2026-05-09 –, Grégr Stage
Decentralized networks are powerful machines for generating answers — from smart contracts to DAO governance. But what if the question itself is wrong? As AI agents increasingly interact with decentralized systems, mistakes can scale at network speed. This talk introduces the idea of the “question layer”: deciding what deserves an answer in the first place.
I approach this topic from the perspective of decision-making in complex systems rather than protocol development.
I spent many years in executive leadership roles in global corporations such as McDonald’s and Johnson & Johnson, and in recent years I have mentored more than 1,000 technology and AI startups through international programs including Google for Startups.
Across corporations, startups and emerging decentralized ecosystems I keep observing similar coordination and decision challenges. As systems become increasingly automated and AI begins interacting with digital networks, the ability to frame problems clearly becomes more critical.
This talk introduces a conceptual lens — the idea of a “question layer” — as a way to think about how decentralized systems might approach decision-making as they scale and evolve.
The goal is not to present a technical solution, but to contribute a systems perspective that connects leadership, collective intelligence and emerging decentralized environments.
Ivana Šedivá works at the intersection of leadership, AI and complex decision systems. A former Fortune 500 executive (McDonald’s, Johnson & Johnson), she has mentored more than 1,000 technology and AI startups through programs including Google for Startups.