The world of Web3 and all things Blockchain, crypto, AI, and Metaverse is swiftly evolving. Artistic, talented creators have found a medium where their voices can be heard loud and clear.

Among the newly empowered creatives entering Web3, there are a host of phenomenal women leading the way. Raine Magazine caught up to several and asked them about what drives/motivates them.

Dr. Annelize Booysen is the founder-architect of Your Global Village, an immersive virtual village for global-minded business owners who want to keep up with the tech changes to ensure they remain relevant over the next decade.

A global citizen, having lived in 9 countries on 4 continents, she's used her international perspective and her background in economics to create a vibrant business community that facilitates personal connection and enables time-strapped entrepreneurs to prepare for the Future of Business, without complexity or the need for a big budget.

RAINE: What drives you/motivates you to be part of the Web3 movement?

ANNELIZE BOOYSEN: What motivates me to be part of the Web3 movement is the pure potentiality of it. We’ve had these moments in history before but what is different this time is that the potential is within reach of everyone, not just a handful of people. I believe that most people have the desire to make a positive difference in the world. Technology is now handing us the tools to achieve this, no matter who you are.

Something else that motivates me about the Web3 movement is the positive energy that fuels it. Everyone working in the space is trying to address a challenge, but they’re doing it with a mindset of collaboration and support. Competition is taking the backseat in this “co-era” where collaboration, community, and co-creation is the ethos. In a world that is littered with negative headlines, strife, and seemingly insurmountable challenges, the Web3 space is the opposite. It is positive with a can-do attitude of “we, the people”. It is a collection of people who see a future that looks different (and better) from what media is showing us. Web3 gives us the opportunity to start thinking bigger and doing bigger, because we don’t place limits on what we think is possible.

What drives me, is actually something different. My natural tendency is to look for patterns and finding better ways of doing what we’re doing. SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) are the driving force of an economy but I see a lot of inefficiencies, and therefore waste, in how we do things. Web3 and virtual worlds are giving us the chance to rethink things, create efficiencies, and explore more opportunities for business owners across the globe, regardless of size.

Web3, for me, is as much a set of tools as it is a mindset. The key ingredients are curiosity and a belief that anything is possible, without being Pollyanna-ish. Web3 is clear-minded about the issues we have to fix but it is also starry-eyed about the possibilities to do so. That is a great combination for moving things forward, as history has already shown us.

RAINE: How did you get into web3?

BOOYSEN: I got into Web3 by accident. 

It started with a frustration with networking and business communities. Networking is designed to be an enabler but I found it doesn’t work well for everyone. I wished that I could stand in front of a shopfront window as I met someone, giving them the ability to get a quick summary of what I do by looking over my shoulder, and then having a real conversation with me. It seemed as if so much potential was wasted because of the superficiality of networking conversations. As I worked with clients over the years I also noticed that everyone has similar business challenges, yet we all work in silos, struggling to get ahead. That, again, was a waste, an inefficiency, that I thought should be addressed. 

I’ve had the privilege of living in 9 different countries, each being a unique experience where different perspectives created an enriched whole. This global mindset filtered into my business thinking, while also giving me an appreciation for the immense value of having a supportive community to help you to thrive in changing conditions.

After multiple visits to one of the “most beautiful villages in France” (an official designation), Saint-Cirq Lapopie, an idea emerged that a village is a brilliant metaphor for what a community should be. Within the walls of this medieval city, one felt safe and embraced, while the community living inside these walls took pride in what they’ve created, with each person contributing their artistic talents and entrepreneurial skills to make it a unique place. That struck me as something that I’d want from a business community. Instead of a business community relying on a guru with a blueprint or a membership where everyone is left to their own devices, I wanted to return to the past to create a business community that could take us into the future. A place where competition is replaced with collaboration, where one-pointed knowledge gathering makes way for multiple expertise and perspective contributions, and where all-for-one and one-for-all is a living ethos. And yes, where we could all have a shopfront that we could stand in front of and where we create trust at record speed to ensure meaningful, enabling conversations right from the start. 

I therefore created a container for such a community: a virtual village with aesthetics that makes you feel at home. A place where you feel looked after and where no one is left to their own devices. Where community management means systems and structure that doesn’t make you feel overwhelmed but takes you on a step-by-step manageable journey to build your network and grow your business - but also looks after you as the person behind the business. And together, making a tangible difference in tiny increments to solve some of the world’s problems. Your Global Village is a financial independence enabler that harnesses the power of the collective to create more, with more meaning.  

So, long story short: I had an idea of how to improve a real-life situation by extending it into the virtual realm.

RAINE: What do you see as the future of web3?

BOOYSEN: I see it unfolding in phases.  

First will be a maturing where Web3 technologies create real value and solve everyday problems. It needs to become relevant in people’s lives. 

Next, Web3 goes mainstream, as more people embrace it as something that can solve problems, instead of just being (seemingly) speculative.  

The third phase will be a seamless integration that extends our real world into a virtual world. Real and spatial will merge into a richer experience. 

This won’t happen overnight, but if the mobile tech is anything to go by, this is a likely outcome. 

RAINE: What are you building or helping to build in web3?

BOOYSEN: Using the concept of a medieval walled city, I've created a business community for SME business owners who’d like to enter global markets while also remaining current with immersive tech, but who aren’t sure where to start. It is called Your Global Village.

It’s an approachable Web2.5 virtual metaverse Village where business owners from all corners of the world get to occupy their own virtual Merchant House (virtual office) with custom-designed interiors that reflect their 3D brand story.  

From here they not only work on transitioning their businesses by learning about and implementing immersive tech; they also grow revenue through Village collaborations and referrals. 

Residents find the personal 1:1 connections, global collaborations, and warm introductions to be a real differentiator. Through our programs and facilitations, they develop their entrepreneurial skills and, as part of a highly engaged learning community, they actively reposition their enterprises for the Web3 and immersive web era without having to figure it out for themselves. 

We see Your Global Village as a bridge to the Future of Business. 

It is important for me to that it’s not just big corporations that get to play in this space. Small businesses need to have a place at the table as well, to help sculpt this Future of Business in a way that works for everyone. Your Global Village is doing that by making it easier for a business owner to jump in and start experimenting. And in the process, they quietly emerge as leaders that reshape their industries.

RAINE: What challenges do you see in the metaverse and web3 going forward?

BOOYSEN: A big challenge is what one can call the “socialization” of Web3 and the metaverse. Because of the languaging, we’ve created a barrier to entry. Since people don’t understand the terminology, they hesitate to partake. Or worse, they wait for a time when it becomes part of the public vocabulary. If Web3 is to live up to its vision of inclusivity, we need to address this.

Another challenge is the fact that we are developing the far extreme of the tech curve, while a very large proportion of the world doesn’t have the starting point access to it. We are creating advanced immersive worlds while basic internet access, and even electricity, is still a huge challenge in large parts of the world. Inclusivity needs to cover the entire spectrum, from connectivity to co-ownership otherwise we’re just increasing the divide, instead of reducing it.

Confusion about what the metaverse is is another challenge that we face. It is being associated with a single company, with a video game, with escapism, with social demise. There is a lot of work that needs to be done in this space but I also suspect that showing results will be the best PR tool we have.

A last challenge, which is inevitable, is this: a lot of what we’ve built has been experimental, as it should be. But without solid business models, it is unsustainable. Our challenge is to now turn these into profitable enterprises that deliver in the world of business and shareholders. The honeymoon phase is over and we need to show ROI.

RAINE: What’s your perspective on how web3 has evolved?

BOOYSEN: In one of the reports by Deloitte, they mentioned that innovations tend to first emerge as tech that then turns into a toy that finally becomes a tool. And that is definitely a good description of what we’ve been seeing.  

While we expected a greater adoption by consumers at this point, it is the enterprise applications that are showing the most maturity. A report by Accenture has mentioned that while the smartphone era was driven by consumers, the immersive web era will be led by enterprises, from where it will cascade down. That seems to be a fair assessment. 

The speed at which Web3 has developed is something to marvel at. With the maturing of a lot of different underlying technologies, more is becoming possible every day. And with every new development, new opportunities present themselves. This will continue at an accelerated pace. That does not mean that we’re going to have a fully developed immersive web or a fully decentralized world in 6 months. But we will certainly not be waiting for 27 years, like we did with the internet. Speed of evolvement is part of Web3, which makes it essential for businesses to at least dip a toe in the water to remain current.

RAINE: What words of wisdom would you have for women and minorities interested in getting involved in web3?

BOOYSEN: Get started.  

It is as simple as that. The only thing that is holding you back is you. 

You have a world of difference that you can make.  

All it requires is your imagination and a willingness to work hard at solving a challenge that you feel strongly about.  

It won’t be easy but in the process of solving a challenge, you’ll find out what you’re made of.  

You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

RAINE: What helpful resources can you share for someone interested in entering web3?

BOOYSEN: Read: books and articles about Web3 and immersive technologies 

Follow: a core set of 10 people in your field who are sharing on LinkedIn. Diligently read what they share and leave comments. 

Attend: a selection of webinars to hear what others are working on and what’s unfolding in the field

Listen: to podcasts that interpret the trends.  

Write: about what you learn and regularly post it on LinkedIn and Twitter.

RAINE: What potential innovations are you most excited about?

BOOYSEN: I’m most excited about the opportunities that are unfolding to explain and share the value of what we’re bringing in our businesses. The richness of what we can add to our products and services will bring much more depth to the connections we make with customers and the outcomes we can help them achieve.  

What is important to me is the ability to bring something to its full potential, to give it the ability to be everything it was meant to be, and more. Emerging tech is helping entrepreneurs do that by allowing the value that they bring find its full expression. That is success. 

I’m also looking forward to seeing how Apple is going to change the game with their Vision Pro. This is the first time that we are going to see the true blending of real and virtual worlds in practice. If well received, it will most certainly accelerate the pace of Web3 adoption.