Jeremie Ponak

Jeremie Ponak is an MPA candidate at Columbia SIPA with nearly a decade of experience building and scaling technology products in startup environments. He is committed to strengthening the role of public interest technology in fostering civic trust and supporting marginalized communities.

At Columbia, Jeremie cofounded the University’s chapter of All Tech Is Human, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing responsible technology. He also led policy and advocacy initiatives in the online safety space through his work with Mothers Against Media Addiction and research with Professor Anya Schiffrin on public broadcasting law’s applicability towards social media. Whether through product development, organizational partnerships, or research and advocacy, Jeremie’s work consistently demonstrates the value of polyvalent professionals who bridge the worlds of technology and public service.

Alongside his studies, Jeremie has worked with the Rockefeller Foundation’s AI, US Programs, and Policy team, where he led coalition-building and grant-making efforts focused on civic technology and strengthening state capacity.

Prior to SIPA, Jeremie launched and scaled a number of technical products across sectors, including computing, smart manufacturing, and SaaS. As a venture-backed startup founder, he collaborated with state and local governments to revitalize rural manufacturing in Quebec. Later, as a product marketer at Unito and then, Datadog, he led the development and launch of digital products, informed by human-centered design.

After graduation, Jeremie plans to apply this experience to building mission-driven technology that serves the public good.

When not thinking about the societal impacts of AI, you can probably find him with chalk on his hands at the climbing gym.