Our Mission, Vision & History
Mission: To connect the SoCal tech community with industry thought leaders and world-renowned academia and students.
Vision: To be the leading voice in the tech community that inspires business innovation.
Innovation
Inspiring business innovation and value creation by technology thought leaders.
Education
Connecting members to gain insights from our programs and a world-renowned university.
Community
Creating a strong network of passionate business leaders from diverse backgrounds.
Executive Messages
Jim Rinaldi
Executive Director, Innovate@UCLA
Transitions Are Inevitable. Your Network Shouldn’t Be.
Career transitions can be exciting, scary, energizing, and anxiety-driven—sometimes all at the same time.
Those of us who have spent time in the C-suite know this firsthand. A role evolves. A board shifts direction. A merger closes. A new opportunity emerges. Or sometimes, a transition arrives unexpectedly. Even retirement—something we plan for over decades—can feel disorienting if we’re not prepared.
Beth Apillanes
Executive Chair, Innovate@UCLA
A Strong Start to 2026!
When we opened the books to this new chapter in January, I shared my excitement about the “extraordinary year” ahead for Innovate@UCLA. Our journey so far in 2026 has been a direct reflection of the commitment we have to bridge academic research with real-world IT leadership and bring our community together. We have already hosted three powerful sessions that equipped our members to handle this year’s “near-impossible” standards.
Member Organizations
