Board Member Spotlight: Jim Rinaldi
Part Written by Snezana Sibalic
Program Manager, Innovate@UCLA
Celebrating James Rinaldi’s Leadership and Impact at Innovate@UCLA
For many members of the Innovate@UCLA community, Jim Rinaldi has been an important part of the organization for many years. Through his leadership, involvement, and commitment to bringing technology leaders together, he has played an important role in shaping the organization and its community.
Jim recently concluded his tenure as Executive Director and Board Member, bringing an important chapter of his leadership at Innovate@UCLA to a close. While his roles may have changed over the years, his commitment to the organization and its mission has remained consistent: creating opportunities for leaders to connect, share ideas, and learn from one another.
Jim brought to Innovate@UCLA a prominent career in technology leadership, including senior roles at Marriott, the federal government, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. But he brought more than professional experience. He brought a strong belief in innovation, education, and community—the three pillars that are at the heart of Innovate@UCLA—and a genuine commitment to creating meaningful connections among technology leaders.
Building a Community
During Jim’s time as Executive Director, Innovate@UCLA continued to grow as a community for technology and business leaders across Southern California. Through executive programs, leadership conversations, events, and ongoing engagement with members and sponsors, Jim helped create an environment where leaders could connect, exchange ideas, and learn from one another.
His leadership became particularly important during a period when the way people connected and worked together changed dramatically. Innovate@UCLA moved its programming online during the pandemic and later navigated the transition back to in-person and hybrid events. Through those changes, Jim remained focused on keeping the community connected and creating meaningful opportunities for members to engage.
“Jim’s leadership as Executive Director was central to the success of Innovate@UCLA. He brought tremendous credibility from his distinguished career as a technology executive, but what stood out most was his ability to build genuine relationships and connect leaders from UCLA, industry, and the broader Southern California technology community. He was also a generous mentor who readily shared his experience and insight to help others grow. Jim was an exceptional ambassador for the organization, and his leadership, mentorship, and commitment have left a lasting impact.”
– Rob Devers, Board Member, Innovate@UCLA
Leadership Through Connection
Technology leadership is ultimately about people.
Throughout his work in technology, Jim has spoken about the importance of collaboration, communication, and helping leaders grow. In a conversation about leadership and coaching, he emphasized the importance of being open to change and encouraged emerging leaders to think beyond the traditional measures of career success—titles, promotions, and compensation—and to pursue work they are genuinely passionate about.
That perspective feels particularly fitting for Innovate@UCLA. The organization is built around the idea that innovation happens when people from different backgrounds, industries, and areas of expertise come together.
Jim helped foster that kind of environment.
Whether through executive conversations, programming, the Executive Leadership Awards, or the relationships he built across the organization, he consistently focused on creating opportunities for people to connect and learn from one another.
Looking Ahead
As Jim begins his next chapter, we know he will continue to bring the same curiosity, experience, and commitment to innovation that have characterized his leadership.
For Innovate@UCLA, his departure marks the end of an important chapter—but not the end of the connections and community he helped strengthen.
For those of us who had the opportunity to work closely with Jim, his impact was also felt in the everyday moments—through his guidance, wisdom, and willingness to share his experience. I am personally grateful for everything I learned from him and for the opportunity to have worked alongside him.
We wish Jim all the very best in his next chapter. He will be greatly missed, and we look forward to seeing what comes next.