About Marcia Drake
Name: Marcia Drake
Designation: CEO and Founder | Chief Data Officer | AI Readiness and Data Management Expert | CEBP Certified, AI Professional, AI Auditor, AI Ethicist and Natural Foresight Practitioner
Business: Ecoheart C&C, LLC
Country: UNITED STATES
Marcia’s inspiring learning journey
What 101 Blockchains course/certification(s) have you taken?
I have completed the Certified Enterprise Blockchain Professional (CEBP)™ and am currently working toward my Certified IoT Professional (CIOTP)™ certification, having completed intermediate courses on IoT Fundamentals, IoT Business Impact, and Internet of Things (IoT).
Why did you choose this program and how was your overall learning experience with 101 Blockchains?
My career spans more than two decades in state and federal government, Microsoft, transportation security, public safety, law enforcement and corporate security, human services, healthcare, climate work, and digital transformation, with a strong foundation in data science, GIS, data management, data quality, AI readiness, and responsible technology practices. I am also a Certified AI Professional, AI Auditor, and AI Ethicist from the University of Oxford and ForHumanities, and now work globally to help cities and governments prepare for the next generation of data-driven and AI-enabled systems.
As I began developing a comprehensive solution for Ecoheart, designed to help cities adapt to climate, public well-being and digital modernization, it became clear that blockchain – and eventually Web3 – will play an important role in trust, transparency, identity and accountability within urban ecosystems.
I chose 101 Blockchains because their programs focus on practical business applications, governance, and real-world use cases. The learning experience was clear, focused, and deeply aligned with the work I already do to help organizations build ethical, resilient, future-ready data ecosystems. Additionally, the quality and depth of the training exceeded my expectations.
At 101 Blockchains, you don’t just get certifications, you learn real-world skills that make you a confident blockchain professional.
What skills or knowledge did you learn that helped you the most?
The greatest value for me was gaining a clear and concrete understanding of how blockchain can support the work I already lead in AI, data governance and IoT systems. I won:
- Overview of where blockchain is suitable for improving trust and data integrity
- A governance perspective on using blockchain to support AI transparency and auditability
- Clarity on how decentralized systems align with Web3 identity, security, and civic trust
- How blockchain applies to IoT environments, where cities rely on real-time verifiable data
- Practical language for explaining blockchain to executives who need strategic clarity, not hype
For someone whose job now involves helping cities and institutions prepare for AI, this training provided an important level of understanding.
How has this contributed to your professional development?
I have been honored as Data Leader of the Year (2022) and one of the Global Data Power Women (2023), and my work continues to expand into high-impact global initiatives. Today as CEO and Founder, I lead the development of a global solution for cities, focused on climate adaptation, resilience, responsible AI and citizen-centric outcomes.
The 101 Blockchains program has strengthened this work by:
- Help me integrate blockchain and Web3 concepts into city-wide transformation
- Improving ethical and governance considerations for emerging technology deployments
- Deepen my ability to evaluate new technologies responsibly
- Support my role as a trusted advisor in complex, government and cross-sector environments
The training didn’t change my path: it expanded the strategic capabilities I bring to global urban solutions.
From learners to leaders, discover the success stories of over 100,000 professionals with 101 Blockchains.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in blockchain?
Start with real-world problems, not technology.
Blockchain takes on its full meaning when it supports:
- Trust
- Transparency
- Data quality
- Ethical governance
- Secure collaboration
- The future of AI and Web3
Learn how data flows through organizations, where integrity is broken, and how people interact with systems. When you understand this, blockchain becomes a powerful tool in a much larger ecosystem.
Would you recommend 101 Blockchains to others? For what?
Yes, in particular for professionals of:
- AI and data
- P.public sector innovation
- Strading towns
- Cclimate adaptation
- Eethical technology
- Ddigital transformation
101 Blockchains provides grounded, strategic, and directly applicable frameworks for business challenges. It’s ideal for people who need to connect blockchain to a bigger picture, like AI readiness, data governance, or city-wide solutions.
