Week 14 – Carmel King Partner Grant Thornton
As Web3 continues to redefine the architecture of the internet, finance, and governance, it brings with it the rare opportunity to rebuild systems from the ground up. But if we are to build better, fairer, more inclusive systems, we must actively spotlight, and support, women in leadership roles.
Historically underrepresented in both tech and finance, women leaders bring diverse perspectives, collaborative approaches, and often values-driven leadership that prioritizes long-term sustainability over short-term gain. In Web3, where decentralized decision-making, community building, and innovation are core tenets, this diversity of style is very welcome if not essential.
Leadership isn’t monolithic. While traditional models have often emphasized hierarchy, competition, and control, many women leaders bring alternative approaches: participatory, empathetic, consensus-driven, or mentorship-focused. These styles align naturally with the ethos of decentralization and trustless systems, offering a counterbalance to purely technocratic or profit-led strategies.
By highlighting women in Web3 leadership, founders, developers, policymakers, and community builders, we not only correct representation gaps but also signal to the next generation that there is no single path to power. Visibility shapes possibility. And in a space as fast-moving and foundational as Web3, ensuring a plurality of voices isn’t just ethical, it’s strategic.
And so we are going to bring you some of the most inspiring women in Web3 and explore how and why they think as they do.
Week 14: Carmel King – Leading Authentically in a Trustless World
Carmel King, Partner, Digital Asset Recovery Lead Grant Thornton UK, has spent her career navigating the complexities of finance, technology, and leadership. Now, as she works at the forefront of Web3, she brings not just technical fluency but a deep understanding of what it means to lead authentically in a space still finding its equilibrium between innovation and inclusion.
“I’ve learned about leading authentically to develop trust,” she says, reflecting on the path that has taken her from traditional finance into blockchain. “There’s power in being the only woman in the room, but also a responsibility to institutionalise inclusion.” That duality, strength and stewardship, runs through her approach.
King is candid about the realities of gender imbalance. “Traditional power dynamics are being replicated, albeit unconsciously,” she says. Despite the rhetoric of decentralisation, the same biases that shape legacy finance still surface in funding and leadership. “Without purposeful change, decentralisation won’t offer significantly more opportunities to women than traditional sectors.”
That realism doesn’t diminish her optimism. King leads with a blend of clarity and humour, choosing her battles wisely.
“An appropriate, useful response to each situation is key,” she says. Sometimes that means challenging bias directly, other times it means stepping back to conserve energy. “Not every challenge can be a learning opportunity, sometimes it’s just a reflection of someone else’s shortcomings.”
Her perspective on trust is shaped by both the paradox of blockchain and her own experience.
“It took me a while to lead and communicate authentically,” she says. Early advice urged women to mimic masculine behaviours, but King rejects that. “In this sector, a woman can often be the sole female voice in the room. I see this as an advantage, a unique platform to shape ideas and open opportunities for others.”
She’s also clear-eyed about the structural biases that persist in the space.
“Blockchain isn’t the great equalizer some claim,” she says. “The ‘old boys club’ has translated easily into the ‘young bros club.’ Women are often over-allocated to HR or ESG functions, while their technical capabilities are undervalued.”
Her advice to women entering Web3 is practical: maintain technical proficiency, stay alert to subtle patterns of exclusion, and ensure you’re not being sidelined into softer roles unless by choice.
Bridging communities whether technical, institutional, and regulatory is where King believes women can have profound influence.
“Web3’s ideology of individual data control makes it inherently democratic,” she says, “but when groups stop communicating, when builders don’t talk to regulators or institutions don’t engage with developers, trust breaks down.”
Women, she argues, are uniquely skilled at building those bridges. “As pragmatic and trusted advisors, we can connect these worlds.”
King is passionate about ensuring that diverse voices are represented in AI and blockchain governance. “The paucity of female perspectives in design and ethical frameworks is a major issue,” she says. “Male allies have a role here too, one advocate speaking up in my absence is worth a hundred private mentors.”
She’s quick to credit the communities that supported her early career, women’s networks that offered space for both honesty and ambition.
“There’s an honesty that emerges amongst women in safe spaces that can be nurturing and brutal in equal measure.” She welcomes the new generation of pragmatic networks such as AWIC and WIBT, and calls for measurable accountability rather than slogans. “When KPIs around gender balance become as normalised as revenue, we’ll have come a long way.”
For King, leadership in Web3 is both exhilarating and unfinished. The gender gap remains real, but so does the opportunity to redefine what leadership looks like—authentic, intelligent, and inclusive.
Carmel King’s Three Tips for Women in Web3
- Just go for it. Web3 is exciting, dynamic, and deeply rewarding. Don’t wait for perfect timing—dive in and learn by doing.
- Stay informed, but accept imperfection. No one has it all figured out. Curiosity and enthusiasm matter more than knowing everything.
- Build your network. Relationships are the real currency of Web3, connect, collaborate, and support others along the way.
Related: Emily Landis Walker on translating institutional finance experience to Web3
