By Joyce L. Carroll
Special to Delaware Business Times

When it comes to practicing corporate law in a digital age, Andrea Tinianow is theater's equivalent of the triple threat. Her expertise in business, law, and technology was what led to her recruitment for a position within the Secretary of State's office four years ago. She left that post in December to explore other pursuits. However, her departure didn't occur without first placing Delaware, yet again, on the global stage.

Tinianow was VP of business development and assistant general counsel for the Corporation Service Company when the state beckoned. It was seeking her expertise in launching a new division. The Division of Corporate and International Development would help identify strategies for small businesses and larger corporate formations that were seeking an increase in economic opportunities.

"I was called upon to develop an international brand for the state. It was the first time the state had done this kind of marketing," Tinianow said. Soon thereafter, that branding was given the moniker Global Delaware, with Tinianow as its director. But perhaps Tinianow's greatest achievement was the blockchain initiative. "I started it while I was there, and it caught fire."

Adding to the state's reputation as corporate-friendly, Tinianow's introduction of blockchain technology has had a huge impact for organizations with multiple participants seeking a secure environment in which to access or enter data. By way of a distributed ledger, a blockchain facilitates record keeping and enables tracking more fluid activity like stock transactions. In July, Gov. John Carney Jr. amended the state's corporate laws to allow the use of the technology.

"[Ours] was the first state anywhere in the world to demonstrate support and supply legislation. Soon after, many states followed suit," Tinianow said. Delaware's position as a frontrunner in blockchain not only caught the attention of national media like Forbes and Fortune magazines, but also MarketsMedia, which honored Tinianow with its Women in Finance Award for Excellence in Blockchain in 2017.

Tinianow has several new irons in the fire as Global Kompass Strategies chief innovative officer. But regardless of what she's up to next, she said she tries to bring an entrepreneurial spirit by providing not just innovative solutions that solve problems, but create initiatives as well.

"It's a sweet spot when I can [utilize] my legal background to do that," she said.