your entire neighborhood. And when ladies are part of enterprise, they’ve self esteem, they’ve dignity, they don’t permit human rights violations.
In 2014 — the crew in Africa — I used to be launched to a girl in Botswana that was a goat farmer who couldn’t afford healthcare for her son, who had actually severe well being points, and sadly, the son handed away. However on that journey she realized about Bitcoin. I realized about Bitcoin in 2014. And why is that? As a result of this girl created the SatoshiCentre in Botswana, like, in her little hut. what I’m saying? And to coach the individuals of Botswana about Bitcoin. Quick ahead at present — she’s advising the federal government of Botswana on crypto. She’s being funded by (Twitter co-founder) Jack Dorsey.
So anyhow, that’s how I realized about it, and that’s how I began to see that what Bitcoin is about, is what our basis is about. Our basis was based on serving to the two-and-a-half billion unbanked, who’re principally ladies. We’ve that very same mission. And so after I realized about Bitcoin, I used to be, like, ‘What?’ I used to be, like, ‘That is unbelievable.’ I’m not a techie. I’m not like considered one of these individuals, however I simply was fascinated by this international foreign money that was enabling (individuals) — particularly these individuals in high-inflation areas — to have monetary inclusion. So, while you have a look at Bitcoin and the utilization and the thousands and thousands of individuals utilizing it in Venezuela and Zimbabwe and Botswana, Nigeria… that aligns with what our perception is, with our basis. In order that was how I initially obtained into it.
Lau: Rattling. I’m going to say, rattling. Right here’s why — you constructed up by way of merely figuring out a necessity and asking the query why. And then you definately did it. That’s by definition a founder. That’s by definition an entrepreneur, That’s by definition a change-maker. Now, you probably did this for animals and animal welfare and actually connecting the dots and creating this highly effective voice. You go to Honduras. Happenstance, and growth — you meet someone that makes a click on for you. And also you talked about that about crypto. What’s it about crypto that speaks to you in the identical manner that you simply recognized a necessity, an issue, and also you go, ‘Hey, right here’s a doable answer. Why not this?’ Why is crypto that for you?
Diamond: We take into consideration, like, Web3, and we take into consideration the metaverse and NFTs. Let’s not overlook the mom of this complete system, the ecosystem — Bitcoin. And Bitcoin is, to me — when you look it up and also you type of have a look at the historical past of it — probably the most high-integrity deflationary instrument ever created in historical past that isn’t managed by a authorities or a number of individuals, which is run by the individuals and decentralized, to allow peer-to-peer transactions in an immutable, clear and traceable (manner), and offering this. So, it allows the two-and-a-half billion unbanked monetary inclusion. All they want is their account.
My complete factor was to convey consciousness in direction of animal rescue, convey consciousness in direction of empowering ladies economically who’re impoverished from a ground-up strategy. It’s by no means been like ‘me, me, me’, it’s all about ‘we, we, we’. WEDO. And so I really feel, like, the founders, Satoshi (Nakamoto) of Bitcoin, they didn’t care concerning the cash or energy. And so they’ve by no means offered or transferred any of their Bitcoin. And so they’re value billions and billions of {dollars}. That claims one thing concerning the integrity of this complete ecosystem. And I believe that’s what I care most about, as a result of, when you consider it — particularly in the USA with what’s occurred with bailing out all of the banks and who actually benefited from that and who did it and the entire thing — this, to me, is that I like it, I consider in it. And I’d prefer to say that, certain, like something on this world, there’s a number of dangerous eggs. However while you consider why this was created, it has such excessive integrity that we should embrace it.
Lau: You’re an adviser on quite a few attention-grabbing crypto funds, together with Perceptive Capital, simply to call a number of. There’s a major hole between working a charity group and supporting blockchain start-ups. So now you’re on this area, what are you in search of? What do you assume nonetheless must be supported on this area? Ladies in crypto. Are there sufficient of us?
Diamond: So, I’ve been on this area for a very long time. I’ve been by way of the ICO (preliminary coin providing) stage, the place I misplaced loads. And I used to be simply so excited as a result of everybody was disrupting the whole lot. I used to be like, certain, certain, certain, so I made a decision to begin investing in funds. So, I’m presently an investor in 5 crypto Web3 funds, additionally (in) start-ups which might be impactful. So, my complete aim is to help the underdog. And the underdog is people who don’t have a voice. So, that features ladies, that features animals, that features local weather change… the whole lot.
So, I consider by being a part of these funds, it’s my duty to convey consciousness in direction of the ladies founders on this area and to allow and have a voice for them inside these funds. So, I do put money into funds to be part of that. As a result of while you have a look at it, most of those crypto funds are based by males. However how will we then convey these actually nice tasks to them that basically are impactful?
So, a number of of the tasks that I’m in. One known as Animal Cloud, which is a Web3 platform for animal rescue, bringing knowledge and adoption to Web3 to be able to monitor the life of those canine and be capable to determine ‘How will we lower the adoption charges by enabling accountable breeding?’ and and so forth. And these are the type of tasks I’m in. I’m additionally a part of BlockTower Capital. I’m a part of CoinFund, early in Rarible and Dapper and quite a lot of the early profitable Web3 tasks.
Lau: Plenty of successes … I wish to speak about how crypto is making a distinction in instances of misery, and what WEDO is doing actively in Afghanistan after energy reverted again into the palms of the Taliban … And also you, Wendy, are funding — what’s it — 100,000 Afghan ladies with crypto. Your group has been lively in Afghanistan since 2014 and now — wow — extra necessary than ever earlier than. Inform us concerning the impression you’ve had and the choice to remain as the federal government fell in Kabul … and the Taliban took over.
Diamond: So once more, our basis — we’re an all-volunteer motion. So, we search for, like, profitable ladies that wish to give again to their communities. So, sure, we have been in Afghanistan throughout this complete transition interval, and so forth., and our crew there have been pressured to depart. And what I realized is, like, what was crypto actually created for with this kind of scenario.
So, I simply began studying loads about a few of these unbelievable ladies there. A number of them have been Gen Z and stuff like that. And I’d go discover them, whether or not it was on TikTok or Instagram, and I’d be like, ‘Hey, are you guys into crypto? Have you considered this?’ And so then I used to be, like, ‘Okay, let’s do that. Let’s create an initiative to fund 100,000 ladies in Afghanistan for every week’s value of meals so everybody can contribute US$10.’ That’s all it’s, by the way in which. They get their rice, they get all of the stuff, their requirements for the week.
However what’s actually necessary earlier than we give them (that) is that it takes them two minutes to arrange. So, out of the 40 million individuals there, half of these individuals have cellphones, whether or not it’s a flip-phone or cell. And so we guessed about 5 million of these have been ladies. So, what we did is we completed our pilot, in order that now these ladies have it. They then have to observe a fast little video about studying about crypto and creating an NFT, after which they obtain the tokens, and we’ve introduced on Stacks coin. Solana now’s taking a look at how they will take part on this. So we’re mainly testing it out, and we’re going to ask your entire Web3 neighborhood to get behind this. We’ve additionally linked with the e-commerce firms inside Afghanistan. Now, there are e-commerce firms — there’s an Amazon of Afghanistan. They’re solely doing 30,000 packages, however to allow these ladies who obtain these drops of cash are in a position then to spend it in these e-commerce firms inside Afghanistan, they create a package deal. So, these ladies, after they go on, can simply pay for it with their crypto.
So, it’s my aim to get this neighborhood — of which although we’re in a winter proper now, have completed phenomenally nicely and in honor of Satoshi, who created this motion, we should always do what this complete ecosystem was created upon doing, and it’s enabling monetary inclusion, and the vast majority of the two-and-a-half billion unbanked are ladies. So, that is considered one of these tasks that I believe is essential, and I believe that it allows everyone in the neighborhood to help.
Lau: What you’re additionally displaying is absolutely you’re conducting a case examine, a real-life pilot trial that exhibits off the flexibility of this peer-to-peer fee system to assist in a humanitarian disaster, in any kind of occasion of want, the place we will see the ability of digital foreign money being actively used to assist on the bottom.
Diamond: There may be such a necessity for tasks like this on the planet. By the way in which, speaking about Ladies’s Entrepreneurship Day, it’s an official day on Nov. 19. And since Nov. 19, falls on a Saturday — the one which we do in New York on the United Nations, — it’s going to be held on Nov. 18, and that day is celebrating the impression of Web3 and crypto and what they’ve completed on the planet. As a result of there are such a lot of tasks world wide, as an illustration, just like the Ukraine DAO (decentralized autonomous group) and Unicorn DAO, and all these those who have actually contributed to the betterment of the world. I believe it’s necessary that we convey this to the forefront.
Lau: Are there different spots on the planet the place you see that folks have been marginalized, and also you’re very conscious of those spots and so they exist even in our personal nations? The place do you see the applying of crypto past what we’re seeing proper now? I imply, everyone’s listening to the clearly scary headlines — crypto winter contagion, wealth destruction and its huge impression.
Diamond: We’re up in opposition to the naysayers. We’re up in opposition to a lot. However when you simply learn between the strains like BlackRock doing their Bitcoin chart and all these things, you’ll see it’s going to occur. It’s simply going to take loads longer as a result of the very fact is, we’re 13 years outdated. And I do know, like, Gen Z and millennials, like, want it yesterday, want it rapidly, however what? Endurance, as a result of it’s occurring. There’s a few of the most unbelievable minds behind this complete factor. And it’s — really, to me — I’ve by no means been so enthusiastic about a few of these tasks which might be actually going to vary this world for the higher.
Lau: Okay, Wendy, we’ve talked about so many issues, however inclusivity — you’re actively doing one thing about it with Ladies Entrepreneurship, WEDO. We do extra, we will do. WEDO. And the way can all of us do it? Not simply ladies, however male allies and ladies allies on this area to incorporate extra. And why is that necessary?
Diamond: And that’s one other factor. We’re not, like, we love males…
Lau: In fact we do.
Diamond: Yeah. Like, we’re not male, any of that.
Lau: I’ve obtained a five-year-old son. I’ve obtained to like my man, and I’ve obtained to like my man who gave me my little man. So, yeah.
Diamond: I imply, that’s the entire thing. It’s about training. And I’ll say, like, a few of the biggest males on this ecosystem are supporting our motion. Everybody from Seth Ginns, one of many heads of CoinFund, to Tom (Thomas) Lee from Fundstrat, to James Johnson, and so forth., are actually large supporters. And I believe that the important thing to that is to essentially convey loads and help these initiatives, whether or not it’s being a part of Ladies’s Entrepreneurship Day everywhere in the world and supporting our ambassadors everywhere in the world which might be creating our motion and collaborating. Ladies’s Entrepreneurship Day goes to be celebrated within the metaverse, so everybody can take part this 12 months. Be a part of it.
It’s about additionally supporting all these DAOs which might be on the market which might be supporting ladies, whether or not it’s AllStarsWomen DAO or whether or not it’s H.E.R. DAO, or no matter it is likely to be. There are such a lot of ladies which might be actually preventing to help ladies on this area, and to assist the builders create totally different firms and partnering and collaborating so that everybody could make a distinction. Everybody can take part. Whether or not you’re nonetheless in Web2, you’ll be able to take part. Whether or not you’re younger and also you don’t know what you’re doing, you’ll be able to take part.
What’s so superb about this ecosystem is that there’s a lot alternative. I imply, all the businesses that I’m in and all of the funds I’m in have so many job alternatives. It’s about training and enabling these ladies to grasp that they’re succesful and that they need to apply. And it’s additionally so simple as simply attending Meetups within the area — there’s Meetups all over the place on the planet… simply with the ability to be educated. And lots of people are frightened of it. And what I all the time say to them is, like in the course of the pandemic — I’ll let you know, it was hysterical — I actually most likely spent tons of of hours watching YouTube.
Lau: YouTube College.
Diamond: I’d go to one thing or I’d watch one thing and somebody would say one thing and I’d be, like, ‘What the heck is that?’ And there I’m, two minutes later, after I’m completed watching 5 YouTube movies to get it. As a result of on the finish of the day, it’s super-exciting. I imply, there’s a lot training on the market for Web3. Each protocol, whether or not it’s NEAR, whether or not it’s Solana, whether or not it’s Polygon, Ethereum Basis… There are all these free methods to find out about blockchain, about all these protocols and how one can be part of it.
Lau: So, quite a lot of ladies, I believe, (know) the 90-10% rule. Everyone knows what that’s. For girls, we have now to really feel 90% succesful earlier than we elevate our hand, and for the blokes within the room, it’s 10% succesful. And ‘Yeah, I’m able to go. I can personal this area.’ How will we flip that considering? What do the ladies who’re watching this — and the male allies who’re watching this — want to acknowledge? How will we flip that considering and have each girl elevate their hand? In the event that they’re within the area, actually, you might be succesful.
Diamond: Like, while you say that, I type of was considering, ‘That’s me type of too.’ I’m not the one who’s like, ‘Oh, although I’m type of skilled and I’ve had quite a lot of expertise in life and I’m simply completely in all sectors and perceive tips on how to make issues occur.’ I believe you actually need to do that at a younger age. So, it’s about at a younger age, enabling your kids to have jobs, and to have the ability to be independent and to have the ability to open their minds and to develop into entrepreneurs. As a result of in our society at present, persons are not graduating faculty and dealing for someone for 20 years. They should be an entrepreneur.
You’ll be able to by no means lose your interior little one of pleasure of all the time questioning, ‘Wow,’ or, ‘How?’ and ‘How can I do this?’ or “Let me attempt.’ Whenever you have been youthful, you have been, like, all about that, and all the time remembering that may allow ladies to only — whether or not you’ve simply misplaced your job and also you don’t know what you’re going to do — it’s, like, take that journey, go down that rabbit gap of YouTube, have a look at all of the movies, watch it. What excites you? Is it the metaverse? Is it gaming? And when you’re actually desirous about one thing, do one Google. For those who’re desirous about actual property, there’s a ton of blockchains for actual property. For those who’re desirous about training, there’s tons of that. After which simply do your analysis. As a result of I all the time say to individuals like, ‘I had no concept.’ Actually, like my complete life, I’ve been an entrepreneur. I by no means had a job. I utilized for, like, 100 jobs after faculty. Nobody employed me, so I all the time needed to create my very own factor, and I used to be not pupil.
And so I believe it’s simply actually understanding what’s the worst that might occur. And the worst that might occur is somebody says no, however I can promise ultimately somebody will say sure. And I believe it’s simply so necessary for individuals simply to have it inside them to attempt to ask.
Lau: Properly, you’ve mentioned sure to so many individuals, and I believe you’ve flipped the equation. So, we would solely know 10%, however there’s 90% of individuals just like the Wendy Diamonds of the world. And hopefully what we’re doing right here at Forkast, and this unbelievable neighborhood of people that will say additionally, sure — all it’s a must to do is know that they’re there and also you search them out. , 90% of that equation is you merely asking for assist and getting steerage, as a result of the yesses are throughout us.
Diamond: I believe you’ll agree, Angie. I’ve by no means seen a extra passionate group of individuals in wanting to coach individuals and wanting individuals to be concerned. So, wherever you might be on this world, I can assure you there’s most likely a crypto neighborhood on Meetup or someplace, or you may discover it. And, once more, simply do a little analysis, as a result of there are such a lot of individuals engaged on such impactful tasks, and it’s so necessary for individuals to have goal in life. It’s similar to, ‘Wow, I’m making a distinction as a result of I’m serving to X, Y, Z.’ And I believe that’s type of like with me — with all of the tasks I work on, it’s all the time, like, it’s not about me. It’s the larger downside that we’re dealing with and that we’re attempting to unravel.
Lau: Your story is unbelievable, and I can’t wait to hitch forces with you. It might be an honor, and I can’t wait to see the tales that we’ll write collectively and the tales that we’ll write about what you’re doing and persevering with to do. It’s been a privilege and nice to only chat with you on this Phrase on the Block episode, and I can’t wait to do extra of it.
Diamond: Angie, thanks a lot. So grateful.
Lau: Thanks, Wendy, for becoming a member of us at present. And thanks, everybody, for becoming a member of us on this newest episode of Phrase on the Block. I hope that you simply’ve been impressed and go nudge that girl in your life — your daughter, your sister, your mom, your grandmother — to get into this area. It’s world-changing, and that’s why we’re all right here in it, in any case. I’m Angie Lau, Forkast Editor-in-Chief. Till the following time.
