AMA SF x UC Berkeley Extension: Career Accelerator 2026

AMA SF x UC Berkeley Extension - Career Accelerator 2026

Skills, Storytelling & Staying AI-Ready

The marketing profession is evolving at a pace we haven’t seen in years. AI is reshaping workflows, teams are leaner, expectations are higher, and storytelling has become just as important as technical skill. Whether you’re hiring, exploring new opportunities, reskilling, or simply trying to stay ahead, the ability to clearly articulate your value has never mattered more.

This Career Accelerator, co-hosted by the AMA San Francisco and UC Berkeley Extension, brings together marketing leaders, recruiters, hiring managers, and educators to help you understand what’s changing—and how to position yourself in the middle of it. Through an inspiring keynote conversation, a live recruiter deep-dive, and a highly interactive networking experience, you’ll walk away with:

• A sharper understanding of what hiring teams look for today
• Practical tools to refine your resume, LinkedIn, and personal narrative
• Insight into how AI is influencing job search and evaluation
• A clearer sense of your strengths, opportunities, and market story
• New professional connections who can champion your next step
  

Whether you’re HIRING, LOOKING, or LEARNING, you’ll find value, community, and momentum here.

5:30 – 6:00 PM | Check-In + Networking Warm-Up

6:00 – 6:45 PM | Opening Session — Keynote Conversation

• Moderator: Kate Sargent, Founder at KJS Consulting & The Plus One Collective
• Panelists: Carolyn Bao, Chief Marketing Officer at Edge; Jeff Eyet, Founder & CEO at The Berkeley Innovation Group

6:45 – 6:55 PM | Break

6:55 – 7:35 PM | Session 2 — Behind the Curtain: How Recruiters Really Search

• Speaker: Larissa Gerlach, Founder & Head of Recruitment at The Vibrant Talent Group

7:35 – 8:30 PM | Networking Activity — “Pitch My Friend”

Kate Sargent

Kate Sargent is a Fractional Chief People Officer, Co-CEO, Executive Coach, Board Member, and Founder Advisor who helps leaders and companies grow with purpose. She’s the founder of KJS Coaching & Consulting and The Plus One Collective, and creator of The Generosity Flywheel - a holistic business model built on the belief that generosity fuels connection, connection fuels growth, and growth creates the capacity to give more.

She is a leading voice on LinkedIn known for her authentic, funny, and deeply human take on work, leadership, and growth.

As Your Career Plus One, she helps executives and founders build businesses that scale with clarity, compassion, and impact.

Larissa Gerlach

In her 15 years of experience in executive recruitment for some of the world's biggest brands, Larissa has seen firsthand the impact that our work has on our quality of life.

In launching The Vibrant Talent Group, her goal is to match employers with employees who will thrive in their position...from creative to marketing, and beyond.
Larissa is passionate about being able to keep a pulse on the industry and loves creative and marketing work because of her background in fashion; she is a graduate of FIT in New York City.

Offering traditional and fractional recruiting services for the marketing, advertising & creative worlds. Placing candidates in full-time/direct-hire, fractional and consulting roles.

To ensure accessibility for all participants, AMA SF maintains a no-pets policy at our events. We recognize the essential role of service animals for individuals with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodations to support their participation.

If you have a disability and plan to attend with a service animal, please contact us at [email protected] so we can discuss any specific needs or arrangements to facilitate accessibility for all attendees.

This event, and its attendees, may be photographed or recorded. By attending, you consent to potentially appear in video footage or photos that may be used by AMA SF for marketing or promotional purposes on social media.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher AMASF