Meet Our Community Manager: Amber Urquhart

One of our objectives moving forwards is to build our community and share with you more about the exciting projects we have as clients and innovative partnerships we’ve secured. We’re delighted to have onboarded Amber as our community manager who has years of experience in blockchain and building communities across the world. Here’s an interview to introduce her to our community.

Welcome to the team, Amber! Tell everyone a bit about yourself.

Hey, I’m Amber. I was born in Canada but currently call nowhere “home”. If I had to sum it up, I’d say my fundamental belief is that no ecosystem can exist in isolation. There’s a lot in life I’m not sure about but I know that community and network are essential for success and innovation.

I’m a natural networker and always connecting people around the world. My passions include travelling, blockchain & FinTech, and propelling startups forward within the global tech system by curating engaging discourse and partnerships. I do this mainly in Asia these days building community with Willow (event series) and educating people new to the space with live events & discussions.

What originally got you interested in the digital assets market?

My first exposure to bitcoin was when someone gave me bitcoin at a party in 2014. Since then I’ve always been up for trying new things. I seek out challenges and love being a part of the innovative technology scene. When in Shanghai, I jumped around different startups. I was working with Shanghai Art Museum before becoming a founding member of a blockchain venture fund in 2017 which propelled me to build a community consisting of devs and founders. I was inspired by the community aspect and admired how everyone came together. It’s still amazing to me how this expanded to global communities and events all because of a belief in decentralized assets.

What was it about Hex Trust which made you want to join the team?

I was an early supporter of the Hex Trust team and I knew it was a team I wanted to be a part of since day one. The work environment seemed genuine and fun and I truly believed in the founders’ vision. Their ability to make the startup grow to what it is today is something I’ve admired throughout my career.

You’re our new community manager and have built communities before — what tips and advice do you have around building a thriving community?

Building community is easy if you like people. People are my motivation because I love connecting with others, having great chats, and helping others in my day-to-day life. If I have any advice for budding community builders it’s to be genuine, be yourself, and always be transparent with whatever goals or agendas you have. Try to host events and partner with people whose values align with yours. Always try to bring value.

If you’ve been the “new guy” before you know how it feels. For me, it’s time to pay it forward and give back what I received in the past. Being kind and welcoming to everyone should come as second nature. Having a genuine love of meeting new people and making friends doesn’t hurt either. If all else fails… just sit in a corner and say hi to people!

What excites you most about the blockchain industry today?

These days it’s more exciting than ever. Right now there are younger people in the industry and they’re doing really well with the current trend. There are a lot of new opportunities for fun things like art, NFTs and meme coins, and I’m looking forward to seeing what’ll be the next big thing. In my life, I often combine things I love: like art with tech, and a decentralized future all into one.

What’s great is that things are always changing, leaving the outcomes unexpected. The anticipation and excitement are unmatched in any other field. And the fact that decentralized assets are pushing the envelope makes everything more interesting! I’m voting for a more decentralized future in the online and financial spaces.

Finally, tell us something interesting which you do outside of work, and which not many people know about you.

Hmm well, I am constantly travelling (until COVID of course) and have lived in over 30 countries. When I finally stop moving around and relax, you’ll probably find me playing golf, at a live music show, motor racing or eating chocolate cake.

Also, my best friend wrote a memoir about her crazy life (Nowhere Girl) and I’m in it as the (casual) hero at the end. What did I save her from? You’ll have to read it to find out!

How should people reach out to you if they’d like to explore collaborating with us?

Sure, happy to explore any potential partnerships or projects that want to work with us. Please reach out to me at: amber.urquhart@hextrust.com