Women in Crypto: An Interview with Venessa, Gate.io Innovation Leader in Japan
Continuing our interview series that began on International Women’s Day, we sat down with Vanessa Pan, Innovation Leader at Gate.io Japan, to discuss the role of women working in blockchain and her triumphant journey as a leader within the industry.
1. Thanks so much for doing this interview with us, could you briefly introduce yourself to our users?
Absolutely. My name is Venessa Pan. I recently joined Gate.io this month, and I’ve been interested in blockchain since 2016 when I first entered the industry.
2. What brings you to the blockchain industry?
Initially, a friend who runs an IPO company asked if I would like to work with him in ICOs and virtual currency procurement. This eventually led us to start our own ICO fund company based in Shanghai.
3. Can you share with us your story as crypto investor? And how did you meet Gate.io?
At that time, ICOs themselves were not yet mature. So my job was to receive projects from small and medium-sized companies that wanted to raise funds through ICOs and work with them to create the shape and content of their projects. Since then, we have worked with Gate.io for project reviews and listings.
4. Have you encountered any major challenges or turning points in your career and how did you overcome them?
Of the many projects we worked with, the good ones only sometimes got the attention they deserved; marketing is critical. The first challenge was promoting our projects in Asia, Europe, and the US, where there were many crypto participants and competitors from around the world. We forged our path forward by incorporating people from those regions into our team and by holding events in those regions.
5. The blockchain industry is considered to be an industry with a disparity between men and women, do you have any opinions or experiences to share?
I didn’t feel any disparity at all. Rather, there were always women on the team in China, and I strongly feel that working in the blockchain is possible for any age and gender.
6. What do you think blockchain companies should do to engage more female users or employees (how to promote gender equality in the industry) to create a more diverse and inclusive environment?
The blockchain itself is a collection of code, so it inevitably leans toward engineers and those who are strong with PCs.
In addition, regarding investment, I feel that blockchain education is somewhat lacking in Japan. So to break through this, I think it would be easier for women to join if we introduce Dapps that they are more interested in, like beauty or travel, and promote a like NISA, which is not as broad but has a sense of stability.
7. Is there anything you would like to say to women who wish to enter the blockchain industry?
The blockchain industry is the best place to experience leading-edge technology before anyone else. You can participate for little money, and even if you lose, it’s still a good learning experience. So don’t be afraid to try and touch it. I still think there’s plenty of first-mover advantage waiting for you!
Also, because you are a woman, you are never in a weak position in the business. In fact, you have an opportunity because you are a minority. If you have any doubts, DM me on Twitter and ask for help!
Author: Global Marketing Aaron
This article represents only the views of the researcher and does not constitute any investment suggestions.
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