In web3, your network is your net worth

Last Friday, it was the 8th of March — International Women’s Day. As an Eastern European woman, it’s one of my favourite days of the year. This year, it was particularly special — the sun was shining, there was warmth in the air, friends and family were calling all morning with well wishes. And I was heading to the Women of Web3 event at Google.

I’ve come across many of the organisers or panellists at other events in the past, but I’d never been to one hosted by Women of Web3. I was clearly missing out. From the second I stepped foot in the Google reception, I felt right at home. Everyone was incredibly friendly — the Coinbase team I chatted to when I first arrived, the blockchain engineers, investors, and entrepreneurs seated around me when listening to the talks, and even a woman working for a direct competitor that I made friends with not long after the event began.

One of the panellists — Lavinia Osbourne, founder of Women in Blockchain Talks — mentioned an often repeated phrase, “your network is your net worth”. I’d never given it much thought before, but the truth of it struck me as I was chatting to some of the other panellists during the networking hour. A few in the group were mothers, and conversation turned to the skills being taught in schools and whether girls can be encouraged to study engineering. Soon enough, we had developed a business idea to open a series of accessible after-school clubs.

Of course, talk is cheap, and unless one of us is really going to pursue the idea further, it will forever remain just an idea. But the point is that within five minutes, we’d identified a gap in the market and come up with a proposal — how often do things like that happen? It’s only when you actively put yourself in an environment where there’s a free flow of ideas, where everyone is feeling inspired, where constructive dialogue and thinking outside the box is not only encouraged, but celebrated. In other words, when you’re surrounded by people who complement your own skillset.

There were lots of ideas I took away, but the most important one is to keep seeking out these sorts of events. After all, it’s my net worth I’m building while I’m chatting to these brilliant, inspirational women.

Singing with the London Latvian Choir

This year, I committed to learning to sing and learning Latvian. I mentioned this while walking with a Latvian friend last month and he mentioned that I should join the Latvian choir. Indeed, I thought, why not? I emailed the conductor in my broken Latvian and she graciously replied in English. It was clear from the onset that they’re at a high level, whereas I’d only been singing for the past two months.

Still, I came along to the Wednesday practice at the Latvian Welfare Fund in Queensway and immediately felt like a fish — or should I say foosh — out of water. Everyone knew what they were doing, they knew each other, they had their little rituals. I was asked by the conductor to sing a few bars with her while we were waiting for practice to start, but as this was in front of the entire hall, I felt incredibly anxious. I did my best, but I could tell she was disappointed by my lack of skill.

She placed me with the altos in the front row and told me to absorb how the others were singing. Once I’d get the melody, I’d try to replicate it, but it seems like I was a bit overenthusiastic, because I was later told I was throwing the others off their pitch. Despite the disappointing feeling that comes with the understanding that you’re not good enough, I genuinely enjoyed myself.

The ladies seated on either side of me were lovely, I got to learn three new songs, including the very catchy Līgo dziesma. I learned about different vocal parts and about how the notes look for harmonies, I practiced both speaking and comprehending spoken Latvian — all in all, exactly what I wanted. So I’ll definitely be back. Again and again, until maybe it finally clicks one day and I can keep up with the best of them.