From Wall Street to Web3: An Innovative Journey of a Female Leader

In this rapidly changing era, women are writing their own legendary stories in various fields with unique perspectives and resilient perseverance. Today, we will share the experience of Altius CEO Annabelle; her story is not only a legend of personal growth but also a vivid epitome of the rise of female power amidst the tides of the times.

Engineering Background Paves the Way for Finance

In 2011, Annabelle entered Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to study Mathematics and Finance. She chose a STEM major largely due to family influence, with her father working in finance and her mother researching physics and structural engineering. Her experience at CMU laid the foundation for her future career transition.

After graduating, Annabelle joined Wall Street with excellent grades and worked for two well-known financial institutions. This experience quickly broadened her horizons and accumulated valuable industry experience. However, as financial regulations became increasingly strict, Annabelle felt that the space for product innovation in traditional finance was limited and began to consider the possibility of exploring new fields.

Crypto Finance: New Opportunities

In 2017, the ICO wave brought "crypto finance" to a broader stage. Several of Annabelle's university alumni established a decentralized exchange, introduced her to the knowledge of blockchain and the Ethereum ecosystem, and invited her to join. Annabelle gladly accepted and officially entered the crypto finance field in 2018, responsible for expanding the Asian market.

In her new job, Annabelle gained an in-depth understanding of the operational mechanisms and technical challenges of decentralized finance (DeFi), particularly the potential and limitations of blockchain technology in terms of transaction efficiency and security. She realized the lag in traditional finance during the clearing and trading processes, and she is determined to leverage blockchain technology to expand the application scenarios of traditional finance.

From 0 to 1: Innovation Sparks Passion

Annabelle is not just working; she is constantly thinking and creating, enjoying the process from 0 to 1. At the end of 2018, facing the common issue of insufficient on-chain liquidity in the industry, she decided to leverage her investment banking background and experience to build a liquidity provider to supply liquidity for decentralized trading platforms.

During her six years working at a well-known crypto financial company, Annabelle led the team in the development of new products from 0 to 1, expanded new businesses, and created new brands. The company transitioned from initially offering hedge fund products to later engaging in liquidity-related secondary market trading products, and then to primary market investments and even incubation, effectively trying nearly all possible business avenues within the industry.

However, Annabelle's personality makes her prefer the process of building from 0 to 1, including developing new businesses, new products, and new technologies. Therefore, she gradually withdrew from the company and founded Altius Labs in 2024, aiming to fundamentally address issues such as network congestion, high transaction costs, and insufficient scalability in blockchain systems by developing a modular execution stack that is independent of virtual machines.

Emphasize Sustainable Development

As a female leader who dares to challenge herself, Annabelle candidly admits that while the crypto finance industry helps her achieve her dreams, it also demands a lot from her. Facing the immense changes in the industry and the volatility of the market, maintaining rationality and calm thinking is a challenge.

After several rounds of industry cycles, Annabelle places more emphasis on "sustainability" and seeks long-term effective ways of working and living. She no longer focuses solely on execution and pursuing quick results as she did in the early days, but rather engages in more thinking and evaluation. This philosophy is also conveyed to her team, emphasizing the importance of accurately judging the severity, significance, and priority of matters.

Encourage more women to join

Annabelle is confident about the future of the Web3 industry and is pleased to see more and more young women entering this field and becoming independent leaders. She has observed that women are better able to adapt to this volatile market, maintain relatively stable emotions, and are more adept at sensing changes in others' emotions, demonstrating better empathy.

For young women aspiring to enter this industry, Annabelle advises: "The best way to learn is to try, whether it's joining an established company to gain experience, participating in startups, or even starting your own business, don't miss the opportunities. Even when faced with difficulties or failures, maintain a positive mindset, accumulate experience, and prepare for the next opportunity."

When choosing a company, Annabelle suggests prioritizing the quality of the team in early-stage companies, with integrity, honesty, and positive motivation being uncompromising standards, even more important than the overall business direction.

Through Annabelle's story, we see the growth and contributions of a female leader in the Web3 space. Her experiences not only showcase individual talent and determination but also reflect the industry's demand for diverse talent and inclusivity. As more women like Annabelle join and lead the industry's development, the future of Web3 will undoubtedly be brighter and full of possibilities.