Tracy S. Brala


University City Science Center

Tracy Brala is a powerhouse who's built a career in driving transformative growth through technology and business creation. In 2018, she joined the Science Center in a newly formed role, Vice-President of Ecosystem Development. Her mission? To ignite an inclusive innovation ecosystem across the region.

Through Tracy's vision, Venture Café Philadelphia was born, offering weekly gatherings to forge connections between entrepreneurs, government, creatives, scientists, and corporations. Her leadership drove a remarkable impact.  In the first five years, over 200,000 people converged through Venture Café and Quorum, the Science Center's community space and Philadelphia has steadily risen through the Innovation Ecosystem rankings.

But Tracy's impact goes beyond convening. Today, she spearheads the Science Center's Strategy and Partnerships, encompassing marketing, strategic planning, advancement and external engagement.

Before this, Tracy's path was equally impressive. At Comcast | NBC Universal, she spearheaded digital transformation initiatives like creating the nation's largest WiFi hotspot network. Earlier in her career, she built a $250M convenience food platform at Campbell's Soup and even launched her own consulting firm.

Her dedication to community extends beyond professional milestones. Tracy served as President of Villanova University's Alumni Association and serves on several other Boards to help grow Philadelphia, Life Sciences and healthcare entrepreneurial activities. In 2024 she collaborated to form the Union League of Philadelphia’s Life Science Club. She also holds her MBA in Finance and Marketing from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Tracy's accolades speak for themselves, from City and State’s, 50 over 50 Trailblazer Award, to Villanova University’s Loyalty Award, to the BioBuzz Community Builder Award for Venture Cafe. However, her true reward lies in building bridges, sparking ideas, and empowering Philadelphia's innovation engine to roar.