Crypto Woman of the Week: Josephine Inika

As we celebrate women and advocate for accelerated action and gender equality in all sectors during International Women's Month, we think about the growing number of women who are not only establishing themselves in the crypto space but also occupying transformative positions that inspire women to be more crypto-enthusiastic.

Josephine Inika is Obiex’s Head of Content and co-founder of Iko Africa, an African social literary platform. In this series, she shares factors that have helped her thrive in the crypto industry, diverse strategies for starting out in the space, and much more.

Here's her story.

Let’s look right back to the start.

What were the first steps you took to establish yourself in the crypto/web3 industry and help you gain confidence and credibility? 

A lot of reading to first find out what crypto and web3 terms mean and then how they work, and finally, in the context of my job as a marketing professional. 

What helped me gain confidence is building relationships with people who had been in the industry before me, applying the lessons they taught me plus the ones I have learnt, and seeing the results. There’s a deep feeling of satisfaction in seeing your efforts pay off consistently, and that confidence carries you through your down days and good days.

I agree with that. Seeing those efforts pay off is really a confidence booster.

It’s a good feeling to know that you are successfully contributing to the bigger picture.

Especially when dealing with SEO.

You have no idea. Being the Head of Content means that you have to be in a constant battle with SEO. At this point, I dream in SEO metrics.

I don’t doubt you one bit.

But it’s always such a delight when you hack the numbers. It makes it all worth it.

Let’s talk about those contributions a bit.

Can you share a moment where you introduced a fresh idea, solved a major challenge, or contributed to a project that made a real difference in the crypto space/web3 space? 

A project? The whole Obiex. 

With you being the Head of Content, I am not surprised about that.

I know, right? Contributing to the growth and progress of Obiex is one of my all-time favorite things I have ever done. It might sound cliche or like a cop out, but it is a genuine answer. There’s such a huge difference in everything from trade volume to internal operations between when I joined and now, and it’s incredibly pleasing to me that I have contributed to the growth.

Sounds like it’s been a really great experience so far.Can you recall a specific instance where you faced resistance or bias in your career? 

Because I am always on the go, I don’t take bias to heart. 

I hear you.

In fact, once it’s over, I have forgotten it. Perhaps it’s my brain’s way of protecting me, or I need therapy😂. 

We’ll just agree that it is more the former than the latter.

That sounds like a better answer. So, let’s go with it.

So, how did you handle it, and how do you currently navigate difficult situations in the industry?

I take a step back and use first principles to make sense of the situation and find a solution or at least a compromise. In instances where the situation is beyond me, I accept defeat and move on. 

Basically, I do any of the three things in the serenity prayer- either have the serenity to accept what I cannot change, find courage to change what I can, or use first principles for wisdom to know the difference.

That sounds like a great strategy. Permission to adopt it?

I don’t own any rights to it, so permission is fully granted.

If you were mentoring a woman just starting out in crypto, what practical steps would you recommend she take today to build knowledge, skills, and networks?

First, find out how your learning works. Do you learn better through reading, watching videos or listening to podcasts? Play to your strengths.

Secondly, get as much hands-on experience as you can, get into the work by doing personal projects, volunteering for web3 projects, and applying for internships and jobs. 

Finally, hard skills will get you in the door and keep you there, but soft skills will elevate you.

I agree. Soft skills are very valuable in corporate spaces.

You can’t handle the heat without it. Communication, time management, problem-solving, adaptability… You need all those to scale in the crypto industry.

Besides these skills, have you encountered any unique strategies or support systems that have helped you and other women grow in this field? 

WhatsApp group chats. They are such a solid support system. I belong to several career and development GCs, and it’s incredible how many resources and helpful relationships I have gotten out of them, which have helped me grow personally and professionally. 

They are also a great way to give back, through things like referrals, paying for people’s courses, and mentoring.

What specific opportunities or platforms do you think more women should tap into to gain visibility and leadership roles in crypto/web3? 

Hm, opportunities? Take those courses and attend those virtual and physical webinars and events. The people you meet are your greatest resources.

Basically, networking is an integral part of scaling in the space.

That is why you need all the soft skills you can develop.

That checks out.

What’s a community, resource, or strategy that has helped you that you would recommend to any woman in crypto/web3?

Communities! There’s Women in Defi , WomeninWeb3-HER DAO and Shefi.org, to mention a couple. 

As for resources, James Clear’s 321 Newsletter, Farnam Street Brain food newsletter, WAGMI Weekly newsletter, and Lenny’s Newsletter should be more than helpful. 

If you learn better with podcasts, check out HBR Strategy and HBR Women at Work.  

For strategies, try First Principles Thinking and Analogy Thinking.

Those are really helpful tips! 

Thank you for talking to us.

Anything for Obiex.

Anything?

Anything but not Everything!

Got it.