Event Details
Join us for the Innovate@UCLA 2026 Executive Leadership Awards Dinner! This year’s theme is “Workforce of the Future: Preparing for the Jobs, Skills, and Leaders of Tomorrow”.
Our signature event will take place on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 5:00 to 9:00 PM at the UCLA Luskin Ballroom.
What to Expect:
- 5:00 PM – Reception and Networking
- During the networking reception, connect with peers, thought leaders, and innovators.
- 6:00 PM – Dinner
- Enjoy a delightful plated dinner service.
- Hosts:
- Andy Schlei, Retired SVP, Information Technology, Sony Pictures Entertainment & Avasant Fellow, Innovate@UCLA Executive Leadership Awards (ELA) Chair
- Davida Johnson, Executive Director, UCLA Office of Advanced Research Computing (OARC), Innovate@UCLA Executive Sponsor
- Keynote Address – “AMPLIFIED! Building the HI x AI Workforce“
- Kevin Popović The Idea Guy®, Innovation Strategist & Doctoral Researcher, Creator, AMPLIFIED!™
- Panel Discussion – “The Future-Ready Workforce: Leadership, Talent, and AI in a Time of Transformation “
- Bryan Ackermann, Chief AI Officer, Head of AI Strategy & Transformation, Korn Ferry
- Dean Ah-Hyung “Alissa” Park, Ronald and Valerie Sugar Dean, UCLA Samueli School of Engineering
- Omid Yazdi, Partner, Pacific Southwest Advisory Market Leader, KPMG
- Moderated by Thomas Phelps, CIO, Esri, Innovate@UCLA Chief Strategist & Gartner Events Chair
- Awards Presentation:
- Emerging Technology Award: Truth Systems AI
- Alex Mac, Co-Founder & CEO
- Nam Nguyen, Co-Founder & COO
- Public Sector Award: John Wayne Airport
- Charlene Reynolds, Airport Director
- Amer Moujtahed, Deputy Airport Director, Maintenance
- Enterprise Award: City of Hope
- Robert Stone, CEO
- Simon Nazarian, EVP & Chief Digital and Technology Officer
- Emerging Technology Award: Truth Systems AI
- Other Notable Speakers:
- Beth Apillanes, Manager, Enterprise Information Technology Services, Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), Innovate@UCLA Executive Chair
- 8:40 PM – End of Program
- Post-Reception Gathering sponsored by Denomix Technologies
- Join us for a relaxed, informal gathering at the Luskin Lounge Area to continue networking and celebrating the evening’s success.
About Innovate@UCLA Executive Leadership Awards
The Innovate@UCLA Executive Leadership Award (ELA) recognizes the exceptional creation of value to achieve a company’s vision via the application of innovative, forward-thinking, and disruptive technologies and operating models.
About Our Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
The Silicon Partners (TSP) is a leading IT professional services partner helping enterprises innovate and transform with confidence. TSP specializes in ERP planning and execution, combining deep expertise in SAP, Automation, AI, and HCM to enable organizations to leverage technology to scale innovation and streamline operations.
Silver Sponsor
Avasant is a leading global management consulting firm helping enterprises translate technology into business results. With deep expertise in digital and business transformation, strategic sourcing, benchmarking, and research, Avasant delivers client-centric solutions that drive sustainable growth and competitive advantage.