Cathy Hackl

Cathy Hackl, a Costa Rican-American futurist and tech innovator, is one of the leading voices shaping the future of technology. Known as the "Godmother of the Metaverse," Hackl has significantly influenced the development of immersive technologies, including AI, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and Web3. She began her career in media and communications before transitioning into the tech industry, where she held roles at HTC Vive, Magic Leap, and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Hackl is the founder and CEO of Future Dynamics, a foresight and exploration lab that focuses on AI, spatial computing, gaming, and emerging technologies. She also serves as an External Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where she advises on frontier technologies like Web3, IoT, and quantum computing. Hackl has worked with top global brands like Nike, Louis Vuitton, Walmart, Ralph Lauren, and Clinique, helping them create transformative digital and virtual experiences, such as Walmartland in Roblox and Electric Fest in Fortnite.

She has received global recognition for her work, including being named one of Newsweek’s Top 25 AI Visionaries of 2024 and an Ad Age Leading Woman in 2023. Hackl is also a host of the podcast TechMagic and has authored five books, including Spatial Computing: An AI-Driven Business Revolution and Navigating the Metaverse.

Hackl has spoken at major events, including the World Economic Forum in Davos, CES, SXSW, and Harvard Business School. Her expertise spans AI, gaming, next-gen consumer behaviour, and the post-smartphone era. 

Cathy Hackl was born in Costa Rica and is recognised as one of the leading futurists and technology experts in the world. She studied journalism at the University of Texas at Austin between 1997 and 2000, later earning a double master’s degree in Mass Communications and International Studies from Florida International University in 2004. She also completed a Professional Certificate in Foresight at the University of Houston in 2020, designed to train professional futurists. In 2020, she attended the Harvard Kennedy School, focusing on Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, and public policy.

Her early career began in media and communications. In 2003, she worked as an Associate Producer and Trainee at Discovery Communications, contributing to programmes such as Animal Planet’s Miami Animal Police and conducting research for science and engineering shows for Discovery Latin America and Iberia. In 2004, she joined CNN as an Associate Archive Coordinator, followed by a role at Georgia TeVe, where she worked as an on-camera reporter for FOX5 Georgia TeVe. Between 2006 and 2007, she served as a staff reporter at Mundo Hispánico and worked as an Associate Producer for FOX 5 Atlanta, WAGA-TV. From 2007 to 2010, she worked as a Senior Account Executive at Spaulding Communications.

In 2010, she joined the EARTH University Foundation as a Communications Coordinator, followed by a role as Communications Director at Ellas 2.0, part of Women 2.0, from 2012 to 2014. Between 2014 and 2015, she was a Public Relations Specialist at the University of Florida. In 2015, she directed communications for Summit.Live, formerly known as Periscope Community Summit.

Between 2013 and 2016, she also served as an adjunct professor at IE Business School in Madrid, teaching communications and emerging technologies. In 2016, she entered the field of virtual reality as Chief Communications Officer at Future Lighthouse, a cinematic VR studio based in Los Angeles. From 2016 to 2018, she contributed as a writer to VRScout, one of the leading media outlets for immersive technologies.

In 2017, she joined HTC Vive as a VR Evangelist, promoting virtual reality technologies and their applications across industries. She was selected as one of 100 participants in the Oculus Launch Pad programme, which supported diverse VR content creators. In 2018, she briefly worked with Mozilla as Experiential Marketing and Partnerships Lead, focusing on WebXR, WebVR, and AI initiatives. The same year, she became a Futurist at You Are Here Labs and later joined Magic Leap as Enterprise Strategist for Spatial Computing, a position she held until 2020.

During this period, she gained recognition for her deep understanding of augmented reality, mixed reality, and spatial computing. In 2020, she joined Amazon Web Services (AWS) as Partner Activation Leader, contributing to the launch of new services including AWS Bedrock and AWS SimSpace Weaver, which focus on artificial intelligence and large-scale simulation.

In 2021, she founded the Futures Intelligence Group, providing consultancy in metaverse strategy, gaming, and NFTs for major global companies such as Nike, Ralph Lauren, Clinique, and Walmart. The company was acquired by Journey within ten months. After the acquisition, she became Chief Metaverse Officer and Chief Futurist at Journey, where she led teams building immersive experiences in platforms such as Roblox, Fortnite, and Rec Room. She also advised governments and corporations on emerging technologies, gaming, and commerce strategies.

Between 2020 and 2022, she advised Avatar Dimension, a Microsoft Mixed Reality Capture studio, on volumetric video and hologram technologies. In 2022, she began working with the World Economic Forum as an Initiative Partner for Tech Convergence, focusing on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies.

In 2024, she founded Future Dynamics, her foresight and exploration lab, which also serves as the main platform for her keynote speaking, courses, research, and thought leadership. The same year, she became an External Partner to Boston Consulting Group (BCG), advising on AI, Extended Reality, Internet of Things, Web3, and Quantum Computing. She also became Futurist in Residence at Nokia in 2025.

Cathy Hackl has worked with leading global brands, including Nike, Walmart, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, Clinique, and Estee Lauder, helping them develop virtual and AI-driven strategies. She has built immersive experiences such as Walmartland in Roblox and Electric Fest in Fortnite, and she is an Apple Vision Pro developer. Her expertise includes AI, spatial computing, gaming, Gen Alpha consumer behaviour, and multimodal AI.

She is the host of Adweek’s podcast TechMagic and has written five books: Marketing New Realities (2017), The Augmented Workforce (2021), Navigating the Metaverse (2022), Spatial Computing: An AI-Driven Business Revolution, and Into the Metaverse: The Essential Guide to the Business Opportunities of the Web3 Era.

Her achievements include being named one of Newsweek’s Top 25 AI Visionaries of 2024, Ad Age Leading Woman of 2023, and one of Vogue Business’s 100 Innovators. She was featured on the cover of Forbes Latam’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2023 and included in Bloomberg Línea’s Top 100 Latin Innovators. Earlier in her career, she was shortlisted for the 2020 Women in IT Awards as Technology Evangelist of the Year and received an Emmy nomination in 2007 for Outstanding Achievement in Television News Programming.

She has appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box, 60 Minutes, Good Morning America, Time, The Economist, GQ, and Bloomberg, and became the first person to ring the NASDAQ opening bell simultaneously in physical and digital form. She has delivered keynote speeches at major global events, including the World Economic Forum in Davos, CES, SXSW, Harvard Business School, MIT, and Comic-Con.

Hackl is also a member of the Association of Professional Futurists, the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, the Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and Simulation of Behaviour, the World Future Society, and the VR/AR Association.

Currently, Cathy Hackl serves as the CEO of Future Dynamics, an External Advisor to Boston Consulting Group, and Futurist in Residence at Nokia. Her ongoing work focuses on the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, spatial computing, gaming, and human experience, exploring future consumer trends, neural interfaces, and space marketing. She continues to advise Fortune 100 companies, governments, and institutions worldwide, helping them prepare for and shape the evolving digital era.

Cathy Hackl envisions a future where technology bridges the gap between human connection and innovation. Her goal is to empower individuals and organisations to navigate the rapidly evolving world of AI, immersive technologies, and spatial computing. She believes that these advancements will redefine how we work, play, and connect, and she advocates for the convergence of technology to unlock new possibilities. Through her work, Cathy aims to inspire others to embrace change and leverage technology for meaningful impact, ensuring that the future is accessible, inclusive, and transformative for all.

Cathy Hackl’s work has earned her global recognition as a leader in emerging technologies. She was named one of Newsweek’s Top 25 AI Visionaries in 2024 and featured on the Forbes Latam 100 Most Powerful Women list. In 2023, she was honoured as an Ad Age Leading Woman, and in 2022, she was included in Vogue Business's 100 Innovators. Hackl’s achievements extend to major media appearances on CNBC, 60 Minutes, Time, and The Economist. She has also been nominated for various prestigious awards, including the Women in IT Technology Evangelist of the Year.