While the words bitcoin and blockchain are a part of the everyday vernacular in the tech industry, non-tech professionals are still trying to understand how to approach the concept.
The Black Blockchain Consultants is an organization that began in January 2018, and within six months, is approaching 1,000 members — blockchain novices and professionals — who want to bridge the gap.
The organization’s momentum is on track to make an impact and help C-Suite executives find qualified talent in the industry.
The results of a survey, conducted in 2014, found that “whites (54 percent) and Hispanics (51 percent) are more likely than African Americans (37 percent) to have heard about virtual currency.”
The survey, “Consumer Attitudes on Bitcoin and Other Virtual Currencies” was published in 2017 by the Massachusetts Division of Banks and Conference of State Bank Supervisors.
In the professional world, many non-developers have refrained from engaging in blockchain. Those who have engaged are mainly white men — early adopters of bitcoin and blockchain.
However there is a movement growing where Blacks are gathering in discussion groups on various platforms to learn from one another and encourage each other. One of the more public ones, Black Blockchain Consultants, is based in Fairfax, Virginia.
The Black Blockchain Consultants was started by Cheree Warrick, a professional writer of government and grant proposals, business plans, financial budgets and forecasts. It’s a “peer-to-peer organization of blockchain novices who understand the importance of this technology.” Their immediate goal for the next 12 months is to be “able to pursue career and business opportunities as a blockchain consultant in the emerging technology field.”
The overall vision of the organization is to build:
Lofty goals but obtainable with the enthusiasm the group has developed in its brief time since inception.
Warrick’s skillset translates to the blockchain world. She helped a national government contracting firm to grow from $50 million in annual revenues to $200 million. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the monetary side of the blockchain as a professional with experience in business financials and budgeting for more than 20 industries and companies. She earned a bachelor’s degree in international business from American University and a master’s in finance from George Washington University.
She is the author of the book, “Creating Business Plans that Actually Get Financed” which was written to help business owners understand what investors want to know before committing. The book and her strategies have been praised by numerous angel investors and commercial bankers including Barbara Corcoran of the hit TV show, “Shark Tank” and Valerie Gaydos, founder of the Angel Venture Forum of D.C.
In 2017, she became fascinated with blockchain, hashgraph, cryptography and how they could affect all industries. She founded Leo Blockchain LLC, a company to train corporate executives, government administrators, employees, and entrepreneurs on the fundamentals and use cases of blockchain technology in a vendor-neutral environment.
In true community fashion, Warrick took to her network on social media to see if there were others interested in the blockchain.
“I posted something on Facebook asking if anyone wanted to discuss how to become a blockchain consultant. We had 47 people during the first meeting and 80 people during our second meeting. I realized people wanted a group dedicated to understanding and working within this potential trillion-dollar industry. So, I started it.” — Blockchain expert Cheree Warrick, on how why started The Black Blockchain Consultants.
The group holds monthly virtual meetings, study groups for blockchain expert certification and online Facebook discussions to share industry knowledge. As it approaches 1,000 members, the group is already slated to have its first in-person conference, “Black Wealth, Blockchain & Crypto,” scheduled for Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Talisha Shine, a member of The Black Blockchain Consultants, said the organization solidified her resolve in pursuing a career in Blockchain.
“This has led to me being offered speaking and presentation opportunities,“ she told Moguldom.
The Black Blockchain Consultants has proven to be a safe place for novices and professionals to merge.
Now an expert blockchain consultant, Eugenia Miller said the organization helped her overcome doubts about being able to compete with younger people.
“This year marks my 50th birthday, and it helped me to believe that I am not too old to learn about this technology. I doubted my ability to compete with the younger folk”, Miller said. “The Black Blockchain Consultants afforded me the opportunity to learn and grow with others, become a certified blockchain expert; collaborate on apprenticeship opportunities where we gained invaluable information and experience, and as a result, the confidence needed to pursue a viable career as an expert blockchain consultant.”
Dr. Kecia J. Waddell, an instructional technology professional, also raves about the organization.
“I not only consume up-to-the-minute information about blockchain technology through my involvement but I am afforded opportunities to become a producer of educational content, to support innovative blockchain projects, and ultimately become a thought-leader in a manner that leverages my existing skill sets and professional background. Our (the Black Blockchain Consultants’) energy and every endeavor are purposeful towards benefiting others as well as our own households and communities,” Waddell said.
