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Description
Marieke Flament, CEO of the Near Foundation, talks about Near Foundation, Near Protocol, the 3 core things Near Foundation focuses on, bridging talent from web 2 to web 3, growth in the ecosystem, biased perceptions about the crypto space, what it means to be a fintech leader and more!
Marieke Flament: https://twitter.com/mariekeflament
Aisha S Gani: https://twitter.com/aishagani
Timestamps:
1:06 - Tell us about Near Foundation - (https://near.foundation/)
2:13 - The talent NEAR is bringing on & how it is shaping NEAR
3:00 - How does NEAR retain its talent?
4:10 - Whats the growth like in this ecosystem?
5:22 - What does it mean to be a fintech leader?
6:40 - Whats it like being one of the few women CEO's in fintech & crypto?
8:17 - How did your fintech career start?
9:45 - How did you achieve a 50/50 gender split under your leadership at circle?
11:13 - Culture, how different is it from the city?
12:01 - Black Entrepreneur's & VC funding
13:48 - Near Foundation and their $800M in grant funding - (https://near.org/grants/)
15:02 - Is Fintech having a midlife crisis?
Join NEAR's community:
Website: https://near.org/
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/nearprotocol/
Medium: https://medium.com/nearprotocol
Create a wallet: https://wallet.near.org/create
Apps on NEAR: https://awesomenear.com/
Discord: https://near.chat/
Blog: https://near.org/blog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NEARProtocol
GitHub: https://github.com/near https://github.com/nearprotocol
Dev Docs: https://docs.near.org/
Learn to Build On NEAR: https://www.near.university/
#Blockchain #FutureIsNEAR #NEAR #nearprotocol
A
Hi,
I'm
I'm
delighted
to
be
speaking
with
marie
today
and
we're
talking
with
you
because
of
your
in-depth
knowledge
in
the
world
of
crypto
and
the
changes
that
you've
led
in
fintech
and
your
role
as
a
fintech
leader.
So
I
thought
marik.
Why?
Don't
we
just
like
launch
right
into
it?
Tell
us
a
bit
about
the
company
that
you're
building
at
the
near
foundation,
yeah.
B
Thanks
and
super
happy
to
be
here
back
in
london,
although
it's
a
very
rainy
day
so
near
foundation,
is
a
not-for-profit
which
is
based
out
of
switzerland.
The
near
foundation
looks
after
the
near
protocol,
which
is
a
layer
one
protocol
which
is
focused
on
actually
proof
of
stake,
so
not
proof
of
work,
so
it's
carbon
neutral
and
has
a
crypto
protocol
focused
on
usability
for
its
end
users
and
actually
also
for
the
developers
that
are
on
it
as
a
foundation.
There
are
three
things
we
do.
B
One
is
actually
help
raise
awareness
of
what
is
the
open
web?
What
is
web3,
what
are
the
changes
that
it's
going
to
bring
actually
to
society
and
also
what
is
near,
and
what
does
it
mean?
The
second
thing
we
do
is
actually
we
help
support
builders
who
want
to
build
on
linear
protocol.
We
have
a
very
large
grant
program
to
the
tune
of
800
million
dollars
that
can
be
distributed
to
participants
who
want
to
build
on
the
new
protocol
and
the
last
part
of
what
we
do
and
look
after
is
actually
governance.
B
So
talent
is
definitely
very
key
in
this
space
and
what
we're
seeing
right
now
is
that
there
is
a
major
influx
of
what
we
call
talent
from
web
2
to
web
3..
There
is
a
lot
of
attraction
because
there
is
actually
a
lot
of
need
for
talent.
We've
gone
beyond
the
need
of
just
having
developers
that
help
build
what's
being
built
on
crypto
companies
and
actually
needing
talent
that
touches
everything
from
actually
legal
to
operations
to
actually
go
to
market.
So
that
means
marketing.
So
a
whole
flurry
of
talent
is
needed.
B
Retention
as
in
every
space
retention
is
a
key
component.
What
we
are
seeing,
which
is
very
often
because
the
crypto
landscape
is
very
decentralized,
so
it's
remote
first
companies
people
can
work
from
wherever
they
want,
so
there
is
a
way
to
actually
find
the
balance
of
what's
needed.
For
you.
The
other
part
is
when
you
think
of
actually
how
to
structure,
in
particular
packages
for
people
in
fintech
and
in
traditional
startup.
Most
often
the
liquidity
of
what
software
is
actually
not
liquid.
B
A
B
So,
overall,
I
would
say
that
there
is
definitely
a
major
influx
of
you
know:
venture
capital
and
larger
capitalist
income
influx
into
the
crypto
landscape
in
web
street,
where
definitely
all
of
us
seeing
that
that
helps
actually
in
exchange
the
ability
to
attract
top
talent
and
to
actually
get
people
working
on
that,
I
would
say
I
find
it
interesting.
The
barriers
to
attract
talent
are
still
very
much
the
same
whomever
I
speak
with.
It's
always
biased
perception
of
what's
actually
happening
in
the
crypto
landscape.
B
I
hear
still
a
lot,
it's
all
about
bitcoin
and
I
still
hear
a
lot.
It's
actually
not
good
for
the
environment.
These
two
things
are
not
true.
It's
way
beyond
just
being
about
bitcoin,
there
is
actually
hundreds
of
thousands
of
different
projects
that
are
being
built
on
and
the
second
part
on
sustainability.
B
There
is
different
ways
to
do
a
concept
of
consensus
mechanism.
For
example,
proof
of
stake
is
not
proof
of
work,
and
so
what
you
see
into
protocols
such
as
near
or
others,
is
actually
the
ability
to
be
completely
carbon
neutral.
So
the
biases
need
to
change
which
will
help
actually
attract
more
talent.
B
I
think,
as
leaders
there
is
a
huge
element
and
importance
of
actually
communication
communication
to
our
teams,
who
are
actually
are
remote
are
still
very
often,
although
more
and
more
people
are
getting
back
to
an
office
but
are
still
very
much
in
their
homes
most
of
the
time,
and
so
the
importance
of
communication,
clear
visibility
and
vision
for
what
you
want
to
do
and
constant
alignment
on
that
is
super
important.
The
other
part,
I
would
say,
is
that
innovation
is
just
has
taken.
You
know.
B
Innovation
has
just
accelerated
again
over
the
last
two
years,
whether
it's
actually
in
fintech
or
whether
it's
actually
in
crypto
and
blockchain.
What
we're
seeing
and
the
speed
at
which
we're
seeing
change
is
unprecedented,
and
so
I
think,
as
as
leaders
keeping
attuned
to,
how
do
you
guide
an
organization
towards
a
vision
and
how
do
you
align
people
but
then
also?
How
do
you
actually
make
sure
that
you
stay
on
top
of
the
flurry
of
innovation
that's
happening?
I
think
these
are
some
of
the
daily
challenges.
A
B
I
would
say
from
a
personal
note:
I'm
a
computer
science
engineer,
so
I've
actually
been
brought
up
in
a
space
where
you
don't
necessarily
see
a
lot
of
diversity
and
inclusion,
so
I
think
I'm
kind
of
used
to
it,
but
I'm
trying
to
actually
help
change
that
and
help
have
more
influx
of
talent
in
one
of
the
thing
I
think
is
actually
really
important
is
the
space
we're
in.
I
hear
that
so
much
when
people
ask
me,
I
don't
know
that
much
about
crypto
or
blockchain,
and
my
first
thing
is
always
well.
B
I'm
very
lucky.
I
have
a
fantastic
support
network
from
you
know,
a
husband
who
is
a
top
one,
cheerleader
saying
yes,
you
can,
when
I
think
I
can't
so.
I
think
these
things
are
really
helping
to
break
boundaries,
but
you
know
for
everybody
here
in
the
room.
I
think
when
you
look
at
in
particular
around
you,
but
also
women
around
you
who
say
I
don't
know-
and
I'm
not
sure
I
know
I
think,
enabling
everybody
to
say
like
it's,
okay,
we
can
all
learn
together.
I
think
it's
really
important
and.
B
Yeah
well,
I
was
definitely
not
born
into
it
right.
So
I
I
started
my
career
in
china
in
shanghai.
I
worked
for
lvmh,
which
is
a
luxury
goods
conglomerate
and
then
actually
I
came
and
studied
in
london
after
that
working
strategy
consulting
and
then
in
travel
for
expedia
and
for
hotels.com,
and
it's
towards
the
end
of
2015
that
I
actually
got
a
call
which
changed
my
life
literally,
but
a
call
to
to
work
for
a
crypto
company
which
at
the
time
was
framed
as
hey.
There
is
this
startup
in
bitcoin.
B
Would
you
be
interested
to
which
my
answer
was?
No,
I
don't
want
to
work
for
criminals
turns
out.
That
was
not
the
story.
That
was
when
I
started
working
for
circle,
which
is
today
one
of
the
major
crypto
company
working
on
a
stable
coin
code
called
usdc
that
literally
changed
everything,
but
it
gave
me
a
sense
of
actually
looking
at
what's
blockchain,
what's
crypto
what's
happening
and
I
found
it
really
daunting
right,
but
that's
when
I
got
into
fintech.
B
I
didn't
have
that
background,
and-
and
I
had
to
learn
that
and
then
I,
after
that
I
worked.
I
worked
at
natwest
where
I
led
metal,
the
the
neo
bank
and
now
I'm
back
in
in
crypto,
so
it's
different
places
and
different
things.
But
I
think
the
point
is
the
skill
set
that
can
be
brought
that
are
needed
in
in
tech
and
in
fintech
can
come
from
everywhere,
and
I
think
that's
something
that
very
often
we
don't
realize.
B
A
B
Remember
at
the
time,
so
the
beauty
of
when
you
start
something
is
that
you
can
try
to
start
it
right
right
and
I
think,
for
all
entrepreneurs
who
are
actually
here
today
and
all
of
those
of
you
who
are
starting
off,
creating
something
you
know
when
you
think
diversity
and
inclusion.
I
will
do
that
later.
B
Our
ecosystem
for
crypto
blockchain
ecosystem
is
extremely
diverse
and
inclusive
and
extremely
open,
and
we're
super
proud
of
that,
and
we
want
to
continue
having
that.
That's
something
that
is
open
and
everybody's
welcome.
We
say
very
often
like
welcome
home
right,
but
we
mean
that
it's
like
anyone
can
come
from
whatever
perspective
we
want
to
build
together.
B
Well,
I
think
it's
the
buyers
still
perceive
and-
and
you
know
sometime
is
still
there-
I'm
hopeful,
because
again
I
see
more
and
more,
in
particular
creators
and
entrepreneurs
who
want
to
start
building
something
and
who
are
not.
Who
are
not
that
stereotype?
I
still
you
know,
I
still
I'm
in
a
lot
of
meeting
with
that
stereotype
and
I
think
working
also
previously
in
fintech.
You
still
had
a
lot
of
that
around
you.
I
think
it's
still
important
to
calling
that
out
and
to
consciously
wanting
to
to
make
that
change.
A
So
I
was
researching
for
an
article
for
bloomberg
and
I
found
how
only
0.25
of
black
entrepreneurs
have
received
vc
funding
and
especially
for
industry.
That's
meant
to
be
disruptive
when
you
look
at
how
many
women
and
people
of
color
are
funded,
it's
really
really
low.
So
I
just
wanted
to
hear
your
thoughts
on
this
and
how
disruptive
can
it
actually
be.
B
We
were
talking
about
before
you
know,
if
you,
if
you
come
up
with
tech
or
ideas
that
actually
help
women
and
you're
facing
only
male
investors,
chances
are
they're
not
going
to
come
from
the
same
place
to
understand
what
you're
doing
we've
seen
over
the
last,
I
would
say,
12
to
24
months,
a
very
conscious
effort
from
venture
capital
to
name
more
and
more
women
as
investors
and
as
partners.
I
think
that's
great.
B
I
think
it's
also
time
to
move
way
beyond
that
and
actually
also
have
you
know,
people
of
all
different
backgrounds
and
people
of
color
representing
their
today
in
our
day-to-day
and
and
we
interface
quite
a
lot
with
backers
and
investors,
and
I
have
to
say
that
the
diversity
I'm
seeing
is
still
not
there.
I
find
it
intimidating
still
to
that
day
and
I
think
it's
like.
How
can
we
make
it
so
that
it?
You
know
it
feels
more
inclusive
and
that
every
voices
is
heard.
A
B
Yes,
so
as
a
foundation,
we
do
have
a
grant
program,
and
so
our
grant
program
is
quite
large
and
we
look
at
how
can
we
fund
from
very
small
self-started
groups
that
are
you
know
in
the
world
and
want
to
build
something
on
near
and
actually
how
do
we
do
that?
You
know
our
head
of
funding
is
a
black
american
guy.
I
think
it's
amazing
to
have
someone
representing
also
different
groups
and
biases.
B
Our
funding
team
is
extremely
diverse,
and
so
we've
actually
made
a
conscious
effort
when
we
look
at
projects
and
hear
different
voices
that
come
to
us
so
that
we
can
be
as
open-minded
as
possible
to
have
that
view
on
on
that
on
on
near
when
you
go,
and
you
can
actually
look
at
you
know,
is
it
a
fellowship
that
would
be
right
for
you?
Is
it
actually
building
a
guild?
B
Is
it
actually
a
project
that
you
want
to
start,
or
is
it
actually
something
slightly
larger
and
we
look
at
a
bunch
of
different
verticals
right?
So
if
it's
related
to
defy,
we
have
an
entire
product
lab,
which
is
called
proximity
lab,
which
has
you
know
something
like
400
million
of
capital
that
are
looking
at
deploying
if
it's
more
regional
hubs,
we
have
different
programs.
B
I
don't
know
if
it's
a
mid-life
crisis,
but
I
think
there
is
definitely
a
shift
right.
A
lot
of
the
hopes
that
we
that
we
had
when
fintech
was
started
was
how
can
we
really
be
truly
disruptors
and
innovators
and
and
change
things
are
there
are
happening?
I
think
a
lot
of
that
now
looks
like
it's
actually
having
a
little
bit
of
tech,
but
on
on
same
systems.
B
What
I
can
say
is
that
we
are
seeing
an
influx
in
talent
in
web
3,
crypto
blockchain,
definitely
because
it
feels
like
a
super
super
exciting
space
in
which
there
is
a
lot
to
build
and
a
lot
that
could
be
rethought
through
completely
from
the
scratch
so,
rather
than
thinking
centralization.
How
can
you
actually
decentralize?