ELEVATED

Join us for our webcast of ELEVATED as we present Creating Value at the Intersection of Systems and Experience: Lessons from Intrapreneurship. We are pleased to welcome Melody McClaren, Researcher, Writer, Consultant and Caltech Alum as we kick off the new year of ELEVATED. Host Jen García of Caltech’s Center for Technology and Management Education will discuss with Melody how she has grown and nurtured a passionate and committed career rooted in intrapreneurship. Melody’s professional life has been characterized by curiosity-driven, non-linear pathways, working with global companies, NGOs, and cross-sector partnerships. Her work has focused on how individuals create value at the intersections of systems, institutions, and lived experience. Melody will illustrate how her experiences over the years have given her the ability to reflect across generations into how people can navigate complex careers with integrity and imagination. We are delighted to have her share her journey with us.

ELEVATED, crafted by Caltech, is the only monthly webcast series converging technology with project management. Host Jen Garcia engages with pioneering thought leaders to illuminate pathways to success in the world of large-scale program and project management, cultivating a community dedicated to strategic leadership and career advancement within high-stakes domains. Peter Sairafian has broad project organization and management experience, spanning strategic planning, enterprise governance, PMO development, project management, business process management, and ERP implementation. He has led the development of several IT systems, applying best practices in change control, risk management, action item tracking, budgeting, and project management. At Southern California Edison, Mr. Sairafian led teams managing business cases and financial controls for project portfolios in excess of $300 million/year. He helped set up a PMO project organization. In addition, he performed strategic planning for the start-up of a non-regulated subsidiary, specializing in the operation and maintenance of power and non-power plant operations. At Molina Healthcare, he developed a governance framework for the Enterprise Project Management Office of Molina Healthcare, including identifying initiatives and programs, generating estimates, business cases, portfolio prioritization, benefits validation, stakeholder management, and decision body charter and composition.. Mr. Sairafian has managed programs in healthcare, utilities, engineering, and construction. He has worked with Sempra, Belkin, Kaiser Permanente, Memorial Care Health Systems, United Health Group, The Irvine Company, The Capital Group, Cisco, TransUnion, and Zodiac Aerospace. He has held certifications as a Project Management Professional, CGEIT, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Enterprise IT, COBIT, and ITIL governance. He holds a BS in civil engineering and a Master’s in Business from the University of California, Irvine.

Caltech CTME ELEVATED: Lead Like Her - Rethinking Leadership Development “When pressure mounts, our instinct is to grip.Yet, the breakthrough lies in release.”This month we are pleased to welcome Shruti Dhupia, HR & Leadership Development expert. Host Jen García of Caltech’s Center for Technology and Management Education will discuss with Shruti how women leaders can discover their true essence, embody unshakable confidence, and build an ecosystem that authentically reflects their values.Shruti Dhupia brings 15+ years of experience in Leadership Alignment, Succession Planning, Learning Strategy, and Capability Development, and has worked with Harvard Business Publishing and Infosys Leadership Institute, among others. A certified assessor and leadership coach, Shruti actively contributes to blogs and research, with a focus on women in leadership. We're happy to have you tune in as we explore these areas of professional development and empowerment.  Shruti Dhupia serves as an Associate Partner at Salto Dee Fe. Her rich work experience spans 15+ years with clients across the globe in the space of talent and leadership development. She was previously associated with organizations like Harvard Business Publishing, Infosys Leadership Institute Right Management, and Max Life Insurance. She has worked with renowned global brands in the APAC and ME regions and has handled a wide spectrum of clients across industries and sectors like Tata, Mahindra, Infosys, Genpact, HCL, Kotak, etc. She has extensive experience in the digital learning strategy to converge the right learning platforms and content providers. Shruti received her Masters in Human Resources from IISWBM- Kolkata. Her key capabilities include In-depth Needs Assessment, Leadership Alignment, Succession Planning, Learning Strategy Formulation and Capability Development. ♦ Jen García is Caltech CTME’s AI Tools Instructor and the host of ELEVATED. With over 20 years in higher education and workforce development, she served as a program manager at Orange Coast College while also teaching at institutions like UCLA Extension, UCI Extension, and USC. She later founded Employ California, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing workforce development, and Ingrained.ai, which equips businesses, educators, and social impact organizations with accessible AI tools training. Jen serves as the AI Executive in Residence at the Goldhirsh Foundation and sits on the boards of Vidby.ai and Pledge, a platform that raises nearly $50m in donations each year for many of the largest nonprofits and brands in the world. She has led AI tools trainings at the Getty Research Institute, and for the County of Los Angeles, DoorDash, the LA Fire Department, Brooklyn Public Library, and more. Through her work with Break Through Tech AI, Jen has also guided teams in developing custom AI/ML solutions for nonprofits. ♦

Caltech CTME ELEVATED: From Rocket Science to Cybersecurity: How Program Management + Systems Thinking Fuels Innovation     In this ELEVATED episode, Dr. Tina Srivastava, an MIT-trained rocket scientist, inventor, and co-founder of Badge, shares her journey from aerospace engineering at Raytheon to founding a cybersecurity company and developing Badge’s “identity without secrets” platform. She explains how her experiences in systems engineering and program management revealed the importance of collaboration between PMs and SEs, especially through practices like shadowing, rotation programs, and defining clear roles. Dr. Srivastava discusses her research and books, including Innovating in a Secret World and another she edited Integrating Program Management and Systems Engineering, which explores how innovation thrives even in secure, high-stakes environments. The conversation expands into how AI tools can enhance project collaboration, communication, and education when used responsibly and with privacy in mind. Finally, Dr. Srivastava emphasizes the need for lifelong learning and technological literacy, urging leaders to immerse themselves in technical understanding to drive better decision-making and innovation.

Zeina Barrett has over 25 years of experience in the management and execution of programs for the Department of Defense and Departments of State Health and Social Services and across multiple Northrop Grumman Sectors. She has a wide breadth of expertise in program management, risk management, process re-engineering, and operations management across various levels of the organization. Zeina is currently the Program Excellence Director for the Space Sector shaping program management governance, process, and is responsible for executing PM training and development. Prior to this role, Zeina was most recently the Operating Unit Director for Space Vehicles within the Tactical Space Systems Division, where she was responsible for our ESPAStar Product Line (>$1B product line) and growth of space vehicle market within the division. She has led teams across all phases of program execution. Zeina received her bachelor’s in business and a master’s of information systems from the University of Phoenix and a graduate certificate in Project Management from the University of California Los Angeles. She achieved her Project Management Professional certification in 2011, is a certified scrum master and Agile coach. She is currently working towards her masters of business administration at Liberty University on her path to a Doctorate of business administration in the future. Jen García is Caltech CTME’s AI Tools Instructor and the host of ELEVATED. With over 20 years in higher education and workforce development, she served as a program manager at Orange Coast College while also teaching at institutions like UCLA Extension, UCI Extension, and USC. She later founded Employ California, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing workforce development, and Ingrained.ai, which equips businesses, educators, and social impact organizations with accessible AI tools training. Jen serves as the AI Executive in Residence at the Goldhirsh Foundation and sits on the boards of Vidby.ai and Pledge, a platform that raises nearly $50m in donations each year for many of the largest nonprofits and brands in the world. She has led AI tools trainings at the Getty Research Institute, and for the County of Los Angeles, DoorDash, the LA Fire Department, Brooklyn Public Library, and more. Through her work with Break Through Tech AI, Jen has also guided teams in developing custom AI/ML solutions for nonprofits. 

You'll discover how to:Create and execute initiatives in your project that sustain change and escalates relationshipsMaster a mindset that moves you out of your head and past your fears to confidently create valuable relationshipsManage your emotions when connecting with new peopleAdditionally, Christy will share how she fosters a culture that attracts high performers, designs and executes initiatives that catalyze change and most importantly, transforms chaos into harmony—and how you can build on your own creativity to reach your professional and personal goals. Christy Conner is a driver of greater Los Angeles's innovative technology arena. She is a leader of Friday Coffee Meetup, the largest active entrepreneurial and tech innovation group in Los Angeles, with 7,000+ members. In The Confident Connector™: How to Build Your Must-Have Network in an Era of Job Insecurity, Christy enthusiastically shares strategies with readers to on how to build strong and authentic relationships. She seamlessly blends her perspective as a natural introvert with powerful techniques to inspire others to move past their fears and build a dynamic network that fulfills their aspirations.With exposure to over fifty countries and a diverse career spanning six sectors, she offers a unique blend of strategic insight and empathic leadership. She has taught as an instructor of change management on five continents. Utilizing this global perspective coupled with local insights, she writes on leading-edge business topics that help companies work smarter and drive revenue. She earned her private pilot’s license and went on to obtain a BS in Aviation Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She has an MA in International Relations from the University of Southern California (USC).  ♦ Jen García is Caltech CTME’s AI Tools Instructor and the host of ELEVATED. With over 20 years in higher education and workforce development, she served as a program manager at Orange Coast College while also teaching at institutions like UCLA Extension, UCI Extension, and USC. She later founded Employ California, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing workforce development, and Ingrained.ai, which equips businesses, educators, and social impact organizations with accessible AI tools training. Jen serves as the AI Executive in Residence at the Goldhirsh Foundation and sits on the boards of Vidby.ai and Pledge, a platform that raises nearly $50m in donations each year for many of the largest nonprofits and brands in the world. She has led AI tools trainings at the Getty Research Institute, and for the County of Los Angeles, DoorDash, the LA Fire Department, Brooklyn Public Library, and more. Through her work with Break Through Tech AI, Jen has also guided teams in developing custom AI/ML solutions for nonprofits. ♦

What you'll take away from this episode:Which single skill unlocks the biggest productivity gain for cross-functional project teams?With generative AI accelerating project workflows, what competencies project managers should cultivate today to stay indispensable?Which cognitive bias most often derails an executive project plan?This live webcast discussion will be compelling and insightful, and is ideal for anyone interested in strategic decision-making, leadership, and AI product  innovation. Leslie Fine, PhD, earned her PhD in Game Theory and Behavioral Economics from Caltech. In 2008, Leslie founded her first startup, Crowdcast, and successfully exited the company in 2012. Following Crowdcast, she helped lead three more startups: Spigit (SVP Product), tenXer (Head of Product), and Swerve (Founder, CEO). After Leslie’s startup experiences, she ventured into the enterprise world and joined Salesforce (VP Product), where she helped ship the company’s first AI product. But it was through her involvement in Salesforce’s M&A process that she ultimately realized she wanted to return to startup life. Each chapter of Leslie’s career was chosen based on where she would find her next challenge. Leslie is a problem solver at heart, and she takes pride in repackaging all that she has learned throughout her career in order to effectively mentor the next wave of passionate founders.  ♦Jen García is Caltech CTME’s AI Tools Instructor and the host of ELEVATED. With over 20 years in higher education and workforce development, she served as a program manager at Orange Coast College while also teaching at institutions like UCLA Extension, UCI Extension, and USC. She later founded Employ California, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing workforce development, and Ingrained.ai, which equips businesses, educators, and social impact organizations with accessible AI tools training. Jen serves as the AI Executive in Residence at the Goldhirsh Foundation and sits on the boards of Vidby.ai and Pledge, a platform that raises nearly $50m in donations each year for many of the largest nonprofits and brands in the world. She has led AI tools trainings at the Getty Research Institute, and for the County of Los Angeles, DoorDash, the LA Fire Department, Brooklyn Public Library, and more. Through her work with Break Through Tech AI, Jen has also guided teams in developing custom AI/ML solutions for nonprofits. ♦

What you'll take away from this episode:How to build trust between technical and commercial teamsWhat makes AI tools actually useful—and widely adopted—in pharmaWhy data fluency is essential for the next generation of industry leaders.This live webcast discussion will be an energizing and insightful conversation for anyone interested in data, leadership, and building bridges between innovation and real-world impact.ELEVATED Live WebcastTuesday, May 20, 2025  |  10:00 AM (PDT) Jane Urban builds new functions and high performing teams in the biopharma space. She recently transformed customer engagement at Otsuka Pharmaceuticals as VP of Customer Engagement, a newly formed division combining capabilities in omnichannel, analytics, insights, forecasting, commercial operations, and field effectiveness. Prior to Otsuka, in her 7 years at Takeda, Jane held roles at the VP level across global commercial and medical data, US data and analytics, and Commercial Operations integration with the Shire acquisition. Prior to Takeda, Jane worked on healthcare commercialization related roles in consulting and healthcare. Jane has an MBA from Northwestern Kellogg and BA in Engineering from Brown University. ♦ Jen García is Caltech CTME’s AI Tools Instructor and the host of ELEVATED. With over 20 years in higher education and workforce development, she served as a program manager at Orange Coast College while also teaching at institutions like UCLA Extension, UCI Extension, and USC. She later founded Employ California, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing workforce development, and Ingrained.ai, which equips businesses, educators, and social impact organizations with accessible AI tools training. Jen serves as the AI Executive in Residence at the Goldhirsh Foundation and sits on the boards of Vidby.ai and Pledge, a platform that raises nearly $50m in donations each year for many of the largest nonprofits and brands in the world. She has led AI tools trainings at the Getty Research Institute, and for the County of Los Angeles, DoorDash, the LA Fire Department, Brooklyn Public Library, and more. Through her work with Break Through Tech AI, Jen has also guided teams in developing custom AI/ML solutions for nonprofits. 

Please join us for an exclusive ELEVATED webcast, Leading AI Teams.With the robust growth of generative AI, industries are experiencing an accelerated transformation. From improving productivity, to harnessing a new digital framework where AI enhances human skills, industry leaders are wondering how best to navigate the GenAI world.Leading teams who build AI:How do AI teams operate in 2025 and what should companies anticipate as hurdles to AI adoption in their organization? How do leaders navigate the adoption of new tools and manage AI products?We discuss:How to appropriately staff AI projects and how this differs from traditional machine learning and data science projectsHow GenAI can be applied in project management to maximize project efficiencyBuilding versus buying in a market awash in GenAI solutionsIn our April 15 ELEVATED session, guest Jodi Blomberg, a senior leader for AI/ML at Cox Automotive, talks with Caltech CTME’s host Nicholas Beaudoin. Together they'll explore important points to consider as project managers meet leadership requirements to build AI platforms.BioJodi BlombergAs the Senior Leader for AI/ML across the Cox Automotive family, Jodi oversees a diverse team of Product Managers, Engineers, and AI/ML experts, working collaboratively to shape the future of automotive technology. Her teams manage a portfolio of AI and ML initiatives spanning early-stage research, proofs of concept, and full product delivery. In addition, her responsibilities include managing the visual intelligence division, solving complex visual problems with innovative 3D computer vision technologies and artificial intelligence. In addition to technical leadership, Jodi' responsibilities include budget planning, resource allocation, and strategic partnerships to ensure the success and scalability of AI initiatives. Jodi's focus is on delivering impactful solutions that not only push the boundaries of what's possible but also create tangible value for business and their customers. ♦As Caltech CTME's Director and AI/ML Instructor, Nicholas Beaudoin intersects strategic program development with hands-on curriculum design, positioning AI/ML education programs at the forefront of technological transformation. Leading the AI programs at Caltech's Center for Technology & Management Education, Nicholas' focus is on delivering impactful learning experiences tailored to a diverse clientele, including private and public sectors, as well as government and non-profit organizations. 

Exclusive ELEVATED webcast, Avoiding Issues in Complex International Projects. International projects are often complex and dynamic by their very nature. Challenges extend from multi-cultural misinterpretation to language barriers and include managing diverse perspectives, international differences, and hierarchical restraints. In these international project landscapes, project managers must strive to recognize the values and expectations of team members of varying cultural backgrounds. In our March 18 ELEVATED session, guest Kurt Moses, a senior executive with an extensive history in the education and health development sector, will talk with Caltech CTME’s host Nicholas Beaudoin. Together they will examine a high level checklist of potential hiccups to consider in your projects, providing tools that can help team leaders identify challenges before they become restraints. Together they discuss: • The snags in projects as they relate to process, collaboration, clarity and communication • Understanding various governmental/regulatory systems; leveraging technology solutions that are accessible to the entire team • Recognizing cultural differences and identifying concerns; understanding how members perceive authority, handle conflict, and process decision-making Join us March 18 for Anticipating Issues in Complex International Projects and discover the tools that will help you achieve success in the global business environment. Kurt Moses serves as Director of Information Systems with a demonstrated history of expertise in the education management industry. He is skilled in leading nonprofit organizations with policy analysis and effective information technology experience. With a Bachelor’s Degree focused in Economics & Political Theory from Stanford University and an MBA in International Finance from University of Chicago, Kurt has worked in 72 countries, four continents and the U.S, and consulted with major international donor agencies and 45 national governments. He is skilled in strategic planning, national and regional information systems design, mobile system implementation, business analytics, and capacity building. Kurt has operated several independent service centers with P&L responsibility, and regularly reported to or consulted with senior officials in government. As Caltech CTME's Director and AI/ML Instructor, Nicholas Beaudoin intersects strategic program development with hands-on curriculum design, positioning AI/ML education programs at the forefront of technological transformation. Leading the AI programs at Caltech's Center for Technology & Management Education, Nicholas' focus is on delivering impactful learning experiences tailored to a diverse clientele, including private and public sectors, as well as government and non-profit organizations.