Meridian Conference
The conference is where Meridian starts. Meridian brings executives and students together in person, by field.
The premise is reversing gatekeeping. College and networking were supposed to open doors, and instead the goalposts keep moving further out. So executives get to know students, and each one is looking to help with opportunities they manage. There's a Demo Day where student founders and researchers present to peers and executives on the floor, and an aerospace design lab where students build something real, led by NASA engineers.
What the Day Includes
Aerospace Design Lab
Led by NASA engineers. You spend the day building something real instead of sitting through a talk about it.
Demo Day
Students present research, startups, and projects to executives, investors, other students, and press.
Professional Headshots
Photographers from Las Fotos Project shoot your headshot, and the pictures are yours to keep.
Partner Tables
The organizations that brought students run tables of their own. Walk up to any of them, no introduction needed.
Petersen Automotive Museum
The museum is bringing a 1955 Pontiac and a 1955 Bel Air to the floor, with staff.
Someone to Introduce You
Hosts work the floor all day. If walking up to a stranger is not your thing, find one and they will make the introduction.
Who Will Be in the Room
George Leis
Chairman, YMCA of the USA, and President, CalPrivate Bank
Alex McDowell
Production Designer, Minority Report and Fight Club
DeRay Mckesson
CEO, Campaign Zero
Dr. Rosaly Lopes
Senior Research Scientist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Paul Rusnak
Founder, Rusnak Auto Group
David Lash
Managing Counsel for Pro Bono and Public Interest Services, O’Melveny & Myers
Tony Shriller
Founder, Shriller Creative
Carlos Gonzales
Vice President of Manufacturing, The Peggs Company, Inc.
Chris Swain
Co-founder, EA Game Innovation Lab
Michael Kang
Graduate Director of Film and Television Production, LMU School of Film and Television
Paul C. Pereira, JD
SVP, Patient Advocacy and Government Affairs, Ardelyx
Ellen Junn
Former President, California State University, Stanislaus
Student Founders and Researchers Present Their Work.
Three minutes each, with a screen, in front of peers and executives. Students who register with a project can show it at an expo table.
The Day
The schedule for the day.
Doors Open
Check in, pick up your name tag, and settle in.
Welcome
A short welcome and how the day works.
Roundtables
Small groups by field and goal, each with an executive or host. The first aerospace lab session and the demo day expo run at the same time.
Executive Introductions
Executives who would like to introduce themselves do so in under a minute each.
Group Photo
One photo of everyone in the room.
Lunch
Tables mix field, school, and year, with an executive or host at most of them.
Four Things at Once
Choose what fits you.
- Demo Day Pitch Session. Finalists pitch for three minutes each to executives, investors, and press.
- Workshops. Short sessions led by executives.
- Crossover Roundtables. Fields mixed on purpose, so you meet people whose work you are curious about.
- Aerospace Design Lab. The second session, led by NASA engineers.
Closing
Demo day winners, thank-yous, and a short survey before you go.
All Day
The Day Is at UCLA in Westwood.
Parking and arrival details go to everyone registered, and to @meridianconference on Instagram before the day.
Starting November 14, Meridian creates hackathon-style events by field, beginning with engineering, pre-med, and business. Each brings executives from that field together with students from across Los Angeles campuses, with student teams working the same challenge side by side, and everyone who attends joins the Meridian network.