2025 Summit Videos
In an era defined by rapid change, storytelling remains a powerful force for connection.
The 2025 Strategic Communications Bar Raiser Summit explored how storytelling can anchor us as we navigate leadership transitions, technological advancements and shifting societal landscapes. From learning about responsible uses of AI to taking bold risks, we examined strategies that have helped elevate UCLA’s voice and impact.
The Bar Raiser Summit is where ideas spark action, collaboration drives positive change and we redefine the power of storytelling at UCLA. Click on each video below to watch sessions from the 2025 Bar Raiser Summit.
Welcome remarks
Solo Talk
9:25
In her opening remarks, VC Mary Osako emphasized the vital role that UCLA’s storytellers play in shaping the university’s narrative and fostering connections. She encouraged UCLA marketing and communications staff to view their work as part of the university’s larger mission.
Intention Setting
Solo Talk
19:42
The importance of community resilience and well-being cannot be overstated, especially in a world increasingly marked by crises. Wendelin Slusser (MD, MS), associate vice provost of the Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center at UCLA, shared experiences and insights on how storytelling can foster resilience and connection in the face of adversity.
UCLA’s new associate of the chancellor
Fireside Chat
22:33
UCLA Health Chief of Communications Judy Fortin sat down for a fireside chat with Dr. Felicia Knaul, a prominent figure in global health and health equity, as she shared her expertise on the importance of health equity, her own personal cancer journey and the role of storytelling in research.
Work in the Age of AI
Panal Discussion
1:03:57
Director of UCLA Conversations Stuart Wolpert moderated this session with UCLA experts from data science, design and information studies to explore how AI can enhance storytelling, creativity and marketing. The discussion stressed the importance of ethics, cultural awareness, and maintaining human imagination.
The Art of Surprise and Taking Good Risks
Panel Discussion
1:03:58
Michael Callahan, editorial director of UCLA Magazine, spoke with panelists from Netflix, The Hollywood Reporter, and Better World Group, who shared their insights on creativity, risk-taking and the importance of surprise in communication. This discussion focused on what it means to push boundaries in storytelling and engage audiences in unexpected ways.
Profound Impact
Solo Talk
42:34
Attendees heard from retired UCLA gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field, affectionately known as “Miss Val,” about her inspiring 37-year journey to the Hall of Fame built on leadership, resilience and gratitude. In this address, she shared how embracing authenticity, building genuine relationships, and redefining success—not as winning, but as doing your best—transformed her career and her team’s culture.