Meet Jo Rocca
Advancing from her former role as an English teacher, Jo Rocca has successfully traversed into an exciting world of Blockchain development in the last two and a half years. Largely self-taught, she now showcases her talent at Labrys, Australia's leading onshore Blockchain consultancy.
Specializing in Web3 solutions, Labrys champions decentralization and self-custody, emphasizing user empowerment. They offer a range of blockchain services, including app development, cryptocurrency, smart contracts, NFTs, DeFi, and dApps. Known for their commitment to local, in-house development in Australia, Labrys plays a key role in advancing the blockchain industry.
From English Teacher to Blockchain Developer
Jo Rocca's Self-Taught Success Story
We recently had the chance to sit down with Jo Rocca, a former English teacher who successfully transitioned into a self-taught blockchain developer at Labrys. In our conversation, Jo shares her inspiring journey into the world of blockchain development and her experiences in the rapidly evolving Web3 industry. Her story provides valuable insights and inspiration for anyone looking to make a similar leap into this dynamic and challenging field.
Jo can you share with us who are your must follows in the industry to stay up to date?
"To keep up date I follow All Things Blockchain, Consensys, Women in Digital, Labrys and Blockchain Australia. "
What resources were pivotal in starting your career as a blockchain developer?
"Youtube, Moralis Academy, Skillcrush (for learning React) and LinkedIn Meetups."
Everyone's talking about Web3. What’s your bold take on its future?
"I think the technology will develop to become more mainstream and get wider adoption. As people become more familiar with it, wallets will become as prolific as emails."
You've been involved in some amazing projects. Is there one that stands out for you?
"In January this year, I went to a hackathon called HotHack in Brisbane. It was my first hackathon and we were given a problem of how artists better engage with their communities during a concert. My team's solution was to create NFT concert memorabilia, which also allowed for community engagement after the concert. It was really cool because I was able to show everyone how NFTs are not just JPEGs, they have actual use cases. It was also a personal achievement for me because I was the only blockchain developer at the event, so it really showcased how self-sufficient I have become in creating smart contracts and integrating them into dApps."
What excites you the most about working in the Web3 space?
"It's a really rapidly developing technology so there's always something new to try."
What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of working in Web3, and how do you navigate these challenges?
"I think the hardest thing for me, it trying to filter through all the different projects and technologies, trying to figure out what will stick. The thing about blockchain is everything is related to use cases so you have to understand not only what blockchain is and how to develop, you also have to understand why blockchain matters."
What advice would you give to other women aspiring to enter and make an impact in the Web3 industry?
"Just dive in and keep showing up in the community, you'll learn a lot and in Web3 in particular, the community is really welcoming and people love sharing their knowledge. So show up and ask questions."
Jo Rocca's story, from English teacher to blockchain developer, highlights her incredible journey and offers practical insights for navigating the Web3 space.