Our
Staff
Amanda Wick
Founder and CEO
Michelle O’Connor
Chief Strategic Officer
Yari Farias
Director of Operations
Amanda Wick
Founder and CEO
The Association's founder and chief executive officer is Amanda Wick, a former federal prosecutor and champion of women who believes that women in business and investing need an organization dedicated to enhancing their access – and success - in the predominantly male-dominated industries of cryptocurrency and other digital assets, blockchain, web3, and related technology and services.
During a distinguished career that includes roles as the Chief of Legal Affairs at Chainalysis, Inc., as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and as a Senior Policy Advisor at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), she has learned firsthand that the playing field is not level for women in tech, and much more needs to be done to ensure their equal inclusion in the future of digital finance.
Ms. Wick and other women in crypto and crypto-adjacent ecosystems agree that a new support network of advisors, mentors and other professionals is needed to increase the inclusion and advancement of women in the cryptocurrency industry through mentoring/sponsor relationships, training, and educational programs.
They also believe that we need to increase women's awareness of, and participation in venture capital investment opportunities and increase access to investment and funding opportunities for women-owned and women-operated crypto and crypto-adjacent companies.
Our
Board
Ayana Murphy
Board Member
Beth Bisbee
Board Member
Gabriella Kusz
Board Member
Mike Carter
Board Member
Steve Vallas
Board Member
Ayana Murphy
Board Member
Ayana Murphy has a varied and extensive background in the field of Anti Financial Crime, spanning over a decade of experience with a focus on compliance, risk management, and regulatory oversight. She currently holds a position as Director, Global Advisory at Refine Intelligence. Prior to her work at Refine Intelligence, she held the position of Managing Director at Ankura Consulting in New York, where she advised on the developing and enhancing financial crimes compliance programs for a wide range of institutions, from traditional banks to digital assets providers and cryptocurrency platforms. Ayana has a deep interest in knowledge sharing and mentorship, contributing to the career development for earlier in career individuals in multiple roles throughout her career.
Before joining Ankura Consulting, Ayana worked as an AML Consultant for various international financial institutions, honing her expertise in BSA/AML compliance, KYC, CDD, independent testing, transaction monitoring, and sanctions. She also held positions at Royal Bank of Scotland and UBS Financial Services, gaining experience in money laundering investigations and sales practice compliance. Her commitment to blockchain and cryptocurrency is further underscored by her involvement in the Association of Women in Cryptocurrency, as well as her recent certifications in cryptocurrency forensics and Metaverse economy.
In addition to their extensive professional experience, Ayana holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from New York University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English Language and Literature from the University of Chicago. She has also actively contributed to the industry through speaking engagements and publications, sharing their insights and expertise on cryptocurrency, blockchain, and financial crimes.
Our
Ambassadors
