Section 1
interviews
priya guliani
Interview by Armando Camacho Priya Guliani:
Armand: I would love to start by hearing what originally drew you to the world of technology and innovation, and how that early spark led you where you are today. Priya: I started my career in the corporate world, working on large-scale digital transformation programmes primarily in financial services, where I saw first-hand how technology was reshaping industries. What stayed with me, though, was that while systems were becoming more advanced, they were not always becoming more inclusive or secure. A defining moment came later, when I saw first-hand how vulnerable many digital identity systems still are and how devastating the consequences can be for individuals and organisations. That experience shifted my perspective from simply working with
access, reduce risk, and make digital systems work for everyone, not just those who can navigate them. Armand: Your journey spans global technology consulting, blockchain strategy, and now building solutions that foster inclusion, what have been some of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned about leading through change? Priya: In my early career, I saw large transformation programmes succeed or fail not because of the technology, but because of how well people understood and embraced the change. That stayed with me. As I moved into emerging areas like blockchain and now digital identity, that lesson became even more relevant because you are often asking people to
rethink long-standing models. One of the most important lessons has been to stay grounded in the problem you are solving. Technology evolves quickly, but clarity on the human need, whether it is trust, access, or inclusion, provides a stable anchor through uncertainty. I have also learned the importance of leading with clarity and empathy. Change can be uncomfortable, and people need both a clear direction and the confidence that they are part of the journey. Ultimately, leading through change is about balancing conviction with adaptability. It means having a strong point of view, while
technology to questioning how it should be built. When the opportunity to lead EarthID came along, it felt closely aligned with both my professional experience and my motivation to help close that gap. Since then, my focus has been on using technology to solve a very human problem: how we build trust in the digital world in a way that is secure, inclusive, and accessible to everyone.
“The most important shift is moving from systems built on data accumulation to systems built on trusted verification.”
Armand: With your work at EarthID and your leadership in decentralized identity, how would you describe the most significant impact digital identity can have on people’s everyday lives? Priya: Today, access to banking, healthcare, employment, and even basic online services depends on how effectively you can prove who you are. When identity systems fail, people are excluded, exposed to fraud, or forced through repeated, invasive processes. That is not just an inconvenience. It is a structural problem that creates friction for individuals and significant risk for organisations. Done right, digital identity removes that friction and shifts control back to the individual. It allows people to prove what is necessary, when it is necessary, without repeatedly exposing sensitive data. At EarthID, we focus on data minimisation and privacy-preserving verification, enabling organisations to validate what they need without storing personal data. This reduces exposure, improves user experience, and makes digital services more accessible to a wider population. At its core, this is about trust at scale. When we get identity right, we unlock
still listening, learning, and evolving as the environment shifts. Armand: I would be curious to know, as someone championing privacy-first approaches to identity, how you balance the promise of innovation with the risks that come with emerging tech? Priya: That balance starts with how you design the system, not how you manage it later. Too often, innovation moves fast and risk is treated as something to mitigate after the fact. In identity, that approach does not work because the cost of getting it wrong is very real, both for individuals and for organisations. At EarthID, we take a different view. We treat privacy and security as foundational design principles. That means minimising data by default, avoiding centralised storage of sensitive information, and ensuring that verification can happen without unnecessary exposure. Innovation is still critical, especially with technologies like AI, but it has to be paired with clear boundaries. AI can help interpret intent
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