At a recent panel discussion, top experts from UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy tackled one of the most urgent issues facing global business today: How do China, Mexico, and India fit into the evolving reshoring landscape amid geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty?

With Helen Wang as the moderator, the panel included Dr. Barry Naughton, Professor and So Kwan Lok Chair of Chinese International Affairs, renowned for his expertise on China's economy and industrial policy, Dr. Gaurav Khanna, Associate Professor of Economics, specializing in development and labor economics with a focus on migration, education, and supply chains, and Dr. Rafael Fernández de Castro, Professor and Director of the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies, and former foreign policy adviser to President Felipe Calderón, with deep insights into U.S.-Mexico relations.

In this video, Helen breaks down the key components of Emotional Intelligence with real-world examples and actionable frameworks, demonstrating how the integration of EQ into organizational culture can lead to even greater personal and professional success. As she wisely explains, "You can’t manage others if you can’t manage yourself." This talk is a powerful reminder that soft skills are indeed the necessary human skills to develop now and into the future.

Helen Wang is a seasoned supply chain executive driven by a passion for leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Her career spans transformative roles, from launching Apple’s first iPhone to advancing Google’s self-driving car, where she built and managed end-to-end supply chain ecosystems.

As the Founder of WCG, Helen provides C-level mentorship and coaching, delivers keynote speeches, and facilitates leadership workshops for global companies.

At UC San Diego, she contributes to curriculum development, serves on the board of the Institute for Supply Chain Excellence & Innovation, and teaches courses at the Rady School of Management, including “Leading with Emotional Intelligence” and “Innovation to Market.”

Helen is also the Founder and CEO of Oceanside Perspective, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that produces educational content, sharing authentic stories from business leaders, tech innovators, and entrepreneurs to inspire future generations.

In this timely and thought-provoking conversation, Tom Derry, CEO of the Institute for Supply Management, sits down with Caroline Freund, Dean of the School of Global Policy and Strategy at UC San Diego, to unpack the complex forces shaping today’s global economy.

From trade wars and tariff uncertainty to the rise of reshoring and the role of the U.S. dollar, this conversation covers it all. Dean Freund brings decades of experience from the Federal Reserve, World Bank, and IMF to explore:

1. Why supply chain disruptions lead to lasting inflation

2. How policy unpredictability stifles investment

3. The realities (and myths) behind tariffs and reshoring

4. What’s next for global trade dynamics and U.S. economic strategy

Don’t miss this deep dive into the economic decisions affecting supply chains, geopolitics, and long-term growth.

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Benjamin Lyon brings over 20 years of senior engineering experience spanning technology development, product commercialization, and large-scale program execution at leading global companies. He recently joined Archer to lead Engineering and Operations.

Prior to Archer, Benjamin served as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Aptiv, where he led the global engineering organization of over 19,000 technologists across 12 technical centers. He was responsible for driving Aptiv’s long-term innovation strategy, keeping the company at the forefront of emerging technologies and business models in mobility and adjacent markets.

Before Aptiv, he was Chief Engineer and EVP of Engineering & Operations at Astra Space, Inc., where he oversaw the successful deployment of 22 satellites to low Earth orbit and launched the Astra Space Engine Hall-Effect thruster product line.

Earlier in his career, Benjamin spent over two decades at Apple Inc., where he led the development and productization of sensors, displays, high-performance compute systems, and safety-critical technologies at scale. He also co-founded Apple’s autonomous systems initiative.

Benjamin holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

Tom Derry, CEO of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), delivered valuable insights on the economic landscape and key factors currently impacting supply chains. Tom emphasized five crucial elements: GDP, Inventory Levels, Inflation, Lead Time, and Supply Shock-induced Recession to help industry leaders better navigate today’s complex and uncertain environment. He specifically pointed out that we're experiencing a contraction phase, making it essential to understand these key economic signalsTom Derry is CEO of the Institute for Supply Management with more than 30 years of experience in leadership and general management roles for public and private companies, and in the not-for-profit sector. He has executed turnarounds at the corporate and business-unit level through a variety of means, including acquisitions, divestitures, restructuring, and business process re-engineering.

Cytodyme is pioneering the future of clinical product development with their rapid onboarding software. Designed for small to midsized biotech companies and academic labs, their automation-first approach connects clients to the right CDMO and streamlines the path from research to manufacturing. Learn more about Cytodyme: https://www.cytodyme.com/

Dennis "D.J." White serves as CEO of Cytodyme with over 10 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical space and experience across cell and gene therapeutic categories. Mr. White is currently earning an MBA from the University of California, San Diego with an emphasis on entrepreneurship, new product development, and financing. He is currently leading many campus/student-led initiatives to advance UCSDs vision for future leaders and the Southern California region. Prior to these roles, Mr. White held several strategic rolls with in-development cell and gene therapy companies such as Kite Pharma and Immunity Bio.

Tammy Ogden serves as Co-founder and Chief Business Officer at Cytodyme. Ms. Ogden is a serial entrepreneur with extensive experience in customer acquisition within the B2B SaaS ecosystem and revenue operations. She is currently an MBA Candidate at the University of California, San Diego, where she also serves as President of the Women of Rady Club and Vice President of the Venture Capital Club. Ms. Ogden brings unique perspectives and expertise from her vast experiences in Client Engagement, Marketing, Coaching, and Management.

Welcome to our new series “LITE Talks – Ideas that spark LITE,” where we share expert insights in Leadership, Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship. From startup strategy to emotional intelligence, each talk delivers real-world wisdom from experienced founders, builders, and thought leaders—designed to inspire and empower the next generation of changemakers.

As the founder and pitch coach at Pitch Guide, Haje helps startups refine their pitches and connect with investors. With over 5 years of experience in this role, Haje has seen the startup ecosystem from multiple angles, having been a founder, director of portfolio at a venture capital firm, and reporter at TechCrunch. He is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs to communicate their vision effectively and confidently.

Dr. Jason Londeree is a board-certified general surgeon. He earned his biology degree from the University of California, Berkeley, before attending medical school at St. George's University and completing his medical degree at George Washington University. Dr. Londeree returned to California for his surgical residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He has since been practicing at Kaiser Permanente, where he serves as Chief of General Surgery. Committed to patient-centered care, he prioritizes informed decision-making in treatment planning.

Helen is a seasoned supply chain executive passionate about leadership development, technological innovation, and entrepreneurial education. Her influential career spans from Apple's inaugural iPhone to Google's self-driving car, where she spearheaded global organizations and established end-to-end supply chain ecosystems for groundbreaking products. Since founding WCG in 2017, Helen has offered C-level mentorship, executive coaching, and facilitated leadership workshops for global companies. Concurrently, at the University of California, San Diego, she actively contributes to curriculum design and provides practical insights as a board member and ex-chair of ISEI (Institute for Supply Chain Excellence & Innovation). Within the Rady School of Management, Helen teaches "Leading with Emotional Intelligence" for graduate programs and "Innovation to Market" for undergraduates, seamlessly integrating both hard and soft skills. Moreover, as the Founder and President of Oceanside Perspective, she leads a non-profit connecting thought leaders, offering multimedia content, internships, and volunteering opportunities to students beyond the classroom.

Strengths Coach Colleen Boselli offers valuable advice to Gen Z students preparing to transition from university to the workplace. She emphasizes the importance of forging strong connections with colleagues and leaders from different generations, such as Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers, to achieve success in professional settings.

One key recommendation is to use the Strengths Profile Assessment, a tool designed to help individuals gain deeper self-awareness by identifying their strengths. This tool also enables employees to understand the strengths of those around them, fostering mutual appreciation and respect. By recognizing that everyone is unique, the assessment encourages thoughtful collaboration and helps bridge generational gaps in the workplace.

Check out our newest research on Generational Diversity in the Workplace! https://www.oceansideperspective.org/build