WOW 2025: Celebrating Women Shaping the Internet’s Future
By Susan Lawrence (Web2 BD & Partnerships, D3)
Every year at NamesCon, there is one event that truly shows how far the domain industry has come - the "Women of the Web" lunch.
Back in 2010, when this event first started, we barely had a handful of women in the domain space. Fast forward to now, the event is now a packed, standing-room-only gathering of founders, builders, operators, marketers, attorneys, and leaders shaping the future of the internet.
This year, the D3/Doma Team had the privilege to co-sponsor the Women of the Web (WOW) lunch with Identity Digital.
Recapping The Event
Walking into that room, the energy was unmistakable. Women from every corner of the industry reconnecting, swapping stories, celebrating wins, and openly exploring where the next decade will take us.
I kicked things off with Rachel Sterling, CMO at Identity Digital, who has been a huge supporter of this community. Together, we welcomed the crowd and set the tone for what the WOW lunch has always been about: visibility, connection, and momentum.
The Fireside Chat
Of course, one of the biggest highlights of the evening was Rachel’s conversation with Lori Anne Wardi, a true domain industry pioneer.
Lori Anne’s work across .CO, Neustar, and GoDaddy Registry has shaped how brands, startups, and entire ecosystems think about digital identity. Hearing her reflect on two decades of evolution and the role women have played in pushing the industry forward felt both grounding and inspiring.
After the fireside chat, the conversations spilled naturally into lunch. The courtyard outside the Ice Palace turned into clusters of founders brainstorming collaborations, folks comparing notes, and newcomers finding mentors without even trying.
This year’s WOW lunch captured exactly what the event was created for. In 2025, women are dominating the domain industry. We lead companies, shape protocols, and define the culture of this industry.
It was a reminder of our collective strength and the future we’re building together.
Next up
On to the next stop: Solana Breakpoint in Abu Dhabi. Looking forward to connecting there.
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