Different industries, perspectives, and viewpoints highlight the return of this popular series.

The UCR School of Business is bringing back its Dean’s Speaker Series in January 2026 with events exploring industry trends, the evolving expectations of leadership, and innovative strategies for resilience in today’s fast-paced workplace. Sponsored by the school’s A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management, each session will feature executives from different industries, giving audiences a multifaceted look at personal and professional challenges and opportunities for growth and success.

“This series is about possibility,” says Dean Yunzeng Wang, “and is designed to foster critical discussions about business issues. It also provides networking opportunities between corporate executives and our School of Business community.”

The kickoff is scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, at 7 p.m. in the new School of Business Building Auditorium. Featured speakers include NIKE’s Jordana Katcher ’96; Gurpreet “Gopi” Sangha ’08, president and founder of CUSP Agency (experiential marketing); and Laila Souktani ’16 of Legacy Philanthropy. The evening will be moderated by Austin Quick ’15, ’17. Attendees can expect an honest conversation about professional pivots, decision-making, failure, momentum, and what it takes to stay relevant and inspired in a competitive world.

After each talk, there will be a networking dessert reception offering an opportunity to connect with speakers, UCR Business students, alumni, and community members.

The speaker for March will be Steve Jones, CEO of Allied Universal, the largest security services company in North America.

The Dean’s Speaker Series is open to UCR students, alumni, and the Inland Empire business community. Registration information may be found here. For information on previous Dean’s Speaker Series events, visit:

business.ucr.edu/deans-speaker-series