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December 26, 2014
A Lifetime of Philanthropy Powers Future UCLA Anderson Entrepreneurs

Assets DigitalStudents often enter business school with a careful plan in mind, yet somewhere along the b-school journey their paths sometimes veer and lead them on an unexpected route to becoming entrepreneurs. Kelsey Doorey '13 thought she had her corporate future mapped out, and was planning to pursue her dream corporate job in the retail industry. However, once she participated in the Knapp Venture Competition - the nation's oldest business plan competition funded by Bud and Betsy Knapp - and won the $15,000 first place prize, out sprang Vow to be Chic. A marriage of Doorey's entrepreneurial and retail dreams, Vow to be Chic is an e-commerce rental service for designer bridesmaid dresses. "Not only did we win the prize money that helped start the business, but two of the judges offered us funding on the spot. The competition literally changed my life in one night," she says. Check out the Centennial issue of Assets to read more about other alumni who got their start from the Knapp Competition. Learn how you can get involved as a judge in the competition and get the inside scoop on the new entrepreneurship accelerator coming to the Rosenfeld Library in 2015.

» Power future business leaders, support UCLA Anderson!
» Read Class Notes to get updates on your classmates.

Come to UCLA Anderson for CES on January 8. Stay for Anderson Afternoon.

CESThursday, January 8
11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
UCLA Anderson, Executive Dining Room and D-Atrium
Free Admission
Register Now

 

Can't make it to Las Vegas this year for the 2015 International CES? Good news. Easton Technology Leadership Program and the High Tech Business Association are bringing the premier consumer technology show to Los Angeles on Thursday, January 8. Learn about what products are trending and experience the innovation of CES through selected streams of CES panels and on-site interactive technology booths at UCLA Anderson presented by Clucid, Inc., GI Logic, Omnimmerse, UCLA Smart Grid, and more. A keynote hour featuring Jason Knapp '98, chief product officer of Interactive Media Holdings, and Ashwin Rangan, chief innovation officer and chief information office at ICANN, will kick off the day. A conversation with Symantec's former group president of consumer business and UCLA Anderson Board of Visitors member Janice Chaffin '81 and a special Anderson Afternoon reception will close out the event. Themes covered will be the Internet of Things, wearables, robotics, virtual reality, and self-driving cars. Read more...

 

» Watch the Power of CES

Kickstarter Success: Ben Larson '13 & Joe Nafziger of Readydesk Challenge You to Break Up With Your Chair!

Kickstarter SuccessHas your sedentary work day been keeping you down? If so, Readydesk inventors Ben Larson (FEMBA '13) and his childhood friend and business collaborator Joe Nafzier may have the solution with their Readydesk ergonomic standing workstation. In order to fund the purchase of product materials and scale up manufacturing Larson and Nafziger pledged to raise $18,900 on Kickstarter by Dec. 5 - only to raise more than $30,000 before their deadline. Larson said “Anderson taught me the importance of making a minimum viable product and getting market feedback. Maybe the biggest asset Anderson gave me was the confidence to just get out and do it." Read more...

Save the Dates: Lifelong Learning Opportunities in Entertainment and Finance in 2015

Pulse ConferenceJanuary 30: Pulse Conference 2015 - Entertainment, Sports, & Technology

The 5th annual Pulse Conference gives unparalleled access to top thought leaders and influencers from Lionsgate, Nike, Spotify, Yahoo! Sports, and more who are shaping the future of entertainment, sports and technology. A luncheon and keynote conversation with the CEO of Hulu, Mike Hopkins '01 about Hulu's growth strategy and a closing keynote conversation with the chief strategy officer of AT&T, John Stankey '91 about the AT&T-DirectTV merger will highlight the full-day conference. Panel topics include Succeeding in Sports: A Transformational Moment, The Future of Film: Immersive Worlds, Expanding Markets, Music Beyond the Art, and Optimizing Content Value in the New Digital Advertising Landscape.

» Register today.
» See highlights from last year's event.

Investing ConferenceFebruary 4: UCLA Anderson Investing Conference - Investment Management

The 4th annual UCLA Anderson Investing Conference brings together finance professionals for a full day of investing insights. The conference will feature a keynote from Antony Ressler, chairman, co-founder, and CEO of Ares Capital Management and panels on Credit: Investing in a Multi-Speed World, Alternatives: Beyond Traditional Risk Assets, and Equity: Generating Alpha in an Uncertain Environment. Networking opportunities will also be available during lunch and the cocktail reception. Admission is free.

» Register today.
» See highlights from last year's event.

UCLA Anderson Alumni Home Page Gets a Makeover for the New Year!

Stop by anderson.ucla.edu/alumni to check out our brand new look! We have streamlined the side navigation bar and added an Alumni Spotlight section to highlight events, stories, and updates featuring UCLA Anderson alumni. However, that isn't all that is new! The Office of Alumni Relations has been busy this fall bringing the alumni network together in new ways:

FRESH PROGRAMMING

  • InstagramSeptember: Young Alumni Series - The Young Alumni series was launched to connect alumni who graduated within the past five years. Join us for young alumni UCLA basketball games and Anderson Afternoon events co-hosted by the ASA Alumni Relations Committee in January!
  • October: Worldwide Welcome Week - Along with our alumni regional chapters and affinity groups, we brought you 32 events in 26 cities across 4 continents to connect new graduates with alumni through a variety of events. Relive WWW.
  • November: Anderson Evenings - We partnered with Parker CMC to launch a new series called Anderson Evenings in New York and San Francisco. We gathered hundreds of students on career treks with alumni in those respective cities for special conversations with industry leaders and targeted networking opportunities. See AE highlights.
  • January: Los Angeles New Year's Kickoff - Celebrate the new year with the L.A. chapter of the Alumni Network with drinks, appetizers and content on January 28 at Mr. C Beverly Hills. Information security pioneer Dr. Stan Stahl of Citadel Information Group will be sharing his expertise on the global business topic of the moment: cyber security. Discuss and learn about current issues impacting customers, employees and organizations including companies like Sony, JPMorgan Chase, and Home Depot. Register today.

WE ARE SOCIAL!

  • Instagram @UCLAAndersonAlumni - See what the alumni network is up to around the world. Follow us and share your alumni pictures at #UCLAAndersonAlumni.
  • Tweet @Jillbbruin - Follow Associate Dean of Alumni Relations Jill Baldauf ’81 to see what she has to say about all things Anderson and alumni as she connects with the alumni network at home and on the road!
Upcoming Events

12/30 Honolulu, HI
Breakfast With Professor
Bill Ouchi

1/8 Los Angeles, CA
Young Alumni: UCLA vs.
Stanford Men's Basketball
Game & Anderson Afternoon

1/14 La Jolla, CA
MBA Happy Hour / UCLA vs.
USC Basketball Game

1/16 Westlake Village, CA
TOUR:
The Huddle Campus

1/20 Irvine, CA
Leadership Lab Series

1/28 Los Angeles, CA
LA New Year's Kickoff Party



1/29 Los Angeles, CA
Young Alumni: UCLA vs. Utah
Men's Basketball Game &
Anderson Afternoon

1/30 Los Angeles, CA
PULSE Conference 2015:
The Next Beat

1/30 Ventura, CA
Patagonia lunch & tour



Office of Alumni Relations
UCLA Anderson School of Management
110 Westwood Plaza, Suite F301
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1481
(800) 333 - ALUM
alumni.anderson.ucla.edu
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