Tag: leadership

Women Taking on the Mantle of Leadership in Blockchain and Crypto Law

Gone are the days when women used to play second fiddle in male-dominated fields, such as law and technology, as women cryptocurrency and blockchain lawyers are taking the helm in several major law firms. Notably, women are leading blockchain practice groups in at least a half-dozen reputable law firms, such as McDermott Will & Emery, Morrison & Foerster, and Goodwin Procter.

Male-dominance in blockchain

According to reports, only 5% to 7% of all cryptocurrency and blockchain users are women, making the sector a highly male-dominated one. As a result, women lawyers in this field acknowledge that “boy’s club” tendencies are inevitable.

Judith Rinearson, a co-leader of K&L Gates’s blockchain practice group, noted, “We’re not about to wait for someone to tell us, it’s okay to come on in. When we saw blockchain coming down the pike, we jumped on it.”

She asserted that blockchain plays an instrumental role in availing outstanding opportunities for women to jump on the bandwagon.

According to Michelle Gitlitz, the global head of Crowell & Moring’s blockchain and digital assets practice, one of the visible traits women leaders in big law blockchain practices possess is foresight. 

Gitlitz noted that interest in this sector began a few years ago after big law attorneys whose roles often included securities or regulatory work started receiving specific cryptocurrency or blockchain-related questions. 

The ascendance of women crypto/blockchain lawyers

One of the reasons for an upward trend in women crypto/blockchain lawyers is based on their high number at big law firms as compared to the past. Additionally, more of them have shown their desire to lead. 

Joshua Klayman, the US head of blockchain, fintech, and digital assets at Linklaters, asserted, “Having women lead in a field where you have critical mass is vitally important. It inspires others, and can show them, ‘You can learn this. You can do this.”

As the number of women crypto/blockchain lawyers taking up leadership positions continues to increase, it seems the sky’s the limit. 

Image via Shutterstock

Sam Altman Reinstated as OpenAI CEO Amid Board Restructuring

Sam Altman, who was formerly employed as the Chief Executive Officer of OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research lab that is well-known for its achievements in AI technology, including the invention of ChatGPT, has been rehired. This is a surprising outcome. In light of the fact that Altman was ousted from his position only a few days prior to the announcement of this decision on November 22, it demonstrates the dynamic nature of leadership within the quickly developing artificial intelligence business.

Unprecedented Reversal of Decision

The departure of Altman from OpenAI, which took place only a few days ago, was received with great astonishment and conjecture from the general public. Because of the abrupt nature of the relocation, many people are now wondering what the company’s future has in store for them. Nevertheless, OpenAI made the unexpected announcement that Altman would be returning to his position as CEO. This was a fast turnaround. This move highlights the significant position that Altman plays in the corporation as well as the artificial intelligence field as a whole.

Impact on OpenAI’s Team and Mission

When Altman left OpenAI for a short period of time, it became clear how important he was to the process of bringing the team together. According to reports, around 505 out of 700 workers at OpenAI signed a letter to oppose the decision of the board to dismiss Altman. The petition argued that the move undercut the purpose of the firm and put their work in jeopardy. However, the board ultimately decided to terminate Altman. There is a great deal of respect and authority that Altman commands inside OpenAI, as seen by this powerful staff reaction.

Board Restructuring

The return of Altman is accompanied by the establishment of a new first board for OpenAI. This board will include notable individuals such as Bret Taylor, who will serve as chairman, as well as Larry Summers and Adam D’Angelo as regular members. Bringing OpenAI’s governance into alignment with the developing aims and strategies of the firm in the field of artificial intelligence, this restructure marks a fundamental change in OpenAI’s governance.

Microsoft’s Involvement

Altman was first accepted for the post of leading a new sophisticated artificial intelligence research team at Microsoft, which was offered to him by Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft. This opportunity further exacerbated the issue. However, in response to the outrage at OpenAI and the ensuing events, Altman made the decision to return to OpenAI, putting an emphasis on his dedication to the firm and its cooperation with Microsoft.

Implications for the Artificial Intelligence Industry

Both the restoration of Altman and the reorganisation of OpenAI’s board of directors have important repercussions for the artificial intelligence business. In particular, they highlight the fluid nature of leadership and governance in technology organisations, particularly those that are at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence. The return of Altman is seen as a step that will stabilise OpenAI, guaranteeing that the organisation will continue to fulfil its objective and bolstering its position as a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence research and development.

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