How are inclusion and diversity important in Blockchain innovation? Here are some of thoughts on the topic by Kamales Lardi, Managing Partner at Lardi & Partner Consulting and founder of Diversity in Blockchain Switzerland. By taking part in the survey at the end of the article, you are actively contributing to a positive change in the Swiss Blockchain ecosystem.
Blockchain has the potential to create liberating technology solutions that can transform the way we interact and transact across most industries globally. Essentially a distributed digital ledger system, Blockchain was originally developed to record transactions for Bitcoin, a well-known digital currency.
Today, the true value of Blockchain can be seen in solutions that are being developed for various industries including financial services, supply chains, agriculture, healthcare and governments among others. Innovators are exploring ways to use Blockchain to disrupt and transform traditional business models. Similarly, business leaders are starting to understand the significant benefits that could be achieved through Blockchain applications, including greater transparency, enhanced security, improved traceability, increased efficiency and speed of transactions, as well as reduced costs.
However, blockchain will not reach its full potential if diversity is absent in its development.
Diversity is a critical element required to avoid any unconscious bias that could seep into in the resulting algorithms and technology solutions being built. In addition, the Blockchain tech industry is one of the fastest growing areas of business where new opportunities, roles and jobs are quickly emerging. Traditional hiring practices without prioritizing workforce diversity could end up ignoring a wider pool of talent that is currently in demand. The lack of diversity in the industry also negatively impacts the underlying culture and organizational practices of Blockchain companies.
The overall the industry currently lacks diversity and this is painfully evident at Blockchain-related events.
We need to make these events more inspiring for women, for example by including more accomplished female Blockchain speakers and panelists. Additionally, there needs to be a more balanced approach to the level of public exposure and recognition for the existing women in the Blockchain and crypto space. There is an increasing number of women getting involved in Blockchain, not only from the technology side, as new opportunities for career paths and roles emerge that would offer women a chance to stand out and grow professionally.
Diversity In Blockchain Switzerland (DIBS) aims foster greater diversity and build knowledge among leaders to not only understand, but also be able to drive blockchain application in their industries. Beyond just holding events for women to attend, we also want to embed them in the knowledge and development of the community. One way to do this is to offer the opportunity to contribute to the ecosystem. For example, think tank sessions focused on addressing critical business challenges with blockchain start-ups such as funding and investments, business development, marketing and PR, as well as technology.
In addition, we hope to support the numerous corporations currently looking to explore blockchain technology in developing their internal capabilities in htis area. We also want to showcase female role models who will be able to motivate more women to explore blockchain technology and work in this industry.
Several studies have been published that prove teams composed of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences help facilitate progress across the entire industry. Teams with a range of rich and diverse perspectives to draw from increase their performance ability when it comes to problem solving, as well as finding innovative solutions. For example, a report by Morgan Stanley, found that highly gender-diverse tech companies returned on average 5.4% more on an annual basis than their less diverse peers. Our goal is to seed the community in this early stages with more overall diversity, resulting in technology solutions that will deliver positive results to a broad spectrum of people and leverage the full potential of this technology.
Survey on the State of Diversity in the Blockchain Ecosystem in Switzerland
Diversity In Blockchain Switzerland is conducting a brief survey on the state of diversity in the Blockchain ecosystem in Switzerland. The goal is to seed the community in this early stages with more overall diversity, resulting in technology solutions that will deliver positive results to a broad spectrum of people and leverage the full potential of this technology. This survey will provide the Blockchain community with valuable insights to achieve this goal.
Thank you for taking part in this short 3-minute survey.
About the Author
Kamales Lardi is a digital transformation strategist and futurist. She helps companies leverage digital disruption to create new opportunities for business and generate revenue. Kamales has +19 years of experience in Management Consulting, with a strong focus on corporate strategy formulation, business process optimization and technology implementation. Since establishing Lardi & Partner Consulting GmbH in 2012, Kamales has advised companies across various industries such as UBS, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), Pfizer, BonusCard AG, Victorinox and Sanitas Insurance among others. Kamales is a Visiting Fellow and Chairperson of the MBA Advisory Board at Durham Business School, and she was recently awarded #4 in the list of Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers in Digital Disruption (October 2019, Thinkers360).
Kamales founded Diversity In Blockchain Switzerland, an action-oriented think tank of professional leaders interested in sharing knowledge, exchanging ideas and developing capabilities in blockchain technology and its future development.
About Diversity in Blockchain Switzerland
Diversity In Blockchain Switzerland is an action-oriented think tank of professional leaders interested in sharing knowledge, exchanging ideas and developing capabilities in blockchain technology and its future development.
