This Self-Proclaimed Art Illiterate Person Builds Web3 Products for Coinbase

Hey Hackers! I’m Gagan Gehani and I’m a Product Manager at Coinbase.

First of all, a huge thank you to the HackerNoon community and staff for nominating me for a 2021 Noonies award! I’ve been nominated in the following categories please do check out these award pages and vote:

1. Critical thinker of the year : https://www.noonies.tech/award/2021-critical-thinker-of-the-year
2. Tech podcaster of the year : https://www.noonies.tech/award/2021-tech-podcaster-of-the-year

Not just as someone in the crypto industry, I genuinely believe that the most exciting technology of the present is blockchain because it fundamentally changes the game across industries with finance being just the first major industry to be disrupted via cryptocurrencies. Learn more about my thoughts and opinions on crypto and my journey in the tech industry via the interview below.

1. What do you do and why do you do it? (tell us your story)

I help build digital products. I like working at the intersection of various disciplines such as tech, design, business, legal, marketing and everything else required to move the needle for the end users. It allows me to wet my beak in multiple domains that keeps me interested as a naturally, curious person.

2. Tell us more about the things you create / write / manage / build!

I am currently helping build products in web3 at Coinbase. Previously I have built 0 to 1 products across gaming and edtech. I have a particular interest in working on data science and analytics products.

3. How did you end up on your current career path? Do you like it?

Interestingly enough, I tumbled across product management while at upGrad while working adjacently with product managers. I knew right there that it was a fit for me.

I definitely like it. However, in the interest of having this be of value to you, the reader and to be completely honest - there are pros and cons in all roles and product management is no different.

4. What tech are you most excited or passionate about right now and why?

I am thrilled at the prospects of the blockchain in general. To give a more pointed answer, NFTs are something that make complete sense to me as to why they are here forever now. I am in fact an art illiterate person in my estimation and while I appreciate the art side of it, I am super excited about the underlying smart contract capabilities that NFTs offer.

5. What tech are you most worried about right now and why?

Deepfakes and social media algorithms optimised for user attention. The combination of these two is extremely scary to me and just thinking about the ramifications of these 2 in the next 5-10 years is chilling to me.

6. If we gave you 10 million dollars to invest in something today, what would you invest in and why?

1. Offense - crypto currencies and NFTs.
2. Defense - Mobile addiction rehab centers and online programs.

7. What are you currently learning?

Crypto, NFTs in the macro. Habits and neuropsychology of the modern , digital life in the micro.

8. What’s the best advice you’ve ever given someone?

I think this one was good - minimising time talking about other people in general.

9. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Start small, swallow your ego and trust yourself. 1 step backwards for 2 steps ahead.

10. Please give us the links to all your relevant social media profiles so we can use them to promote this interview! (Twitter and LinkedIn would be a huge plus)

Linkedin - www.linkedin.com/in/gagangehani

Twitter - @GaganGehani

About HackerNoon’s 2021 Noonie Awards

The annual Noonie Awards celebrate the best and brightest of the tech industry, bringing together all who are making the Internet and the world of tech what it is today. Please be sure to check out our award categories, nominate, and vote for the people and companies who you think are making the biggest impact on the tech industry today.

The 2021 Noonies are sponsored by: bybit, Dottech Domains, and Avast. Thank you so much to these sponsors who are helping us celebrate the accomplishments of all our nominees.