Beth Apillanes

Executive Chair, Innovate@UCLA
Manager, Enterprise Information Technology Services, Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL)

Following Our North Star

At our recent Innovate@UCLA Summer CxO Event, we had the incredible opportunity to tour the Intuit Dome. During the visit, we heard directly from George Hanna, Chief Technology and Digital Officer for LA Clippers and Intuit Dome, about a concept that resonated deeply with me: the power of a “North Star.” For Intuit Dome, that guiding light is their “Home Game Advantage”—an steadfast focus and commitment to continuous customer experience and deliberate venue design. Every decision they make is measured against this high standard of success and achievement.

Hearing this reinforced the importance of having a clear, unwavering focal point. At Innovate@UCLA, our North Star is just as defined. We are fiercely focused on and committed to bridging academic research with real-world IT leadership and bringing our community together. This singular mission is what grounds us, guiding our programs and initiatives as we help our members navigate the complexities of the modern technology landscape.

A crucial element of keeping that community dynamic and sustainable is the constant infusion of new perspectives. I am thrilled to see the recent influx of new members who have chosen to join our ranks. To each of you: welcome. Your unique experiences, energy, and insights are incredibly important to us. A vibrant organization relies on the active participation of both its seasoned leaders and its newest voices, and your presence ensures that our community remains a powerhouse of innovation and collaboration.

The Road Ahead

As we continue through the year with our North Star firmly in sight, we have an exceptional lineup of programming designed to deliver on our core mission. On October 6th, we will host our marquee event of the season: the Executive Leadership Awards Dinner. 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. It is always a spectacular evening dedicated to celebrating the very best in our field.

Following that, on November 10th, we are thrilled to welcome Corinne Bendersky, Professor of Management and Organizations at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, to lead our Fall Career Exchange session. This promises to be a phenomenal opportunity to dive deep into the intersection of academic insight and practical leadership.

I strongly encourage all of you—both our long-standing partners and our newest members—to join us and attend these incredibly worthy and exciting events. They are the perfect venues to connect, learn, and put our shared values into practice. Let us commit to our shared success, embrace our growing network, and relentlessly pursue high achievement together.

Warm regards,