As a part of the Morning Lazziness series about NFT women who are encouraging and doing incredible things with their ideas in society, I had the pleasure of interviewing McKenna Sweazey.
McKenna Sweazey is an experienced global marketer, working for brands such as YSL, Google, and the Financial Times. Her focus is taking marketing best practices and applying them to Web3 opportunities for fashion and beauty brands. She’s the author of a popular newsletter, metaXmoda, covering evolving perspectives in Web3 marketing. And her first book, on Digital Empathy, is coming out this fall from Career Press.
Many thanks for doing this for us, please let our users know about yourself and your embarking journey”?
I’ve spent my career as a marketer in luxury, media, and technology, so it was fated that I would become interested in the fashion and beauty Web3 space. Like so many people, it started for me on social media, particularly following digital fashion designers on Instagram and being inspired by their fusion of technology and beauty. This led to my newsletter and subsequent business, metaXmoda, where I love to discuss how brands can and should utilize these emerging technologies.
You have been blessed with great success in a career path. How “metaXmoda” is helping businesses and organizations.
metaXmoda is an almost academic source of knowledge for Web3’s applications for fashion and beauty. As brands navigate NFTs, metaverse, gaming, digital fashion, AR, etc., metaXmoda provides frameworks for evaluation opportunities, new ways of framing metrics for success, and strategic guidance. We aim to be a trusted, neutral advisor as more brands consider how to take these novel ideas and apply them to their marketing and brand strategy.
What would you say are the top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, and why?
The number one skill for entrepreneurs, for me, is “focus”. There are so many problems out there that CAN be solved, but to solve any one of them, founders need to be laser-focused. The second most important skill is flexibility because sometimes your focus is wrong, the market changes, new information comes to light. Finding that balance between being open to new paths and staying the course you’re on is what drives success.
What do you think could be the future of NFT? How useful can they be for everyone?
If we think about NFTs as vehicles for transparency and authentication of information, I think the result will be revolutionary in almost all areas of business. From sustainable manufacturing to food supply chains, it won’t just be virtual goods and finance that are impacted.
What is your no-fail go-to when you need inspiration or to get out of a creative rut?
I have two. One is getting out for a walk without my phone. Having a chance to let my thoughts grow is really helpful when I’m feeling blocked. But also, looking through the creative work of artists and designers working in the metaverse or NFT space, just browsing Instagram, Opensea, Rarible, etc., and seeing what amazing things others are creating is inspiring.
The future of the digital world might be ruled by blockchain and cryptocurrency. Do you think it would be challenging for all age groups to gain knowledge about the same? How can we educate them?
I think that making access equitable and easy is really down to the companies in the ecosystem, both start-ups and more established companies. Consumers won’t enter unless it’s easy, safe, and rewarding. While it’s definitely rewarding now, it’s not always easy or without risks. Commercial innovation will bring these barriers down and open up opportunities.
Do you think NFTs, which are open to virtual reality, could adversely impact our health due to increased screen time?
It’s hard to imagine spending any more time in front of a screen, NFTs or not, and that balance is a decision everyone needs to find in their own life. But, broadly, no, I don’t think NFTs will drive adverse health reactions. Many NFT communities also have IRL components, so maybe they’ll be beneficial for creating unique, “real-world” bonding experiences.
Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Helping even more brands realize their new-technology strategies. The pace of change makes it hard to guess what technology will feel fresh and innovative in 2027, but I know I’ll be excited about whatever it is.
Who are your top 5 Women in NFT inspiration?
The people/women behind the World of Women project for its widespread aim to be more welcoming to women in the space; Crypto Coven because “inspiration of this project is to inject some whimsy back into the web” and witches are just cool; MAGHAN MCDOWELL of Vogue Business for her excellent reporting in the space; and Marjorie Hernandez and Karinna Nobbs of The Dematerialised, and Daria Shapovalova and Natalia Modenova, the founders of the Dress-X, for the foundations they’ve built for the digital fashion industry.
Lastly, what do you think this world needs the most?
Easy to digest, trusted education. There are a lot of competing points of view about what is sustainable, what is “the metaverse,” how to best use these channels, and more! Giving both consumers and businesses a foundation of information from which they can make their own decisions and form opinions will be hugely beneficial for the adoption of these innovations.
