![](\"https:\/\/ponddeshpande.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/PDC-founders.png\" "\\"PDC")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>Our History<\/p><\/h2><\/div>
Real-life strategy to reach your goals.<\/h2><\/div>Founded at the University of New Brunswick in 2012 by entrepreneurs Gerry Pond and Gururaj and Jaishree Deshpande, PDC was built on a bold idea<\/span>: lasting prosperity requires new ways of thinking, working together and solving complex problems.<\/p>\n<\/div>- <\/i><\/span>\n
Supported by the ecosystem: Early investment from government and philanthropy helped PDC turn entrepreneurship into a catalyst for change.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>\n
Built a track record in social innovation and social entrepreneurship, tackling complex challenges including workforce development, immigration, early childhood education, health and housing.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>\n
Today, we\u2019re focused on accelerating systems change for place-based prosperity, working at the intersection of innovation, enterprise and changemaker development, honouring the vision of our founders.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Our Vision<\/p><\/h2><\/div>
Real-life strategy to reach your goals.<\/h2><\/div>UNB\u2019s Pond-Deshpande Centre accelerates systems change for place-based prosperity by working on the conditions that shape how people participate in the economy, businesses and communities build wealth, governments solve complex problems, and knowledge gets turned into action.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/ponddeshpande.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/About-us.png\" "\\"About")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/ponddeshpande.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/DSC00711-scaled.jpg\" "\\"DSC00711\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>Our Values<\/p><\/h2><\/div>
Real-life strategy to reach your goals.<\/h2><\/div>We lead with trust, work through collaboration, and pursue bold ideas with excellence.<\/p>\n<\/div>
- <\/i><\/span>\n
Transparency & Trust \u2014 We work openly, building trust through honesty, clarity and accountability.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>\n
Equity & Collaboration \u2014 We bring different perspectives together and create the conditions for everyone to contribute.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>\n
Boldness & Excellence \u2014 We challenge the status quo, pursue ambitious ideas and hold ourselves to a high standard.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Our Goals<\/p><\/h2><\/div>
Real-life strategy to reach your goals.<\/h2><\/div>- <\/i><\/span>\n
Better pathways into the economy<\/p>\n
Closing gaps between education, skills, training and employment so more people can participate in and benefit from the economy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>\n
Stronger locally rooted businesses and organizations<\/p>\n
Helping enterprises grow, create jobs and generate economic and social value that stays in Atlantic communities.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>\n
Better ways to finance what communities need<\/p>\n
Strengthening community finance and investment so locally rooted ideas, enterprises and assets can grow.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>- <\/i><\/span>\n
More competitive and resilient businesses<\/p>\n
Helping Atlantic Canadian businesses adapt to changing markets, build resilience and seize new opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>- <\/i><\/span>
Founded at the University of New Brunswick in 2012 by entrepreneurs Gerry Pond and Gururaj and Jaishree Deshpande, PDC was built on a bold idea<\/span>: lasting prosperity requires new ways of thinking, working together and solving complex problems.<\/p>\n<\/div> Supported by the ecosystem: Early investment from government and philanthropy helped PDC turn entrepreneurship into a catalyst for change.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> Built a track record in social innovation and social entrepreneurship, tackling complex challenges including workforce development, immigration, early childhood education, health and housing.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> Today, we\u2019re focused on accelerating systems change for place-based prosperity, working at the intersection of innovation, enterprise and changemaker development, honouring the vision of our founders.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> Our Vision<\/p><\/h2><\/div> UNB\u2019s Pond-Deshpande Centre accelerates systems change for place-based prosperity by working on the conditions that shape how people participate in the economy, businesses and communities build wealth, governments solve complex problems, and knowledge gets turned into action.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Our Values<\/p><\/h2><\/div> We lead with trust, work through collaboration, and pursue bold ideas with excellence.<\/p>\n<\/div> Transparency & Trust \u2014 We work openly, building trust through honesty, clarity and accountability.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> Equity & Collaboration \u2014 We bring different perspectives together and create the conditions for everyone to contribute.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> Boldness & Excellence \u2014 We challenge the status quo, pursue ambitious ideas and hold ourselves to a high standard.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> Our Goals<\/p><\/h2><\/div> Better pathways into the economy<\/p>\n Closing gaps between education, skills, training and employment so more people can participate in and benefit from the economy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> Stronger locally rooted businesses and organizations<\/p>\n Helping enterprises grow, create jobs and generate economic and social value that stays in Atlantic communities.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> Better ways to finance what communities need<\/p>\n Strengthening community finance and investment so locally rooted ideas, enterprises and assets can grow.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> More competitive and resilient businesses<\/p>\n Helping Atlantic Canadian businesses adapt to changing markets, build resilience and seize new opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>Real-life strategy to reach your goals.<\/h2><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>Real-life strategy to reach your goals.<\/h2><\/div>
Real-life strategy to reach your goals.<\/h2><\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/ponddeshpande.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/About-us-3.png\" "\\"About")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/ponddeshpande.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/E_PRINT_INVERTED_11-scaled.jpg\")
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<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/ponddeshpande.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/E_PRINT_INVERTED_16-scaled.jpg\" "\\"E_PRINT_INVERTED_16\\"")
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