Founder & Chief Futurist of Journey, CEO of Future Dynamics, Named one of Forbes Latam’s 100 Most Powerful Women of 2023
Cathy Hackl‘s Biography:
Cathy is a globally recognised technology futurist, AI strategist, and one of the most influential voices shaping the future of the Metaverse, spatial computing and emerging technologies. As the Founder and Chief Futurist of Journey and CEO of Future Dynamics, she has advised some of the world’s most recognisable brands, including Louis Vuitton, Nike and Clinique. Her role as an Initiative Partner helping define and build the Metaverse for the World Economic Forum has positioned her at the forefront of technological innovation. A sought-after keynote speaker, Cathy regularly shares insights on AI, digital transformation, virtual worlds and the future of work at prestigious events including Davos, MIT, Harvard Business School, SXSW and CES.
Cathy’s career began in media and communications, initially working as an Associate Producer and Trainee for Discovery Communications before becoming an Associate Archive Coordinator for CNN and later an Associate Producer for FOX 5 Atlanta. She subsequently held communications and public relations roles, including positions at the University of Florida and IE Business School. Her transition into emerging technologies accelerated through leadership positions with HTC Vive, Oculus VR, Mozilla, Magic Leap and Amazon Web Services. These experiences provided her with a unique perspective on the intersection of technology, storytelling and business innovation.
Throughout her career, Cathy has earned widespread recognition for her contributions to technology and innovation. She was named one of Ad Age’s Leading Women of 2023 and featured among Forbes Latam’s 100 Most Powerful Women of 2023. Recognised as a Top 25 AI Visionary and a leading Latina voice in artificial intelligence, she has also appeared on the Vogue Business 100 Innovators list. A prolific author, Cathy has written five books, including ‘Spatial Computing’,’Into the Metaverse’ and ‘The Augmented Workforce’. Her expertise has been featured by Bloomberg, The Economist, CNN, CNBC, Vogue, Time and 60 Minutes.
Beyond her advisory and executive roles, Cathy serves on the Board of Directors of the Ad Council, is a Partner at the WXR Fund and contributes to Vogue Singapore. She hosts Adweek’s award-winning podcasts, including ‘TechMagic’ and the ‘Metaverse Marketing’ Podcast, where she explores emerging trends and their impact on business and society. Widely regarded as the #1 LinkedIn Voice in Spatial AI and XR, Cathy continues to influence how organisations prepare for the next generation of technological transformation.
Why Hire Cathy Hackl?
Cathy Hackl delivers future-focused keynote presentations that help organisations understand and prepare for emerging technologies before they become mainstream. Drawing on experience across AI, spatial computing, digital transformation and the Metaverse, she provides audiences with practical insights into innovation, consumer behaviour and the future of business. Having spoken at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Harvard Business School, MIT, SXSW and Vogue’s Forces of Fashion, Cathy combines strategic expertise with engaging storytelling, making complex technological developments accessible, relevant and actionable for leaders, innovators and global audiences.
Cathy Hackl‘s Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key milestones that define Cathy Hackl’s remarkable career:
- 2023 – Named one of Ad Age’s Leading Women of 2023 for her influence on technology, innovation and business transformation.
- 2023 – Recognised on Forbes Latam’s 100 Most Powerful Women list, highlighting her global impact across AI and emerging technologies.
- 2021 – Founded Journey and became its Founder & Chief Futurist, advising major brands on Metaverse and spatial computing strategies.
- 2021 – Became Dean of the Republic Realm Academy for Everyrealm, helping educate the next generation of Metaverse professionals.
- 2021 – Launched the Metaverse Marketing Podcast for Adweek, exploring developments in virtual worlds and digital innovation.
- 2021 – Joined Avatar Dimension as a Volumetric Video and Hologram Advisor, advancing immersive technology applications.
- 2021 – Became a Partner of the WXR Fund and Metaverse Growth Strategist for Uplandme, supporting innovation in emerging technology sectors.
- 2020 – Served as CEO and Chief Metaverse Officer of Futures Intelligence Group while leading strategic partnerships for Amazon Web Services.
- 2018 – Held leadership roles at Mozilla, Magic Leap and You Are Here Labs, driving immersive technology and experiential innovation initiatives.
- 2017 – Became a VR Evangelist for HTC Vive and a Launch Pad Fellow for Oculus VR, establishing herself as a leading advocate for virtual reality technologies.
Videos
Cathy Hackl’s Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“Cathy is knowledgeable, engaging and passionate about the field of technology and social media. I came away with so much information that I am excited to move forward and try new ways to get information out through a variety of tools and platforms” – Nutan, Executive Producer, US Department of Defense
“As a notable tech leader and futurist, we invited Cathy Hackl to keynote the Nevada Governor’s Global Tourism Summit. Her talk was informative, engaging and really showcased how Nevada can be a leader when it comes to tourism innovation” – Brenda, Acting Director, Nevada Department of Tourism & Cultural Affairs
“The best speaker of future technology! Her talk was phenomenal. It truly brought forth the reality of the future of marketing and opportunities. She did a great job at explaining the things to come and providing useful information to take back to our business” – Event Attendee, Social Media Marketing World, San Diego
“Cathy Hackl is not only a seasoned broadcaster, but a compelling trainer who received a 90% approval rating at a Public Relations Society of America’s recent workshop. Cathy’s ability to share implementable strategies, while offering cutting-edge digital engagement techniques, was impressive, especially considering her audience-career communications” – Colleen, Professional Development, Public Relations Society of America
“Cathy Hackl is such a great source for information on Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. Her insights put these new developments and trends in context to show how they will have a practical impact. I follow Cathy’s posts on LinkedIn and Twitter and I am sure to read articles she posts. It was such a pleasure to talk with her in our broadcast at Automation Fair at Home this year. Her network helped us to amplify messaging and reach industry influencers. Thank you, Cathy!” – Dave, Director of Advanced Technology, Rockwell Automation
“I requested Cathy to speak at our AR/VR team at Facebook and she did not disappoint. Her talk spanned a wide range of topics. She was energetic, engaging and easy to work with. We would love to have Cathy back in the future” – Sarah, Event Specialist, Facebook Reality Labs
“Cathy is a phenomenal speaker who is able to engage the crows with her well-rounded experience and anyone could tell how passionate she was for the future of reality. Not only was her keynote speech intriguing and informative, but her question and answer segment was one of the most interesting aspects of the conference. She was able to offer insight on so many sides of the industry and will always be welcomed back at OrlandoiX” – David, Executive Producer, OrlandoiX & Immersion
Speaking Topics
Cathy Hackl’s Official Keynote Topics:
- Future of Business
- Future of any Industry
- Future of Leadership
- Direct to Avatar
- Marketing to Robots
- Augmented Reality
- Virtual Reality
- Spatial Computing
- XR
- Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence
- Innovation
- Emerging Technology
- Futurism
- Virtual Beings
- Future of Work
- Future of Marketing
- Future of Travel
- Future of Manufacturing
- CGI Influencers
- Personal Branding for Women in Tech
- LinkedIn Strategy
How Much Does Cathy Hackl Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Cathy Hackl?
Cathy Hackl’s speaking fees typically reflect her exceptional career and international demand. Engagements vary depending on location, format, and duration; keynote appearances, conferences, and international events may command higher fees due to travel and preparation requirements.