Nicole Ponseca

Nicole Ponseca is a respected thought leader and trailblazer in the Asian/Pacific American and Filipino culinary and cultural space, as well as the hospitality industry at large. With a foundation in advertising, she invigorated the conversation around Filipino identity and cuisine in the United States and helped bring Filipino food into the global spotlight.

Early in her career, Ponseca balanced her work as an advertising executive with behind‑the‑scenes roles in restaurants—from hostess to bartender, server and manager—as she immersed herself in every aspect of the hospitality world. Her deep engagement with food and community culminated in the success of her restaurants, including Maharlika and Jeepney, and the publication of her best‑selling debut cookbook “I Am a Filipino,” a seminal exploration of Filipino culinary heritage that earned a James Beard Award nomination.

For nearly two decades, Ponseca has traveled throughout the Philippines’ 7,100+ islands, seeking ancestral recipes, tools and stories that illuminate a richly diverse yet historically under‑documented culture. Her work has become a touchstone for understanding Filipino food as both a cultural force and a living tradition, influencing chefs, food lovers and cultural conversations worldwide.

She has expanded her role beyond chef and restaurateur to become a prominent Diversity, Equity & Inclusion speaker, food journalist and cultural commentator. An outspoken advocate for Asian/Pacific American, Black and LGBTQ+ communities, she brings honesty, resilience and empathy to her work, shaped in part by her own journey of overcoming childhood abuse and domestic violence.

Ponseca is a sought‑after speaker for companies, Employee Resource Groups and organizations seeking to deepen their understanding of inclusive leadership, cultural identity and community building. Her talks are known for being vibrant, heartfelt and inspiring, offering practical insights that help teams cultivate empathy, diversity and purpose in both their professional and personal lives.