This conversation blew me away. Shyra Melo is 27 years old. First generation Colombian-American. And tomorrow she's ringing the bell at the Chicago Board of Trade as part of a company going public. But here's the kicker. Six years ago she was just a 21-year-old who heard about this Bitcoin thing on the news and decided to invest. Shyra's journey started when she kept hearing about Bitcoin everywhere. Financial advisors were telling her it would never grow. She decided to ignore them and invest anyway. That curiosity about crypto led her deeper into blockchain technology. She started understanding the real value wasn't in the coins but in the underlying tech. The chains. The propositions. The actual problems they were solving. Then she met Jason Melo. Her now husband and CTO who founded Paxo. She had a vision for privacy solutions on blockchain. He was working at a unicorn company and wasn't sure about leaving for another startup. But the vision was there. They saw the opportunity to create something different. Privacy vaults on blockchain that separate identifiable information from data analysis. Her family immigrated from Colombia. Her grandmother came first out of love. Then brought the daughters over. Including Shyra's mom who became a homeowner on her own. Powerful women showing what's possible. Now Shyra's a woman in tech at 27 years old building privacy solutions that keep kids safe. That's the American dream right there. This episode is about curiosity leading to opportunity. About mentally stepping into where you know you're going before you get there. About the difference between professionals and facade. And about how six years of consistent vision and execution can take you from Bitcoin beginner to public company executive.

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About Shayra:

Driven by the revolutionary potential of decentralized technologies, I've been actively involved in the crypto space since 2018. As a seasoned investor, I've successfully advised and built numerous projects across DeFi, SocialFi, and RWA sectors. My expertise lies in crafting innovative token-economic systems that incentivize sustainable value growth.

Beyond investments, I'm deeply passionate about building open, decentralized protocols that empower users. This passion led me to co-found TouchBrick, a startup at the forefront of Web3 interaction. With our groundbreaking technology, we're transforming how users engage with the blockchain.

Bringing one of my portfolio companies into a successful IPO on the CBOE. This experience provided invaluable insights into scaling and navigating complex financial markets.

I'm a firm believer in fostering inclusion and breaking barriers within the tech industry. As a first-generation Latin American woman, I strive to pave the way for others by actively mentoring and supporting diverse talent.