ConsenSys Solutions Takes on Dublin, Ireland
“Why blockchain for enterprise?” and other musings from the Solutions retreat in Dublin
ConsenSys Solutions works with enterprises, governments, non-profits, and partners to promote and build the Ethereum ecosystem. ConsenSys Solutions has co-created 40+ new ventures, consortia, and alliances across the globe, delivered 20+ enterprise projects, and is a founding member of the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance.
There is something truly special about shaking a colleague’s hand for the first time and seeing that magical sparkle in their eyes because they know, and they know you know, why we’re all really here.
Why did we come to Dublin? Why did we travel from six different continents, traversing multiple time zones, to spend a week in a hotel conference center halfway across the world? Sure, gorging ourselves in Shepard’s Pie and Guinness was a nice perk, but there’s way more to it. The Solutions team came to Dublin for the thrill, the passion, and the giddiness that no quantity of Guinness could ever replicate. We came to discuss our vision for the future, the impact Ethereum and decentralization will have on the world, and review some hard facts and statistics that back up our seemingly wild aspirations. Most importantly, we came together to foster a bond that will enable us to better communicate both amongst ourselves and with the enterprises, governments, and partners we work with to build our shared vision of a decentralized future.
In the past year, we have expanded our global reach, hired top-talent in exponential numbers, won new and impactful work, helped develop new consortia, formed new partnerships — and the list goes on. As an organization that values human connection, camaraderie, and celebrating our wins, the retreat was an opportunity for us to look-around and reflect on the impact each of us individually, as Solutions, and as an organization, has had and will continue to have on the future of enterprise.
I left the retreat with two key takeaways:
- Legacy institutions will benefit immensely from blockchain and Ethereum. The paradigm shift from centralization to decentralization, from closed to open systems, will enable legacy institutions to create and sustain value in brand new ways.
- Leadership through influence, not authority, enables teams to reach their full potential. Decentralized decision making and consensus-building unleashes energy that empowers individuals to speak up, share ideas, and create novel solutions.
This may sound radical, and perhaps even unattainable, however it is aligned with our ethos at ConsenSys: experiment and challenge the status quo — challenge traditional management systems, challenge legacy business models, and challenge stale ideas.
So far, we have seen profound results.
In this post, I will focus primarily on the social construct of decentralization. I will not rattle off use cases and tell you all of the reasons why Ethereum will help enterprises stay relevant. I’ll save that for a future post. Instead, I’ll focus on the social benefits of decentralization, as that is the onramp for enterprises and governments to build decentralized systems.
I’ll start by briefly clearing up the misconception that blockchain and enterprises are antithetical to each other. I’ll then provide several examples from the retreat of decentralized decision making and consensus in action. I’ll shed a glimpse into my life at ConsenSys, and let you make up your own mind about whether ConsenSys Solutions is the right team to pave the path forward for enterprise blockchain. Because, remember, we operate decentrally, autonomously, and non-hierarchically. Our role here is to be your guide. The decision ultimately rests with you.
Enterprises and governments are key players in the decentralized future
Wait, what? Why are we working with the very powers that thrive off of the broken centralized systems that we are working so tirelessly to decentralize so value can be created and distributed more fairly? If this is what you’re thinking, please, let me explain.
Enterprises and governments make our world go round. They are resource rich and support the global economy. If you’re a crypto-anarchist, my apologies in advance. But the reality is, we can’t just leave these key players high and dry. It is irresponsible. Instead, let’s help them. Let’s help them see the world from our eyes. Let’s align incentives and gently hold their hands, guiding them on this scary, yet extremely exciting journey towards decentralization. If we do it right, we can all win. Remember, this is not a zero- sum game.
Decentralization as a social construct
All day sessions starting at 8am — coupled with jetlag and late-night crypto conversations at the bar — certainly made the week tiring. However, a permeating sense of empowerment (and ample coffee) fueled the week.
In the spirit of ConsenSys, I felt like I actually had a voice. Like my opinion mattered. I felt this way not because someone on stage merely talked about it in one of their presentations (as I’ve experienced in previous jobs), but because it was actually exhibited. In a technical session on DevOps, a self-organized Lincoln-Douglas style debate just emerged spontaneously. Attention shifted completely from the presenter to the audience, as one attendee raised his hand to propose an alternative and (initially) a contentious perspective on how development teams should be structured. One by one, developers in the audience stood up and took to the microphone to argue their point of view. The debate was completely unplanned, and the length of time for which it continued uninterrupted, showed how valuable discussion can be spurred when hierarchies are shattered and people are empowered to speak up and challenge the status quo.
Besides creating a very real sense of empowerment for everyone in the room, the debate shifted perspectives and enabled previously dissenting parties to step outside themselves. Ideas that previously would have been bottled up, out of fear of being shut down, or worse — social rejection — were given the space to surface. This particular debate, on how exactly each developer’s unique skill set contributes to the efficacy of the team at large, made a real impact on how Solutions will staff projects in the future. We will now be more intentional, more mindful, when structuring development teams, thanks to the one dissenting view that was promoted, and arguably propped on a pedestal, instead of being immediately dismissed as a distraction, a faux paux, and a tangent.
Eating our own dog food
Eating your own dog food is a colloquialism that describes a company which uses its own products or services. I’ll give you another taste of how we practice decentralization ourselves, within ConsenSys, and what the outcomes are of this approach.
After the technical DevOps session, I decided to branch out and check out a business development workshop. First off, my ability to make this choice, to not have to stick to the more technical delivery track (my scheduled track), was empowering in and of itself, and boy was I happy to have done it. Within five minutes of the session starting, one audience member suggested that instead of the presenter speaking to the audience, it may be more beneficial to have a panel discussion, and audience members could be panelists. After taking a quick poll to make sure the group agreed, an impromptu panel of six audience members was formed.
Once again, witnessing how the traditional student-teacher relationship could be broken was so empowering, and reminded me that we can all grow by being simultaneously a student and a teacher.
The panel discussion was more rich and fulfilling than any solo presentation could have ever been. Six unique perspectives were now at play, instead of just one. And the real kicker here, it was totally spontaneous, and anyone could have suggested it. Now, of course, the majority of the audience had to agree to this change-up. That, right there, is decentralized consensus at its finest.
Closing thoughts
I left the retreat feeling revitalized and optimistic about the future. There is something truly special about being halfway around the world with several hundred colleagues and seeing that magical sparkle in their eyes because they know, and they know you know, why we’re really here: to build the decentralized organizations and systems of tomorrow.
The solution for each industry and use case is different, but the approach is the same. Autonomy, collaboration, and decentralized decision making is at the core of what we do at ConsenSys and we want to help enterprises and governments embody these principles as well. Participating in blockchain consortia is the best way to realize the benefits of decentralization. If done right, trust can be created, even amongst competitors, and hyper-collaboration can be a haven rather than a threat. At ConsenSys, we have not only the technical know-how, but also the social know-how to help enterprises develop common standards, agree on methodologies, set governance policies, and ultimately develop decentralized systems that will shape the future of industry.
We’ve heard this time and time again from clients, that ConsenSys’ mission and purpose-driven culture is why they chose us over others. It’s so apparent, and it permeates in our people.
If you’ve read this and you feel like you, too, want to make an impact, join us. We’re hiring. And, if you’d like to explore how blockchain will impact your business, feel free reach out to me directly. Onwards, and upwards!
Disclaimer: The views expressed by the authors and contributors above do not necessarily represent the views of Consensys AG. ConsenSys is a decentralized community with ConsenSys Media being a platform for members to freely express their diverse ideas and perspectives. To learn more about ConsenSys and Ethereum, please visit our website.
