1. Build, build, build: Two years ago, while struggling to switch industries, I made my first bold move: quitting my corporate job to focus solely on building Metagals. Through Metagals, I aimed to learn about Web3 while sharing that journey with my community, and it worked. I was surrounded by the most passionate, curious minds, and that taught me more than I ever expected. By building something myself, I gained not only “hard skills” but also profound self-knowledge. I reexamined my perspective on work, and my values and ideas were challenged by the industry. Also, in crypto, being a builder helps you position yourself and engage with other communities, which are (for the most part) open, helpful, and collaborative spaces. 🔨

2. Get the skills and be hands-on: In my opinion, understanding Web3 values and the mechanics behind it is essential. I didn’t start as a technical person—I studied Marketing and Communication. But as I learned more about how things worked, it became clear that Web3 is at a stage where familiarity with the terminology and understanding the underlying technology is essential to engage fully and gain value. Here’s what I did to deepen my skills:

   • Master's in Digital Business and Innovation: As I had more flexibility with time now, I chose to study a Technology Management program. This program was particularly useful, as it covered coding basics, machine learning, blockchain, and more. The international setting in Spain also expanded my perspective in countless ways that definitely led me to see things from a different perspective and take the steps towards this new role.

   • SheFi Cohort 11: As I approached graduation, I started considering Web3 companies and roles to apply for. Joining the SheFi cohort expanded my knowledge and, most importantly, gave me access to a community eager to support and share knowledge. Here I also met Val, an HR advisor for web3 who kindly took the time to review my CV and share her knowledge a couple times. Also, she held monthly sessions with the community.

3. Be involved in the ecosystem: From building Metagals, self-study, and taking SheFi lessons, I realized that being part of a community helps you build the right network. I once heard, “Your network is your net worth,” and it’s true. Apart from the points above, referrals were key in securing interviews in the industry. Before landing my role at Binance, I got close to final rounds in two other processes, thanks to referrals from SheFi and Metagals members. The connection that led to Binance was someone I met through Metagals—full circle. ❤

4. Be fearless and curious: In SheFi there's this saying of "doing it scared." And I made that my mantra as well. In the past few years, I’ve taken risks and challenged myself to feel uncomfy. I did things such as quitting my job, attending IRL events by myself, traveling to expand my network (even when I didn't know anyone) and more. For instance, since I was already in Europe this year, attending the SheFi Summit in Brussels was a no-brainer. However, once I arrived, imposter syndrome hit hard. It’s intimidating to show up in spaces with talented people and try to find your place there. But trust me—no one else cares about your insecurities. Showing up with confidence and humility opens doors to opportunities and friendships in the ecosystem... the first thing to do is to just show up.

If you want to know more or have specific questions, you know I’m always happy to help and share.

X: @_paauu_ / @metagals_

IG: @_paucorral

Thanks for reading 🙂

Since I bought my first BTC and ETH about four years ago, the advice has always been the same: HOLD. So, two years ago, when I was trying to figure out how to finance a Master's Degree abroad, I initially thought of the traditional routes—student loans, scholarships, and maybe a part-time job. But due to the type of VISA I had, working part-time wasn’t an option.

I began applying for scholarships and a loan through a financial institution in my home country, which offered one of the lowest interest rates available. After navigating some of the most frustrating bureaucratic processes I've ever encountered, I managed to secure a 15% scholarship and a (small) loan to finance the upcoming year. But it wasn’t enough. I was still short of the money I needed to cover tuition and, of course, living expenses in a new city. I didn’t want to deplete my savings or cash out my crypto—not yet.

It's important to mention that my previous job involved founding Metagals, where all the funds raised from partners were reinvested directly into the community. Essentially, I had zero income during 2023.

As I continued my research, I stumbled upon Aave. For those unfamiliar, Aave is a decentralized liquidity protocol that allows you to borrow and lend crypto. This seemed like a much better option than just burning through all my savings. The idea of lending my crypto assets and earning interest without relying on a traditional bank was revolutionary. What do you mean I don't have to put up my parents' house as collateral to access this lending!?

With Aave, I had enough to survive my year abroad, albeit on a tight budget. Then, just when I arrived in Madrid, Optimism's Retro Funding Round was announced. Could it be possible to get rewarded and recognized for all the work Metagals had done through 2022 and 2023? It was. Of course, I didn't use all the money to fund my stay here; I needed to give back to my community first, split it with my co-founder, and then kept a small reward for myself for the work I had done over the past few years. This experience has been key for me in understanding the true power of Web3 and community incentives. Everything we do should be rewarded at some point, even using financial services shouldn’t feel like a punishment for users.

My journey with Aave and Optimism has taught me that there are alternative paths to achieving your goals, especially in the world of web3 where your efforts should matter and where we should be free to decide how to achieve our financial freedom. It’s about being proactive, staying informed, and doing your research on ways to make the most of the resources available.

For anyone considering a similar path, my advice is simple: dive in, stay curious, and remember that in the world of crypto, opportunities are enormous. If you need any help I'm always open to help <3.

Metagals started as a hobby—something my best friends and I did to upgrade our skills while having fun and sharing our findings with others. Little did I know that thanks to this tweet, my professional career would change forever. Our first Metagals reunion quickly grew from a casual meetup in my apartment to a cool rooftop in a hip CDMX neighborhood, where 30 women gathered for a free event to discuss the basics: "Why women deserve access to financial education" and "What is web 3.0?" We called this event "Drink & Learn," and it changed everything. Our following Drink & Learns became a tradition among the gals, with each event selling out, growing to host monthly gatherings for 100-120 women, and even developing waitlists of up to 170 people. I was amazed not only to experience community in this way, but also by the tiny fire that sparked in my heart ❤‍🔥 every time I worked on something Metagals-related. Long story short, I quit my corporate job at H&M, where I was the Growth Manager for the 'hello member' loyalty program, and spent the following years building the community, leading the marketing pillar, and closing strong partnerships with key industry players like Bitso, Binance, and dYdX.

Another important aspect of this story is that transitioning to tech has always been a strong personal desire. However, before Metagals, tech companies often rejected me because I didn't have enough experience in tech or SaaS. But in web3, it was different. The possibilities for learning and being part of something exciting were there. I became a leader in the community in Mexico, and my background didn’t matter. I decided to move to Madrid to study a Master's in Digital Business and Innovation, where I acquired hard skills in coding, AI, and Machine Learning. It has been one of the best decisions of my life. However, the Metagals model became unsustainable with the distance. Building community and safe spaces requires a close, hands-on approach and being present.

So here I am, reflecting on how nothing is permanent—and that’s okay. For a few months, I struggled to accept that Metagals' initial model was no longer sustainable. My co-founder, Vale, was amazing to build this with, but for her, the crypto spark just wasn’t there anymore—and that’s okay too. Let's be honest: it's a complicated and volatile industry. Not easy. I was about to close Metagals for good, but then I thought of all the experiences and, most importantly, the people I met. I see the importance of keeping these safe spaces alive in the industry. Although I can no longer follow the same experiential model as before, I still have a lot of knowledge and tools I've discovered, and I want to keep sharing them with whoever might need them.

I'm currently in the process of trying to return to web3 as a marketer, now in a place where I can continue nurturing my skills. I have a strong and extensive web2 background and a relevant understanding of web3 in marketing and community building, so I'd love to use this space to share tools, thoughts, and ideas that have helped me navigate this transition. At the end of the day, that’s the essence of Metagals: sharing to help others, and that’s what I’ll keep doing with Metagals.

If you made it to this point, gracias 🙂 A little more about me: I find joy in discovering new local spots to eat, taking (film) photos, having my quiet yogi moments, going to music festivals, and watching movies. I breathe pop culture, so expect plenty of references in my writings.