Nicole Ponseca

Nicole Ponseca

Keynote Speaker: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Speaker, CEO of Jeepney, Chef, Restaurateur & Author of "I Am A Filipino"

Nicole Ponseca Biography

Nicole Ponseca is a respected thought leader and a noteworthy trailblazer in the Asian/Pacific American (APA) and Filipino space, as well as the hospitality industry. She has leveraged her advertising background to wake up a dormant conversation about identity and Filipino food in the United States, as well as the global foodie community and Filipino diaspora. In her past life, she was an advertising executive working with Fortune 500 clients by day. At night, she was moonlighting as a restaurant hostess/bartender/server/manager, determined to learn as much as she could about the restaurant business. The popularity of her two restaurants, Maharlika and Jeepney, translated into a best-selling debut cookbook, "I Am a Filipino", which received a James Beard Award nomination for Best International Cookbook in 2019. She has dedicated close to 20 years exploring the 7,100+ Philippine islands looking for ancestral recipes, tools and clues to a culture that had little documentation. The result is a seminal work in Filipino history and the culinary world.

Currently, she splits her time between Manhattan and Miami, as she pivots her business and personal life post-COVID. Her journey has opened her up as a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) speaker, food journalist, and experienced restaurateur. She is an outspoken advocate for the APA, Black and LGBTQIA communities and is known for her uncanny perseverance, having survived childhood abuse and domestic violence.

Her experiences and relatability make her an ideal speaker for companies, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and teams looking to diversify their content. Her talks are vibrant, encouraging and provide added value for teams looking to create more empathy and inspiration to their work and lives.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Nicole Ponseca and other top speakers and celebrities.

Nicole Ponseca Speaking Topics

DEI in the Workplace and Society: Through the Lens of Food and Community

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the workplace and society, through the lens of the universal language of food. Join chef, author and restaurateur, Nicole Ponseca, as she discusses the importance of representation, not only in the workplace but within corporate leadership. Nicole reveals her story of a lack of representation as a catalyst for her venture into the restaurant industry, and her own experiences with workplace diversity. Nicole conducts a cooking demonstration of a staple Filipino dish to offer insight into elements unique to Filipino culture, breaks down the Asian monolith, yet also provides similarities in food culture that we can all relate to.

My Entrepreneurial Journey: Corporate America to the Restaurant Industry

Entrepreneurial journey from corporate America to the restaurant industry as a female person of color. Join chef, author and restaurateur, Nicole Ponseca, as she tells her inspiring story of working in corporate advertising by day and moonlighting in restaurants by night, in order to achieve her dream of opening her own restaurants and putting Filipino food on the map. Nicole discusses her journey – both highs and lows – of being a successful female minority entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry, the pressures of being the first in the door, lessons learned, and what lies ahead.

Nicole Ponseca Videos

Chef Nicole Ponseca embraces recognition for Filipino Americans
Nicole Ponseca Aims To Bring Filipino Food 'To The Masses' | NBC

How do I book Nicole Ponseca to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Nicole Ponseca for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Nicole Ponseca, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Nicole Ponseca or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Nicole Ponseca for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Nicole Ponseca, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Nicole Ponseca are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Nicole Ponseca, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Nicole Ponseca speak about?

Nicole Ponseca is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Diversity & Inclusion, Asian & Pacific Heritage, Authors, Food & Beverage, Lifestyle, Celebrity Chef, Health, Hospitality, DEI, Thought Leadership, Empowerment, Culture, Literary, Social Activism, Business, Leadership, Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship.

Where does Nicole Ponseca travel from?

Nicole Ponseca generally travels from Miami, FL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Nicole Ponseca?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Nicole Ponseca for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Nicole Ponseca for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Nicole Ponseca or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Nicole Ponseca is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Diversity & Inclusion, Asian & Pacific Heritage and Authors. The estimated speaking fee range to book Nicole Ponseca for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Nicole Ponseca generally travels from Miami, FL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Michelle Li, Aarti Sequeira and David Chang. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Nicole Ponseca for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 28/02/2024.

Nicole Ponseca Speaking Topics

  • DEI in the Workplace and Society: Through the Lens of Food and Community

    Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the workplace and society, through the lens of the universal language of food. Join chef, author and restaurateur, Nicole Ponseca, as she discusses the importance of representation, not only in the workplace but within corporate leadership. Nicole reveals her story of a lack of representation as a catalyst for her venture into the restaurant industry, and her own experiences with workplace diversity. Nicole conducts a cooking demonstration of a staple Filipino dish to offer insight into elements unique to Filipino culture, breaks down the Asian monolith, yet also provides similarities in food culture that we can all relate to.

  • My Entrepreneurial Journey: Corporate America to the Restaurant Industry

    Entrepreneurial journey from corporate America to the restaurant industry as a female person of color. Join chef, author and restaurateur, Nicole Ponseca, as she tells her inspiring story of working in corporate advertising by day and moonlighting in restaurants by night, in order to achieve her dream of opening her own restaurants and putting Filipino food on the map. Nicole discusses her journey – both highs and lows – of being a successful female minority entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry, the pressures of being the first in the door, lessons learned, and what lies ahead.

Nicole Ponseca Videos

Chef Nicole Ponseca embraces recognition for Filipino Americans
Nicole Ponseca Aims To Bring Filipino Food 'To The Masses' | NBC
  • How do I book Nicole Ponseca to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Nicole Ponseca for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Nicole Ponseca, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Nicole Ponseca or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Nicole Ponseca for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Nicole Ponseca, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Nicole Ponseca are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Nicole Ponseca, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Nicole Ponseca speak about?

  • Where does Nicole Ponseca travel from?

    Nicole Ponseca generally travels from Miami, FL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Nicole Ponseca?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Nicole Ponseca for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Nicole Ponseca for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Nicole Ponseca or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
BOOKING INFORMATION REQUEST
NICOLE PONSECA

We are happy to assist you with your interest in booking a speaker or celebrity for your event, your organization, and the type of talent you would like to secure, and an agent will be in touch shortly.

Fill out the form below to or call us at 1-800-698-2536 if need immediate assistance.

Tell us about your event!

We respond to most inquiries within 4 hours. Under special circumstances, it may take up to 24 hours.


This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.