Seward & Kissel’s Annual Blockchain Symposium celebrated Women’s History Month by interviewing three leading women in the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry, Amanda Wick, Chao Cheng-Shorland and Alison Mangiero. The panel series was titled, “Ladies Who Launch: Making Herstory in Blockchain.”

Amanda Wick, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Association for Women In Cryptocurrency, was interviewed by Jaimie Nawaday, co-head of Seward & Kissel’s government enforcement and investigations group and member of its Women’s Initiative Executive Committee.  Amanda is a former federal prosecutor, senior policy advisor at FinCEN, and Chief of Legal Affairs at Chainalysis, who started Women in Crypto to provide a platform for women seeking greater knowledge and opportunities in the field of cryptocurrency and other digital assets, blockchain, web3, and related technology and services.

Chao Cheng-Shorland, the Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of ShelterZoom was interviewed by business transactions partner and head of Seward & Kissel Women’s Initiative Danielle Lemberg. ShelterZoom’s technology gives businesses, organizations and individuals an easy-to-use way to go completely digital on a secure platform. Chao is a highly experienced executive and industry thought leader recognized for her work in applying innovative technology to create real value for organizations and individuals in their daily lives. She was honored as the Female Innovator of the Year (2019) by the Women World Awards and the Responsible 100 by NY City & State as one of the New York’s most powerful executives, thought leaders, visionaries and influencers.

Alison Mangiero, the Executive Director of Proof of Stake Alliance (POSA) was interviewed by Lauri Goodwyn, Counsel in Seward & Kissel’s Corporate Finance Department (Derivatives and Trading Group), Executive Committee Member of Seward & Kissel Women’s Initiative and Chief Operating Officer of the Hedge Fund Association, a global nonprofit industry trade organization. POSA advocates for clear and forward-thinking public policies that foster innovation in the rapidly growing, sustainable, multi-billion dollar proof-of-stake ecosystem. Alison is a self-described “Recovering Political Scientist” interested in the ways that crypto and web3 will drive social, political, and economic innovation.  A passionate advocate of the liberal arts, Alison previously taught courses on Leadership Studies, Entrepreneurship and Public Policy at Holy Cross and currently serves on the Executive Board of Advisors for the University of Richmond’s Jepson School of Leadership Studies.

About S&K Women’s Initiative
The Seward & Kissel Women’s Initiative serves as a platform for issues relevant to female attorneys at the firm. The Initiative is committed to the advancement of female attorneys at the firm through promoting dialogue, fostering professional growth, and developing policy initiatives. The Women’s Initiative sponsors networking and professional development events to foster and connect women leaders across law and business and supports charitable and pro bono activities.