Nicole Cacal

Governing Board Secretary

Nicole Cacal is a highly regarded leader in the tech and entrepreneurship fields, with a passion for advancing the Filipino community. She is the Founder and CEO of Forbes Ignite, a consultancy advising global companies on how to innovate at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and social impact. Nicole is also the Founder and CEO of Katalista.org, a non-profit organization that supports entrepreneurship in the Filipino community. A dedicated lecturer at the Parsons School of Design and a visiting professor at the Pratt Institute, she teaches courses on financial management, business models, social innovation, and strategic technology to the next generation of diverse leaders. She also engages in-depth conversations with mission-driven individuals who are redefining success through the Forbes Ignite podcast, “Inner Wealth.”



Nicole holds a BBA in Finance & International Business from the University of Hawaii, an MSc in Strategic Design & Management from the Parsons School of Design, and an MSc in Technology Management from Columbia University.