A passionate leader driving blockchain and fintech innovation, she brings extensive business experience in both crypto and traditional finance. Most recently, she was VP, Strategic Initiatives at Ripple, and led key functions including corporate strategy, business operations and joint venture partnerships over the 8 years she spent at the firm. Also, as an adjunct professor at Kyoto University, she gives lectures on blockchain and co-founded the Blockchain Research Center to drive industry-academia collaboration in blockchain research. In 2021, she was honored by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the “Most Influential Women in the Bay Area Business.” Emi has an MBA from Harvard Business School and also holds a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) charter.