Cathy Barrera, PhD

Cathy Barrera is a prominent economist and co-founder of Prysm Group, an economic consulting firm that specializes in the economics of emerging technologies, particularly blockchain. She holds a PhD in Business Economics from Harvard University and previously served as a tenure-track faculty member at Cornell University's S.C. Johnson School of Management. Her academic background includes research at the intersection of economics and technology, which she applied to her work at Prysm Group, focusing on helping businesses navigate the complexities of blockchain and other digital economies .123

At Prysm Group, which was founded in 2018, Barrera and her team provide consulting services that encompass economic modeling and governance design for blockchain applications. The firm is known for its industry-agnostic approach, leveraging economic principles to assist various sectors in understanding and implementing emerging technologies .12 Barrera is also recognized for her contributions to discussions on digital currency and blockchain's potential impact on public finance, having worked on projects that model the economic benefits of these technologies .12

In addition to her consulting work, Barrera serves as an academic advisor to the World Economic Forum and is frequently cited in mainstream media regarding economics and technology trends .23 Her expertise positions her as a key figure in the discourse surrounding the future of digital economies.