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 determination. Today, we focus on the protagonist Annabelle, the CEO of Altius. Her experience 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.

Technical Background Lays the Foundation

In 2011, Annabelle entered Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to study Mathematics and Finance. Her choice of a STEM field was influenced by her family; her father worked in finance and her mother focused on physics and structural engineering. Her experience at CMU laid a solid foundation for her future career transition.

Wall Street Experience

After graduation, Annabelle entered Wall Street with outstanding grades and worked for several well-known financial institutions. This experience quickly broadened her horizons and accumulated rich industry experience and knowledge. However, in the face of increasingly stringent financial regulations, the space for innovation in traditional financial products became limited, prompting Annabelle to contemplate new development directions.

Entering the Crypto Finance

The ICO wave swept in 2017, making "crypto finance" a hot topic. Through the recommendation of an alumnus, Annabelle was introduced to blockchain and the Ethereum ecosystem, and she resolutely immersed herself in this emerging field. In 2018, she joined a decentralized exchange, responsible for expanding the Asian market. Here, Annabelle gained an in-depth understanding of the operational mechanisms and technical challenges of DeFi, laying the foundation for her future development.

Driven by the Spirit of Innovation

Annabelle is not just working; she is constantly thinking and creating. Facing the widespread 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 support decentralized trading platforms with liquidity.

Subsequently, Annabelle joined a leading cryptocurrency financial services provider, where she spent six fulfilling years. She led the team in developing multiple products from 0 to 1, expanding new businesses, and establishing new brands. This company was involved in various aspects of the cryptocurrency field, from hedge fund products to secondary market trading, as well as primary market investments and project incubation.

New Challenge: The Birth of Altius Labs

Passionate about challenges and innovation, Annabelle ultimately chose to set out again and founded Altius Labs in 2024. This company is dedicated to solving key issues in traditional blockchain systems, such as network congestion, high transaction costs, and insufficient scalability. By developing a modular execution stack that is independent of virtual machines, Altius Labs aims to fundamentally reform blockchain architecture.

Evolution of Leadership Styles

As a female leader, Annabelle admits that the crypto finance industry has set very high demands on her. Maintaining rationality and calmness in the face of the industry's significant changes and market fluctuations is a huge challenge.

From the "sprint" mentality in the early days of the startup to a greater emphasis on "sustainability" now, Annabelle's leadership style has undergone significant changes. She no longer solely pursues quick results but focuses more on long-term effective work and lifestyle. This philosophy has also been conveyed to her team, emphasizing the importance of thorough thinking and assessment before taking action.

Advice for Young Women

Annabelle is optimistic about the future of the Web3 industry and is delighted to see more and more young women joining this field. She believes that women have shown unique advantages in this volatile market, including emotional stability and sharp empathy.

For young women looking to enter this industry, Annabelle offers valuable advice:

1. Be brave to try, whether it's joining a mature company or a startup team, every experience is an opportunity for growth.
2. Maintain a positive mindset; even when facing difficulties and challenges, accumulate experiences to prepare for the next opportunity.
3. When selecting early-stage companies, the quality of the team is more important than the business direction; integrity, honesty, and positive motivation are uncompromising standards.

Annabelle's story showcases how a female leader navigates her path in the rapidly changing Web3 world. Her experience is not only a personal success story but also provides valuable inspiration and encouragement for young women looking to carve out their own space in this emerging field.