Leaders Series: Maja Vujinovic @ General Electric
By: Meltem Demirors
Tags: Bitcoin, Technology, Women, Blockchain

Leaders Series: Maja Vujinovic @ General Electric

Issue 24— March 28th, 2017

This series highlights the unique stories of leaders from various communities across the growing digital currency and blockchain technology industry. The goal is to showcase the fantastic work these leaders are all doing at different levels of their respective organizations, and to encourage more people at all stages of their careers join the revolution we’re creating, together!

Maja Vujinovic is working on Emerging Technologies at GE — Digital

She’s been working in infrastructure finance and strategy for the past 15 years, and has been focused on blockchain technology for the last four years.

How did you get into the bitcoin and blockchain industry?

While working with mobile technology and payments in Africa and Latin America, I was exposed to the white paper in Bitcoin, which peaked my interest and I saw tremendous market opportunity in this space. Once I moved back to NYC after working in several different countries for a number of years, I was recruited into the network of leading investors and researchers in blockchain space and have been involved ever since. I currently lead our blockchain development and piloting across GE, within my broader role of looking at new technologies such as AI, VR, AR, 3D printing, etc. My main focus is to drive productivity and increase efficiency across our businesses.

What did you do before you got into this?

After getting my law degree, I started in mobile tech in Africa and then moved into infrastructure finance and project development globally. I lived and operated across 5 continents before coming to New York.

What’s been the most interesting experience you’ve had in your role so far?

One of the interesting experiences has been something that I came across in frontier markets in mid 2000’s- when a revolutionary idea comes to the market, an initial reaction is for people to reject it, as it signals change. However, just because people are not “used to it” and its never been done before, doesn’t mean it can’t work. More importantly what is interesting to see and necessary to have, is a strong leap of faith, courage and an ability to bring people with you on the journey.

As you think about the evolution of the bitcoin and blockchain space, what is one thing you think the business ecosystem or community is missing today?

What is missing is security and human imagination, the two far ends of the spectrum. We seem to try to stick “blockchain” into any problem that we may have, but the reality is that this is a different type of thinking that requires us to marry creativity with technology and strategy. We almost have to start backwards- imagining another way of operating and simply letting go of the old ways.

What do you think is limiting the growth of the space?

People simply do not understand it. I don’t mean they do not have capability to but they simply do not have the time. We are all so bogged down by our daily work that even the most creative people are tangled in processes and “making the quarter” that they can’t unleash their creativity. But I am working on this change together with my colleagues.

As you think about this industry, what do you think will happen in the short term that will blow people’s minds?

I think that by 2020 we will see some successful transactions/commercial use cases globally. Because of possible implications of blockchain and the speed that it will provide to our transactions, if we are not hindered politically in the next five years, what will become very surprising and provide some anxiety is the speed of change and what’s required to keep up.

That’s why my focus will be on the interoperability of various technologies, automation and the adoption rate that humans are able to do or not do.

What do you think will be disappointing?

If we try to adopt any new technology without adapting to the new ways of thinking and working that are required to use the technology in our benefit and use it well. This is scary as many fear losing jobs- but this is where leaders have to step in and re-imagine the workplace, re-train the workforce and re-position growth.

What changes do you think bitcoin or blockchain will accelerate in our world?

It will accelerate the way we transact and the way we learn with our customers. This will have a direct effect on what goods and services we provide, how fast we are able to bring it to market and where and how do we scale it. Additionally, I am fascinated with AI functioning on something like Blockchain and the repercussions of AI owning itself, which is the whole different topic.