Details

The Annenberg Leadership Forum is an integral part of Harvey Mudd College’s commitment to encouraging students to lead with integrity. Endowed through a generous gift from The Walter and Leonore Annenberg Fund for Leadership Development, this series features accomplished, world-class leaders in their fields of endeavor who address pertinent leadership issues and share their insights with the HMC community.

Noon–1 p.m., Lunch and Learn– “Demystifying Venture: Funding, Growth and Leadership,” presented by the Harvey Mudd College Annenberg Fellows

Joseph B. Platt Campus Center, Green Room

How do early stage ideas transform into venture-backed success stories? Join us for an interactive session hosted by the HMC Annenberg Fellows that serves as the capstone to their six-week Venture Fluency for Emerging Founders seminar. Over lunch, the fellows will unpack key insights on funding strategies and modern founder leadership. Bring your questions and walk away with real-world takeaways.

5–6 p.m. Meet the Experts Reception

Shanahan Center, Caryll Mudd and Norman F. Sprague Jr. Courtyard

Join us for a casual networking event with three industry leaders in venture capital, private equity and global asset management. Whether you are curious about breaking into tech investing, building your own startup or understanding how capital fuels modern innovation, this event is for you. Enjoy appetizers and refreshments while networking with these prominent industry leaders:

Heather Lord, Chief Innovation Officer, Capital Group
Kelly Graziadei, General Partner, f7 Ventures and Perplexity Fund
Chris Lee, Senior Partner, FAA Investments

6–7 p.m., Panel Discussion with Heather Lord, Kelly Graziadei and Chris Lee; moderated by President Nembhard, “Capital and Character: Steering AI Toward Societal Impact”

Shanahan Center, Wayne ’73 and Julie Drinkward Recital Hall

In an era where artificial intelligence is driving rapid transformation across global markets, investment leaders are actively recalibrating how they deploy capital. We invite you to an engaging panel discussion bringing together distinguished leaders from venture capital, private equity and institutional asset management. The conversation will center on the critical confluence of technical innovation, social responsibility and fiduciary trust. Drawing inspiration from Harvey Mudd College’s foundational ethos of STEM for a Better World, this panel will investigate the essential contributions of technical problem-solvers in reshaping modern finance.