Meet the Writer: HackerNoon's Contributor Karen Shidlo, CMO at Fiat24

So let’s start! Tell us a bit about yourself. For example, name, profession, and personal interests.

My name is Karen Shidlo and I am CMO at Fiat24, a web3 banking concept based in Switzerland. I spent a lot of my childhood in the USA and went to college in New York before moving back to Europe because my family chose to remain here.

My passions are everything that touches on the creative - I love writing, reading, and making art, and I was even in a band in college! Creation is at the core and heart of everything I do and is really what drives me.

Interesting! What was your latest Hackernoon Top story about?

It was all about my personal journey transitioning from web2 to web3 marketing. I believe that, as web3 starts to make waves, a lot more people will make the professional move and start working for crypto, blockchain, NFT, and related companies. Talking about the move from the types of industries we serve now, whether through marketing, business development, or other traditional roles into a completely new sector (web3), is probably quite pertinent and people want to know how the experience is different.

Do you usually write on similar topics? If not, what do you usually write about?

In the past year, I have been writing a lot about cryptocurrencies, smart contracts and blockchain technologies, web3, and what it all means for society. I find it to be fascinating and I am proud to contribute to the abundance of online content surrounding this nascent industry, educating others so that we can get more people on board!

Great! What is your usual writing routine like (if you have one?)

I think a lot about the topic and try to refine a title to ensure both that I am writing something relevant and that the message is clear.

I then create the various sections or main topics which I want to cover and then do the research. This includes looking for data, reports, and the latest news stories to truly inform my writing.

I then write and work with a colleague who helps me to edit it.

Being a writer in tech can be a challenge. It’s not often our main role, but an addition to another one. What is the biggest challenge you have when it comes to writing?

My biggest challenge is the amount of time it takes to do the proper research and find the sources that I need - as you said, it is usually a side role, and finding the time to write worthwhile articles requires a lot of dedication (which often, we just don’t have).

What is the next thing you hope to achieve in your career?

I hope to keep growing in my current role and to lend my voice to the greater growth and adoption of cryptocurrencies and web3. They are technologies I truly believe in and which I feel could contribute a lot of good to society.

Wow, that’s admirable. Now, something more casual: What is your guilty pleasure of choice?

Whipping up a delicious (even if unhealthy) meal and pigging out!

Do you have a non-tech-related hobby? If yes, what is it?

Photography, painting, reading, and my dog!

What can the Hacker Noon community expect to read from you next?

The next story I have in the works already has a title! “Bye-bye Banks, Hello Self-Custody”

Thanks for taking the time to join our “Meet the writer” series. It was a pleasure. Do you have any closing words?

I admire everyone who is on Hackernoon, both as contributors and as readers. My curiosity and passion for technology are truly what will drive change, and I am proud to be a featured writer in this amazing publication.