![](\"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>The Pond-Deshpande Centre (PDC) was founded at the University of New Brunswick in 2012 with a visionary donation from entrepreneurs Gerry Pond, and Gururaj and Jaishree Deshpande.<\/span> The driving force behind the inception was a shared belief that addressing complex socio-economic challenges required more than traditional approaches – it demanded<\/span><\/span> <\/span>an ecosystem of creativity, entrepreneurship, and system thinking.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>- <\/i><\/span>Supported by the ecosystem:<\/strong> With additional funding from partners such as the province of New Brunswick, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and J.W. McConnell Foundation, PDC quickly established itself as an organization that leveraged social entrepreneurship to catalyze positive change.<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>Building Change: <\/span><\/b>over the years, PDC has run flagship programs like Be For Change (B4C), the accelerator nurturing impactful ventures; and NouLAB, a social innovation lab tackling multi-stakeholder challenges. Meanwhile, the Students ambassador program introduced many university students to the concept of social enterprise.<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>Creating impact: <\/strong>leveraging our work expertise and partners, we’ve fostered systemic change, including an investment of over $1 million in early-stage startups and pioneering the region’s first Public Social Innovation Lab.<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Our Vision<\/p><\/h2><\/div>
Real-life strategy to reach your goals.<\/h2><\/div>Social innovation has the power to transform New Brunswick\u2019s society and economy to work better for everyone.<\/strong> We can be the province where <\/span><\/span>all people have the education, training and employment that helps them achieve their potential. Where residents are engaged in their communities and actively shape the public policies that affect them.<\/u> Where businesses do well because they also do good. This vision of an inclusive workforce, invigorated civic innovation and a just economy puts social innovation to work in three key pillars, leading to a flourishing New Brunswick.<\/span><\/p>\nPDC plays a key role in making this vision a reality.<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/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\/2025\/01\/About-us-2.png\" "\\"About")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>Our Values<\/p><\/h2><\/div>
Real-life strategy to reach your goals.<\/h2><\/div>At the core of our organization are five values we work by:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>- <\/i><\/span>Transparency:<\/strong> we\u00a0believe in working openly. As a mainly publicly funded organization, we feel it’s crucial to share our processes, who supports us, and the reasons behind our work. This helps build trust within our community.<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>Equity: <\/span><\/b>our commitment is to fairness in all aspects of our work and its results. We strive to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute, recognizing that achieving this may involve providing different types of support and engagement for different individuals.<\/span><\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>Boldness<\/strong>: <\/b><\/span>we do what is right, not what is easy. We consistently introduce and invite innovative ideas to drive positive impact.<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>Collaboration: <\/span><\/b>we actively work together with those with shared interests. We see ourselves as guides, recognizing that superior outcomes emerge through a collective approach.<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>Trust<\/strong>: <\/b><\/span>we understand that the foundation of our work is trust. We are intentional in our actions to build and protect the trust granted to us.<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Our Goals<\/p><\/h2><\/div>
Real-life strategy to reach your goals.<\/h2><\/div>- <\/i><\/span>Innovating with Impact<\/span>:<\/strong> our innovation labs create opportunities for under-employed populations, empowering them to reach their full potential. Policy labs enable civic innovation and build legitimacy and trust within our society. Social entrepreneurs are supported to lead the change and shape a new economy that benefits people and the planet.<\/strong><\/span><\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>Regionally Convening<\/span>: <\/span><\/b>PDC orchestrates New Brunswick’s social innovation ecosystem by brokering connections and collaborations. Our events, awards, resources, and partnerships bring together a diverse group of participants.<\/span><\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>Nationally Engaged<\/span>: <\/b><\/span>we share what is happening in New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada with the rest of the country, and learn from others about ideas that have the potential to shape our community at home.<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>Open, Inclusive, Equitable<\/span>: <\/span><\/b>our commitment to equity, inclusivity, and anti-racism is not a checklist; it’s an ongoing journey. Success is reflected in the tangible sense of belonging experienced by every member of our ecosystem, where diverse voices are heard and celebrated.<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>
The Pond-Deshpande Centre (PDC) was founded at the University of New Brunswick in 2012 with a visionary donation from entrepreneurs Gerry Pond, and Gururaj and Jaishree Deshpande.<\/span> The driving force behind the inception was a shared belief that addressing complex socio-economic challenges required more than traditional approaches – it demanded<\/span><\/span> <\/span>an ecosystem of creativity, entrepreneurship, and system thinking.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div> Our Vision<\/p><\/h2><\/div> Social innovation has the power to transform New Brunswick\u2019s society and economy to work better for everyone.<\/strong> We can be the province where <\/span><\/span>all people have the education, training and employment that helps them achieve their potential. Where residents are engaged in their communities and actively shape the public policies that affect them.<\/u> Where businesses do well because they also do good. This vision of an inclusive workforce, invigorated civic innovation and a just economy puts social innovation to work in three key pillars, leading to a flourishing New Brunswick.<\/span><\/p>\n PDC plays a key role in making this vision a reality.<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Our Values<\/p><\/h2><\/div> At the core of our organization are five values we work by:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> Our Goals<\/p><\/h2><\/div>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")
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