SoCalCIO

Please join me in welcoming Abhishek Uppal and George Hanna to SoCalCIO! 🎉 ⛳️ Abhi is CIO of Callaway Golf, one of the most iconic names in golf and the company behind industry-leading brands including Topgolf, TravisMathew, Odyssey, and OGIO. He's spent the last several years leading global technology strategy across this powerhouse portfolio. Today, he's focused on modernizing the company's technology infrastructure, accelerating its data and AI strategy, and strengthening cybersecurity for a brand trusted by golfers around the world. 🏀 George is CIO of Intuit Dome, the state-of-the-art home of the LA Clippers and one of the most technologically advanced sports and entertainment venues in the world. He oversees everything from frictionless commerce and biometric entry to the digital experiences that power every fan interaction. As AI rapidly transforms the threat landscape, George brings a builder's mindset and deep expertise in securing technology at an incredible scale. We're thrilled to welcome both of these innovative technology leaders to the SoCalCIO community. Looking forward to the conversations, perspectives, and leadership they'll bring. ⚡️

What does it take to secure and scale the future of music? 🎵 Universal Music Group drives digital innovation, builds next-generation fan and artist experiences, and protects creative assets on a global scale. SoCalCIO and SoCalCISO hosted a Signature Insider at UMG headquarters, where members explored global technology and security operations powering the future of music.

The most amazing thing happened this week. We had an incredible turnout at our SoCalCIO Inspiring Women breakfast, where I led a powerhouse panel featuring a rising star Natalie Salaiz-Padilla and a seasoned leader and ally Lynn Fyhrlund. We laughed, we talked serious business, and we created a safe space for important discussions. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, in that room contributed to the conversation. Only positivity and authenticity was present and I couldn't be happier and more proud of this event. We all left with a promise to do more... encourage more women to move into executive technology leadership roles, provide mentorship opportunities, and cheer each other on. Thank you Madi Taylor for helping to organize this event and for honoring me with the Inspiring Women Champion role.

Yesterday morning’s SoCalCIO Inspiring Women event was a reminder that the most meaningful conversations in leadership happen when people are willing to show up with honesty and vulnerability. Led by the incredible Dr. Denise - NeeCee Cornish Cornish, our panel and attendees — women in technology alongside male allies — tackled hard truths about leadership representation in tech, the barriers women continue to face. The discussion moved beyond statistics and into lived experience: Who opened a door for you? Who advocated for your name in a room you weren’t in? And how do we become that person for someone else? One of the most powerful parts of the morning was hearing leaders speak candidly about mentorship, flexibility, resilience, and the reality that no one builds a career alone. The openness across the room created the kind of dialogue that stays with you long after the event ends. Grateful to everyone who contributed their perspective, vulnerability, and encouragement to the conversation. This is how change happens — one honest conversation, one opened door, and one intentional ally at a time. As always, thank you to our SoCalCIO Underwriters Island, T-Mobile, Milestone Technologies, Inc. and Rimini Street for making events like this possible. #SoCalCIO #InspiringWomen #WomenInTechnology

Big news for Southern California's CIO communities! 🎉 We're thrilled to welcome two powerhouse technology leaders to our chapters: 👉 Thomas Phelps, CIO of Laserfiche and 2023 ORBIE Award winner, joins SoCalCIO. Thomas brings world-class expertise in AI-driven process automation, digital transformation, and scaling enterprise content management — plus the kind of strategic vision that earned him one of the industry's most prestigious honors. 👉 Mike Santos, CIO of Cooley LLP, joins SanDiegoCIO. Mike leads technology at one of the world's premier law firms serving the innovation economy, giving him a front-row seat to emerging tech, cybersecurity in high-stakes environments, and how IT fuels business growth at the intersection of legal, life sciences, and venture-backed industries. Welcome, Thomas and Mike! 🚀

💡 Last week, the SoCalCIO chapter did something we'd never done before — and it exceeded every expectation. Our first-ever Mastermind event brought our members together for something truly rare: real, unfiltered conversation. Members showed up with their challenges, their expertise, and a willingness to be vulnerable — and what came out of the room was something special. In an industry that never stops changing, the most powerful resource we have isn't a new tool or a trending framework. It's each other. The collective wisdom in that room reminded me why community matters more than ever in the IT landscape. To everyone who showed up, leaned in, and shared openly — thank you. Thank you as well to our Underwriters, Island, T-Mobile, Rimini Street, and Milestone Technologies, Inc. who make events like this possible for our chapter! And finally, thank you to Edmund Clark for hosting us at the CSU Chancellor office! #SoCalCIO #CIOCommunity #TechLeadership #Mastermind #ITLeadership #Community