Past Events

Expand Your Network, from Virtual to Reality!

We invite you to join Innovate@UCLA Women in Technology (WIT) and Women In Technology Hollywood (WITH) for Virtual Event #3!

Date: Tuesday, September 12th
Time: 12:00 - 1:00PM

Key Topics and Themes:

• Why network?
• Developing your network pitch

This workshop will be a joint event with attendees from both Innovate@UCLA’s Women in Technology (WIT) and Women In Technology Hollywood (WITH). This workshop will give you the opportunity to develop your elevator speech/network pitch and then try it out with someone new and get immediate feedback.  In November, you’ll have the chance to meet your new virtual connections in person at the Southern California Women’s Leadership event.

Join us for ELAD 2023, taking place in-person on Thursday, September 28th, from 5:00PM – 9:00PM PST at the UCLA Luskin Ballroom.

Each year, Innovate@UCLA celebrates the innovative use of technology in creating exceptional business value. On Thursday, September 28, we will gather at UCLA Luskin Conference Center from 5-9 PM as we recognize visionary CEOs and the technology behind propelling humanity across the world and into space.

Co-hosted by Heidi Pease, Wave Financial Head of Investment Products, and Thomas Phelps, Laserfiche CIO and Innovate@UCLA Executive Chair, the annual event will feature world-renowned UCLA faculty, industry thought leaders, innovators and award-winning singer/songwriter Chase Bell.

Beth Apillanes, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Deputy CIO, will lead a fireside chat with Tim Ellis, Relativity Space Co-Founder & CEO, on how the company is using 3D printed rockets and the latest in AI and material sciences to launch the future of humanity into space. Ellis will receive the Emerging Technology Award.

Learn about the many innovations—including e-gate and reservation-based parking and security screening—at Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) that will soon enhance the travel experience for over 66 million passengers who arrive and depart annually through LAX. Justin Erbacci, LAWA CEO, and Ian Law, Chief Digital Transformation Officer, will receive the Public Sector Award.

Helix Wolfson, Infinite Reality Co-Founder, will provide a keynote on AI’s evolution and advancements. This will be followed by a creative innovation AI panel moderated by Chitra Rajeshwari, Avasant Principal and Executive Director. Panelists include Beverly Macy, UCLA Center for Media, Sports and Entertainment Acting Executive Director; Jeff Burke, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Professor and Associate Dean; and Charles Sims, United Talent Agency CTO.

Chase Bell, singer/songwriter and music producer, will cap off the evening with his performance of “Chasing Your Dream”, a song that embodies the resilience of the entrepreneurial spirit. Other notable speakers include Davida Johnson, UCLA Office of Advanced Research Computing Executive Director, Andy Schlei, Avasant Fellow and Awards Chair, and Jim Rinaldi, Innovate@UCLA Executive Director and former NASA JPL CIO.

For this annual event, we welcome all qualified attendees from our membership to bring a guest to enjoy the evening.

Board members save the date! October 4th, 2023 first quarter meeting.

Collaborate with your peers

Get together with Southern California's top CIOs to tackle shared business challenges and critical priorities facing your role today. Participate in this one-day, local program with peer-driven topics and interactive discussions with your true C-level peers.

Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CIOs today.

*Please note that this is an invitation only event.

Board members save the date! December 6th, 2023.

To Bot or Not: A look at the economic outlook and the landscape of entertainment

Where is the oft-predicted and never seen recession? Does the Fed cease interest rate increases at 3% rather than 2% Inflation? With the end of the dual Hollywood strikes, what happens now with an AI infused entertainment business. The economic outlook conference for the US and California through 2026 will present analyses of these issues along with discussion of the unknowns.

The UCLA Anderson Forecast’s March 2024 quarterly outlook conference will be held in collaboration with the UCLA Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports and the UCLA School of Theatre, Film & Television.

Please contact us at info@innovateucla.org for more information

Agenda:

Surviving and Thriving Change – Navigating Executive Transitions

This CxO Exchange at Innovate@UCLA will delve into the often-uncharted territory of executive transitions. Whether navigating a job change, a career pivot, or a leadership shift within an organization, CxOs face unique challenges and opportunities. This session will bring together a panel of seasoned executives to share their insights and practical strategies for making successful transitions, followed by an interactive Q&A with the audience.

Join us in-person for this valuable experience at Laserfiche Headquarters in Long Beach, CA!

Panel Discussion

Moderator:

Angela Gardner: Partner in Charge of Heidrick & Struggles’ Los Angeles office and a member of the Consumer Markets Practice, who has worked to place CEOs and top leaders into renowned organizations.

Panelists:

George Sheth: An Executive Recruiter: who has successfully navigated a major career change, offering insights on skills development, networking, and personal branding.

Phillip Leclair: Interim Executive Director at the City of Pasadena and a seasoned CIO with experience leading through organizational transformations, sharing best practices for managing change and building consensus.

Mel Hildebrandt: The CIO of Endeavor and TKO who will knock you out with her compelling story of taking risks and her transition from Sony Pictures, to WestRock and now as the CIO of a major entertainment powerhouse.

*Please note that this is an invitation-only event.

Impact of AI on the Lives and Rights of Women and Underserved Communities

What is the human cost of tech?  What are the invisible impacts of AI? As tech companies, both small and large, race to be the first and best, what is the cost to society, current and future, that is not being acknowledged?  UCLA professor Safiya Noble and associate professor Sarah T. Roberts will endeavor to shed light on these crucial considerations through over a decade of their research. 

We invite you to join Innovate@UCLA Women in Technology (WIT) for our first virtual event in 2024!

Date: Wednesday, March 27th, 2024
Time: 12:00 - 1:00PM

“Gen AI and Cybersecurity”

Artificial Intelligence- Capturing real value with progressive defense strategies

Artificial Intelligence has been a transformational technology for the last few years. The understanding and evolution of AI technology is faster than any other in the past. Generative AI has recently brought a leapfrog advancement in technology and catapulted the desire to invest and exploit the technology. There is a high interest in multiple industries and across C-suite stakeholders regarding use cases and possible value. Billions of dollars are being invested in the ecosystem of software solutions, vendors, private equity, and enterprises to leverage the technology and possibly disrupt industries or competition. AI services alone are forecast to be a $443 billion market by 2027. At the same time, there are high concerns regarding the usage of AI technology and social/ethical impact to society and enterprises. Responsible and safe AI is becoming a mandatory requirement for current and future development.

Our Spring Summit will cover the key topics for our members such as practical use cases, cybersecurity concerns and usage of AI, and current investment trends. We are gathering a distinguished set of speakers and panelists for this summit to discuss and understand the current state of AI. We look forward to your presence for this critical topic for enterprises.

Board members save the date for our second quarter meeting!