Mariah's Journey: The Digital Explorer

Once upon a time… It was a cloudy morning on the high seas, and Mariah, a young merchant marine, stood on the bridge of the ship where she worked, gazing at the horizon. The waves rhythmically hit the hull as the salty wind enveloped her. She loved the adventure the ocean offered; there was something deeply enchanting about it. Yet, thoughts of her future began to surface. Questions like: “What rank do you aspire to reach?” “Do you want children? If so, what’s the plan?” “What land-based career could you pursue without abandoning your profession?” swirled in her mind.

Each port, each sunrise at sea, felt like a repetition of the days before, and Mariah began to dream of something more. She had spent years navigating, transporting oil and gasoline across international routes. Her life was a mix of adventure, hard work, and the thrill of visiting remote places. However, her time at sea also provided moments to reflect and discover new passions. In one of those moments, while scrolling through Twitter (fun fact: Mariah has been a Twitter user since 2011) during a port stop, she stumbled upon something that would change her life forever.

Discovering the Web3 Ecosystem

In 2021, the rise of NFTs and cryptocurrencies transformed conversations on social media. Mariah’s Twitter feed shifted from political news and maritime topics to being flooded with terms like blockchain, crypto-assets, and play-to-earn (p2e) games. Intrigued, she decided to dig deeper and eventually downloaded Axie Infinity, a game that promised earnings while playing.

What began as mere curiosity soon became an obsession. Mariah found herself immersed in a world of cryptocurrencies and decentralized communities. She learned about smart contracts, digital wallets, and the promise of a decentralized future. This learning journey, while challenging, was exhilarating and sparked a desire to explore beyond the waves.

The First Encounter with Web3

In 2022, during a break in her hometown of Caracas, Mariah attended the BNB Revelation Hackathon. Though the event turned out to be more of a conference than a traditional hackathon, the experience was transformative. Listening to blockchain experts discuss innovation and the technological future ignited her passion for tech.

However, it wasn’t until 2024, when the Latina Blockchain Hackathon was announced, that Mariah decided to take the leap. This event aimed to empower women in the Web3 ecosystem. Despite her doubts and battling impostor syndrome, Mariah registered, determined to embrace the experience.

During the hackathon, she joined a diverse team that developed a project focused on democratizing access to literature, making it more accessible to all—a platform for tokenizing books on the blockchain. Despite challenges like time zone differences and technical issues, they won several tracks. For Mariah, this was a defining moment: she not only overcame her fears but also proved that the tech world wasn’t exclusively for developers.

A New Course: From the Sea to Online Business

After the hackathon, Mariah knew her future lay in technology and entrepreneurship. She decided to combine her newfound skills with a long-standing dream: creating and owning her own business (yes, she admits it sounds like a cliché). Inspired by the Web3 ecosystem, she launched her online store and dove into ecommerce, traveling the world of organic dropshipping.

Her store, TrendyCrypto Store, specializes in products tied to crypto culture, such as t-shirts, mugs, and accessories featuring blockchain-inspired phrases and graphics. She implemented dropshipping strategies to minimize costs while focusing on marketing and enhancing the customer experience.

Mariah harnessed the power of social media, especially TikTok and Instagram, to connect with her audience. She posted creative videos showcasing her store’s products while explaining basic blockchain concepts in an engaging manner. This approach not only attracted Web3 enthusiasts but also piqued the interest of those curious about this burgeoning technological world.

The Success of Organic Dropshipping

Mariah quickly realized that dropshipping wasn’t just a trend but an efficient way to run a business without significant upfront investments. By focusing on personalized products and an organic content strategy, she built a loyal community of followers who not only purchased her products but also shared her content.

Through Instagram and TikTok stories, Mariah showcased how she managed her business from her laptop, connecting her maritime experience to the resilience required in entrepreneurship. Her followers loved seeing how this former merchant marine had reinvented herself in the digital realm.

Mariah also applied her blockchain knowledge to integrate cryptocurrency payments into her store. This move not only set her apart from competitors but also strengthened her bond with the crypto community. Each sale validated her decision to chart a new course.

From Sea Navigator to Digital Pioneer

Mariah’s transition wasn’t easy, but every challenge made her stronger. She often recalled the long nights on the ship’s bridge, braving storms and tough conditions, and saw how those experiences prepared her for the entrepreneurial world. Navigating the ocean and navigating technology shared many parallels: both required resilience, constant learning, and the ability to adapt to the unknown.

Now, with her online store thriving and a solid place in the Web3 ecosystem, Mariah has become an inspiration to others. She participates in talks and events, sharing her story and encouraging more women to research technology and entrepreneurship. Her message is clear: no matter where you come from or what you’ve done before, it’s always possible to change course and find your passion.

The Future: Beyond the Horizon

Mariah is not just an entrepreneur but also is looking for constantly seeking innovation. Her store, TrendyCrypto Store, continues to grow, and she’s planning to launch a new product line that combines NFTs with physical items, allowing customers to unlock exclusive content with each purchase.

For Mariah, the journey doesn’t end here. She’s considering the idea of creating her own blockchain project, where she can integrate her passion for education with decentralized tools. Although she no longer sails merchant ships, her adventurous spirit remains alive, propelling her to arrive at new frontiers in the digital world.

As she often says: <If you can weather a storm at sea, you can face any challenge in the tech world>. Her story is a testament that it’s never too late to change course and that, with determination and curiosity, any port is within reach.

In theory this is "The End" of the story, however, it doesn't end... so this story just --> To be continue.