UC Davis Alumni Careers & Identity Conference 2026 Schedule & Speakers

Session A

Avoiding Burnout Bingo: Reclaiming Identity, Energy & Voice in Purpose-Driven Careers

Whether you’re a rising professional or seasoned leader, burnout doesn’t discriminate. Leticia V. Garay shares her first-gen journey and practical tools to reframe exhaustion into clarity. Through reflection, storytelling, and audience engagement, participants learn how to protect energy (and sanity), realign with purpose, and build sustainable, authentic professional pathways.

• Speaker: Leticia V. Garay

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  Leticia V. Garay is a UC Davis MBA alumna with a focus in strategy and marketing, who’s passionate about helping people show up more authentically in their careers without burning out. Through her blog, Leticia Living in Color, she blends storytelling, strategy, and identity work to support professionals navigating emotional labor, visibility fatigue, and career transitions. With a decade in admissions and a pivot into higher ed marketing, Leticia brings humor, heart, and healing into conversations about work, worth, and wellness.

Session B

Foundations of Self: Rediscovering Identity and Purpose

In this interactive session, participants explore how personal identity, values, and strengths form the foundation for meaningful career decisions. Through guided reflection, partner dialogue, and Liberating Structures, attendees reconnect with purpose and define next steps in their evolving career journey.

• Speaker: Lisa Laughter

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  Lisa Laughter, MA, ACC is a Senior Career Coach with UC Davis Learning & Organizational Development and Past-President of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Sacramento Charter Chapter. With over two decades of experience supporting professionals in higher education, Lisa brings warmth, insight, and authenticity to every space she facilitates. Her approach blends CliftonStrengths®, values exploration, and Liberating Structures to create experiences that deepen connection and self-awareness. Lisa’s passion lies in helping individuals rediscover their sense of purpose and align their work and life with who they truly are.

Session C

Your Career North Star - Navigate The Future With Confidence

Have you ever paused to define success for yourself? Too often, we default to definitions shaped by family, culture, or society. In this engaging workshop, Professional Career Coach Brandy DeOrnellas invites you to create a definition that is entirely your own. This carefully crafted and highly curated definition of success becomes your Career North Star. As you make career decisions, you can reference this North Star to discern if your next move is getting you closer to or further from your destination. This workshop is valuable for all who want career clarity and direction—from new grads to seasoned professionals. 

• Speaker: Brandy DeOrnellas

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  Brandy DeOrnellas, PCC, Esq., is an attorney turned expert career coach who empowers professionals to intentionally design their careers and lives. Her work is strategic, data-driven, and rooted in neuroscience, ensuring her clients move beyond theory to experience transformation.Brandy earned her JD from Harvard Law School, her BA from UC Berkeley, and her coaching certification from UC Davis. She holds the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) designation from the International Coaching Federation.

Session A

Claiming Your Seat: Navigating Success As a Woman in Male-Dominated Fields

The challenge of "claiming your seat at the table" is amplified for women and women of color, particularly those from first-generation or minoritized backgrounds, as they navigate male-dominated industries. This session will provide practical strategies and a powerful framework for professional advancement while honoring one’s authentic identity. Using real-world case studies and examples centered on first-generation professionals and women of color, we will explore how to overcome imposter syndrome, leverage intersecting identities as a source of strength, and build impactful networks to foster career resilience and leadership.

• Speaker: Vanessa Rodriguez

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  Vanessa Rodriguez is a growth marketing leader dedicated to creating the support systems she once lacked. As a first-generation Mexican American woman and UCLA alumna (EMBA, '21), she navigated the male-dominated fields of tech and biotech without guidance. This journey of self-determination fuels her passion for mentorship and giving back. Vanessa currently serves as the Co-Marketing Chair on the board of the UCLA Latino Alumni Association, where she connects students with vital career opportunities, networking, and mentorship. She is a Senior Director of Growth Marketing at JFrog and is committed to ensuring the next generation of professionals has a clear path to leadership.

Session B

Designing Your Pivot with AI: Aligning Identity and Opportunity

AI is breaking down the traditional gatekeepers of career change—and opening up new, empowering possibilities. In this session, Matt Tague, Executive Career Coach, will show you how to harness AI to explore new industries, build skills, and expand your network in ways that align with your unique identity and values. Designed for recent graduates, rising professionals, and those navigating a career pivot or transition, this session also offers valuable insights for established professionals curious about how AI can support more authentic career shifts. You'll walk away with practical tools to design a pivot that feels both genuine and achievable.

• Speaker: Matt Tague 

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   Matt Tague (UC San Diego ’99) is an executive career and interview coach, HR tech advisor, and founder of Talent Sherpas, where he helps leaders and teams reach their next professional summit. A certified executive coach and former talent leader at LinkedIn, Microsoft, Lyft, and Hillspire, Matt has spent his career at the intersection of people, data, and technology. He’s passionate about creating inclusive, purpose-driven workplaces and guiding professionals to align their identities with meaningful careers. Today, he advises organizations and HR tech innovators on human-AI collaboration, leadership development, and the evolving future of work.

Session C

From Careers to Talented Lives: Redesigning Work, Purpose, and Identity in a Disrupted World

Traditional career ladders are collapsing, along with the identities once built around titles, credentials, and organizations. In their place, professionals are awakening to a new paradigm—one that emphasizes designing lives of purpose, mastery, and mobility amid disruption. In this session, Ahmad Mansur, speaker and thought leader, introduces participants to the concept of the Pathfinder’s Journey and the Talented Life Design™ framework, a practical system for aligning personal and cultural identity with career satisfaction, adaptability, mastery, and future readiness. Through interactive storytelling, reflection exercises, and real-world examples, attendees will explore how to move beyond career as a “script” into career as a “design”—integrating who they are with the work they choose to do.

• Speaker: Ahmad Mansur

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  Ahmad Mansur is an executive educator, keynote speaker, and founder of Futurepoint, a global learning and innovation company. With two decades of leadership experience, he advises corporate, government, and higher education leaders on the future of work, talent, and the economy. An instructor in the UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education Executive Leadership Program, Ahmad was invited to speak to the U.S. Congress on jobs and the economy and co-paneled sessions with Governor Newsom and former US Energy Secretary Granholm on the future of work. He holds master’s degrees in strategic leadership from St. Mary’s College, School of Business, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Adult Learning and Development from San Francisco State University and graduate certificate in Adaptive Leadership from Harvard Kennedy School, Center for Public Leadership.

Session A

From UC to What's Next: Career and Graduate School for Disabled Alumni

Ryan Manriquez demystifies the job and graduate school application process for recent UC graduates and early-career alumni with disabilities, including those navigating career transitions. Attendees will gain practical, step-by-step guidance on when and how to disclose a disability, request accommodations, leverage assistive technology and benefits, and build supportive networks. This interactive session combines mini-talks, scripts, peer practice, and Q&A to equip participants with a concrete action plan for successfully landing a job or gaining admission to graduate school.

• Speaker: Ryan Manriquez
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  Ryan Manriquez (he/they) is a graduate of UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy (MPP) and a proud UC Davis alum, where they earned B.A.s in Political Science and Communication after transferring from Folsom Lake College. Ryan made history as the first Disabled and transfer student to serve as the Associated Students of UC Davis (ASUCD) President, leading a multimillion-dollar student government and 1,000+ student staff. They later served as President of the UC Graduate & Professional Council, representing 64,000 students systemwide and engaging UC leaders and policymakers on equity, affordability, and access. Across these roles, Ryan’s work centered disability justice, coalition-building, and inclusive policies—advancing practical solutions that expanded opportunity for underrepresented communities.

Session B

Impactful Communication: How to Influence and Deliver a Confident, Effective Message Without Jeopardizing Your Authenticity

In Impactful Communication, Ricky Koo explores how both verbal and non-verbal communication can shape trust, influence, and outcomes. Drawing on his background in Psychology, corporate leadership, and executive coaching, Ricky helps participants build awareness of how their presence, tone, and delivery shape the impact of their message. This session is designed for professionals of all levels seeking to communicate authentically and confidently in ways that align with their unique style—without relying on scripts or “corporate speak.” Through real-world examples and experience, participants learn practical strategies to ensure their message truly lands. 
 

• Speaker: Ricky Koo
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  Ricky Koo is a seasoned corporate executive, bold entrepreneur, and a passionate speaker and writer. He has a background in Psychology from UCLA and started his career as a CPA before becoming a finance leader at numerous Fortune 500 companies across banking, consulting, and technology industries. Further, he leveraged his experience as a minority finding his way to becoming an executive in the corporate world and ultimately built a successful business as a certified leadership & communication coach. As a coach, his unique style shines through as he blends science and real-world experiences to empower people to be more confident and seen in their life/careers, all while being their authentic selves.

Session C

Making Your Mark: UC Alumni on Standing Out in Competitive Careers

Hear from UC alumni who’ve carved out career paths and found success in their fields. In this panel, they’ll share real-world insights, practical tips, and personal stories about what helped them stand out—on paper and in person. The session will conclude with an open networking opportunity—your chance to connect directly with panelists and fellow attendees to continue the conversation, ask questions, and build your professional network.