Innovate@UCLA

Innovate@UCLA is excited to collaborate with Gartner C-level Communities for the Southern California CIO Executive Summit on Tuesday, December 9, at the Marriott Long Beach Downtown. Join Southern California’s top CIOs to tackle shared business challenges and explore critical IT priorities, including: • Modernizing the IT operating model • Aligning IT investments with business outcomes • Building a culture rooted in trust and accountability Expect interactive sessions, peer-to-peer meetings, and networking with your CIO peers. *All registrations are subject to qualification and Gartner approval. Read more and register* here: https://lnkd.in/g-HVPgXb #innovation #education #community Bhupesh Arora James Rinaldi Davida Johnson Thomas Phelps Lea Eriksen Greg Moore Greg Geary Andy Schlei Theresa Miller Doug Goetz Beth Apillanes Kevin Gray Howard Miller Snezana Sibalic, Trent Johnson Beverly Macy Melanie Hildebrandt Joseph Cevetello Lucy Avetisyan Ghalib Kassam  

Join the Innovate@UCLA Student Internship Program and gain early access to UCLA undergraduates in engineering, data science, and computer science. Over a ten-week program, these interns bring fresh ideas, technical skills, and energy to real-world projects—helping your team innovate and stay ahead. Host 1–2 interns, mentor them on meaningful projects, and connect with a community of tech-forward organizations shaping the next generation of talent. Read more and sign up: https://lnkd.in/gu4YG_Nx Feel free to share this with your HR or talent lead! #innovation #education #community Bhupesh Arora James Rinaldi Davida Johnson Thomas Phelps Lea Eriksen Greg Geary Greg Moore Andy Schlei Theresa Miller Doug Goetz Beth Apillanes Kevin Gray Howard Miller Snezana Sibalic, Trent Johnson Beverly Macy Melanie Hildebrandt Joseph Cevetello Lucy Avetisyan Ghalib Kassam Rory Devine  

Don’t miss your chance to join the Innovate@UCLA Career Exchange virtual session on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 12:00 – 1:00 PM PT. Hear from Janet Horan, Vice Dean for Finance, Administration, and CFO at the USC Marshall School of Business, and Ghalib Kassam, Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer, and Chief Information Security Officer at the Los Angeles Times. Open to all – members and non-members welcome. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gTtvpRD9 Together, they’ll explore how the CIO role has evolved over time—from focusing on technical expertise to emphasizing strategic, human-centered leadership that aligns technology with organizational goals. #innovation #education #community Bhupesh Arora James Rinaldi Davida Johnson Thomas Phelps Lea Eriksen Greg Moore Greg Geary Andy Schlei Theresa Miller Doug Goetz Beth Apillanes Kevin Gray Howard Miller Snezana Sibalic, Trent Johnson Beverly Macy Melanie Hildebrandt Joseph Cevetello Lucy Avetisyan  

We’re happy to share the SoCal Women’s Leadership Summit, organized by the Women in Technology: Hollywood (WiTH) Foundation, on November 12, 2025, at The Avalon, Los Angeles. The summit’s theme is “Bold Moves: Navigating Change and Courage with Purpose.” The event brings together leaders in technology, media, and entertainment for keynotes, panels, networking, and the Leadership Awards — a great opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired. Read More and RSVP: https://lnkd.in/gQ6PsQcJ Volunteer for a 2–4 hour shift and receive complimentary registration: https://lnkd.in/gkrZK27M *Note: This is not an Innovate@UCLA hosted event; however, it reflects our commitment to advancing women in leadership and strengthening our community. #innovation #education #community Bhupesh Arora James Rinaldi Davida Johnson Thomas Phelps Lea Eriksen Greg Moore Greg Geary Andy Schlei Theresa Miller Doug Goetz Beth Apillanes Kevin Gray Howard Miller Snezana Sibalic, Trent Johnson Beverly Macy Melanie Hildebrandt Joseph Cevetello Lucy Avetisyan Ghalib Kassam  

Join Innovate@UCLA for our third Career Exchange virtual session on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 12:00 – 1:00 PM PT, led by Janet Horan, Vice Dean for Finance, Administration, and CFO at USC Marshall School of Business. Open to all – members and non-members welcome! RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gTtvpRD9 When organizations recruit a CIO today, what skills truly matter? Fifteen years ago, technical expertise and project delivery were enough. Today, soft skills like leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to align technology with business goals are just as critical. Janet Horan, with decades of experience leading finance, HR, IT, and strategic operations, will share how CIO competencies have evolved—and how organizations balance technical know-how with human-centered leadership. #innovation #education #community Bhupesh Arora James Rinaldi Davida Johnson Thomas Phelps Lea Eriksen Greg Moore Greg Geary Andy Schlei Theresa Miller Doug Goetz Beth Apillanes Kevin Gray Howard Miller Snezana Sibalic, Trent Johnson Beverly Macy Melanie Hildebrandt Joseph Cevetello Lucy Avetisyan Ghalib Kassam  

Amazing Day for an amazing Cause.  Our mighty team from Innovate@UCLA & Laserfiche climbed 1664 Steps, 75 Flights and over 1000 Feet to raise money the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles . Special thanks to Ted Ross Thomas Phelps for doing the climb with me. Our Team raised over $2000 for Ketchum YMCA LA. Thank you to the people who donated to our team and to the Y.  Heidi Novaes George Denlinger Lea Eriksen Humberto Zuniga, LSSBB, CSPO®, CSM®  David Galassi Greg Smith Darren Yamaki Stephen Germain

On October 14, Innovate@UCLA Women in Technology (WIT) and Women in Technology: Hollywood (WiTH) hosted a joint in-person workshop titled "The Unapologetic Value Proposition," led by Beate Chelette, the Growth Architect. Thank you, Beate, for sharing your story of resilience and empowering us to speak confidently about our value and leadership potential. We truly enjoyed learning from you. A special thank you to our member and event sponsor, iSpace, Inc.. At the intersection of technology and people, iSpace provides cutting-edge IT solutions and Agentic & Generative AI capabilities—enabling clients to innovate, scale, and succeed. We hope to see you at our next event! #innovation #education #community Bhupesh Arora James Rinaldi Davida Johnson Thomas Phelps Lea Eriksen Greg Moore Greg Geary Andy Schlei Theresa Miller Doug Goetz Beth Apillanes Kevin Gray Howard Miller Snezana Sibalic, Trent Johnson Beverly Macy Melanie Hildebrandt Joseph Cevetello Lucy Avetisyan Ghalib Kassam Rajesh Kothapalli 

⏰ Only a few days left to register! We’re thrilled to share this upcoming Innovate@UCLA workshop – The Unapologetic Value Proposition, led by our very own Beate Chelette. She will unpack how to: ✨ Clearly communicate your value ✨ Position yourself for leadership ✨ Strengthen professional relationships All while emphasizing the power of hashtag #community as the foundation for personal and professional growth. We love creating spaces where women in tech and business can come together to learn, connect, and lift each other up. 💡 📅 October 14, 2025 📍 UCLA Campus If you’re interested in attending, we have SOME open spots still available. Please register here https://lnkd.in/gw7gDhjD #InnovateUCLA #Innovation #Leadership #WomenInTech #Education #Community #ProfessionalGrowth #Networking #UCLA #Workshops

We’re excited to spotlight Michael Wang, CIO, CISO & VP of Digital Innovation at Epson America Inc., and a member of the Innovate@UCLA Sponsorship Committee. In our latest feature, Michael reflects on leading at the intersection of business and technology, empowering teams to embrace change, and aligning innovation with business strategy. He also shares practical advice for rising professionals on continuous learning, building meaningful relationships, and creating impact both at work and in the community. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ghzPEn_Z #innovation #education #community Bhupesh Arora James Rinaldi Davida Johnson Thomas Phelps Lea Eriksen Greg Moore Greg Geary Andy Schlei Theresa Miller Doug Goetz Beth Apillanes Kevin Gray Howard Miller Snezana Sibalic, Trent Johnson Beverly Macy Melanie Hildebrandt Joseph Cevetello Lucy Avetisyan Ghalib Kassam  

Innovate@UCLA Executive Chair Bhupesh Arora reflects on a dynamic year for our community. Fresh ideas, powerful conversations, and meaningful collaborations have marked 2025. Our events consistently earned high ratings thanks to the quality of speakers, content, and the engagement of our members. As we enter the final part of the year, there are more initiatives to look forward to. Read more from his message and what’s ahead: https://lnkd.in/gepprQHS #innovation #education #community James Rinaldi Davida Johnson Thomas Phelps Lea Eriksen Greg Moore Greg Geary Andy Schlei Theresa Miller Doug Goetz Beth Apillanes Kevin Gray Howard Miller Snezana Sibalic, Trent Johnson Beverly Macy Melanie Hildebrandt Joseph Cevetello Lucy Avetisyan Ghalib Kassam