Katherine Zigmont is the Senior Vice President at the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), where she brings over 15 years of leadership experience in disability inclusion, technology access, and nonprofit operations. In her role at CETF, Kat is committed to closing the Digital Divide and promoting Digital Inclusion and Digital Equity by speeding up broadband deployment and adoption. Specifically, Kat aims to focus on broadband access, digital literacy, and working with community-based organizations to ensure that underserved communities are connected.
Before joining CETF, Kat served as the Chief Operations Officer at the World Institute on Disability (WID). There, she led initiatives aimed at increasing accessibility and inclusion for individuals with disabilities. She was responsible for overseeing internal operations and guiding strategic initiatives that focused on technology access as a fundamental aspect of disability rights. Her work included building cross-sector partnerships, working with both industry and community-based organizations, and expanding digital inclusion efforts through assistive technology. Additionally, she mentored international disability fellows and led policy and advocacy initiatives based on research outcomes and lived experiences.
Kat’s approach is deeply shaped by her own experiences as someone born with a rare neurological disability, which drives her lifelong dedication to reducing stigma and building more equitable and connected communities.
She holds a B.S. in Political Science and a B.A. in Anthropology from Florida State University. Kat also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Azerbaijan, focusing on NGO development, community building, digital literacy, and grant writing. When she’s not working to advance digital equity, you can find her exploring remote corners of the world, immersing herself in local cultures, and documenting street art along the way.