The initiative works to level the playing field early in the Web3 era by training the next generation of talent.
The Drone Racing League is continuing its push into emerging technologies, led by league president Rachel Jacobson. The league has announced that it’s joining the Unstoppable Domains’ Unstoppable Women of Web3 diversity and education initiative, focused on training the next generation of talent and leveling the playing field early in the Web3 era. As part of the initiative, Unstoppable Domains will distribute over $10 million worth of NFT domains to support women in their Web3 journeys.
Those free domains will go to all attending Unstoppable Domains’ International Women’s Day events and other activities throughout the year. OpenSea is also hosting an auction Tuesday that includes IWD.nft, IWD.crypto, Crypto Chicks, Surge, Nyla Collection NFT, a Lazy Lion NFT, and Bella. The funds raised will go to Girls in Tech, a nonprofit focused on educating and training the next generation of woman leaders. In addition, Decentraland has committed to support Unstoppable Women of Web3 in building a WoW3’s headquarters.
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Outside of Jacobson and the DRL, 60 other Web2 and Web3 companies formed the “Unstoppable Women of Web3” initiative. They are
African Leadership Group, Alchemy, Algorand, Altair, Ancient Warriors, Arizona State University (ASU), AudPop, Finance.US, Bitstamp, Blockchain Association, Blockchain.com, BlockFi, Blue Studios (showcasing its NFT kids wallet), CTO Advisors, Capital Factory, Consensys, Crypto Chicks, Crypto Tech Women, Decentraland, Deloitte, The Drone Racing League, DLZP Group, Efi Pylarinou Co., Fame Lady Squad, FemPeak, Future Intelligence Group, Gemini, Girls in Tech, GMI Studios (Deadheads), Good Dollar, Google Cloud, Jeremiah Owyang Kaleido Insights, Lazy Lions, Mighty Digital, MktgNutz, NFT Heat, NFT365, NEO, Nyla Collection, OpenSea, Opera, Pazly.dev, Polygon, Ripple, The Sandbox, Sheros, SonderConnect, Surge, theCube, Thunderbird School of Global Management, TiE Global, TPI, TokenPlace, Unstoppable Domains, Valiant Entertainment, Verve Events International, We3, Women in Blockchain, Women Leaders of Data, and Your Story.
“If there’s anything we’ve learned from a [diversity and inclusion] perspective in the Web2 era – both across technology and sports – it’s that leaders have a responsibility to influence foundational change and that diversity drives innovation and business success across the board,” Jacobson said in a statement to Boardroom. “Web3 is built into DRL’s business model. We’re creating a new era of sport, bringing drone racing IRL, in virtual simulation and in the metaverse, so the world’s best drone pilots and our millions of fans can experience our sport in all dimensions.”
DRL is disrupting everything the world knows about traditional sports,” she continued. “Our sport is powered by technology, it’s innovating as fast as drones, and it’s run by predominantly women. I love that our executive team is majority women, our employee base is close to an even split gender-wise, and we’re creating dynamic programs with our partners, from our DRL Academy STEM program and #WomenTakingOff digital series, to inspire diversity and inclusion across sports and technology and get more girls and women involved in new career paths.”
Unstoppable Women of Web3 will encourage women to learn, participate and drive diversity in the Web3 community, with a focus on how women can use their superpowers to impact the space.
Initial themes will include how to get started and the technology of Web3 (including blockchain. In addition, the group will tackle community building, investing, and teaching women how to be change-makers. This knowledge will be shared through Twitter Spaces, Discord, Telegram and in-person events, starting with a live event at SXSW in Capital Factory’s HQ. Unstoppable Domains Learning and Development will be sharing content with all community members.
The Drone Racing League are no strangers to diving into uncharted territory. In 2021, the league inked a $100 million deal with blockchain company Algorand, partnered with global UAV leader Draganfly, tied itself to Nacon Strike for a gaming partnership and doubled global viewership.
Jacobson, who has been at her post for two years, told Boardroom the advice she gives to people who aspire to be in sports:
“I always tell anyone starting out in their career to network, network, network – relationships are everything in this business – and learn by doing,” she said. “You will accelerate your business and leadership skills through experience, challenges, and mistakes. Embrace healthy tension with your team, speak up, and put in the work.”
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