Thali Sugisawa has built a 25-year career at the intersection of business and culture. She holds a BA in International Relations and an MA in Organizations & Development, and began her career in international trade in the medical device sector, working across regulatory, import-export, and marketing functions for a global distributor in Brazil.
In 2024, Thali joined United Arts of Central Florida to lead its Cultural Tourism Initiative in partnership with Visit Orlando, developing the programs, marketing strategy, and cross-sector partnerships that connect the region’s arts organizations and artists to visitors and residents.
Thali co-founded FusionFest in 2016 in collaboration with the Orange County Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs and led the organization through 2023 — a grassroots project that became an award-winning nonprofit. Under her leadership, FusionFest grew into an annual multicultural festival drawing more than 20,000 attendees, alongside a weekly talk show, monthly dining experiences, a short-film contest, art exhibitions, and collaborative projects with private, public, and nonprofit partners.
She is an alumna of Leadership Orlando Class 98, the City of Orlando Mayor’s Academy Class of 2016, the Orlando Economic Partnership Black Boardroom Leader Program Nonprofit Track, and the Rollins Mini-MBA program. She speaks regularly on diversity and inclusion, women’s rights, and immigration. Her work has been recognized with:
– Bravatto Award, East Orlando Chamber of Commerce, 2024
– Community Champion for DEI&A, Haitian American Art Network, 2024
– Diversity in Business Award, Orlando Business Journal, 2023
– Women of the Year, Orlando Magazine, 2021
– Domino Effect Award, Urbander & SOS Orlando, 2020
Thali serves on the board of Greater Orlando Performing Arts Relief (GOPAR), and previously served on the boards of Creative City Project (2021–2025) and Descolonizarte Teatro (2022–2026).
Her personal essays are published at Life Beyond Instagram.