TECHsurf Conference

SIM San Diego’s full-day event returns with more INTERACTIVE experiences on Technology & Leadership with genuine and casual Networking...

About this Event


Welcome to TECHsurf!

Date: October 7, 2025

Location: Liberty Station Conference Center

Ride the Waves of Technological Innovation through keynotes, networking, sharing your insights and learning from your peers on the shores of San Diego!

SIM San Diego’s annual full-day event provide interactive and engaging discussions, local industries, personal development, and networking in a casual gathering that is quintessentially San Diego!

TECHsurf attendance is open to SIM members, their direct reports, and other senior technology practitioners in the San Diego community. Share the value of SIM and a great day of technology, networking, and fun with your teams and peers!

Technology products and service providers interested in sponsorship should contact TmFyZXNoICEgTGFjaG1hbmRhcyB8IGF2YXNhbnQgISBjb20=

Join us!

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Agenda


🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:45 AM
Coffee and Connections
Host: The Coffee Cart

Info: Check-in and join us at the SIM San Diego Espresso Bar to meet and network with your peers.

🕑: 09:45 AM - 10:00 AM
Welcome to TECHsurf
Host: Steve Philpott, SIM San Diego President

🕑: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Keynote: Paul Leonardi, Reimaging Technology Leadership
Host: Paul Leonardi

Info: Paul Leonardi, Ph.D., is a leading expert on how organizations can thrive in a world reshaped by technology. He is the Duca Family Professor of Technology Management at UC Santa Barbara, where he studies the impact of digital tools, data, and AI on the way people work, collaborate, and make decisions. As the co-author of The Digital Mindset (Harvard Business Press) and author of the forthcoming Digital Exhaustion: Simples Rules for Reclaiming Your Life (Riverhead Books), Paul blends rigorous research with practical insights to help leaders reimagine their roles in an increasingly tech-driven environment. He has worked with Fortune 100 companies, government agencies, and startups alike to build digital fluency, develop resilient strategies, and lead meaningful change. Known for making complex ideas accessible and actionable, Paul brings a sharp, human-centered perspective to the future of work and leadership.

🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM
Surf Break and Networking

🕑: 11:20 AM - 12:00 PM
Townhall Discussion - Great Rides and Wipe-outs in AI
Host: Stacey Stewart - Dexcom

Info: Hear three stories from our community of technology practitioners who have taken the ride of AI and lived to share their tale from the expert to the beginner, from the well-funded to the grassroots. Discuss with your peers the real-life stories of moving your organizations to agentic AI, modular SaaS, and automation from business processes to products and services.

🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch: The Crack Shack
Host: The Crack Shack

Info: Network with your peers over lunch from a San Diego favorite!

🕑: 01:00 PM - 01:20 PM
SIM San Diego Scholarships
Host: Maria Zack - SIM San Diego Academic Chair

Info: Supporting technology talent in the San Diego Market has been a goal of SIM San Diego since its inception. Join us while we honor the next generation of Technology Leaders through the 2025 SIM San Diego Scholarship Awards!

🕑: 01:20 PM - 01:30 PM
Your SIM Membership in 2026
Host: Steve Hoyt - SIM San Diego Programs Chair

Info: Catch up on all that your SIM Membership offers and get a preview of what’s coming in 2026!

🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:00 PM
Townhall Discussion - The Technology Executive Evolution
Host: Mark Hagen - AMN Healthcare

Info: Discuss the evolving role of the Technology Executive in the next few years. As we approach the next new decade, the landscape of technology leadership is undergoing profound transformations driven by the maturity of artificial intelligence (AI), shifts in the global job market, and the rising tides of global instability and nationalism. Discuss the changes upon us and share insights for success.

🕑: 02:00 PM - 02:20 PM
Surf Break and Networking

🕑: 02:20 PM - 03:20 PM
Keynote: Dan Turchin, AI and the Future of Work
Host: Dan Turchin

Info: Work will change more in the next three years than it has in the past 300. In this talk, PeopleReign CEO and host of AI and the Future of Work Dan Turchin will share insights, tech trends, and predictions from more than 350 conversations with AI experts. The podcast reaches more than a million listeners weekly and was awarded best business podcast for AI enthusiasts. Dan will share lessons for leaders about what's ahead, how to prepare for it, and how to exercise AI responsibly. Dan's company PeopleReign is the system of intelligence that automates 5,000 common IT and HR tasks for employees. It's used by many of the most admired companies to give employees back four to six hours of productive time per week. Dan is a serial entrepreneur and active angel investor with a portfolio of more than 30 AI-first companies.

🕑: 03:20 PM - 03:50 PM
Townhall Discussion – Conquering the Waves of Technology with Cost Headwinds
Host: Elizabeth Kite - Modine

Info: In today's volatile economic landscape, organizations are increasingly focused on cost efficiency while maintaining operational resilience. This townhall discussion will delve into the strategies and models for success in managing technology resources and services in during challenging times. We will explore changes funding, disruptive service providers at lower cost, and global resourcing strategies from onshore to nearshore to offshore, discussing their advantages and challenges.

🕑: 03:50 PM - 04:00 PM
TECHsurf - Closing Thoughts
Host: Lucilla Rastelli

🕑: 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Happy Hour
Host: Stone Brewing

Info: Finish the day with your Technology Peers at a San Diego Icon, Stone Brewing! Keep the conversation going and toast to a great day at TECHsurf!

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