Come back to Los Angeles for Alumni Weekend 2019 on May 3-4 to reinvest in your continued professional and personal development. Learning and networking are lifelong for UCLA Anderson alumni. Learn about current business issues, expand your network and celebrate class reunions.

Early bird registration ends Friday, April 5. Register today!

May 3 | Alumni Conference & Networking Reception

As the president and portfolio manager of investment firm PRIMECAP, Joel Fried (BS '84, '86), has a unique perspective on hiring. "We look for curious people who are passionate about something, who are hard working and most importantly, are nice people." He recognizes that the qualities he looks for in colleagues align with his perception of the character of the Anderson community. A dedicated double Bruin, Joel supports UCLA Anderson in multiple ways. In addition to serving on UCLA Anderson's Board of Advisors and the Fink Center for Finance and Investments board, Joel has supported the school financially, including creating the Joel Fried Chair in Applied Finance currently held by Professor Antonio Bernardo. In recognition of his professional achievements and community service that exemplify the objectives of UCLA, Joel will be receiving the 2019 John E. Anderson Distinguished Alumni Award. Read more.

Kate Pletcher '07 has always been the most enterprising person in the neighborhood. From her time clearing roof gutters and filing income tax returns as a child—to starting her own recruiting firm Treehouse Partners eight years ago. As a perpetual leader and builder of communities, she founded the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Madison, Wisconsin 22 years and most recently the UCLA Anderson CEO Forum, a peer-mentoring program for alumni founders and CEOs that now boasts five groups in three cities. If that weren’t enough, she serves as a class president, a board member of the Los Angeles alumni chapter and the Alumni Board of Directors, among other contributions to the greater UCLA community. “At least once a month, an alumnus reaches out with a random thank you and stories about how much I’ve influenced them. Those contacts reenergize me.” says Kate. In recognition of her exceptional service to UCLA Anderson, Kate will be receiving the 2019 Outstanding Alumni Award. Read more.

Joel and Kate will receive their respective awards at a special presentation at Alumni Conference on Friday, May 3.

Having entered UCLA Anderson from Citigroup, Nate Franklin ’08 considered pursuing investment banking during business school. He knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur and he saw finance as the quickest way to make money to enable him to do that. That changed when he heard a pitch about new renewable energy projects at a recruiting event for Edison Mission Energy. Recognizing the potential of the emerging industry, he joined the company after graduation and subsequently started his own companies. Today, he is the president and CEO of Pacifico Energy, a Tokyo-based enterprise building renewable plants in Japan and Vietnam.
 
Nate credits his Anderson education, including courses taught by Professors Bill Cockrum and Stuart Gabriel, for providing him with a "platform for opportunities." He says "I really don't think I would have been anywhere near as successful, or had the confidence to actually do what I did, without the things that I learned at Anderson and the tools that it gave me." Intent on ensuring that the next generation of Anderson students benefits from the valuable experience he received, Nate has contributed to the Marion Anderson Hall project by creating the Franklin Classroom. Read more. Watch video.

Parents Who Favor Boys Raise Girls Who Score Lower in Math
Paola Giuliano

In families that favor boys, there is increased likelihood of having more children if they have a firstborn girl, and the girls' standardized test math scores are lower than the boys'.

Gain insights on a variety of topics from cutting-edge research by Anderson faculty in this month’s UCLA Anderson Review.

Fink Investing Conference
April 15, 2019
The 2019 Fink Investing conference will bring together top practitioners and researchers in investment management to discuss emerging trends in the industry. Explore the expanding role of technology and data, and the outlook on global investment opportunities. Richard Kayne, Founder and Co-Chairman Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, and Joshua S. Friedman, Co-Founder, Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer Canyon Partners, LLC, will serve as keynote speakers. Register.

Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Conference
April 19, 2019
Trade and economic relations between the U.S. and China are of great significance for the stability and development of the global economy. The 2019 Wilbur K. Woo Greater China Business Conference will bring together U.S. and Chinese leaders, investors and influencers to share their perspectives on the changing dynamics of U.S.-China relations, and the implications and future of the U.S.-Sino relationship. Zak Dychtwald, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Young China Group, will serve as keynote speaker. Register.

Impact Week
April 21-26, 2019
Uniting students and professionals interested in using their skills and careers to drive social and environmental change, Impact Week is coming April 21-26. Focused on the theme of Purpose + Profit, this year’s event brings together thought leaders and founders of mission-driven businesses for powerful and informative workshops, panels, screenings, network mixers and more. Explore topics including impact investing, renewable energy, social entrepreneurship and technology. Learn more.