Author and Digital Mavericks founder, Debbie Soon, discusses her journey bridging art and technology, championing accessibility in Web3 and creating spaces where creativity and code converge.

“You don't need anyone's permission to do the thing you've always dreamed of.”

This ethos has guided Debbie Soon through her career, from co-founding HUG–a platform that helped thousands of artists establish their presence in blockchain to authoring her latest book, Digital Mavericks.

Debbie's work consistently centres on making complex technology accessible and meaningful. “My work sits at the intersection of creativity, community and code,” she explains. Her recently published book breaks down crypto and NFTs through “an artistic, human-centred lens,” designed to welcome creators and tech sceptics alike into the conversation.

STARTING OVER AND CLIMBING “CRINGE MOUNTAIN”

Perhaps the most striking aspect of Debbie's journey is her resilience. During the pandemic, she relocated from Singapore to the United States, leaving behind a decade-long career and established network.

“Starting over in a new industry and country taught me to embrace discomfort,” she reflects. “Sometimes, you have to climb cringe mountain to find your purpose and more importantly, your people.”

This experience shaped her approach to community building. Rather than focusing solely on technology, Debbie emphasises authentic connection. “Community isn't about the tool, it is about showing up consistently and sincerely,” whether on Farcaster (her current favourite platform), traditional social media or in-person meetups.

“On-chain and off-chain can coexist.”

When asked about critical conversations missing in art and technology, Soon points to an imbalance: “We talk a lot about empowering creators but not enough about growing the audience side of the equation.”

She advocates for expanding participation beyond creators to include “collectors, readers and cultural participants in crypto.” Her vision is straightforward: “Crypto should make the internet more fun and not more gated.”

This perspective informs her approach to blockchain technology. Rather than seeing it as a replacement for traditional platforms, she views it as offering unique value in creator-audience relationships. “Blockchain allows artists to connect more directly with a smaller but highly engaged audience and to be paid more fairly for it,” she notes.

“Lead with empathy.”

As a woman in a male-dominated field, Debbie has developed a distinctive leadership approach. “I've learned to lead with empathy and not shy away from my femininity,” she explains. “In a male-dominated industry that often prizes aggression or bravado, I've chosen to show up authentically: with understanding, creativity and emotional intelligence as my edge.”

Her advice to women entering the field reflects this philosophy. “Don't be intimidated. Take up space and be proud of it.” She also encourages an “abundance mindset” where women collaborate to “grow the pie and empower each other” rather than competing for limited opportunities.

“Less virtue signalling, more intention.”

Looking ahead, Debbie plans to expand Digital Mavericks beyond crypto to encompass “AI, the future of social platforms and other frontier technologies.” Her goal transcends education–she wants to help people “not just understand what's next but to allow them to see themselves in it and shape it.”

She challenges the industry to move beyond “checking boxes” toward “creating spaces–through our language, behaviour and actions–that are genuinely welcoming to everyone.”

With her personality quiz (quiz.digitalmavericks.xyz) that matches participants to digital mavericks featured in her book, Debbie demonstrates her commitment to making technology accessible and personal–bringing people into the conversation, one human connection at a time.

Debbie Soon is the author of Digital Mavericks and former co-founder of HUG (acquired by .ART Domain Registry). Find her on X (@debsoon) and Farcaster (@debbie).