Nicole Cardoza

Nicole Cardoza is a magician, equity activist, and culture visionary who seamlessly blends the art of stage magic with the work of social justice to conjure a world where possibility knows no bounds.

Cardoza enchants and educates her audiences by weaving creative illusions with the oft-untold history and future of Black and female magicians. She encourages us to discover our inherent magic, take risks, and learn from the extraordinary. By moving cards through time, coins through space, or destroying and restoring simple objects, audiences visualize and imagine what once may have felt impossible.

Cardoza strives to be a beacon of change, utilizing action, strategy, and performance to reshape our reality. As a Black queer woman, Cardoza works to transcend societal binaries, exploring the realms of possibility and reclaiming the essence of "Black Girl Magic" that is too often overlooked.

As the founder of Reclamation Ventures and the Reclamation Ventures Fund, Cardoza has created not only a venture studio but also a movement dedicated to incubating endeavors that redefine the limits of human potential. She spearheads projects that bridge the wellness gap, giving over $600,000 in non-equity grants to trailblazers who are forging a path to make wellness more accessible.

By founding initiatives like Anti-Racism Daily, a media platform boasting 300k email subscribers and 600k social followers, Cardoza has become a force of change, raising over $2M to dismantle the structures of white supremacy. Simultaneously, she fosters literary rebellion with the Banned Books Book Club, inviting others to celebrate forbidden narratives while championing the freedom to read.

Cardoza is a noted children’s book author and seasoned public speaker, having graced the stages of major conferences and festivals, hosted and facilitated DEI workshops for major Fortune 500 companies and national nonprofits (Lululemon, Adidas, Learn.com, DonorsChoose), and has lectured at colleges and universities (MIT, Harvard, Stanford). She works with these brands and organizations to create strategies and initiatives that foster belonging and reimagine the workplace through live and self-paced workshops.