This episode is for people who have felt intimidated or excluded by Blockchain conversations and want to understand the basics. We also get into the reality of entrepreneurship. A huge thanks to the Australian Government for supporting When Women Win.

Leanne Kemp is the Founder and CEO of Everledger, a company that uses Blockchain technology to track high-value assets such as diamonds and art. Leanne is recognised internationally as an innovator and leader in the technology sector. A serial entrepreneur, in 2018 Leanne was appointed the Queensland Chief Entrepreneur to develop the state’s startup ecosystem, attract investment and support job creation. She is the first woman entrepreneur to hold this post.

Leanne is an expert advisor to the World Economic Forum and the IBM Blockchain Platform Board of Advisors. She has won many awards including Australia’s Innovator of the Year – twice.

We discussed the basics of Blockchain and how the ledger enables traceability, so acting as a weapon against opacity. We talked about Leanne’s own journey as an entrepreneur, and how Queensland is working to foster an environment of innovation and cooperation. I was amazed by their focus on mental health, and how the Govt has created a Mental Health Toolkit for entrepreneurs.

My favorite quote of the episode was one that captured a huge advantage of the Blockchain: “In future, you’ll be able to check social media posts & news articles and know whether it is fake news”. I look forward to that! I also loved Leanne’s take on start-ups: “we don’t like [to talk about] unicorns but we like to talk about zebras”.

You can find Leanne on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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This episode has been brought to you by the Council for Australian-Arab Relations (CAAR) – an entity within Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade. CAAR supports projects which enhance Australia’s economic, cultural and social relations with the Arab world. Gender equality is one of their focus areas, along with innovation, culture, education & sports. We are grateful for their support.

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