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Women have long been underrepresented in tech, and the crypto world is no different. While web3 emphasizes innovation, transparency, and collaboration, there is still a noticeable lack of women in engineering roles. While attending DSS and DevCon in Bangkok, I observed a significant imbalance in gender representation among the speakers and panelists.
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But the tide is starting to turn. The Women in Web3 Hub, which got its start at DevCon 2022 in Bogotá, Colombia, made a comeback this year with an easygoing space designed to spark new connections. It offered a laid-back, drop-in environment where anyone could join the conversation—perfectly in tune with web3’s relaxed, community-driven nature.
My colleague Markella Gioka and I stopped by the Hub and casually discussed gender imbalance with others. In this article, I have combined insights from our discussions to help young women overcome gender bias in technical roles. Sharing stories of women in web3 space can inspire those considering a career in this field.
Understanding gender and its impact on career choices
At the Web3 Hub, we shared the understanding that gender really does shape career paths, especially in the tech world. While sex refers to the biological differences between males and females, gender is a social construct encompassing the roles, behaviors, and expectations that society assigns to individuals based on sex.
Historically, societal norms have dictated “appropriate” behavior for women and men. For example, in the 1950s, it was uncommon— and often frowned upon— for a woman to have a full-time job. Women were expected to focus on the home and children, while men were considered the primary breadwinners.
Fortunately, society has evolved since then, and it’s now common to meet doctors, teachers, and police officers of both sexes. However, it’s still surprising to encounter a woman working as an engineer or software developer.
Women aren’t underrepresented in tech because they lack ability or interest—it’s more about how society views and shapes their potential roles. If we rarely see women in these fields, young girls might feel like there’s no place for them, and that can steer them away before they even start. For example, Forex Suggest analyzed the top 50 founders of crypto companies, and only 6% of them were female CEOs.
Women comprise only 34% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). So, encouraging women to pursue education and careers in STEM will increase the availability of talents and reduce the gender gap in tech.
Markella, for example, once completed her university career in computer science, had the opportunity to become a security engineer quite smoothly.
Markella Gioka: A woman in web3
Markella Gioka holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Computer Science from the University of Athens. After a few internships at Nokia, Meta, and Google, she joined Dedaub, where she works as a security engineer, exploring similarities and connections in the complexity of smart contract vulnerabilities.
In 2024, Markella presented at the De.Fi Security Summit in Bangkok, delivering a talk titled “Smart Contracts to Embeddings: Using Off-the-Shelf LLMs for Fun and Profit.” Her work demonstrates how large language models (LLMs) can enhance smart contract analysis, providing innovative tools to improve security.
During our informal conversation at the hub, Markella opened up about her experiences as a woman in tech, sharing personal stories that truly resonated with me. I present the conversation below as it happened in a series of questions and answers:
— What challenges have you faced as the only woman at Dedaub and one of the few in web3?
“I wouldn’t say I’ve personally faced any overt challenges building my career at Dedaub or in software engineering in general, but that’s not to say they’re nonexistent. One thing off the top of my head is that sometimes people assume you’re not an engineer. They might think you work in marketing or something—I’ve had people tell me that.”
“Also, when you’re the only woman in the room, people sometimes act overly cautious not to say or do the wrong thing, which can be a bit awkward, but it comes from a good place, obviously. If you’re a woman in computer science, you’re probably used to being in the minority from an early point.”
“Funny story: one time, I was the only woman in one of my second-year classes back in university—along with the professor.”
— How has your presence as a woman influenced Dedaub’s work culture?
“I focus on creating a space at Dedaub where teamwork, open communication, and honest feedback come naturally. I don’t see my role as defined by being a woman, but I do think different perspectives help make us stronger as a team, and I’m glad to bring mine.”
— Given the underrepresentation of women in tech, have any figures inspired you to pursue your career, and how have they influenced you?
“Absolutely! There are so many women who’ve shaped society but never got the recognition they deserved. Take Christine de Pizan, for example—she was one of the first European women in the Middle Ages to support herself by writing. She broke the mold and spoke up for women’s intellect at a time when most people weren’t ready to hear it.”
“Many scholars say Ada Lovelace was the world’s first computer programmer. With her work on the Analytical Engine in the 1800s, she envisioned that computers could do more than just calculations—they could create art and music.”
“We all do software debugging, but many may ignore that the term was coined by a Woman—specifically, Grace Hopper—when she found a moth causing a computer malfunction.”
“I believe that web3 and tech will soon achieve gender balance. My generation recognizes the gap but is not limited by it.”
— What advice would you give to women aspiring to enter web3 space despite the ‘male dominance’?
“I don’t think the term ‘male dominance’ really fits the web3 community. While most are male, I’ve never seen someone pay less attention to an idea simply because a woman presented it. In crypto, we are quite young—the average age is below 30—international, and we are open to new ideas. Dedaub and web3, in general, feel like home to me. My suggestion for anyone wanting to make an impact in web3 is to study hard, not be afraid, and think outside the box.”
Conclusion
Even though web3 aims for decentralization and inclusion, women are still noticeably missing from the tech conversation. This gap is influenced by a range of social factors—like long-standing biases, gender stereotypes, and the lack of visible female role models in tech.
Still, efforts like the Women in Web3 Hub show that people are becoming more aware of these issues and are actively working to make web3 more inclusive. By giving women a place to connect, share stories, and support each other, these initiatives can help launch a new generation of female leaders in web3.
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Author: Giorgio Bonuccelli
Giorgio Bonuccelli is an experienced sales and marketing leader currently employed by Dedaub, a web3 security company specializing in audits and monitoring technologies. With a background spanning Acronis, Parallels, and Dell, he has led multinational teams, orchestrated data-driven campaigns, and developed highly effective sales pipelines. Giorgio’s interest in historical cycles and human behavior influences his understanding of the present by recognizing similar patterns over time and space, such as intergenerational dialogue, courting, friendship, and romantic relationships. One of these most loved phrases is: “We fell in love the same way, regardless of the century or place we live in.” Outside of work, Giorgio actively promotes inclusive conversations and advocates for inclusion and diversity.