Chief Technology Ambassador
Nicola (Nicki) Palmer is Chief Technology Ambassador at Verizon. She works with business leaders, industry partners and consortiums, nonprofits and universities to ensure Verizon is at the forefront of technology and innovation now and into the future.
Prior to her current role, she served as Verizon’s Chief Product Development Officer, overseeing the exploration of new technologies and creation of products and platforms that solve problems for individuals, enterprises, and society.
Nicki began her career at Bell Atlantic, a Verizon predecessor company, in 1990 and has held a number of leadership positions in engineering, operations, and technology supporting advanced data and wireless products across customer segments. She has served as Verizon’s Chief Engineering Officer as well as the Chief Technology Officer of Verizon Wireless.
Nicki is widely recognized as an influential leader in technology and telecommunications. Her awards include being named one of the Most Influential Women in Wireless, a Top 10 5G People to Watch, a Top 100 CIO/CTO Leader in STEM, a POWER Woman by Moves Magazine, and highlighted as a Female Disruptor by Authority Magazine.
Nicki is a passionate advocate for promoting education and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), especially for women. She serves on the board of directors for the National Academy Foundation and chairs its STEM Advisory Committee with the mission of providing more opportunities for high school students to be college, career, and
future ready. She also serves on the board of BreakThroughTech, an initiative of Cornell Tech that works at the intersection of academia and industry to propel more women and underrepresented communities into technology degrees and careers. Nicki is a member of Penn State’s Corporate Advisory Council as well as a board member of the Global Women in Telecom Network. She also serves on the board of nVent Electric plc.
Nicki earned a BS in industrial engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. She is a proud wife, mother of three, and breast cancer survivor.