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Leadership meets innovation at UT System SXSW event

AUSTIN — In order for innovation to succeed, it must be fueled by effective leadership.

In partnership with the South by Southwest Interactive Festival, The University of Texas System’s Office of Technology Commercialization will host a panel discussion on Saturday, March 12 about “Leadership, Innovation and Impact in a Startup World”.

Ori Brafman — a thought leader on disruptive change, advisor to the world’s most influential companies and New York Times bestselling author — will discuss how his unconventional approach to leadership, decision-making and human interaction can drastically improve a startup’s chances for success.

Tony Cucolo, UT System’s associate vice chancellor for leadership development and veteran’s affairs, will discuss how leaders can align their strategy and organization’s culture to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. Cucolo, a retired major general with the U.S. Army, has served worldwide leading organizations — varying in size from 100 personnel to 22,000 — in peace and war, including in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The panel will be moderated by Julie Goonewardene, UT System’s associate vice chancellor for innovation and strategic investment and the UT Horizon Fund’s managing director.

Following the panel discussion, The Checkmates, a bluesy band of scientists and doctors from MD Anderson who are at the cutting edge of curing cancer, will provide live music.

WHEN
Saturday, March 12, 2016

  • 3:00 p.m.                   – Doors open
  • 3:20 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. – Opening remarks and introductions
  • 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. – Speakers
  • 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. – The Checkmates

WHERE
Gibson Lounge at Maggie Mae's | 512 Trinity Street, Austin, Texas 78701

ADMISSION
Free. Please RSVP here: www.uts-innovation.com/sxsw

About The University of Texas System

Educating students, providing care for patients, conducting groundbreaking basic, applied and clinical research, and serving the needs of Texans and the nation for more than 130 years, The University of Texas System is one of the largest public university systems in the United States. With 14 institutions and an enrollment of more than 217,000, the UT System confers more than one-third of the state’s undergraduate degrees, educates almost two-thirds of the state’s health care professionals annually and accounts for almost 70 percent of all research funds awarded to public institutions in Texas. The UT System has an annual operating budget of $16.9 billion (FY 2016) including $3 billion in sponsored programs funded by federal, state, local and private sources. With about 20,000 faculty – including Nobel laureates – and more than 70,000 health care professionals, researchers, student advisors and support staff, the UT System is one of the largest employers in the state.

News Contact Information

Ken Ma: kma@utsystem.edu  • 512-499-4778 (direct) • 954-621-7961 (cell) 
Jenny LaCoste-Caputo: jcaputo@utsystem.edu  • 512-499-4361(direct) • 512-574-5777 (cell)