Stay Connected


We cordially invite you to attend our inaugural Los Angeles Independent School Alumni Tech Summit!


Join fellow Oakwood alumni and alumni from Brentwood School, Campbell Hall, Harvard-Westlake, and Milken Community School for a professional networking event focused on the vast and ever-changing tech industry.
 
Wednesday, March 13 
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Rugby Hall Auditorium at Harvard-Westlake

$25 per person: Woodfire pizza, beer, and wine included
Tickets are limited
Must be 21+ to attend
 
This event will showcase a panel conversation with tech leaders from various companies, hosted by Julia Boorstin, CNBC Senior Media & Technology Reporter (and including our own Zach Suchin '02).

TECH SUMMIT PANELISTS

List of 6 items.

  • Host: Julia Boorstin (Harvard-Westlake '96)

    Julia Boorstin '96 is author of the new book WHEN WOMEN LEAD and CNBC’s Senior Media & Tech Correspondent and has been an on-air reporter for the network since 2006. She also plays a central role on CNBC’s bicoastal tech-focused program “TechCheck” delivering reporting, analysis, and CEO interviews. In 2013, Boorstin created and launched the CNBC Disruptor 50, an annual list she oversees, highlighting private companies transforming the economy and challenging companies in established industries. She also helped launch the network’s ‘Closing the Gap’ initiative covering the people and companies closing gender and diversity gaps. A graduate of Princeton University, she has been a reporter for Fortune magazine, as well as a contributor to CNN and CNN Headline News. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two sons.
  • Ari Friedland (Milken Community School '02)

    Ari is an early-stage investor in internet, software and technology-enabled companies. Most recently, Ari served as the Head of Mobile Business Development at Uber where he and his team were responsible for Uber’s product and commercial partnerships with the largest technology companies, OEMs and mobile operators in the Americas & APAC. Ari joined Uber from Dropbox where served as the Head of Strategic Partnerships. Prior to Dropbox, Ari worked in technology private equity as an Associate at The Carlyle Group after beginning his career in venture capital as an Associate at Kayne Anderson. Ari has an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Ari is a proud graduate of Milken Community High School where he proudly serves on the school’s alumni board. In his free time, Ari loves to play tennis, read Harry Potter with his nephews, and hang with his bernedoodle, Rocky.
  • Sophia Khan (Brentwood School '09)

    Sophia is based in Los Angeles as a proud Brentwood K-12 lifer from the class of 2009. She spent the first half of her career in counterterrorism working with INTERPOL, the United Nations, and various governments overseas. Sophia moved into the venture capital world starting with a five-year stint on Greycroft's early-stage investment team, followed by running strategy at sustainability-focused Reformation. As a Principal at Struck Studio, Sophia leads incubating and launching new ventures, and most recently began a position also leading Venture Capital and Mission Strategy for a defense-focused fund building innovation within the Department of Defense and US Air Force. Sophia holds an MA in Terrorism and Counterterrorism with highest Honors from King's College London and a BA in Spanish, German, and Arabic from Kenyon College. In her spare time, she loves playing beach volleyball and paddle tennis.
  • Saker Klippsten (Campbell Hall '97)

    Saker Klippsten '97 has a long history of experience in the technology industry. Beginning in 1995, they worked as an intern for Carlos Diniz Associates, where they helped transition from a traditional hand-drawn to a digital-based workflow. In 1999, they worked as a Systems Engineer for Radium. From 2002 to 2013, they were the Chief Technology Officer and Head of Engineering for Zoic Studios, a multi-platform storytelling company with an emphasis on high-end computer graphics for film, television, gaming, and VR/AR experiences. In 2013, they founded Zoic Labs, an advanced visualization company focused on the intersection of data, narrative, design, collaboration, and emerging technologies. Saker Klippsten attended Campbell Hall from 1992 to 1997, followed by the Academy of Art University from 1997 to 1999, where they earned a degree in 3D Modeling and Visual Effects.


  • Zach Suchin (Oakwood School '02)

    Zach is the Chief Executive Officer at Brand Knew. Born and raised in Los Angeles to a family working in entertainment, Zach absorbed pop culture and took great interest in media and how products came to market. Throughout high school, he worked directly for executive management at Sony, 20th Century Fox, and ICM while also volunteering much of his time and developing a strong commitment to prosocial causes and advocacy campaigns. Those passions are the bedrock of Brand Knew, which he co-founded with college classmate Jason Schutzbank in 2009. Brand Knew is a leading strategic advisory that develops trailblazing creative and digital strategies and partnerships for such well-known brands as YouTube, iHeartMedia, Netflix, Verizon and Nike, as well as philanthropic organizations and start-ups like Stand Up 2 Cancer and Los Angeles Mayor’s Fund, amongst others. Brand Knew helps causes, consumer brands and media companies achieve meaningful growth, and also develops its own brands and proprietary technologies to optimize brand building campaigns. During college at Emory University in Atlanta, he created the popular college platform, The Quad, taking the company public in 2007, making him the youngest CEO ever of a publicly traded company in the U.S. He sold his share of the company in 2009. Zach has served as a strategic advisor for Vote.org, The Organization for Social Media Safety and the Peres Center for Peace, and as a board member of the Social Impact Fund and Oakwood School.
  • Jay Trinidad (Campbell Hall '99)

    Jay Trinidad is currently the General Manager of Moloco AI, Asia Pacific where he is responsible for setting up, rolling out and maximizing strategies, operations, and commercial performance for all AI and Machine Learning initiatives across the region. Jay brings with him over two decades of experience in the Technology industry. He has held various leadership positions such as Global Vice President, Asia Regional Head, and Japan President for some of Silicon Valley’s most innovative companies such as Google and Square.He has also shown is ability to bring these technology skills across industries holding executive positions at The Walt Disney Company, McDonald’s, and Warner Brothers Discovery. Jay principal focus has always been on customer first, needle moving development of new technologies. He has lent his technical and marketing expertise to many popular products such as Gmail, Disney+. YouTube, Chrome, Android, Square Register, and others. Jay received a Political Science degree from Stanford University and Campbell Hall class of 1999. His hobbies include travel, teaching, playing the piano and guitar, and eating, to name a few.

MAKE AN IMPACT

Alumni gifts honor your own Oakwood experience and contribute to fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility. The Annual Fund brings together all members of our beloved Oakwood family including trustees, faculty & staff, parents & guardians, alumni, parents of alumni, and grandparents, for the benefit of our students. We thank you for helping us continue to provide students with meaningful academic, social, artistic, and athletic experiences, and all that Oakwood has to offer, regardless of their financial means.

GET INVOLVED

List of 6 items.

  • Alumni Council & Volunteer Opportunities

    The Oakwood Alumni Council is the cornerstone of our volunteer leadership and provides opportunities to get involved with our Annual Giving and/or Events Committees. This volunteer committee meets on campus approximately every other month to plan and implement Alumni related initiatives, activities, and events.

    We are always looking for alumni who are available to volunteer on an ad hoc basis for fun events. Contact Christie Guevara for more information.

    2023–2024 ALUMNI COUNCIL:
    Katie Seligman Gurvitz '02, Chair
    Alexis Evans ‘97, Vice-chair 
    Jeremy Adler '99
    Elena Dole ‘13
    Andrew Fryer '96
    Sandy Gervay '83
    Michael Gitig ‘99
    Nico Juber ‘00
    Mike Lam '93
    Jordan Levine ‘06
    David Mazur ‘18
    *Harry Rimalower ‘06
    Lori Rothman Story '73
     
    *New Members

  • Lunch & Learn Speaker Series

    The Lunch & Learn Speaker Series invites alumni back to campus to share about their career paths and Oakwood experiences with grades 9-12. The panel is moderated by high school students. 
     
    If you would like to participate on a future panel, please complete this form.

  • BIPOC Alumni Committee

    The BIPOC Alumni Committee is dedicated to help foster a community rooted in equity, inclusion, and belonging by providing support, student mentorship, and additional tools to advance the DEIB mission where students of color can thrive. 
     
    This group strives to build a thoughtful, inclusive, and diverse haven for current students by championing our collective ideas and experiences and partnering with Oakwood to create a thoughtful, inclusive, diverse platform for student and alumni voices to be heard.
     
    If you would like to join this group, please contact Christie Guevara for more information.

    2023–2024 BIPOC ALUMNI COMMITTEE:
    Treani Swain ‘03, Chair
    Fred Dinkins ‘01
    Shaniece Dinkins ‘07
    Alexis Evans ‘97
    Rebecca Franklin ‘12
    Shanti Wargo Ifill '99
    Maureen Dubon Mejia ‘05
    Brooke Minters ‘99
    Larry Powell ‘04
    Telly Roberts ‘91
    David Sherrell '99
    Malakhi Simmons ‘91
    Makila Sims ‘20
    Brittany Scott Smith ‘02
    Justin Warfield ‘90
    Doselle Young '85

  • Alumni Book Group

    If you love reading and enjoy connecting with the Oakwood Alumni community for spirited and thought-provoking conversations, the Alumni Book Group is the place for you! Parents, guardians, and grandparents of alumni are also always welcome to join us! 

    To be added to the mailing list, email Christie Guevara.
  • Alumni Giving

    Oakwood holds a special place in the hearts of all who have walked its campuses and studied in its buildings. Whether your memories return to your favorite class, a mentoring teacher, your volunteer experiences, or the lifelong friendships that began here, the common threads among Oakwood Alumni and their families are the life-changing experiences had by students. We are so grateful for your continued support and thank you in advance for your generosity!
  • LEARNED

    If you haven't had a chance to listen to Learned the podcast, you can catch up on all episodes HERE! On Learned, we're looking beyond test scores and college acceptance rates to understand how education can shape the future of our society—and what kind of teaching we need to bring us there.

    Oakwood alum Tristan Friedberg Rodman '11, Director of Co-Curricular Programs Ivan Johnson, and Director of Alumni Relations Christie Guevara had candid conversations with educators, parents, and alumni about the educational issues that matter most to them. The episodes in Season 1 spans a wide range of topics — from creativity to entrepreneurship, social justice to mental health, technological change to equity and inclusion at private schools.
Access the Alumni Directory and update your contact information in The Lot.

ALUMNI TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS

Please complete the Alumni Transcript Request Form and provide full information as to where the transcript should be submitted. The Oakwood School Registrar is not responsible for incomplete or inaccurate information provided. Please allow up to one week for processing from the time of request.


QUESTIONS OR JUST WANT TO CONNECT?

Contact Director of Alumni Relations
Christie Guevara
(818) 732-3178