Worldwide Welcome Weeks events are finally here! Join fellow alumni to welcome the Class of 2016, connect with your local network and access lifelong learning opportunities. We officially kick off WWW this Monday in Lausanne, Switzerland with Dr. Heinrich Lammer '89, Partner & COO of Blackwell Capital at the world famous Maison du Sport International. A selection of events follows:

London | October 6
Playing to Your Strengths: How to Be Successful in Challenging Times
After taking over as CEO of Virgin Atlantic in early 2013, Craig Kreeger ‘85 committed to returning the airline to profit within two years. That goal successfully achieved, Craig will discuss how he and his team are now managing challenging economic times within the airline industry.

San Diego, CA | October 10
Behind-the-Scenes at Callaway Golf
Adjunct Associate Professor of Marketing Andres Terech will join Harry Arnett, SVP, Marketing and Brand Management at Callaway Golf, to discuss the strategic role of social media at global sports goods company Callaway Golf and beyond.

Beverly Hills, CA | October 19
A Conversation with Vanessa Morrison, President, 20th Century Fox Animation
Vanessa Morrison will share her career journey, insights on leadership, and discuss how she is positioning Fox Animation for future success in a conversation with Professor of Marketing Sanjay Sood at the Gibson Brands Showroom.

New York City, NY| October 24
Impact of Media on the Presidential Election
Colby Smith ’11, VP of ABC News Digital, will explore the influence that digital media has generated on the election cycle and how the presidential candidates are leveraging technology in their campaigns.

San Francisco, CA | October 25
A Peek into Yelp: The Business
Yelp is providing businesses the opportunity to drive increased awareness, enable transactions and facilitate quotes. Rahul Hampole ’10, Product Lead for Yelp’s national and multi-location businesses, will discuss Yelp’s evolving business and where its investing to sustain growth.

Chicago, IL | October 28
Behind-the-Scenes at The Chicago Opera Theater
Doug Clayton '16, General Manager of The Chicago Opera Theater, is giving alumni a sneak peek of a performance from the forthcoming opera Henry Purcell's The Fairy Queen, plus an inside look at operations and production.

Sherman Oaks, CA | November 3
Payscout and the Future of Global Ecommerce & VR
Imagine shopping in a high-end boutique from the comfort of your own home. Explore this reality at Payscout's headquarters with an interactive demo of a real VR shopping experience and a discussion with CEO & Founder Cleveland Brown (B.A. '97).

» View the full list of Worldwide Welcome Week 2016 events to find and register for an event in your region.

On September 16, the first annual UCLA Anderson CEO Forum Retreat brought together over 30 alumni CEOs for 1.5 days of content and inspiration—crafted for leaders of organizations small and large.

Unlike the regular CEO Forum meetings, where distinct groups of 8-12 Anderson CEOs meet monthly to discuss a variety of issues they are grappling with, the retreat enabled increased planning, introspection and cross group networking. Sessions included such topics as performance-based hiring, "sweaty palm" conversations, and risk management. Participants especially enjoyed a session focused on Missions/Vision/Values led by Annette Templeton of human behavior consultancy Ferrazzi Greenlight. The retreat provided a unique platform for Mitch Brody '02, CEO of E3 Surf Craft, to engage with fellow manufacturing entrepreneurs from other regional CEO Forum groups. "Being a CEO is lonely...[CEO Forum] is like group therapy for processing issues," said Brody.

For UCLA Anderson alumni CEOs looking to benefit from the valuable insights of an advisory board of fellow alumni, there will be opportunities in 2017 to join a new San Francisco group and Orange County group. There are also a couple of immediate spots available in an existing Los Angeles group plus the likelihood that the program will expand to other cities soon. Please contact UCLA Anderson CEO Forum’s founder and organizer Kate Pletcher '07 at Kate@thetreehousepartners.com to learn more. 

» Are you an aspiring CEO? Explore the Evolution of a Startup CEO with Aaron Hirschhorn '05 at our upcoming WWW event in Santa Monica on October 20.

W. James McNerney, Jr. has displayed exceptional leadership at some of the world’s largest and most iconic companies, including General Electric, 3M and most recently at The Boeing Company, where he served as Chairman, President and CEO. On November 2, 2016, UCLA Anderson will honor McNerney at the 2016 John Wooden Global Leadership Award Reception in tribute to the legendary John Wooden and the leadership values he embodied. Recent recipients of this prestigious award include Ursula Burns of Xerox Corporation and Dr. Paul E. Jacobs of Qualcomm, Inc.

Learn more about this special celebration, taking place this year at the interactive California Science Center. Tax-deductible tickets are available for alumni for $250. Proceeds from the reception funds John Wooden Leadership fellowships to deserving UCLA Anderson students.

Contemplating taking a leap to make a career shift to a new function or industry post business school? Find out what you need to know NOW to successfully make a shift. Join Alumni Career Services as it dives into this topic in a special, two-part webinar series:

October 6 | Part 1: Alumni Insights on Career Shifting

Get insights from a group of UCLA Anderson Executive MBA alumni who have successfully made careers shifts. They will share insights on how they approached their career shifts, what strategies and resources were most helpful, and how they dealt with the challenges. Register Now.

October 13 | Part 2: LinkedIn & Resume Strategies for Career Shifters

When making a career shift, one of the biggest challenges is crafting a LinkedIn profile and resume that will garner attention and generate interviews. LinkedIn and resume expert Ross MacPherson will introduce secrets he offers to clients on how to build a more effective LinkedIn profile and resume in order to make a successful career shift. Register Now.

Each year at Alumni Weekend, the UCLA Anderson Alumni Network honors exceptional individuals who have made a difference for the UCLA Anderson community and the world.

Nominate an Anderson classmate, mentor, and/or friend for the following 2017 UCLA Anderson Alumni Awards:

John E. Anderson Distinguished Alumni Award
This is the highest accolade for exceptional achievement that the UCLA Anderson School of Management bestows upon its alumni, saluting the achievements of outstanding alumni whose personal lives, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of their alma mater. Recent recipients include Jim Moffatt '87 and Lonnie Ali '86.

Outstanding Alumni Service Award
This award is presented to alumni who have consistently provided exemplary service to UCLA Anderson, enhancing the stature, success and well-being of the UCLA Anderson Alumni Network, as well as the quality and reputation of the School. Recent recipients include Eric Mokover '80 and Gregory Craig '89.

Please Note: Nominations close November 4, 2016.

Disruption is a buzz word that is frequently mentioned but when do you actually see it in action? Big data, in its short history, has become synonymous with unlocking the truth in business. And where the truth prevails against expectations, you witness disruption.

UCLA Anderson's Big Data Conference is an interactive conference that brings together a cross section of industry experts and academic thought leaders who are shaping and defining the conversation around big data. Speakers from Factual, Netflix and Uber have been confirmed. If you are in the business of providing technology solutions, using big data to make business decisions or thinking through the future of entertainment and media, don’t miss the 2016 Big Data Conference on November 18. Register Now.