Nicole Kurokawa Neily is a Senior Fellow at the Independent Women's Forum, and has previously served as Executive Director for IWF. Prior these positions, she worked as Director of Research Analysis for the Winston Group, a public opinion and message design firm. She was also both Manager of External Relations and Media Manager at the Cato Institute. In addition, she has authored several papers for the Illinois Policy Institute and Americans for Prosperity- Illinois.

Mrs. Kurokawa Neily holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Illinois, and a master's of public policy from Pepperdine University's School of Public Policy with a specialization in economic policy and foreign policy.