Katerina (who uses they/she pronouns) is devoted to creating a world where all life is centered, revered, and liberated.

They commit to creativity as a portal to healing themselves and the world.

Katerina speaking at the Colorado State Capitol on March 27, 2021 for the “Stop AAPI Hate” rally. Captured on film by Mark Stein.

Katerina is a poet, community leader, and visionary whose work centers radical love, ancestral wisdom, and spiritual reclamation. With an entrepreneurial career spanning over a decade’s work in marketing, communications, and liberation movements, Katerina now works as a full-time artist. They are passionate about sharing their knowledge through speaking, writing, and coaching.

In 2016, Katerina co-founded an Asian American non-profit that garnered national acclaim for uplifting marginalized voices. They were Executive Editor of the collective’s literary journal, and facilitated the storytelling of Asian American experiences throughout five annual issues. They also spearheaded critical dialogue and on-the-ground organizing during the pandemic, the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the rise in anti-Asian violence. During this time, Katerina discovered their superpower for creating safe spaces that empower people to open up and connect deeply with themselves and others.

In 2018, Katerina co-founded Spectacle, a leading inclusive marketing & communications agency that worked with clients like Vans, Denver Health, VF Corporation, interTrend, and the City of Fort Collins. As Strategic Director, they advised executives on sensitive & informed messaging; developed culturally-inclusive marketing & communications strategies; and educated teams on inclusive language, thought, and practices. 

Katerina has spoken at Creative Mornings, Talks at Google, and Harvard; crafted gatherings for TEDx, Square, and Walmart; and been celebrated in People, HuffPost, and CBS News. They hold dual degrees in English & music from Cornell University, and were the 2023 Emerging Writers Fellow at Lighthouse Writers Workshop. Born and raised in New York, Katerina now lives in the Hudson Valley. They are happiest lounging in the sun, eating food, and being present with loved ones.

Select Past Engagements

To inquire about working with Katerina as a speaker or facilitator, reach out here.

Keynote Speaking

  • "Creative Self & Collective Care For Our Liberated World." Keynote speaker at CU Denver, hosted by the Center for Access & Campus Engagement. March 12, 2025. Denver, Colorado.

  • "Creativity for Healing, Resistance, and Change." Keynote speaker at Washington University, hosted by the Office for Diversity & Inclusion. November 15, 2024. St. Louis, Missouri.

  • "Digital Revolution: The Social Media Phenomenon" panel moderator at "Striking a Balance: Vision for a Conflicted World" at Harvard University. February 16, 2020. Cambridge, Massachusetts.

  • "Creating for an Inclusive Future" presentation at Matchbox Design Festival. September 7, 2019. Denver, Colorado.

  • "The Power of Creativity" presentation at the NAACP Leadership Convention. August 23, 2019. Kansas City, Missouri.

  • "The Mindful Hustle" talk at Creative Mornings. November 9, 2018. Denver, Colorado.

  • "Redefining Asian American Narratives Through Storytelling" talk at TEDxJHU. May 22, 2018. Baltimore, Maryland.

  • "Making of An Asian American Magazine" panel at Talks at Google. January 10, 2018. New York, New York.

  • Speaker for Intertrend's panel on Asian American Identity for Chlorox. June 2022.

  • "Celebrating Asian America" presentation on allying with Asian Americans for Flatiron School. May 2020.

Workshop Facilitation

  • Instructor for "Decolonizing Your Writing" craft class at Lighthouse Writers Workshop. September 28, 2024. Denver, Colorado.

  • Instructor for "Decolonizing Your Writing" 4-week workshop at Petals and Pages. September 2024. Denver, Colorado.

  • Instructor for drop-in writing at the Denver Art Museum. November 28, 2023. Denver, Colorado.

  • Creator and facilitator for Square's "Not Your Model Minority" workshop. May 2021.

  • Creator and facilitator for Walmart's executive storytelling workshop. September 2021.

  • Creator and facilitator for Square's creative activism workshop. May 2020.

  • Facilitator for Clayton Club's Lunar New Year celebration. February 2022. Denver, Colorado.

  • Creator and facilitator for a workshop on identity exploration for Asian Girls Ignite. July 2021. Denver, Colorado.

  • Lead for The Wing Los Angeles' Lunar New Year: Intention Setting Workshop. February 2020. Los Angeles, California.

Artistic Presentations

  • Poetry reading at the Writer's Open Studio at Château d'Orquevaux. July 3, 2025. Orquevaux, France.

  • "Between Two Springs." Group show at the Mendocino Art Center. On view March - April 2025. Mendocino, California.

  • Panelist on "Memoir Across Format and Style" for [margins.] literary conference, hosted by The Word. September 21, 2024. Denver, Colorado.

  • "Our (G)A(Y)sian Diaries: Gospel of a Whole Sun." Podcast episode with Dear Asian Generation. July 10, 2024.

  • Host of a 12-stop book tour for Gospel of a Whole Sun, organizing healing community events with fellow Asian American artists across New York, California, and Colorado. June 2024.

  • "Colorado Voices: Cuentos de Colorado." poetry reading & interview with Colorado Poet Laureate Bobby LeFebre for Rocky Mountain PBS. April 28, 2022.

  • "Colorado Asians: A Poetry Event" poetry reading for Artworks Loveland, curated by Jane Burke and Beth Franklin, Director of the Colorado Poets Center. May 2021.

  • "Mourning After" poetry recitation and an offering for collective prayer at the Colorado State Capitol. March 2021.

  • "Lessons on Ousting a Dictator" poetry reading for Malaya Movement commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Filipino People Power Revolution. February 2021.

Community Leadership

  • Facilitator for opening & closing ritual at TEDxMileHigh, "Rethinking How We Gather." October 2021. Denver, Colorado.

  • Host of Ethel's Club's 2021 AAPI Heritage Celebration. May 2021.

  • Story slam curator and host for The Wing Los Angeles: AAPI Heritage Month. May 2019. Los Angeles, California.

  • Host of the AAPI Writer's Group at The Word conference. September 9, 2023.

  • Judge for Make Noise Today's scholarship contest, a Asian American youth program hosted by Intertrend. April 2024.

  • Judge for Emerging Writers Fellow at Lighthouse Writers Workshop, February 2024. Denver, Colorado.

  • Self Care & Body Image as AAPI Women, Instagram takeover and live with Pepper. April 2021.

  • "Black and Asian Solidarity" community conversation with Chaos & Comrades. March 2021.