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Ascend at UCLA

Ascend at UCLA is a professional leadership organization at UCLA and the 28th student chapter of Ascend. Membership signup: https://forms.gle/zpywiQBr7hDb5rJK8

Ascend is the premier non-profit professional association that enables its members, corporate partners and the community to realize the leadership potential of Pan-Asians in global corporations. Ascend reaches 20,000 people with 28 student chapters and 16 professional chapters located in both the U.S. and Canada around major business hubs and educational institutions. Ascend membership is open to individuals of all ethnic and business backgrounds.

04/12/2026

✨ RSVP NOW! Ascend at UCLA X Head of Capital Markets at Texas Capital; former Senior Managing Director at Guggenheim, Barclays, Citi, Lehman & Natixis Fireside Chat ✨

We are incredibly honored to welcome Mr. Robert Chen — Managing Director, Head of Capital Markets & Sponsor Coverage at Texas Capital; former Senior Managing Director at Guggenheim Securities, and longtime leader across Barclays, Citi, Lehman Brothers, and Natixis — for a special fireside chat hosted by Ascend at UCLA 🤍 Ascend at UCLA

With over 30 years of experience across global capital markets, Mr. Chen has built an exceptional career at the forefront of leveraged finance, private capital, loan syndications, and equity capital markets. He has led complex transactions and advised leading corporations and financial sponsors across industries including TMT, energy & power, consumer & retail, telecom, and financial institutions — shaping how capital is raised and deployed at scale. 📊💼

At Texas Capital, Mr. Chen oversees all capital markets origination businesses, including Leveraged Finance, Private Capital Advisory, Loan Syndications, Equity Capital Markets, and Financial Sponsor Coverage, playing a central role in driving the firm’s growth and strategic positioning. Prior to this, he served as Senior Managing Director at Guggenheim Securities, and held senior leadership roles at Barclays Capital, Citigroup Global Markets, Lehman Brothers, and Natixis CIB Americas — bringing deep expertise across market cycles and institutional platforms. 🌍📈

Throughout his career, Mr. Chen has worked closely with private equity sponsors and corporate leaders to navigate complex market environments, structure capital solutions, and execute transactions across cycles — offering a rare perspective on how strategy, markets, and relationships intersect in finance. 🤝

A proud Bruin, Mr. Chen earned his B.A. in Economics from UCLA. 💙🐻

📅 Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 ⏰ Time: 6:30–8:00 PM PT / 9:30–11:00 PM ET 📍 Location: Zoom
🎤 Host: Wendy Chong, President of Ascend at UCLA Wendy Chong  🔗 RSVP: bit.ly/ascend415 or link in bio

01/15/2026

✨ RSVP NOW! Ascend at UCLA X ex-Global CEO of Deloitte Consulting Fireside Chat ✨

We are incredibly honored to welcome Mr. Jim Moffatt — Former Global CEO & Vice Chair of Deloitte Consulting , Senior Advisor to KKR, and Corporate Board Director of First Hawaiian Bank & Optiv — for a special fireside chat hosted by Ascend at UCLA 🤍

With 35+ years of global leadership across consulting, enterprise technology, strategy, and organizational transformation, Jim has advised Fortune 500 CEOs and guided organizations through disruption, scale, and innovation. As Global CEO and U.S. Chairman of Deloitte Consulting, he led major investments in digital solutions, alliances, talent, and global markets — scaling the business to nearly $15B in revenue and making Deloitte Consulting the fastest-growing and most profitable division of Deloitte worldwide 🌍📈 He also helped launch Deloitte’s pro bono program recognized by the White House for its societal impact.

Today, Jim serves on the Boards of First Hawaiian Inc. (NASDAQ: FHB), Optiv, Avalara, Henry Schein One, Icertis, and others, while advising high-growth and PE-backed companies as a Senior Advisor to KKR. He also serves as Vice Chair of the UCLA Anderson Board of Advisors and Chair of the UCLA Chancellor’s Cabinet Council, and previously served as Trustee & Corporate Council Chair of the American Film Institute 🤝🚀

Jim has spoken at the World Economic Forum, Milken Institute Global Conference, Detroit Economic Club, Oracle OpenWorld, MIT Media Lab, and leading business schools including UCLA Anderson, Harvard, Wharton, and Darden — engaging audiences across business, academia, and policy 🎤🌐

A proud Bruin, Jim earned his MBA from UCLA Anderson and his B.A. from UC San Diego, and was named one of UCLA Anderson’s “100 Inspirational Alumni” 💙🐻

📅 Date: Wed, Feb 18, 2026 ⏰ Time: 7:00–8:15 PM PT 📍 Zoom 🎤 Host: Wendy Chong, President of Ascend at UCLA
🔗 RSVP: bit.ly/218ascend or link in bio

01/13/2026

✨ RSVP NOW! Ascend at UCLA x Board Director & ex-Barclays & Morgan Stanley Managing Director Fireside Chat ✨

We are incredibly honored to welcome Ms. Ann Callison — Board Director and former Managing Director at Morgan Stanley & Barclays — for a special fireside chat hosted by Ascend at UCLA 🤍

With 30 years of experience across the US and UK financial services sector, Ann has led major transformation efforts across technology, operations, regulation, and culture. At Barclays in London, she served as Head of Strategic Change, overseeing £2.2Bn in strategic investment impacting 20,000+ colleagues, and Head of Corporate Banking Operations, leading a global team of 2,000+ people. Prior to that, she spent nineteen years at Morgan Stanley in New York and London across Technology, Operations, Risk, Regulatory, and Firm Management, driving enterprise-wide transformation initiatives 🌍🏛️

Ann also brings a deeply human approach to leadership and life transitions. She received her B.S. in Biology from UCLA and her MBA from NYU Stern, serves on the Board of the Business Council for Peace, and sits on UCLA’s Undergraduate Advisory Board. Beyond finance, she is a certified yoga, somatic movement, and meditation teacher with 35 years of contemplative practice rooted in Buddhist and embodied traditions 🧘‍♀️🌿

Hosted by Wendy Chong, President of Ascend at UCLA, this fireside chat will be an open, candid conversation on Ann’s global journey, lessons from leading through complexity, and how students can cultivate resilience, self-awareness, and purpose as they navigate careers and life ✨

📅 Date: Monday, February 2, 2026 ⏰ Time: 7:00–8:15 PM PT 📍 Location: Zoom 🔗 RSVP: bit.ly/ascendfeb2 or link in bio 😁🎉

We are deeply grateful to Ann for her generosity and commitment to empowering the next generation. This is a rare opportunity to learn from a leader who has navigated institutions, cultures, and transitions with both excellence and humanity.
Hope to see you there! 🤍

12/28/2025

✨ RSVP NOW! Ascend at UCLA X Google AI Global Head Fireside Chat ✨

We are incredibly honored to welcome Mr. Sharad Aggarwal, Global Head of Strategy, Partnerships & AI Solutions at Google Cloud, AI evangelist, and UCLA Anderson Alumni Board Director, for a special fireside chat hosted by Ascend at UCLA.🌸

With over 25 years of experience across Big Tech, including senior leadership roles at Google and IBM, Sharad has spent his career operating at the intersection of enterprise strategy, AI transformation, and global partnerships. At Google Cloud, he leads strategy and high-impact alliances across a $1B+ global portfolio, helping organizations harness cloud, AI, and automation responsibly and at scale. His work includes negotiating complex, multi-million-dollar deals that form the backbone of modern enterprise growth and innovation.👨‍💻🌐

Sharad is also deeply committed to mentorship and community building. As an Executive MBA graduate of UCLA Anderson and a member of the UCLA Anderson Alumni Board of Directors, he actively gives back to UCLA—advising student organizations, mentoring future leaders, and helping shape conversations around leadership, ethics, and decision-making in the Age of AI.🤖

Hosted by Wendy Chong, President of Ascend at UCLA, this fireside chat will be an open, candid conversation on Sharad’s career journey, lessons from leading at global scale, and how students can develop a strategic mindset to navigate careers in technology, consulting, business, and beyond.🧑‍💼👨‍💼📊👔

📅 Date: Monday, January 19, 2026 ⏰ Time: 7:00–8:15 PM PT 📍 Location: Zoom
🔗 RSVP: bit.ly/ascendgoogle or link in bio😁🎉 
We are deeply grateful to Sharad for his generosity and commitment to empowering the next generation. This is a rare opportunity to learn directly from a leader shaping the future of enterprise and AI. Hope to see you there!☺️

11/20/2025

Excel Data Analysis Workshop ✨📊

Our 25–26 Ascend Fellows wrapped up their 4th and final training of the quarter with an engaging and high-impact Excel Workshop led by Professor David Ravetch from UCLA Anderson School of Management. 🤩

Professor Ravetch is one of UCLA’s most respected and well-loved instructors, with over 40 years of teaching experience. He has supported Ascend for over six years, and we’re incredibly fortunate to learn from his expertise and generosity. 💙🌟

Tonight’s session brought Excel to life — transforming data analysis from a technical skill into a powerful storytelling tool. 📈🥳

Fellows learned essential functions and workflows used across business and finance, including: 🔢
 • Data cleaning essentials
• Using SEQUENCE, COUNT, COUNTIF, and dynamic arrays
• Building clean and effective histograms
• Creating clear labels and structured ranges
• Best practices for analytical clarity and communication
 The workshop transformed Excel from a spreadsheet tool into a powerful way to think, analyze, and tell compelling stories with data. 😎

Professor Ravetch also shared wisdom from decades of teaching: the importance of curiosity, foundational thinking, thoughtful problem-solving, and preserving genuine human connection in an increasingly digital world. His humor, warmth, and energy made the workshop both inspiring and unforgettable. 🌱💬

We’re incredibly proud of our Fellows for their enthusiasm and growth, and deeply appreciative of Professor Ravetch for closing out the quarter with such impact and inspiration. 🚀🙌

Here’s to more learning, growth, and leadership ahead! 🐻

11/09/2025

Teamwork in action at Ascend’s 2025 IAG Conference ! 🌟 This past Saturday, Ascend UCLA student volunteers, Don (Chair of Professional Development), Audrey and Joelle (Fellows ‘25-26) helped everything run smoothly from start to finish—greeting guests, supporting panels, and creating new connections. Grateful to be part of a community that’s all about growing, connecting, and leading for the future! 💼✨

11/07/2025

Investment Banking 101 🚀

Our 25–26 Ascend Fellows just completed their 3rd Training of the quarter, featuring an insight-packed deep dive led by Lucy Lu, our Chair of Student Relations and an incoming Investment Banking Summer Analyst (2026) at a top Bulge Bracket Bank. 🤩

From breaking down what investment banking actually is — roles, responsibilities, and team structures — to decoding recruiting timelines, technical fundamentals, and interview prep, Fellows gained a clear, behind-the-scenes understanding of one of the most competitive industries in business. 💼📊

Lucy also shared invaluable insider tips on building technical readiness early, strengthening behavioral stories, and navigating the evolving recruiting landscape. Fellows walked away with actionable insights, renewed confidence, and a stronger roadmap for pursuing finance careers. 🌍📈
We’re incredibly proud of the engagement and curiosity shown in today’s training, and deeply grateful for Lucy’s generous guidance. 💙

Looking forward to what’s next! 🐻

10/24/2025

McKinsey x Ascend UCLA — Fall 2025 Casing Workshop (2nd Fellowship Training) 💼✨

What an incredible night with ! 🤩 Our Fellows had the honor and opportunity to learn directly from Business Analyst Claire Keller, with special thanks to Senior Recruiter Stephanie Palencia and Senior Business Analyst Vedant Madan for making this session possible. 🙌

As our 2nd Fellowship Training of Fall 2025, the workshop guided Fellows through a full profitability case — covering framework building, structuring, and brainstorming techniques, along with hands-on practice in calculations, graph interpretation, and clear communication of insights. 📊🧠

We also explored behavioral and technical interview prep, learning how to stay organized, take effective notes, and think creatively under pressure. ✍️💡 
Our deepest gratitude to the McKinsey team for their time, warmth, and mentorship. 💙  Our Fellows left feeling inspired, confident, and ready to take on their next case challenge! 🚀 

10/12/2025

Kicking off the year strong! 🚀
 Our 25–26 Ascend Fellows just completed their 1st Training: Resume & Networking, led by President Wendy Chong, Chair of Professional Development Don Dao, and Senior Advisor Jennifer Lee at Rolfe Hall. 🤩

From crafting standout resumes to mastering professional networking, Fellows gained valuable career development insights — learning how to stay updated with market trends, emerging industries, and evolving recruiting expectations. 🌍📈

We’re proud to see our Fellows take their first step toward building lifelong skills, meaningful connections, and leadership excellence.

Here’s to a year of continuous learning, collaboration, and growth! 💼🐻

10/12/2025

🎉🥁Meet Ascend UCLA’s 25–26 Fellows! 🌸🌱

We’re thrilled to introduce our new Ascend Fellows: 19 sharp, curious, and endlessly fun Bruins ready to take on the year 💼🤩

Jonathan Nguyen — Econ ’26 | San Jose, CA Smiski collector who’s braved one of the tallest waterslides in the world 🌊

Joelle Ngai — Bio & Econ ’28 | Hong Kong SAR Tennis + running lover who also speaks German 🇩🇪

Andrew Guan — Biz Econ ’29 | Shanghai, China Basketball + poker fan with 15K+ Clash Royale trophies 🏆

Desiree Yang — Poli Sci & Econ ’26 | Beijing, China Plays the Guzheng and loves documentaries 🎬

Mathew Pham — Math/Econ ’28 | Fountain Valley, CA Sports enthusiast who can touch the rim 🏀

Bhavik Ahuja — Biz Econ ’28 | Delhi, India Chess + cricket fan who’s played 100K+ chess games ♟️

Ethan Yu — Public Affairs ’29 | Palos Verdes, CA Basketball fan with a legendary Cheez-Its addiction 🧀

Cissy Huo — Math/Econ ’29 | Beijing, China Badminton + dance lover who never eats bubble tea pearls 🧋

Pei (Alson) Lyu — Biz Econ ’29 | Tianjin, China Ice hockey + billiards player who’s never watched a horror movie 👻

Steven Wang — Biz Econ ’29 | Vancouver, Canada Left-handed, color-blind squash competitor 🎾

Audrey Lee — Biz Econ ’28 | Taipei, Taiwan Licensed diver who loves watercolor + concerts 🌊🎨

Christopher Jorgensen — Econ ’27 | Menlo Park, CA Researcher, mentor, and golfer who’s lived all over the Bay ⛳️

Angela Jiang — Data Theory ’29 | Beijing, China Half-marathon runner who once watched 28 One Piece eps in a day 🪲

Tiffany Wang — Biz Econ ’29 | Suzhou, China Artist + traveler who published a children’s painting book 🎨📖

Brian Pham — Global Studies ’26 | Orange County, CA
Music + travel lover who studied abroad in Singapore 🌏

Preston Fan — Econ ’26 | Arcadia, CA Hiker and foodie always up for a new adventure 🌄

Ryan Wu — Math/Econ ’29 | Shanghai, China Basketball + pool lover who builds Minecraft worlds 🌿

Michael Yip — Data Science MS | Hong Kong SAR Big fan of naps — balance matters 😴

Vince Le — Biz Econ ’27 | Alhambra, CA Portland-born boulderer, thrifter, and museum explorer 🧗‍♂️

09/18/2025

🚀 Ascend at UCLA Fall ’25 Info Session 🚀
 Curious about the Ascend Fellowship Program? Join us to learn about applications, program details, and meet our team!

🎙️ Alumni Sharing:
* Akshat Mittal (‘24) – Investment Banking Analyst, J.P. Morgan
* Gabriella Zhao (‘25) – Investment Banking Summer Analyst, Goldman Sachs
* Emon Ren (‘26) – Senior Advisor, internships at Huatai Securities, EY, CCB

📅 Sept 25 (THU) | 8–9 PM PT | Zoom 🔗 RSVP: bit.ly/ascend26info

🌟 We’re also proud to introduce our 25–26 Senior Advisors: Julia Li, Gabriella Zhao, and Emon Ren — whose guidance and experience continue to strengthen our Ascend community.

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