Bridget Greenwood and The Bigger Pie
I met Bridget for the first time in 2018. She was fresh into the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain but as a former independent financial adviser, this new world suited her like a glove. We quickly became friends and a year later when she decided to start The Bigger Pie, I was immediately sold on the idea and became her supporter. She is one of the women I met throughout the years who is hell bent on “moving the needle” for other women. In her own words, she is:
“… absolutely drawn to take action to see more gender equity in the tech space. We need more women at the design, development and deployment table. Women at decision-making levels […] I decided I wanted to spend time with these women in a meaningful way so set up The Bigger Pie to support the women in the sector, build a global community of leaders and learners supporting diversity and inclusion in blockchain and emerging technologies.”
She created a global community of thousands of women from the world of crypto, blockchain, distributed ledger technology, web3, decentralised finance and other financial technology, willing to lend a hand to each other, to support and empower each other and grow and learn together. Bridget recognised the potential for businesses that choose to champion diversity and inclusion to create better products, better solutions, better value. She also recognised that if more women don’t lead by example, the future generations of women will find it hard to see themselves as speakers, entrepreneurs, leaders, developers, or creators in a tech world historically male dominated. Representation matters!
Every day her calendar is swamped with calls, meetings, or events. Every day she will connect, recommend, highlight or simply listen to women founders, leaders, educators or entrepreneurs, looking for ways to open new doors for them. It’s no wonder that The Bigger Pie was recognised by Ethical Finance 2022 Awards as the Cryptocurrency Diversity & Inclusion organisation of the year. I am convinced this is just one of the first awards and accolades that Bridget and The Bigger Pie will deservedly receive in the years to come.
Just a week back I visited Bridget in her London home, where in-between calls and meetings she got me up to speed with her new ideas on how to support the community, her plans to start a database of women expert speakers that she can present to events organisers in order to balance the representation at conferences, panels, webinars, and anywhere a woman’s voice should be heard side by side with our fellow men. The crypto / blockchain industry frequently complains they can’t find women speakers so Bridget has decided she will bring them to the forefront, and I have no doubt she will make it happen.
You, my reader can rightfully say that I am “shilling” my friend’s initiative and that is true. She is my friend, but she is also a woman with a mission to move the needle for other women. I am doing what I believe to be my purpose, highlight those that are doing much more than me when it comes to gender equity. I have two children, a boy and a girl, and I would like to think this is my little contribution towards a future world where both of them can thrive, and where their children will not even have to think about their gender when choosing a career or starting a business.
If you identify as a woman interested in furthering your knowledge in all things blockchain, crypto, web3, The Bigger Pie is the right community for you. This is the place where you can find a mentor or mentor someone else, you can find educational resources, you can join a community of likeminded people, you can get a job or you can recruit for your project. Someone, in some part of the world, will be raising their hand to help you. Head over to thebiggerpie.io or message Bridget Greenwood on LinkedIn and you too can join the movement.
PS: If you know of a women led blockchain/crypto/web3 project or initiative that makes a difference in today’s world, message me and I will be happy to feature them on Move the Needle newsletter.
Watch Bridget here :
https://youtu.be/M2yrHDS1yzo
Amazing article, Veronica. The database is a great idea and I discussed it with Querlo - the AI company . It’s time that we promote women in blockchain who are doing great work! Often women in tech don’t like to self promote and there are a few who do. We need to not only promote the gems but also hold the terrible women in the industry accountable. I think if we educate organizations on what these women can do and how they move the needle then maybe HR policies can change. Many of these women are remote, with families, and single or divorced with a database of knowledge. Although they are making waves in the industry, we still need the technical advances in blockchain to protect users from cyber hacking and the buyins from key decision makers to adopt new and innovative systems.