Bruin Success

Integrity Across Industries: Purpose-Driven Leadership from DOJ to Meta with Joseph Vardner '06

Joseph Vardner '06 is Director of Integrity Risk Management at Meta Platforms, Inc, where he leads a team focused on trust & safety product compliance. He is helping to set new standards for how trust & safety compliance is established and scaled across the globe. He is a current board member of the UCLA Alumni Board and the National LGBT Bar Association. Vardner graduated from UCLA with a degree in civil engineering and received his law degree from Harvard Law School. He has worked as an engineer, a DOJ attorney, at a law firm, and in-house at two companies. At the US DOJ Antitrust Division, he received the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for his work enforcing competition laws in the credit card industry. Follow for more stories of Bruin Success: IG: @bruinsuccesspodcast alumni.ucla.edu/bruin-success-podcast/ The Bruin Success Podcast is hosted and produced by Sara Mosgrove '18 and Lily Rosenberg '18, and brought to you by the UCLA Alumni Association. Thank you to our sustaining donors.

Beyond Buzzwords: Diversity and Anti-Racism Consulting with Daedra Staten , J.D. '13

In this episode, we interview Daedra Staten, J.D. '13, founder of SCG Diversity Consulting. Drawing from her background in law and international experiences, Daedra breaks down how organizations can move past performative gestures and commit to building anti-racist, equity-driven workplace cultures. Follow for more stories of Bruin Success: IG: @bruinsuccesspodcast alumni.ucla.edu/bruin-success-podcast/ Follow Deadra Staten's work: https://www.statenconsulting.com/ SCG Consulting IG: @scgdiversityconsulting Pottery IG: unhinged_pottery The Bruin Success Podcast is hosted and produced by Sara Mosgrove '18 and Lily Rosenberg '18, and brought to you by the UCLA Alumni Association. Thank you to our sustaining donors.

The Puzzle of the Puck: NHL Media Distribution and International Strategy with Dan Kim, MBA '06

Dan Kim, MBA ’06 is Executive Vice President of Media Distribution and International Strategy at the National Hockey League. From his days at UCLA Anderson to leading the NHL’s global media initiatives, he shares insights on navigating the landscape of sports media and the pivotal role his Bruin experience played in shaping his career. Tune in to hear how he combines strategic vision with a passion for storytelling to bring the excitement of hockey to fans worldwide. Follow for more stories of Bruin Success: IG: @bruinsuccesspodcast alumni.ucla.edu/bruin-success-podcast/ The Bruin Success Podcast is hosted and produced by Sara Mosgrove '18 and Lily Rosenberg '18, and brought to you by the UCLA Alumni Association. Thank you to our sustaining donors.

Student Leader to State Legislator: California Senator Dean Florez '87

Senator Dean Florez's journey from UCLA to the California State Senate reflects a lifelong commitment to public service and policy innovation. A proud Bruin and champion of accountability, Senator Florez shares how his UCLA experience shaped his leadership values, the lessons he learned navigating the political landscape, and why bold ideas still begin in Westwood. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about civic impact, community advocacy, and leading with purpose. Follow for more stories of Bruin Success: IG: @bruinsuccesspodcast alumni.ucla.edu/bruin-success-podcast/ The Bruin Success Podcast is hosted and produced by Sara Mosgrove '18 and Lily Rosenberg '18, and brought to you by the UCLA Alumni Association. Thank you to our sustaining donors.

Behind the Scenes of Building Better Media: Developmental Psychologist Yalda Uhls, M.B.A. '90, M.A. '10, Ph.D. '13

Dr. Yalda T. Uhls is the founder and CEO of the Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) at UCLA, which is the only youth-centered organization to bridge the gap between social science research and media creation to help storytellers better reflect the lives of adolescents. She is an internationally recognized research scientist, educator, author, and expert on the science of media and adolescent development. Dr. Uhls’ career bridges the worlds of entertainment and psychological research. She was a movie executive at MGM and Sony who earned an MBA and Ph.D. from UCLA. Follow for more stories of Bruin Success: IG: @bruinsuccesspodcast alumni.ucla.edu/bruin-success-podcast/ Learn more about Dr. Uhls' work: The Center for Storytellers and Scholars @ UCLA: www.scholarsandstorytellers.com/ CSS latest research: ourAmerican Dream study [https://www.scholarsandstorytellers.com/american-dream]. TeenSnapshot report [https://www.scholarsandstorytellers.com/safety] highlights how important safety and kindness are forteens.   Newsletter link: Sign up for the CSS newsletter [https://www.scholarsandstorytellers.com/contact-us] tostay up to date on new research, releases, and events. CSS 2024Impact Report [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/633f0603fdaa7311ba384d21/t/679851f56c390c3c67c13ea7/1738035737543/2024+Impact+Report+-+Center+for+Scholars+%26+Storytellers+UCLA.pdf]. Link to learn more about the YouthEngagement Network. [https://www.scholarsandstorytellers.com/youth-engagement-network] Link to learn more about the Youth MediaRepresentation Program [https://www.scholarsandstorytellers.com/youth-engagement]. The Bruin Success Podcast is hosted and produced by Sara Mosgrove '18 and Lily Rosenberg '18, and brought to you by the UCLA Alumni Association. Thank you to our sustaining donors.