{"id":5594,"date":"2020-06-13T11:59:38","date_gmt":"2020-06-13T15:59:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cointelegraph.com\/magazine\/?p=5594"},"modified":"2020-06-13T11:06:34","modified_gmt":"2020-06-13T15:06:34","slug":"6-questions-michelle-o-connor-uphold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cointelegraph.com\/magazine\/2020\/06\/13\/6-questions-michelle-o-connor-uphold","title":{"rendered":"6 Questions for Michelle O’Connor of Uphold"},"content":{"rendered":"

Each week we ask the buidlers in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector for their thoughts on the industry… and we throw in a few random zingers to keep them on their toes!<\/em><\/p>\n

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This week our 6 Questions go to Michelle O’Connor, VP of Marketing at Uphold<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michelle is passionate about building the future of inclusive finance through emerging technologies to both streamline and empower businesses and consumers through transparency and financial inclusion. She has spoken on FinTech, blockchain and digital financial services and community building efforts, and was recently recognized as one of the \u2018Most Inspirational Women in Tech 2019.\u2019<\/p>\n

Earlier in her career, she founded a hybrid marketing agency bridging the gap between traditional media, public relations, social media, and community marketing.\u00a0 In this role she focused on lifestyle brands, providing strategic and lean marketing strategies along with social media, public relations, and community programs.<\/p>\n

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1 \u2014 Which two superpowers would you most want to have, and how would you combine them for good\u2026 or evil?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Without a doubt, I\u2019d choose the ability to time travel and freeze time. How amazing would it be to wake up one day, think to yourself,\u00a0I want to go back to meet Ada Lovelace, a renowned mathematician who is widely considered to be the first computer programmer way back in the mid-1800s?!<\/i> To experience the world alongside Ada, knowing the world as it is now (in large part a result of her early work) \u2014 would be utterly inspiring.<\/p>\n

My fascination with freezing time may be a direct result of growing up watching Evie Garland on the 1980\u2019s show Out of This World<\/i> freeze time, and how those scenarios played out. Now, more than ever, I’d love to have the ability to freeze things as they are, and in parallel fast-track the vaccine for coronavirus, then unfreeze time \u2014 and go back to before this all started.<\/p>\n

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2 \u2014 If you were investing in startup companies right now, what kind of blockchain-based business opportunity would catch your eye? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Blockchain companies working in healthcare are especially interesting; specifically those that improving medical record-keeping. This is important to me, as we need to ameliorate the level of care and democratize access for people who are under-insured or not insured.<\/p>\n

Identifying trends across medical history, including family history, medication, allergies, and have it owned by the patient and accessible anytime, anywhere, regardless of their insurance status \u2014 game-changing.<\/p>\n

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3 \u2014 What\u2019s the unlikeliest-to-happen thing on your bucket list?<\/b><\/p>\n

Sadly, the thing that I would love most to do, is the most unlikely. Unplug from all social media and sail around the world with my family.<\/p>\n

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4 \u2014 If there is a future for cryptocurrencies, what is the main hurdle the industry needs to overcome. And if not, what does the future of money look like to you?<\/b><\/p>\n

If the pandemic has shown us anything, it\u2019s the need for alternatives to the legacy financial system.<\/p>\n

Cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and digital assets face two main challenges as it stands now \u2014 established and consistent regulation to nurture mainstream adoption, and a reduction in speculation. At the moment if you look up Bitcoin, or any of the top cryptos \u2014 everyone\u2019s writing about their price, rather than the applications. (Editor’s note: Well, not everyone…)<\/em><\/p>\n

As a real-world digital alternative to fiat currencies, cryptocurrencies need to shift from speculation to everyday use. Those changes have already taken place in countries where inflation and currency devaluation is more prevalent like Venezuela and Argentina. There, the need for stability and ease of use has driven acceptance of Bitcoin and other digital assets. In the U.S. we\u2019re seeing currency debasement as the stimulus prints trillions of dollars \u2014 heading toward an inevitable devolution of the USD and piquing interest in alternative currencies like cryptocurrencies.<\/p>\n

The bridge from old to new money systems used to be a long one, and you couldn\u2019t quite see the other side \u2014 we\u2019re closer than ever today.<\/p>\n

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5 \u2014 Tell us about a hidden talent \u2013 and give us a link to prove it!<\/b><\/p>\n

Is gardening a talent? Not sure, but I love gardening and this year has taken it to the next level with three raised beds growing 20 different fruits and vegetables.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s been nearly a month since we planted our first garden & I\u2019d say things are coming in nicely! #getoutdoors<\/a> #gardening<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/XCj3IIEnXA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Michelle O\u2019Connor (@Mq2Oco) June 10, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n