2026 Executive Leadership Awards Dinner
About this Event
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 UCLA Luskin Conference Center.
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
- Nadia Hansen, Global AI Strategist & Former CIO, Salesforce
- 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
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
- 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.
Sponsors
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.
Notice of Filming and Photography:
When you attend this event, you enter an area where photography, audio, and video recording will occur. By entering the event premises, you consent to such recording media and its release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction.
If you would like to opt-out of the possible use of your image in future Innovate@UCLA marketing materials, please email us at [email protected] within 48 hours after the event.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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