50 Countries and 13 Years of Marketing: Meet Somnia's CMO Michelle

Meet Michelle, Somnia’s Chief Marketing Officer, who leads the marketing team and campaigns at Somnia. Michelle is from Seoul, South Korea, and currently spends her time split between Seoul and New Jersey. She has traveled to over 50 countries around the world and has a massive interest in different cultures.

In this interview, Michelle shares some details about her background with the community and talks a bit about how things work behind the scenes, and what she does in his free time.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background.

Hi Somniacs! It’s a pleasure to virtually meet all of you. My name is Michelle, and I’m honored to lead the marketing team at the foundation. I’ve been working as a Marketing Specialist for over 13 years, with 8 of those years specifically focused on the exciting and ever-evolving blockchain industry. From a young age, I’ve always been deeply curious about people’s perceptions and how they can shape human society. This fascination with human behavior is what ultimately led me to pursue a career in marketing. I’ve had the privilege of studying PR and Business at esteemed universities in both Korea and the US. Throughout my professional journey, I’ve gained valuable experience in Finance, VCs, and now in the innovative world of Web3.

Aside from my passion for marketing, I have a deep love for traveling and immersing myself in different cultures. Exploring new foods and experiences is what truly excites me. Growing up, I had the opportunity to live in multiple countries, including Korea, Japan, and the US, and I’ve also spent time residing in the UK, Europe, and Australia. These diverse experiences have shaped me both personally and professionally, and I am always eager to learn from the rich tapestry of cultures that our world has to offer.

What got you interested in blockchain technology?

Back when I was in university, my friends and I were involved in some amazing projects focused on cooperation, public responsibility, and NGOs to help children around the world. One of the standout projects for us was in 2014 when we were dedicated to making a positive impact in war-torn Syria. We worked tirelessly on distributing used mobile phones in Syria and transferring valuable educational content to those in need. During this time, we also raised funds in Bitcoin, which was a new and exciting experience for me. As I delved deeper into the world of cryptocurrency, I found myself more and more fascinated by the potential of Bitcoin.

My interest in Bitcoin continued to grow as I embarked on a career at Paysafe, a centralized payment system company. The concerns I had about the fragility and modifiability of information led me to become deeply engrossed in the decentralized ledger concept of Bitcoin. This marked the beginning of a thrilling journey for me with Bitcoin, and I’ve been passionate about it ever since.

What are your favorite things about the crypto space?

I believe this space is incredibly open and welcoming to anyone with any skills or background. It’s a place where people can come together to create new communities, dapps, and more. What’s so wonderful about this space is the spirit of friendliness and cooperation – everyone is willing to help each other out. The opportunities are plentiful, and it’s worth noting that the web3 foundations are globally distributed, which makes it easy to travel and work freely wherever you are. However, it’s important to approach this freedom with a sense of responsibility and ethical conduct. I like to remind my team of this daily, as it’s important to maintain the integrity of our work while enjoying the freedom and opportunities that this community provides.

What are some of your least favorite things about the space?

It’s unfortunate that there are some individuals who are not contributing positively to the industry. Whether it’s due to a short-term mindset or less-than-honorable intentions, their actions are affecting the reputation of web3 and crypto. It can be disheartening to see this happening, but I’m optimistic that with the implementation of fair regulations, we can work towards a better industry for everyone involved.

Do you have a favorite video game? If not, music or movies will work.

I’ve never been a huge gamer, aside from indulging in some mobile in recent years. However, my childhood was filled with countless hours spent on Starcraft, especially during its peak in popularity in Korea. As time has passed, I found myself immersed in console games, particularly titles like Call of Duty and various shooting games.

Nowadays, my busy schedule leaves little time for gaming, so I primarily stick to mobile games. I’ve come to realize that the gaming industry has experienced significant shifts in trends, transitioning from desktop to console and now to mobile platforms. It’s such a fascinating journey to witness and be a part of. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to embrace and contribute to this new trend with Somnia.

What excites you most about what you’re building at Somnia?

I’m really excited about what Somnia is doing in the industry. We are scaling new heights by providing all the necessary toolsets for virtual societies. This product stands out among other solutions because it fits perfectly into the ever-evolving landscape of virtual communities.

On a personal note, I’m proud to be a part of a foundation that fosters a great culture. Everyone here is incredibly motivated and hardworking, while also maintaining deep respect for each other. It’s truly an environment that brings out the best in all of us.

I’m especially thrilled to have been involved with this foundation right from the beginning. As the first employee, I’ve been deeply engaged in every aspect, from contributing to the selection of the name “Somnia” to building websites and shaping all of our narratives. It’s been an amazing journey, and I can’t wait to see where we go from here!

What has the biggest challenge been so far?

The biggest challenge we’re currently facing is spreading the word about Somnia within the community and industry. It’s a new project, and our main goal is to increase brand awareness among the right people and projects. However, tackling this challenge is incredibly fun and rewarding. Despite being only 3 months into this journey, we’ve already managed to accumulate over 300k monthly users on our website and have seen even more engagement within our community. This is just the beginning, and I’m incredibly excited about the momentum we’re building. Looking forward to continuing this journey with you all! Let’s keep pushing forward and making strides with Somnia!

What do you do for fun outside of work?

Lately, I’ve found myself dedicating a significant amount of time to engaging with people both online and offline. Whether it’s chatting with my team, connecting with the community, or catching up with friends and family in person, I’m always seeking out new experiences. I truly enjoy immersing myself in different cultures, trying out new foods, and participating in various activities. It feels like a privilege to be able to incorporate these adventures into my everyday life while also finding joy in my work.

Follow Michelle on LinkedIn to keep up with her thoughts and developments, and stay tuned for future profiles on other members of the Somnia team.