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November 16, 2026 · 9:00 AM–4:15 PM · UC San Diego, La Jolla

Improving Innovation Performance: Unlocking Your Organization’s Full Potential

HYPE Circle Roundtable with UC San Diego 


Join innovation leaders from across industries for a day of practical insights, peer discussion, and new connections. Explore how organizations mobilize employees, navigate AI, and build the structures that turn innovation into measurable results.

Register Now Agenda Overview
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A day to rethink how innovation gets done

Step back from day-to-day demands and compare approaches with people tackling similar challenges.

Through presentations and roundtable discussions, you’ll explore what helps innovation move from ambition to action — and identify approaches you can apply in your own organization.

  • Improve structures and make decisions faster

    Explore the roles, processes, and governance approaches that support innovation, remove bottlenecks, and help teams make better decisions.

  • Learn from practical experience

    Hear from leaders who manage innovation every day — what has worked, the lessons they learned, and what they would do differently today.

  • Put AI into perspective

    Gain fresh perspectives on where AI can add real value to innovation, and where human judgment and experience remain essential.

  • Meet the speakers

    Hear perspectives from healthcare, aerospace, professional sports, technology, and innovation consulting. organizations join us for the day.

     
  • relaunch collection_ashley ghambir

    Ashley Gambhir

    Executive Director Transformation, UC San Diego Health

    Ashley Gambhir

    Executive Director Transformation, UC San Diego Health

    LinkedIn
  • relaunch collection_rex williams

    Rex Williams

    Innovation Integrator, Boeing

    Rex Williams

    Innovation Integrator, Boeing

    The biggest barrier to innovation is when employees feel they have to ask for permission. I help corporate employees start movements to drive change and show validity for their idea before bothering managment.

    I've been driving change using movements in my company for almost 30 years. As a seasoned professional I know what works and the new perspectives required. Grass-roots efforts follow a pattern and I demonstrate the possibilities for any emploee. Inside my company I started a podcast highlighting people who are making a difference without asking permission. I now enjoy speaking at other companies to spread my message.

    Innovation is too important to leave up to management. Every employee is an innovator. And when they start a movement, change is inevitable.

    LinkedIn
  • relaunch collection_dale ward

    Dale Ward

    Chief AI and Innovation Officer, Diné Development Corporation

    Dale Ward

    Chief AI and Innovation Officer, Diné Development Corporation

    Dale is a 30-year IT veteran and holds multiple industry certifications in Enterprise Data Management, Data Management Maturity and Cloud Architecture. He recently completed his MBA specializing in Innovation Strategy and Analytics. Dale is an enthusiastic data evangelist and innovator promoting data management discipline and adaptive architectures in an era of disruptive technologies. In addition to his role Executive Vice President of Innovation at Dine Development Corporation (DDC), Dale also serves as the senior Data Architect for DISA’s newly created Office of the Chief Data Officer (DISA OCDO). In this role Dale authored the recently published DISA Data Strategy Implementation Plan v1.0 which was signed out by the DISA CIO and CDO. Before joining DDC, Dale served as Lead Solutions Architect for the Air Force Chief Data Office’s VAULT Advanced Analytics Data Platform and co-authored the Air Force’s Data Services Reference Architecture v1.0 signed out by the Secretary of the Air Force in 2019.

     

    LinkedIn
  • relaunch collection_meaghan fors

    Meaghan Fors

    Senior Manager Innovation Strategy, Minnesota Vikings

    Meaghan Fors

    Senior Manager Innovation Strategy, Minnesota Vikings

    Some people see walls; I see all of the possibilities that wall holds.

    I'm an innovation and strategy leader that thrives at the messy intersection of creativity and complexity. For more than a decade, I've been building systems that help organizations grow, adapt, and unlock new opportunities. My passion is taking the abstract and making it tangible—helping teams find focus, scale ideas, and grow in new directions.

    I partner with senior executives to align strategy across product, technology, and marketing to deliver measurable growth and build future-ready systems. I've led the development of digital platform roadmaps, AI integration strategies, and global expansion plans, while embedding innovation and project management frameworks that scale through design thinking and change management.

    My leadership centers on turning vision into action—guiding leaders, leading cross-functional teams, shaping multi-year investments, and operationalizing transformation. I bring structure and momentum to teams and organizations facing big questions and changes.

    Beyond my role, I contribute to the broader innovation community as a speaker, thought leader, and mentor, with a focus on inclusive leadership and empowering teams.

    I'm passionate about building strategies that endure, cultivating innovation cultures, and shaping the future of growth and transformation.

    LinkedIn
  • relaunch collection_colin nelson

    Colin Nelson

    Chief Innovation Consultant, HYPE Innovation

    Colin Nelson

    Chief Innovation Consultant, HYPE Innovation

    Colin specialises in helping complex organisations establish, embed and leverage collaborative processes. Using the power of their workforce, 3rd parties and customers, Colin helps to put in place processes that engage large groups, tapping into their collective insight to deliver business value.

    Colin helps his clients engage disparate groups to support existing or newly established programmes on Continuous Improvement, Innovation, Business Transformation and Business Improvement.

    In the past, Colin built and ran the European arm of market leading Collective Intelligence Company, Imaginatik.

    Specialties: Collaborative Processes, Innovation, Crowdsourcing, Flexible and Mobile Working, Multi-agency Working, Information Management, Knowledge Management.

    LinkedIn

A look at the day

Explore the program

A day of presentations, peer discussions, and time to connect. The full agenda, including session times and the remaining speakers, will follow.

November 16, 2026

  1. 09:00 AM 09:30 AM

    Networking, Coffee & Breakfast

    Start the day with coffee, breakfast, and informal conversations with fellow innovation leaders.

  2. 09:30 AM 09:45 AM

    Welcome

    Meet your hosts and get an introduction to the day’s themes, speakers, and discussions.

    relaunch collection_ashley ghambir

    Ashley Gambhir

    UC San Diego Health

  3. 09:45 AM 10:30 AM

    Bureaucracy Is Not the Boss of You

    Explore how to mobilize employees, overcome organizational barriers, and build momentum for innovation.

    relaunch collection_rex williams

    Rex Williams

    Boeing

  4. 10:30 AM 11:15 AM

    The Price of Autonomy

    Examine the gap between what AI can do and what organizations can trust — and what it takes to move forward responsibly.

     

    relaunch collection_dale ward

    Dale Ward

    Diné Development Corporation

  5. 11:15 AM 11:30 AM

    Networking break

    Refresh, connect with fellow participants, and continue conversations sparked by the morning sessions.

  6. 11:30 AM 12:00 PM

    Roundtable discussions

    Share your challenges, compare approaches, and explore ideas with peers. Discussion topics will be announced.

  7. 12:00 PM 12:45 PM

    Insights from the Minnesota Vikings

    Hear from Meaghan Fors of the Minnesota Vikings. Session title and details coming soon.

    relaunch collection_meaghan fors

    Meaghan Fors

    Minnesota Vikings

  8. 12:45 PM 1:45 PM

    Lunch

    Enjoy lunch and connect with peers to exchange experiences and reflect on the morning’s insights.

  9. 1:45 PM 2:30 PM

    Leveraging Collective Genius for Complex Problem Solving

    Explore how bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise can help organizations tackle complex challenges.

    relaunch collection_ashley ghambir

    Ashley Gambhir

    UC San Diego Health

  10. 2:30 PM 3:15 PM

    The Business Performance System at the Core of Organizational Agility

    Discover the foundations of a business performance system and how they support organizational agility and innovation performance.

    relaunch collection_colin nelson

    Colin Nelson

    HYPE Innovation

  11. 3:15 PM 3:30 PM

    Networking break

    Take a break and exchange perspectives before the final roundtable discussions.

  12. 3:30 PM 4:00 PM

    Roundtable discussions

    Build on the day’s insights and discuss how they could apply to your organization. Discussion topics will be announced.

  13. 4:00 PM 4:15 PM

    Summary

    Reflect on the day’s lessons and identify ideas to take back to your team.

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Impressions from past Roundtables

  • HYPE Exchange Paris June 2026-9
  • INNOVATE-Europe-2024 (205)
  • HYPE Exchange Paris June 2026-13
  • HYPE Exchange Paris June 2026-21-1
  • HYPE Exchange Henkel 14
  • INNOVATE NA 20255P4A1348
  • INNOVATE NA 20255P4A2200
  • Event-Speaker-André-BOSCH-Inspire-Berlin-2025
  • INNOVATE-Europe-2024 (188)

After five years of attending HYPE events, I thought nothing could surprise me anymore, but this year’s experience proved me wrong. I attended a workshop that blended improvisation techniques with business innovation, and it was transformative. These events provide a unique opportunity to connect with peers, share challenges, and learn from one another. For innovators like me, it’s inspiring to bring together ideas from different perspectives and turn them into meaningful outcomes.

Antonina Reichardt Continental

This event is so impactful that I chose to attend this year while on vacation. It’s always a highlight of my year, offering the chance to connect with incredible colleagues, share experiences, and gain new insights that shape how I work. The sense of community is unmatched—people are open, humble, and willing to share their challenges and breakthroughs. Every time I attend, I leave with a transformative takeaway that stays with me long after the event is over.

Bob Neuhard UC San Diego

What always stands out at HYPE events is the strong sense of community—people are humble, open, and willing to share both their struggles and solutions. This is my third event, and each time, I walk away with breakthrough insights that change my perspective and approach. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this program. These events are always the highlight of my year!

Gavin McClafferty Subsea 7

HYPE event is a fantastic bringing of minds of innovation leaders, with shared lived experiences and perspectives that no matter your expertise will always trigger ideas, thoughts and create new connections with different verticals. I left excited and inspired to continue trying to drive innovation and reaffirmed my own expertise but also made me realise of some of the gaps / opportunities I can explore.

Will Reddaway VodafoneThree (Vodafone Business UK)

I love that there were so many different industries represented by the attendees at the event. The breadth of experience was very valuable. It was really impactful to hear the different perspectives and be able to connect with so many individuals experiencing some of the same problems.

Emily Zarefsky Stepan Company

Started the day with a strong sense of imposter syndrome but quickly realised all the other organisations in the room had started from a similar position to ours and had gone on to great things. Left the day feeling inspired with some really helpful contacts and some positive next steps.

Philip Baillie Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

If someone is considering attending a HYPE event, I say do it! The experience was incredibly informative, offering not just tools for the platform but also insights we could take back to transform our innovation journey. Beyond that, the event fostered invaluable connections with people from around the world and gave us the chance to bond as a team meeting in person for the first time. It was truly a phenomenal experience.

Cameal Jackson Southwest Airlines

We had a fantastic experience at the event. The presentations were not only engaging and fun but also a real eye-opener, especially the session on neuroscience, which deepened my understanding of how technology impacts our brain. I also truly valued the networking opportunities, as they provided great insights into the challenges others are facing.

Mert Gökgöz Heijmans

FAQ

What is a HYPE Circle Roundtable?

A HYPE Circle is a hands-on, one-day regional roundtable event for people responsible for innovation or idea management in complex organizations. The focus is on practical examples, exchanging ideas with other responsible individuals, and working together on specific challenges – not a program full of keynotes. HYPE events are usually held on-site at one of our clients' locations.

Who can participate?

HYPE Events are open to anyone responsible for business growth, efficiency, innovation, and transformation.

Do I have to be a HYPE customer?

No. 

Selected guests with responsibility for innovation management, strategy, or transformation can also participate. If you're unsure which exchange format suits your role, contact us. We are happy to assist you.

Is participation free of charge?

Yes. Participation in HYPE Events is free, including meals. The number of spots is limited. Registration will close once the event is fully booked.

In which language are the events held?

The event will be held in English.

How many people are participating?

HYPE Events typically have about 15-30 participants. The intentionally limited number of attendees creates space for exchange and discussion.

Are there also online formats?

This event is held exclusively in person. The HYPE Circle brings leaders together for face-to-face conversations and peer exchange.

Prefer an online format? Subscribe to our newsletter to receive invitations to upcoming webinars in your inbox.

How can my company become a host of HYPE Circle?

As the host, you provide the venue, share a case study, and help shape the topics. 

HYPE handles the program, moderation, catering, technology, materials, and participant selection. Depending on the location, an on-site tour may also be part of the program. Contact our marketing team to discuss whether an exchange is suitable for your organization.

Can I give a presentation at an event?

Yes. We regularly look for practitioners who are open about how they approach a specific challenge—including insights from things that didn’t go as planned. Contact our marketing team to discuss a suitable topic.

See How Organizations Improve Performance with HYPE

Reduce disconnected initiatives, operational silos, and siloed execution with one connected system for innovation, continuous improvement, and transformation — designed to align strategy, execution, and measurable business impact.

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