A Day Where Executives Come to You.
Meridian brings executives and students together in person, by field. The conference is a day at UCLA where executives from every field come to you. Nothing to prepare.
How the Day Goes
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.
What You Can Do
Aerospace Design Lab
A hands-on build led by NASA engineers, with two sessions during the day.
Demo Day
Student founders and researchers pitch to executives, investors, and press. See how it works.
Roundtables
Small groups by field and goal, each with an executive or host. Crossover roundtables mix fields on purpose, so you meet people whose work you are curious about.
Workshops
Short sessions led by executives.
Professional Headshots
Photographers from Las Fotos Project shoot a headshot for every student.
Partner Tables
Companies, campus offices, and organizations, 18 so far. See who is working with us.
Lunch With Executives
Tables mix field, school, and year, with an executive or host at most of them.
Petersen Automotive Museum
A 1955 Pontiac and a 1955 Bel Air on the floor, with museum staff.
Executives Joining You
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
Who Can Come
University students from across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. UCLA, USC, and UC Berkeley students are all welcome.
Joining Online
There is a Zoom option when you register. In-person space is 400.
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. You will hear about them once you have registered.
Student Questions
Who can come?
University students from across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. UCLA, USC, and UC Berkeley students are all welcome.
Can I bring a friend?
Yes, but they need their own registration. Seats are capped at 400.
What should I wear?
Business casual is ideal. If that is not something you have, wear whatever you would wear to meet people you respect. Nobody is checking.
Do I have to stay the whole time?
Stay the whole time. The best conversations happen late in the day, after people have loosened up and the room knows who you are. The students who arrive first and leave last get the most out of it.
What if I have never done anything like this?
Many people there have not. You introduce yourself, they introduce themselves, and it goes from there. Hosts work the floor all day and will make the introduction.
I am under 18. Can I come?
Students under 18 register with a parent or guardian’s contact information, and a parent or guardian signs them in at check-in.