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Executive Chair’s Message

Happy Thanksgiving from Innovate@UCLA!

As we get closer to the one of the most celebrated holidays in the US, I look forward to spending time with family and friends and enjoy a spread that sometimes takes a herculean effort. The meals are always delicious, and we all take pride in having the longest meal of the year.

This is also the time where I reflect on the year and people to be thankful for in our lives.  I am extremely grateful to be part of the Innovate@UCLA Board, where we have the highly respected technology executives in the community.  I always learn from the Board Members, and the relationships over time have been very rewarding.  The connections have provided deeper insight into the journey for executives in the local community, and what is top of mind for today’s leaders. 

I want to thank the Board for their contributions that make Innovate@UCLA successful for the SoCal community.  Every Board Member makes an impact on our mission to be the leading technology ecosystem for business innovation and transformation. 

I also want to thank our members for their continued trust and partnership. We are thankful for the opportunity to serve you.  We have an exciting line up of events and programs for 2025, and we will continually shape our events based on your feedback as we progress through the year.

I am highly encouraged by the high interest and continuous sign-up of new members as they attend as guests and find value to sign up as a member.  If you want to invite a CIO peer to our upcoming Annual Holiday Board dinner, or upcoming events in 2025, please message Beth Apillanes or Snezana Sibalic.

Lastly, we are launching a survey to all our members to listen and provide the best value for our members.  Innovate@UCLA takes strong pride in being associated with the educational community, and feedback mechanisms are important for us to continually improve.   

Overall, I am thankful for all that has been done and all that is yet to come.  I hope this holiday brings joy, warmth, and time to enjoy what matters most with your loved ones. 

Thank you.