July 2026
DIF Website | DIF Mailing Lists | Meeting Recording Archive
Table of contents
- Decentralized Identity Foundation News
- Ask Me Anything with Grace-zel
- Upcoming Events
- Get involved! Join DIF
Decentralized Identity Foundation News
Our monthly newsletter is taking a short summer break, but DIF certainly isn't.
Between conferences, standards meetings, blog releases, and community events, it's been an active few months for the community. Rather than our usual Working Group roundup, we thought we'd use this space to introduce someone many of you have come to know over the past six months: our Operations Manager, Grace-zel Luis.
Our regular newsletter will return in August with updates from across DIF's Working Groups, community initiatives, and recent developments. Until then, we hope you enjoy getting to know one of the people helping keep DIF running behind the scenes.
In the meantime, here are a few things happening around DIF:
- DIDComm update: DIDComm research is out! Read the full blog
- DIDComm update 2: In-person meeting at IETF. Contact Juan or Grace to get details of the DIDComm breakfast on July 22 in Vienna.
- KYA-OS 1.0 has passed Steering Committee approval. Look out for a blog post with updates. Link to the specification
If you need to feed your DIF update addiction, find out the inside scoop of what it's like to work at DIF. Before heading out on vacation, Grace caught up with our Operations Manager, Grace-zel, who spills the tea on what it's like working with DIF and the DIF ED!
Ask Me Anything with Grace-zel!
Grace:
Hi Grace-zel, thanks for taking this interview with me. I think the first thing people want to know at DIF is how you see your role. You've been here for six months now, so you've got a pretty good grasp of the job.
Grace: What are the areas of expertise that you bring to the role as you now understand it?
Grace-zel:
One of the strengths I bring to this role is organizing complex projects and thinking through how to move them forward in a structured way while making sure deliverables are completed on time. A big part of my work is also communication and coordination—keeping everyone informed, making sure the right people are involved, and helping teams stay aligned and accountable.
Over the past six months, these have been the skills I've relied on the most. I've also had to adapt to an industry that is far more specialized than anything I've worked in before. My background is in marketing, so stepping into the world of decentralized identity and technical standards has been a completely different experience. I still have a lot to learn about the technical aspects of this field, but I've found that the operational and organizational skills I've developed over the years are highly transferable and have allowed me to accomplish our operational goals in DIF!
Grace:
What should the Working Groups expect from you as they go forward?
Grace-zel:
I hope that, over time, the Working Groups will see me as the first person they can rely on, not just for coordinating meetings, but for helping manage their projects from an operational perspective.
I'd like to understand the bigger picture of what each Working Group is trying to accomplish so I can contribute beyond logistics, but to streamline processes and develop consistent procedures. My goal is to create an environment where members feel guided and supported, allowing them to focus on the technical work and collaborate more effectively.
Grace:
We've been working together for several years now. What do you see has changed in your job approach over these years?
Grace-zel:
When I first worked with Grace as her Office Manager, my role was largely focused on execution by making sure the tasks she assigned were completed accurately and on time. There were also many situations where I had to figure things out on my own, and that experience became valuable preparation for transitioning into my current role as Operations Manager at DIF.
Working with Grace has encouraged me to look beyond what's immediately in front of me and think more strategically. I now find myself asking, "How can I make this easier for me and for the team?" That means she doesn’t need to assign me work, because I can define my job requirements and objectives. Often Grace just gives her constructive feedback on my proposals and solutions, rather than coming up with the ideas herself.
Being proactive and accountable has always been part of how I work, even before working with Grace. What has changed the most is my confidence in leading projects and taking ownership of them. I've become much more comfortable making decisions, recommending improvements, and seeing projects through from planning to execution.
I think that's one of the things I treasure the most about working with Grace is that she's set up an environment that encourages curiosity, continuous learning, and never seemed to doubt that I could take on challenges, even in areas that are not in my expertise.
Grace:
When you first looked at the DIF website, what was your initial reaction? Was it overwhelming to think that you'd be dealing with such technical topics?
Grace-zel:
My first reaction was honestly, "Wow, this is a completely different world." I remember asking myself, "Am I the right fit?" and "How can I contribute when everyone is talking about things I've never encountered before?"
The website was full of technical terminology, specifications, working groups, and acronyms that were completely new to me. It was soooooo overwhelming, even now!
As I spent more time at DIF, I realized that what makes this community special isn't just the technology. It's the people behind it. I came to appreciate that many people here are motivated not only by the work they're doing today, but by the long-term impact it can have on the Internet and the digital identity ecosystem. I have come to accept that I don’t need to fully understand all of what the technical people are talking about to understand the implications of the work. This is the part I need to learn so I can build systems that will and what you know but behind how you work for our community.
It feels humbling and inspiring because you guys are doing the hard work here even if you are solving problems that may not have immediate or visible results. My role is different from yours, but it is rewarding to know that I have managed to continue what has been built in the operations to support the DIF community and strive for better systems with Grace and Juan's guidance.
Grace:
What are some of the most interesting things you have learned so far in the role?
Grace-zel:
One of the most interesting things I've learned so far has been rebuilding DIF's membership sequence using the CRM system in Zoho One.
I've always enjoyed creating automations and improving workflows, but this was my first time working extensively with the Zoho ecosystem. It was fascinating to discover how the different apps connect with one another and how much can be accomplished in just one system.
I can’t wait to build more automations for DIF!
Grace:
What is the hardest thing about working with me?
Grace-zel:
Grace has a way of asking questions that push me to think more deeply about a problem instead of settling for the most obvious solution. Sometimes I'll think I've already figured something out, and then you’ll ask one question that makes me realize there's another perspective I hadn't considered. It can be challenging, especially when I feel confident in my initial approach, but it's also one of the biggest reasons I've grown professionally. Looking back, those hard moments challenged me to go one step further and it benefited all through the years! Those brain cells had to work! 😂
Another thing is when she is out and traveling, she gets frustrated easily even when in reality things are handled. She likes to stay on top of everything, even while she's constantly moving between airports, conferences, and time zones. Sometimes she'll check in before I've even had the chance to send an update! We are constantly improving our communication, and I think that's how we've made it work over the years.
Grace:
What is your favorite thing about working with me?
Grace-zel:
One of my favorite things about working with Grace is that she knows when to be a mentor and when to be a friend.
As a mentor, she challenges me to think differently, pushes me outside my comfort zone, and trusts me with heavier responsibilities. At the same time, she's also someone I can have genuine conversations with outside of work and that balance has created a working relationship built on trust rather than hierarchy.
I think that combination is rare nowadays, and it's one of the reasons we've been able to work together for years. If there's one thing that has kept our working relationship strong, it's our honesty with each other. We can have difficult conversations, give constructive feedback, and move forward without taking things personally.
Grace:
What goals have you set for yourself in this role in 2026? Do you think you'll want to learn to code some day? Why or why not?
Grace-zel:
One of my biggest goals in 2026 has been to understand DIF and how our community works.
As of today, my focus has been on learning how our operations work by first understanding the existing processes and why they were built that way. As time goes by, I'm beginning to identify areas that could be improved and other opportunities where we can build new systems to better support the community.
That learning process is still ongoing, but once I feel more confident in my understanding of our operations, my next goal is to spend more time learning how our Working Groups collaborate, how our members communicate, and what matters most to them before introducing new processes or improvements.
For me, it's important to understand the people and the culture before trying to improve the systems that support them.
Grace:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a perfectionist as it relates to this role?
Grace-zel:
Am I really a perfectionist, Grace? 😂
The advantage is that I know things will get done, and they'll be done to the best of my ability. I am used to paying close attention to details and it gives me confidence that I'm delivering work I can stand behind.
The downside is that perfectionism usually slows me down! It's something I'm still learning to balance. I've realized that progress is often more valuable than perfection, especially in an environment like DIF, where systems, standards, and processes continue to evolve.
I think I was worried about how you would see me and whether my answers would truly reflect who I am. It can be intimidating to work alongside people with the level of knowledge and expertise that many of you have.
That said, I haven't had a single bad experience so far. Everyone I've met in the DIF community has been incredibly kind and welcoming, which has made it much easier to find my place here.
So, to finish this AMA, I decided to simply be honest and share my real thoughts. Hopefully this gives you a better idea of who Grace-zel is beyond the Operations Manager title.
📢 Upcoming Events
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📅 July 18-24, 2026
📍 Vienna, Austria
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📅 September 1-3, 2026
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