Moderated by: Kate Davidson, Morning Money author

Designing a better future requires women to do much of the innovating. They bring new and much-needed perspectives and styles to the table; they see different market opportunities and different problems that need solving. In this roundtable, we’ll discuss how corporations and governments can break down structural barriers for female innovators and entrepreneurs (women are currently founding businesses at record rates). This could mean everything from creating openings for ambitious innovators at work, investing in female-run small businesses or righting the venture capital gender imbalance (female founders secured 2 percent of VC funding in the U.S. in 2021).

Virtual Participants: Francine Katsoudas, Quita Highsmith

Moderated by: Angela Greiling Keane, Managing Editor states

The world of tech is changing rapidly, from the development of Web3 and the expansion of cryptocurrency to artificial intelligence and NFTs. For years, though, women have been largely locked out of the tech world, making up fewer tech investors, entrepreneurs and coding students than men, while many of those that made it through the door found themselves facing hostility and discrimination. Is it possible that this new era of tech innovation is an opportunity to make sure that women are in at the ground floor of a new age of innovation? How can government, corporations and society make sure women are shaping this tech-driven future and that this world isn’t toxic for women who enter it?

Cleve Mesidor, Public Policy Advisor for Blockchain Association

A signature project of the Blockchain Foundation is the creation of a virtual digital public library, which will be structured as a DAO. It will be open to the general public, including policymakers, government staff, entrepreneurs and innovators, leaders of public institutions and community organizations. It will be virtual and accessible via a library card in the form of an NFT. The Blockchain Foundation will partner with the American Library Association to maximize accessibility.

The Digital Assets Public Library will be a repository of trusted content and educational resources from reputable blockchain companies (digital books, white papers, one-pagers, side-by-sides, infographics, tutorials and instructional videos).

We will execute a token issuance to raise funds for the DAO treasury. Token holders will receive voting rights about content proportional to their holdings. Funds will be used to acquire rare digital artifacts (from Historical Society, Library of Congress, etc), and pay for a digital librarian, periodic system upgrades, and special grant-funded projects.

Participants: Mei Xu, Abby McCloskey, Betty Francisco

Julissa Marenco, Assistant Secretary for Communications and External Affairs and Chief Marketing Officer, Smithsonian Institution

In November 2016, after 18 months of careful deliberation, the Congressional Commission on the American Women’s History Museum submitted an official report to the President and to Congress. The Commission was charged with examining the threshold question of whether the country needed an American Women’s History Museum in the nation’s capital. The answer was a resounding yes. 

The submitted report contained recommendations on topics relating to collections and content, structure and governance, site recommendations and fundraising projections, capital, and operating budgets.  With the eventual goal of someday establishing a Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, the Commission also recommend the creation of the Smithsonian’s American Women’s History Initiative (AWHI), a stepping stone and tangible next stage to build a foundation for a future museum. 

In February 2019, the Smithsonian launched the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative, Because of Her Story. During the last couple of years, 2018-2022, the goal of AWHI has been to research, document, disseminate and amplify the histories of American women across the Institution in all our museums. And to increase awareness, online, across the country, and around the world.  To better tell the stories of Roxy Laybourne, a pioneer in forensic ornithology, whose work greatly improved the safety of flight. To bring to light the story of Regina Lee, a college student who drew attention to the healthcare needs of the immigrant community in Chinatown in New York City. To amplify, reach and empower future generations of girls and boys to learn about women’s history. 

Participants: Mei Xu, Abby McCloskey, Betty Francisco