We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ronnie Frost. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ronnie below.

Ronnie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

The inspiration behind launching the Frost Equity Initiative (FEI) came from my desire to address the lack of diversity in the tech industry. After working in tech for over twenty years, I realized I had never worked with a Black female software engineer and only once with a Latina. This experience highlighted the significant diversity gap in the field.

During my corporate roles, I mentored high school interns from prestigious schools with strong tech programs. I also taught in non-profit STEAM programs for underrepresented students. The skills gap between these two groups became painfully evident, and as a first-generation college student myself, I understood the challenges of navigating these spaces. This fueled my passion to provide equal access to quality STEAM education and mentorship for all learners.

My journey in STEAM began in college when a sixth grader approached my mother and me about starting a tutoring program for elementary students. This led to the creation of a tech lab funded by a grant. Watching the students learn so quickly inspired me to continue working in this space. After moving to Chicago and later Los Angeles, I had the opportunity to volunteer with nationally recognized STEAM programs.

Prior to the 2020 pandemic, I attended a conference in Newport Beach hosted by Lisa Nichols. I had to pitch an idea related to something that I was passionate about. Coincidentally, I was volunteering with Black Girls Code that weekend, also in Newport Beach. That moment inspired me to launch FEI, which has since partnered with schools and nonprofits across Los Angeles and Chicago.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born and raised in a small farming town in Arkansas. Growing up, I had limited access to computers but developed an interest in technology during college. As a business major, my statistics professor posted a job to maintain the College of Business’s web pages that sounded interesting, and no one else applied. Eager to leave fast food behind and land my first office job, I applied and quickly fell in love with coding. I soon switched my major to Computer Information Systems and launched a program to teach kids about technology through my Mom’s nonprofit.

After college, I left Arkansas for full-time work but continued volunteering with youth for decades before launching Frost Equity Initiative. Our mission is to increase early exposure to science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) for K-12 students. We partner with schools, parents, and industry professionals to provide fun, interactive STEAM enrichment experiences and mentorship. Our focus is on Los Angeles-area schools, where over 95% of students qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program and struggle with math and science.

We provide curriculum and instruction on-site at our partner schools. In our Coding Clubs, students apply computer science, physics, and math principles. Our Science Clubs explore chemistry, physics, life sciences, and sustainability. In our Money Clubs, students learn about financial literacy, including tracking expenses, setting goals, budgeting, and understanding interest rates. What sets us apart is that my advisors and I have extensive experience in education and technology.

Have you ever had to pivot?

During the pandemic, I began teaching kids how to code independently as organizations I worked with stopped having in-person events. My initial plan was to offer technology-related professional development credits to teachers so that they would have the skills to teach their students. However, the demand was to provide steam enrichment programming to students directly and relieve teachers. My team and I pivoted and began partnering with schools to host STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) enrichment clubs for students.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

If my team isn’t inspired, they won’t be able to fully engage our youth with our programs. To maintain high morale, I regularly check in with team members to ensure they feel supported and confident in their roles. I take the time to understand their long-term aspirations and how their experience with Frost Equity Initiative can contribute to their professional growth. I value their input and provide constructive feedback privately when necessary. Additionally, I survey our clients—educators, and youth—and share any praise with my team.

My goal is to be the type of manager with whom my team feels comfortable being straightforward. I help them resolve any issues instead of berating and pointing fingers when things don’t go as planned.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://frostequity.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frostequity
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/in/frostequity
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frostequity
• Other: https://www.threads.com/@frostequity