Tap into Your Trojan Network!
Our second annual Trojan Connects — USC’s global alumni networking week — is set for February 9-12, 2026! Join us for our worldwide slate of professional events, where Trojans come together to build meaningful professional connections, share expertise and explore the latest career trends.
This alumni-led series will feature programs focused on:
- Networking based upon professional interests and location
- Sharing strategies, tools and resources for professional growth
- Exploring career trends and hot topics impacting the workforce
Huge thanks to all who submitted event proposals for Trojans Connects 2025, we look forward to seeing some of these amazing events come to life!
2026 Schedule
This February, alumni around the world will host virtual and in-person events in three focus areas:
- Connection & Belonging – Help alumni build professional connections across the Trojan Network
- Industry Trends & Hot Topics – Discuss trends impacting your field or the workforce at large
- Career Development – Share strategies, tools, and resources for professional growth
Event registration will open Jan. 7., but check out the calendar below to start planning your schedule!
Join fellow Trojans on campus for a hands-on, career-focused Vision Board Workshop designed to help you visualize, clarify and map your next professional chapter.
Guided by an experienced facilitator, you’ll move through inspiring visioning exercises before creating a personalized board that brings your goals, values and aspirations into focus — all in a supportive Trojan community setting.
Admission: $35 (includes materials – boards, glue, scissors, some magazines, etc.)
Priya Rana Kapoor ’93, MFTH ’06
USC Alumni Association Board of Governors
Step into the next phase of your professional journey by learning what it takes to evolve into a manager in today’s global workplace. Join fellow Trojans for a panel discussion focused on career evolution, leadership development, and managing diverse international teams across borders and cultures.
Admission: £5 (includes entry, light refreshments and appetizers) | £10 walk-up at the door
Join USC Viterbi for an exclusive networking event at Advanced Manufacturing Company of America’s new El Segundo facility. This targeted mixer offers Trojans a high-value opportunity to connect with peers in aerospace, manufacturing and general engineering while exploring a state-of-the-art industry space.
Admission: $35 (includes entry, light refreshments and appetizers)
Be part of a panel discussion and networking event designed to showcase the diverse career paths USC alumni have taken beyond their original fields of study or career path. Through candid conversations and connection-building, attendees will discover how transferable skills, curiosity, and community can shape fulfilling careers across industries.
Admission: $35 (includes entry, light refreshments and appetizers)
Barbara Brown
Michael Nunez
Monica Wapnick
Bryanna Wallace
Fear has become a powerful force in our workplaces, communities, and daily lives — shaping how we lead, connect, and show up for one another. Join Kristen Kavanaugh (MSW ’12), Marine Corps veteran and former Head of DEI at Tesla, for a candid conversation on choosing courage over fear and leading with authenticity, compassion, and conviction when it matters most.
Admission: $35 (includes entry, drink ticket and light bites)
Kristen Kavanaugh MSQ ’12,
Bestselling Author, Courage Over Fear
Join fellow Houston Trojans for a hands-on AI workshop that transforms six months of fellowship insights into practical skills you can use immediately. Master prompt engineering, create stunning visuals, build apps without code and explore ethical AI implementation through interactive demonstrations. Begin the evening with structured networking over food/drinks, connecting with AI-forward professionals across industries.
Ian V. Chestnut ’00
President/CEO, IVC Productions, LLC
Explore the rise of vertical microdramas and their impact on the entertainment industry. The discussion will cover how this mobile-first format is reshaping audience engagement, production workflows, and revenue models, while also offering insights on breaking into this emerging field at any career level.
Admission: $35
Join fellow Trojan alumni in Egypt for a casual dinner gathering in Downtown Cairo as we continue to grow our local Trojan community. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural Trojan Connects virtual meet-up and an in-person dinner this past April, this event brings Trojans together for an even larger and more connected gathering.
Admission: Free (food and beverages not included)
Warm up this winter with meaningful conversations and purposeful connections at Choose Your Adventure 2.0: Chicago Grit × New Beginnings. Building on the success of last year’s gathering, this interactive Trojan Connects event invites Chicago-area alumni to actively shape their experience through guided conversations focused on personal growth, resilience, well-being, and what matters most to you.
Admission: $35 (includes entry, light bites, and non-alcoholic drinks)
Join fellow members of the Trojan Family in New Jersey for an evening of networking and connection in a relaxed, local setting. This gathering brings Trojans together outside the big cities, creating space to meet, share stories and strengthen community across Central New Jersey and the surrounding areas.
Admission: $35
Come together with fellow Trojans from the DFW area for a casual mix-and-mingle networking evening designed to help local alumni build professional and social connections across the Trojan Family. This event welcomes alumni at all stages of their careers — whether early, mid, late, or even retired — and builds on the networking success of last year’s gathering.
Admission: $35 (includes entry, appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks)
Join fellow Trojan alumni in education for an engaging, in-person career and networking event exploring the trends shaping today’s K–12 landscape. Featuring a panel of distinguished Trojan superintendents moderated by Dean Pedro Noguera, this conversation offers valuable insights, meaningful connections, and the opportunity to strengthen your professional network within the Trojan education community.
Admission: $30 (includes entry, appetizers, drinks and parking)
Darin Brawley, EdD ’17
Superintendent, Compton Unified School District
Patricia Brent-Sanco, EdD ’16
Director of Equity, Access, & Instructional Services, Lynwood Unified School District
Vivian Ekchian, EdD ’19
Superintendent Emeritus, Glendale Unified School District
Monica Oviedo, EdD ’04
Superintendent, Whittier Union High School District
Wesley Smith, EdD ’05
Superintendent, Newport Mesa Unified School District
Planning for retirement can feel overwhelming — from deciding when to retire to understanding income streams, Social Security, taxes, healthcare and long-term care. Join fellow Trojans for an educational and interactive evening designed to help you gain clarity and confidence around the decisions that shape a secure and fulfilling retirement.
Admission: $35 (includes food and beverages)
Desmond Daly MBA
Board Member USC Marshall of Orange County
Annie Bin Luo CPA
Christopher Langley JD
Geoff Stauffer JD, MBA, CPA
Jen Wagoner
Calling all Trojans in finance! Join the Trojan Family for an unforgettable evening in Downtown Los Angeles, featuring an exclusive, private after-hours tour of The Broad Museum, followed by a premium open bar and networking reception at Vespaio. Enjoy rare access to The Broad’s permanent collection, the Robert Therrien exhibition and Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room, then continue the evening connecting with Trojans from across LA’s finance community in a relaxed, intimate setting.
Admission: $90 (includes tour of the Broad Museum, two-hour premium open bar at Vespaio restaurant)
This premium alumni event brings together USC’s brightest minds to network and discuss career evolution during the AI revolution. This lively conversation will focus on career reinvention, AI-enabled skills and entrepreneurship strategies for tomorrow’s workplace.
Admission: $35 (includes entry, appetizers and drinks)
This event will convene Trojan professionals across industries to explore the most pressing trends and transformations shaping the modern workforce, especially as it relates to the rising prevalence in AI and navigation of career success in a remote or hybrid work role.
Admission: $35 (includes entry, light bites, and drinks)
Adam Crespi
Senior Manager and Staff Technical
Artist, Capgemini
Dr. Dayna Provitt
Senior Manager – Human Capital, Deloitte Consulting
Join fellow Trojans in entrepreneurship, startups and investing for an energizing evening of connection and conversation at Vatom House in Venice. Hosted by the USC Alumni Entrepreneurs Network, this gathering brings together founders, operators and investors who are shaping new ventures and fueling innovation across industries.
Admission: $35 (includes entry, light bites, and drinks)
Details: Join us for an interactive workshop on mindful leadership. Designed for USC alumni navigating high-pressure careers, this interactive session combines mindfulness, breath work and conversation to explore how presence, rest, and self-awareness can strengthen leadership and counteract the “must do twice as much” mentality and burnout.
Admission: $35
Connect with fellow Trojans in Indonesia at AUSCI’s inaugural Trojan Connects event. This gathering brings together alumni across career stages in Jakarta for meaningful conversation, shared insight and the opportunity to strengthen professional connections within the Trojan Family.
Admission: TBD
Join fellow Colorado Trojans for an evening of shared dinner, meaningful conversation and new connections as we come together to strengthen our local Trojan Family. Led by members of our Colorado Regional Network, this event is designed to bring USC alumni and friends together in a relaxed setting to build relationships that extend beyond the evening — fostering community, collaboration and lasting connections across the region.
Admission: $35 (includes entry and two drink tickets for beer or wine)
Join fellow Trojans for a candid, forward-looking conversation at the intersection of music, business, and technology. This program brings together leading creatives and industry executives to explore the business and legal realities shaping today’s music landscape. The panel discussion will be followed by a networking mixer.
Admission: $35 (includes entry and light bites)
AI is here to stay, so how will it affect us as clinicians caring for our patients? Hear from our panel of experts who have harnessed the best of new advancements in healthcare for their own careers, and how we can consider using AI in practice moving forward.
Admission: $35 (includes entry and light refreshments)
Jason Lebowitz PharmD, MSHS
Senior Medical Science Liason, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Natalie Park, PharmD
CEO, Pharmesol
Join a curated gathering of USC alumni operating across every aisle of the technology ecosystem—founders and builders, engineers at scale, investors, operators, and acquisition leaders. This isn’t siloed networking. It’s a live conversation spanning startups to enterprise, capital to code, and entertainment to infrastructure.
Admission: $35
The Trojan Family is more than a motto — it’s a lifelong advantage. Join a conversation with two accomplished USC Annenberg alumni, who will share firsthand insights and practical advice on how to make the most of USC’s lifelong and worldwide alumni network.
Admission: Free (please RSVP to secure your spot)
Pilaar Terry ’02
Managing Partner, POV Agency
Priya Rana Kapoor ’03
Chief Marketing Officer, Optiv Security
Join fellow Trojans for a dynamic conversation exploring the worlds of beauty and fashion. This panel discussion will bring together professionals who work across the industry to share insights, firsthand experience, and the trends shaping today’s fashion and beauty landscape.
Admission: Free (please RSVP to secure your spot)
As AI becomes a cornerstone tool in every industry, your career trajectory will depend less on what you know and more on how strategically you use AI. Join fellow Trojans for a session that explores the real-world implications of AI adoption, highlighting why upskilling is essential to staying competitive and advancing your career.
Admission: Free (please RSVP to secure your spot)
Christina Hepburn
CEO and Founder, The Everyday AI Coach
Looking to advance your career or explore your next professional move? On Feb. 10, join the USC Marshall and USC Leventhal Alumni Association for Career Office Hours: Trojan-to-Trojan Career Advice, a virtual evening of one-on-one career conversations designed exclusively for our alumni community.
Admission: Free (please RSVP to secure your spot)
Join the USC Half Century Trojans for a thoughtful conversation exploring what it truly means to move into the next chapter of life with purpose and intention. This program will explore the idea of renewment (retirement + renewal), offering perspective, insight and inspiration regardless of where you are in your retirement journey.
Admission: Free (please RSVP to secure your spot)
Janette Brown
Retired Assistant Vice Provost, USC Emeriti Center
Retired Adjunct Professor, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
USC Certified Coach
Hellen Dennis
Co-founder, Renewment
Former Lecturer and Project Director, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
Former Consultant, USC Emeriti Center
Patricia Vick
Immediate Past President, USC Half Century Trojans
This seminar will feature dynamic discussion among executive leaders on how to transform challenge into opportunity — sharpening judgment, emotional intelligence, and strategic resilience in times of change. Come network, exchange insights, and strengthen your Trojan ties while gaining actionable principles for leadership in today’s fast-evolving landscape.
Admission: Free (please RSVP to secure your spot)
Zoraya Oliver-Griffin
Chief Climate Resiliency and Emergency Management Officer, LADWP
Joseph Ramallo
Chief Customer Officer and Senior Assistant General Manager – Communications and Community Affairs, LADWP
Dr. Adrian J. Donato ’06
Donato Consulting Services
Madeline Mann, MS ’15, creator of Self Made Millennial, is here to help you build real career momentum! Join fellow Trojans for a dynamic session featuring insider guidance from an award-winning career expert, practical strategies to accelerate your job search and the opportunity to ask your questions live.
Admission: Free (please RSVP to secure your spot)
Madeline Mann MS ’15
Human Resources Leader and Career Strategist;
Author. Reverse the Search: How to Turn Job Seeking into Job Shopping
Jorge Barraza
Associate Professor of Psychology, USC Dornsife
Program Director, USC Master of Science in Applied Psychology
Join the USC Alumni Real Estate Network for a conversation with Elliot Lee, founder of Wildwood Search, to learn about strategies and tips on how to optimize yourself as a candidate and navigate your career in commercial real estate.
Admission: Free (please RSVP to secure your spot)
Join us for an interactive conversation on how to negotiate successfully. A strategy-focused panel discussion designed to empower USC Trojans with the skills, tools, and confidence needed to effectively evaluate and navigate compensation conversations with your new or current employer and secure your financial future. Whether you’re considering a new offer, preparing for a performance review, or planning your next career move, this webinar will help you succeed in negotiating with confidence and professionalism.
Admission: Free (please RSVP to secure your spot)
Evan Pierce ’22
Vice President Head of People and Culture, Boston Celtics
Join us for a Trojan Connects panel featuring Keck School of Medicine alumni who have transformed their medical training into bold, nontraditional careers in innovation, policy, entrepreneurship, public health, and more. This conversation is designed to help early-career MDs and trainees explore pathways, skillsets, and opportunities to expand their impact beyond clinical care.
Admission: Free (please RSVP to secure your spot)
Ava Avalos MD ’00
HIV specialist and Technical Adviser, Botswana’s Health Ministry
Philip Bretsky MD PhD ’05
Private Practice / Hospital Attending Physician at Santa Monica Primary Care
Anurag Jindal MD ’02
Senior Managing Director in Investment Banking, Leerink Partners
Alexander Klonoff MD ’13
Senior Lead Reviewer for Diagnostic Devices within Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration
Linda Mirdamadi MD ’94
President, Salerni Collegium Alumni Association, Keck School of Medicine of USC
The Trojan Family spans more than half a million alumni living in 135 countries around the world. Join fellow Trojans for a conversation with American alumni who took their careers and lives abroad and are now thriving overseas. This panel offers insight, inspiration and practical perspective for anyone curious about living and working beyond the U.S.
Admission: Free (please RSVP to secure your spot)
Craig Carlson MA ’92
Founder, Breakfast in America (Paris)
Barbara Estrada ’17
Senior Global Marketing Manager, MassiveMusic (Munich)
Yasmeen Serhan ’16
Digital Features Editor, Reuters (London)
Join Liz Steblay, author of 𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳, for a practical, no-nonsense webinar on building a healthy, profitable solo business. Drawing on 20+ years of experience, Liz shares proven strategies to overcome mindset barriers, charge your worth and structure your business to maximize income and long-term success.
Admission: Free (please RSVP to secure your spot)
Liz Steblay ’86, MBA ’95
Entrepreneur/Author
Many mid-career professionals reach a point where their work no longer aligns with who they are becoming. Join fellow alumni for an interactive session designed to help you gain clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of direction as you explore what’s next in your career. Through guided reflection, engaging conversation, and practical strategies, this session provides an opportunity to pause, reassess and connect with peers navigating similar transitions.
Admission: Free (please RSVP to secure your spot)
Janice Son ’15
Join us for a Trojan Connects panel featuring India-based alumni who will share insights on careers in industry, startups and consulting. This session offers a unique opportunity to learn about the dynamic Indian market and explore pathways for professional growth.
Admission: Free (please RSVP to secure your spot)
Srinivas Chinamilli
Co-Founder and CEO, Tessolve Semiconductor Pvt. Ltd
Nitin Sharma
General Partner/Co-Founder, Antler India
Viral Thakkar
Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer, Credibl
Jigar Shah
Principal Consultant, Yardi Systems Inc.
Past Events
Special thanks to all of our alumni organizers who offered in-person and virtual events to help Trojans around the world build their networks and learn from one another. From networking events to panel discussions, Trojans around the world made the most of networking week!
Below are a few recordings from our virtual sessions, check them out!
Leveraging Emotional Intelligence for Career Success
Discovering and Applying Your Core Values for Career Success
USC Trojan Sustainability Network Career Panel
How to Build Success in Commercial Real Estate
Mastering Early Stage Ventures Fundamentals
For more event recordings, visit our Youtube page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can be an event organizer?
What are the event requirements?
Can I submit a virtual event?
Where can in-person events take place?
I want to organize a Trojan Connect but I am not sure how to start?
What are my key responsibilities as an event organizer?
All event proposals are due on Monday, November 3, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Below is the event organizer timeline you can expect. For more information, view our Organizer Guide.
