Women Who Could be President Gala Reception Honorees
Adrienne Pon

Ms. Adrienne Pon is CEO of Zeum, an arts and tech museum with a mission to foster creativity and innovation in youth from all backgrounds, communities and learning styles.  Zeum integrates digital technology, animation, visual and performing arts, music video production, storytelling, media arts and other forms of creative expression in a hands-on learning environment.  Prior to this, Pon served as Interim Executive Director of the Asian Law Caucus, Founding Executive Director of the Community Technology Policy Council, and spent many years in the private sector at SBC (formerly Pacific Telesis/Pacific Bell), where she developed and funded innovative technology projects such as Voice Mail for the Homeless, Women and Girls Tech Up! and the Asian American/Pacific Islanders Future Communities Project.

A strong believer in building networks to increase community access to technology, resources, training and decision-making, Pon cut her nonprofit volunteer teeth with children’s rights and early child development advocacy organizations.  Appointed to the San Francisco Civil Service Commission in 1993, she served two mayoral administrations over a 10-year term, completing an unprecedented four consecutive terms as president and two as vice-president. She was also a member of the 1992 San Francisco Mayor’s Advisory Committee for Proposition J, the original Children’s Amendment. Pon currently serves on the boards of the Alliance for Public Technology, The Asian Law Caucus, and the Downtown Parking Garage. She is an advisor to GEWEL (Global Enhancement of Women Executive Leaders) and Leadership California.  She has served on numerous local and national boards and commissions, including: Chair of The Women’s Foundation, the Asian Pacific American Women’s Leadership Institute and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy; and board director on the San Francisco League of Women Voters, Northern California Grantmakers, Community Technology Policy Council, Leadership California and the Girl Scouts USA National Nominating Committee.  She has also been editor/copywriter of several  publications for nonprofit organizations.

Born and raised in San Francisco, Pon holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Science and a master’s in Public Affairs & Public Relations.  She is a former Loaned Executive to United Way of the Bay Area and a graduate of the Coro Foundation CityFocus and Leadership California public affairs programs.  Pon is a 2007 Participant of Leadership America, a national program of The Women’s Museum: Institute for the Future.