Cortney Harding, an experienced founder and content creator, is a sought-after expert who bridges the impact of the digital revolution from Web2 to Web3 and its implications for businesses. She also explores how the metaverse can foster inclusive communities.

As the founder of the award-winning agency Friends With Holograms, she pioneered VR training on critical topics such as child abuse, workplace inclusion, mental health, Black maternal mortality, and racial bias for major companies like Lowe’s, Walmart, PWC, Amazon, and Target. Her work received accolades such as Best VR/AR at Mobile World Congress 2019 and was a finalist for the SXSW Innovation Award. It was also recognized as a Top HR Product by HR Executive.

Currently collaborating with Meta to shape metaverse learning strategies, Cortney played a key role in developing “What is the Metaverse,” an innovative course covering its various aspects, including safety and ethical considerations.

A prominent speaker and forward-thinking catalyst for change, Cortney understands the challenges and opportunities presented by the metaverse. She approaches her work by prioritizing problem-solving and sustainability in virtual landscapes, leading to speaking engagements at prestigious events like DAVOS, SXSW, Advertising Week Europe, the Next Web, and Future of Storytelling. She has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, and Ad Week, and has contributed to Billboard, Teen Vogue, and the Village Voice. Cortney is also an author of three books, including her latest on leveraging virtual reality for social impact.

In academia, Cortney has taught at North Carolina State and Caltech, and will be teaching at Barnard and NYU this year, where she shares her unique curriculum. She has guest lectured at Johns Hopkins, Chapman University, Harvard Business School, and Columbia University.