Cleve Mesidor, Executive Director of the Blockchain Foundation and Founder of Butterscotch Media, joins Chief Influencer® to share her remarkable journey from the halls of Washington to the frontlines of Web3 innovation. A former Obama Administration appointee, Cleve discusses how her “aha moment” with Bitcoin set her on a mission to create an inclusive digital economy, one that prioritizes accessibility over adoption.
In this wide-ranging conversation, she explains how blockchain can be demystified through trust and relationships, why public policy and tech innovation must work together, and how influence today is built not through status but through consistency. Cleve also reflects on her evolution as a thought leader, building a 10,000-subscriber media platform from a simple Mailchimp newsletter, and offers timeless advice on how to stay grounded, passionate, and true to your purpose in a world that’s changing faster than ever.
Takeaways:
- Start with Accessibility, Not Adoption. Focus on educating and empowering people to understand technology, even before they use it.
- Build Trust Through Relationships. Demystify complex topics by connecting on a human level and using plain, relatable language.
- Be Consistent. Whether it’s publishing weekly or showing up daily, consistency is the foundation of influence.
- Bridge the Gaps Between Worlds. Influence happens at intersections—between policy and innovation, Washington and crypto, tradition and disruption.
- Simplify the Story. Translate technical concepts into simple truths. As Cleve says, blockchain just “securely verifies information and facilitates exchange without third parties.”
- Own Your Journey. Mistakes and pivots are part of building credibility—own them, learn from them, and keep moving forward.
- Lead with Passion and Purpose. Influence isn’t about titles; it’s about showing up consistently for what you believe in.
Quote of the Show:
- “Be consistent. Whether you have five readers or five million, keep showing up—because that’s what builds influence.”
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