Events
Career Accelerator for Optical Communications
12 January 2020 – 16 January 2020 National 4H Conference Center, Chevy Chase, Maryland United States
The Career Accelerator for Optical Communications, is a high impact program centered on careers in optical communications.
The program focuses on core skills needed to succeed including leadership, team building, business strategy, finance, marketing communication and negotiation skills. Sessions are led by experts representing key companies in the field. These speakers practice what they teach every day.
2020 Accelerator Faculty
Facilitator: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, The Optical Society
Holly Barrett, Marketing Director, Luminate and Damon Diehl, Nextcorps
George Bayz, Vice President & General Manager, Synopsys
Neal Bergano, Vice President and CTO, TE SubCom (retired)
Loudon Blair, Senior Director, Corporate Strategy Office, Ciena
Julia Bocage, Executive Search Consultant, Common Agenda
Shye Gilad, Founder and Principal, Creating Lift Leadership
Eve Griliches, Senior Product Marketing, Cisco
Gloria Höfler, Director, Advanced Development, Infinera
Lisa Huff, Principal Analysts, Optical Components, Ovum
Karen Liu, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Lightwave Logic, Inc.
Mark Lourie, Vice President, Corporate Communications & Brand Development, II-VI Incorporated
Claudio Mazzali, Senior Vice President, Technology, Corning Optical Communications
Sujatha Ramanujan, Managing Director, Luminate Accelerator
Matthew Reaves, Managing Director & Founder, Common Agenda
Daren Reid, Director of Research and Development, Synopsys
Schedule
Sunday, 12 January
17:30-17:45 Welcome Remarks
Speaker: Chad Stark, Executive Director, OSA Foundation
17:45-18:45 Facilitator and Attendee Introductions
Facilitator: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, The Optical Society
19:00-20:30 Dinner
Monday, 13 January
7:30-8:30 Breakfast
8:30-8:35 Morning Welcome
Facilitator: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, The Optical Society
8:35-9:20 A Career in Optical Communications
Speaker: Neal Bergano, Vice President and CTO, TE SubCom (retired)
9:20-10:30 Understanding Leadership Styles and Competencies
Speaker: Shye Gilad, Founder and Principal, Creating Lift Leadership
10:30-11:00 Break
11:00-12:30 High-Performing Teams: Understanding Group Dynamics and Tactics of Influence
Speaker: Sujatha Ramanujan, Managing Director, Luminate Accelerator
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30 - 14:00 Break
14:00-15:15 Ciena's Approach to Business Strategy
Speaker: Loudon Blair, Senior Director, Corporate Strategy Office, Ciena
15:15-15:45 Break
15:45-16:45 The Customer Drives Strategy
Speaker: Ryan Schmidt, Vice President of R&D, ADVA
16:45-17:00 Daily Wrap-Up
Facilitator: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, The Optical Society
17:30-19:00 Dinner
Tuesday, 14 January
7:30-8:30 Breakfast
8:30-9:15 Corning's Approach to Innovation and Product Development
Speaker: Claudio Mazzali, Senior Vice President, Technology, Corning Optical Communications
9:15-10:30 Innovation and Product Development:
Speaker: Gloria Höfler, Director, Advanced Development, Infinera
10:30-11:00 Break
11:00-12:00 Landing the Perfect Job: The Resume (GROUP A)
Speaker: Julia Bocage, Executive Search Consultant, Common Agenda
11:00-12:00 Landing the Perfect Job: The Interview (GROUP B)
Speaker: Matthew Reaves, Managing Director & Founder, Common Agenda
12:00-13:15 Lunch
13:15-14:15 Landing the Perfect Job: The Resume (GROUP B)
Speaker: Julia Bocage, Executive Search Consultant, Common Agenda
13:15-14:15 Landing the Perfect Job: The Interview (GROUP A)
Speaker: Matthew Reaves, Managing Director & Founder, Common Agenda
14:15-14:30 Break
14:30-15:45 Introduction to Financial Accounting and Reporting
Speaker: George Bayz, Vice President and General Manager, Synopsys (retired)
15:45-16:15 Break
16:15-17:30 Effective Project Management
Speaker: Daren Reid, Director of Research and Development, Synopsys
17:30-17:45 Daily Wrap-Up
Facilitator: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, The Optical Society
18:00-19:30 Dinner
19:00 - 21:00 Magician Duel
Wednesday, 15 January
7:30-8:30 Breakfast
8:30-9:15 The Importance of the Brand
Speaker: Mark Lourie, Vice President, Corporate Communications & Brand Development, II-VI Incorporated
9:15-10:30 The Many Faces of Marketing
Speaker: Karen Liu, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Lightwave Logic, Inc.
10:00-10:30 Break
10:30- 12:00 Effective Communication
Speakers: Holly Barrett, Marketing Director, Luminate and Damon Diehl, Nextcorps
12:00-13:30 Lunch
13:30-15:00 Developing Your Elevator Pitch
Speakers: Holly Barrett, Marketing Director, Luminate and Damon Diehl, Nextcorps
15:00-15:30 Break
15:30-17:00 Negotiation Skills
Speaker: Eve Griliches, Senior Product Marketing, Cisco
17:00-17:15 Daily Wrap-Up
Facilitator: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, The Optical Society
17:30-19:00 Dinner
Thursday, 16 January
7:30 - 8:30 Breakfast
8:30-9:00 Morning Welcome
Facilitator: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, The Optical Society
9:00-10:00 State of the Optical Communications Market
Confirmed Speaker: Lisa Huff, Principal Analysts, Optical Components, Ovum
10:00-10:45 Break (Checkout of rooms if needed)
10:45-11:15 Leveraging the Key Learnings to Enhance your Career
Facilitator: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, The Optical Society
11:30 Adjournment and Lunch
