Tracie Dean Ponder is an award-winning social entrepreneur and educator dedicated to bridging opportunity gaps and fostering diversity across business, technology, and education. Coming from a family with a deep commitment to education, her passion for transforming learning runs through her core. She is the Founder and CEO of Learn Collaborate (LC), an NSF-funded startup where she leads the company in reimagining how students connect classroom learning to real-world careers. Backed by over $1.3 million in National Science Foundation grants—including both STTR Phase I and SBIR Phase II awards—LC is an AI-powered platform at the forefront of personalized learning pathways and skill validation. Through LC, Tracie is developing cutting-edge tools like AiMentoring and the Learning Matrix to link academic institutions and students with collaborative projects and mentorship, helping educators deliver project-based learning that builds both technical and soft skills for career readiness.

Tracie also founded and serves as Executive Director of the BSTEM Project, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit. Through BSTEM, she has designed comprehensive curriculums and authored companion workbooks, impacting more than 10,000 students through 21,800+ hours of free STEM and business programming since 2015. She forged partnerships with leading companies including Microsoft, Google, Samsung, YouTube, and CBS, creating opportunities for underrepresented students to explore and thrive in STEM fields.

A seasoned entrepreneur, Tracie has led innovative ventures for over two decades, previously helming Ponder This Productions, Inc., where she produced films, television, and digital content for various studios and production companies. Her ability to weave together business, technology, and storytelling informs her vision for Learn Collaborate—building a scalable, inclusive platform that empowers educators, inspires students, and connects learning to the skills needed for the workforce of tomorrow.

Tracie holds a BA from New York University, an MA from DePaul University, and certificates in AI for Business Leaders (AI LA) and Technology Leadership (Cornell University).