Navigating Uncertainty with Community, Clarity, and Innovation
If there’s one word that defines our moment, it’s uncertainty.
Geopolitical tensions, economic volatility, supply chain shifts, and the rapid pace of technological change are converging to create a level of operational chaos many of us haven’t seen in decades. As CIOs and technology leaders, we are often called upon to provide stability in the face of disruption, foresight amid confusion, and direction through uncharted territory.
At Innovate@UCLA, we believe this moment—despite its challenges—is also an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to rethink how we lead, how we build, and how we partner.
One of the most strategic moves a technology executive can make during uncertain times is to surround themselves with a trusted network of peers, thought leaders, researchers, and innovators. That’s what makes Innovate@UCLA more than just a membership organization. We are a community. Our relationships don’t just help you survive the present—they help you build for the future.
Through intimate roundtables, strategic summits, and research-driven collaborations, Innovate@UCLA offers a space to pause, think differently, and learn from each other. We explore what’s next in areas like Generative AI, quantum computing, digital trust, workforce transformation, and new business operating models. Our members bring real-world insights, our sponsors add market perspective, and UCLA contributes unparalleled academic rigor and emerging research that challenges the status quo.
In times like these, having access to that triad—executive community, strategic partners, and university expertise—is not just valuable. It’s a blessing.
More than ever, we need environments where innovation and resilience meet. We need partners who are forward-thinking and solutions-oriented. We need to engage in conversations that go beyond today’s headlines and anticipate tomorrow’s possibilities.
At Innovate@UCLA, we’re not just navigating the present—we’re shaping the future. And I invite you to do that with us. Let’s stay grounded in our purpose and bold in our vision
Jim Rinaldi
Executive Director, Innovate@UCLA