Let’s talk tech with Jennifer Ponder! Jennifer is the National Program Director for Emerging Technologies at STEM Atlanta Women, an Emerging Tech Startup Strategy Advisor for DKG Technology Consulting Group, a board member for Technologists of Color and Power of Technology Foundation, and the founder of JPG Cloud Strategy & Consulting. With a passion for technology ignited at a young age, Jennifer received her first desktop computer at 8 years old, sparking her career path. From her early days working on website layouts in WordPress and in healthcare IT on HL7 interfaces and coding to her current Guinness World Record achievement as a member of Women in Cloud, Jennifer’s journey is marked by determination and skill. Her career has spanned various sectors and now she is inspiring young Black and Brown girls to pursue tech and STEM careers.

Bag Secured! Read about the mother-daughter duo who raised $14M to fund using AI to help cancer patients

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Welcome to Our Tech Talk
Talk about how you got started in tech and challenges you faced.

Jennifer:
In 2017, I decided to go through the Software Engineering Program at Georgia Tech which started me on my software engineering path. After the program, I gained many opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, and the opportunity to work on side projects. One thing that I noticed very early in my career is being the only woman in an IT department or the only Black woman in the roles as well. However, I didn’t let that get me down or stop me. I joined tech groups for women and diverse groups where women could work on projects, code, attend hackathons, and more. It was all about the camaraderie and building relationships.

As I went through the years meeting other professional acquaintances, I learned their experiences were similar to mine, one of the reasons why I do the work that I do: to inspire young Black and Brown girls to be interested in tech and to let them know that they belong in tech and STEM fields if they so choose it. What I find most rewarding is helping people solve problems with technology and exposing the younger generations to technology and what it can do to change lives for the better.

Innovation and Influence
Who are some of your role models or “melanin muses” who have inspired or influenced your career aspirations?

Jennifer:
My career aspirations have been influenced by Dr. Mae Jemison and Ashanti Johnson to expand my reach with the programs I curate for young girls and women. Dr. Mae Jemison, a former NASA astronaut and the first African American woman to travel in space, and her journey in STEM and perseverance to reach her goals always resonated with me. A favorite quote of mine by her is “Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live.”

Ashanti Johnson is the first African American female chemical oceanographer. The work that she does as the chief science and research leader and her work at Black Girls Dive inspires women and girls to pursue aquatic-based recreational activities and careers. As a scuba diver myself I am overjoyed about the work she is doing to get young Black girls inspired about ocean life and science.

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Interested in learning more about tech? Keep an eye out for some of these upcoming events from STEM Atlanta Women, The Power of Technology Foundation, and Technologists of Color!

muses on the move:
Dr. Olufunmilayo (Funmi) Olopade and Feyi Olopade Ayodele

Mother-daughter duo Dr. Olufunmilayo (Funmi) Olopade and Feyi Olopade Ayodele, co-founders of CancerIQ, secured $14 million in funding to support their AI-driven early cancer detection approach. Founded in 2013, CancerIQ has been making significant strides in addressing cancer care disparities with a focus on underserved communities. Serving over 180 location nationwide, their platform uses AI to empower healthcare providers to identify high-risk individuals and provide personalized prevention strategies.

Black women are statistically more likely to be diagnosed at later stages, highlighting the urgency for better risk assessment and early detection strategies. CancerIQ’s work highlights the importance of healthcare technology and the need to address healthcare disparities to ensure all individuals, regardless of background, have equal access to life-saving interventions.

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