Innovate@UCLA’s events are thoughtfully designed to create impactful connections among our members, strengthening our community while exploring novel topics related in the rapidly changing world of technology. Guest speakers are a cornerstone of these events, bringing insightful and engaging discussions that make each gathering truly remarkable. Below is a list of speakers who have contributed to our events since 2023, which is continuously updated to reflect new contributions.
Nan Jia
Associate Professor of Strategic Management2025 Spring CxO Exchange: For Whom the Bells Tolls? Implications of Artificial Intelligence Technologies for Managers
Cindy Mckenzie
Retired CIO, VP & Co-Founder || STEM Advantage2025 Women In Technology: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Finding Your Voice
Melanie Hildebrandt
CIO || Endeavor and TKO2025 Women In Technology: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Finding Your Voice
Josh LeGassick
Professional Management Consultant || Insigniam2024 WIT #2 Leading Without Authority
Anna Islamova
Management Consultant || Insigniam2024 WIT #2 Leading Without Authority
Courtney Stockmal
Studio & Remote Director || FOX Sports2024 Executive Leadership Awards Dinner
Eric Iverson
Partner and CTO || United Talent Agency2024 Executive Leadership Awards Dinner
Jay Tucker
Executive Director || UCLA's Center for Media, Entertainment, & Sports2024 Executive Leadership Awards Dinner
Lesley Silverman
Head of New Tech || United Talent Agency2024 Executive Leadership Awards Dinner
Eddie Drake
Head of Production Technology || Walt Disney Studios2024 Executive Leadership Awards Dinner
Laurie Leshin
Director || NASA JPL2024 Executive Leadership Awards Dinner
Shelley Taniguchi-Dea
Director of Global Partnerships || Team Liquid2024 Summer Solstice
Janette Smrcka
VP of IT || SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park2024 Summer Solstice
Krisha Zagura
VP of Product || On Location2024 Summer Solstice
Lea Eriksen
Director of Technology & Innovation, CIO || City of Long Beach2024 Summer Solstice
Kevin Gray
CTO || Metrolink2024 Summer Solstice
Mike Band
Senior Manager of Research and Analytics, Next Gen Stats || National Football League2024 Summer Solstice
Ed Soo Hoo
Worldwide CTO Global Accounts || Lenovo2024 Summer Solstice
Heather Brooks Karatz
Founder/CEO; Owner || Hextec Inc. ; Angel City FC2024 Summer Solstice
Jeffrey Aguilar
CISO || County of Los Angeles2024 Spring Summit
Virginia Lyons
SVP and CISO || Sony Pictures Entertainment2024 Spring Summit
Wes Gavins
VP and Head of Cybersecurity || LA282024 Spring Summit
Bhupesh Arora
Executive Chair || Innovate@UCLA, Chief Technology Officer || Howard Hughes2024 Spring Summit
Greg Moore
VP & CIO || KB Home2024 Spring Summit
Theresa Miller
CIO & EVP, Information Technology || Lionsgate2024 Spring Summit || 2024 Summer Solstice
Jim Rinaldi
Executive Director || Innovate@UCLA2024 Spring Summit
Rob Devers
VP & CIO || Majestic Realty Co2024 Spring Summit
Sarah Roberts
Associate Professor of Gender Studies, Information Studies, and Labor Studies || UCLA2024 Virtual WIT #1 Impact of AI on the Lives and Rights of Women and Underserved Communities
Safiya Noble
David O. Sears Presidential Endowed Chair of Social Sciences and Professor of Gender Studies, African American Studies, and Information Studies || UCLA2024 Virtual WIT #1 Impact of AI on the Lives and Rights of Women and Underserved Communities
Melanie Hildebrandt
CIO || Endeavor and TKO2024 CxO Spring Exchange
Philip Leclair
CIO || City of Pasadena2024 CxO Spring Exchange || 2024 Summer Solstice
George Sheth
Managing Partner || Diligent Partners, LLC2024 CxO Spring Exchange
Angela Gardner
Partner in Charge || Hedrick & Struggles2024 CxO Spring Exchange
James Worthy
NBA HoF, 3x Champ LA Lakers, MVP, Sports Analyst || Spectrum SportsNet2024 CxO Spring Exchange
Keith Chen
Professor, Behavioral Economics || UCLA Anderson2023 CxO Fall Exchange
Chitra Rajeshwari
Executive Director || Avasant Foundation2023 Executive Leadership Awards Dinner
Jeff Burke
Professor and Associate Dean, Research and Technology || UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television2023 Executive Leadership Awards Dinner
Beverly Macy
Educator || UCLA Anderson2023 Executive Leadership Awards Dinner || 2024 Summer Solstice
Charles Sims
CTO / Founder || Funder AI2023 Executive Leadership Awards Dinner
Helix Wolfson
President || Metaverse Operations2023 Executive Leadership Awards Dinner
Piper O'Brien
Solutions Manager || iSpace2023 Expand Your Network, from Virtual to Reality
Jessica Wood
Partner, Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement || Manatt2023 Summer Solstice
Thomas Phelps
SVP, CIO || Laserfiche2023 Summer Solstice
Via Van Liew
Chief Diversity Officer || The Aerospace Corporation2023 Summer Solstice
Tammy Choy
Director of Cybersecurity || LA20282023 Summer Solstice
Kevin Parikh
CEO & Chairman || Avasant2023 Summer Solstice
Michael Keithley
Ex CIO || United Talent Agency2023 Summer Solstice
Garrett Boss
EVP, Enterprise and Data Platforms || Fox2023 Women in Technology: How to be an Ally!
Derek Cotton
Talent Acquisition Manager || Capital Group2023 Women in Technology: How to be an Ally!
Colleen Rogers
Director, Product || Voyatek2023 Women in Technology: How to be an Ally!
Amanda Bailey
Vice President Global Analytics || Activision2023 Women in Technology: How to be an Ally!
Vaishakhi Lahoti
Director of Data Warehousing & Analytics || The Aerospace Corporation2023 Women in Technology: How to be an Ally! || 2023 Summer Solstice
Beth Apillanes
Manager, Service Delivery, Strategy & Operations (Enterprise Technology) || NASA JPL2023 Women in Technology: How to be an Ally! || 2023 Executive Leadership Awards Dinner
Keith Ferazzi
#1 NYT Bestselling Author & Founder || Ferrazzi Greenlight2023 Spring CxO Exchange
Julia Erdkamp
Executive Director || CalSAWS2023 The Agile Way: Unlocking Efficiency and Effectiveness through Agile/Lean Best Practices
Nadya Ichinomiya
Vice President - Agile Transformation, Enablement, & Operations || Sony Pictures Entertainment2023 The Agile Way: Unlocking Efficiency and Effectiveness through Agile/Lean Best Practices
Naya Wenger
Chief Product Officer || CAA2023 WIT #1: Creating Your Optimal Work Environment and Get Some Down Time!
Holleh Vansant
Senior Project Manager || The Aerospace Corporation2023 WIT #1: Creating Your Optimal Work Environment and Get Some Down Time!
Dr. Lynda Murray-Thomas
Sr. Director, Application Delivery & Strategy || Universal Parks & Resorts2023 WIT #1: Creating Your Optimal Work Environment and Get Some Down Time!
Ginger Siedschlag
COO || Caylent2023 WIT #1: Creating Your Optimal Work Environment and Get Some Down Time!
Randy Levin
CEO || The Women in Tech Accelerator Program2023 WIT #1: Creating Your Optimal Work Environment and Get Some Down Time!