TECHsurf 2026

2025 TECHsurf Highlights

Date

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Time

9:00 AM

Location

Liberty Station Conference Center

Registration

One day. Your San Diego peer network in one room.

About TECHsurf

One full day. San Diego's technology leadership in one room.

Network, share insights, and learn from your peers while riding the waves of technological innovation on the shores of San Diego. SIM San Diego's annual full-day event is building on the success of last year with more innovative and engaging discussions, local industries, personal development, and networking in a casual gathering that is quintessentially San Diego.

Who's in the room

SIM members, their direct reports, and senior technology practitioners from across the San Diego community.

Keynote Speaker

Cecily Sommers
Keynote

Cecily Sommers

Business Futurist & Author

"Change is the boss, not us."

She teaches leaders to read change the way a navigator reads weather: find the patterns, follow the currents.

Forbes Top 50 Female Futurists Author, Think Like a Futurist 8 Years with Google Exec Development

Client work includes Google · Salesforce · JPMorgan Chase · Purina · Target

View full bio and session takeawaysHide full bio

Business futurist Cecily Sommers teaches leaders to read change the way a navigator reads weather: find the patterns, follow the currents. She helps leaders become Change Literate, because those who can read change are the ones to lead it.

Since 2000, she's led major "Future of ____" projects for Google, Salesforce, JPMorgan Chase, Purina, and Target, and trains teams to lead like a futurist. Her 8-year engagement with Google's Executive Development team helped shape the Google School for Leaders. The secret her clients discover: anchor to what doesn't change, and you'll see where change is headed.

Named one of the World's Top 50 Female Futurists by Forbes, she's the author of Think Like a Futurist (named to "Top 25: What Corporate America is Reading") and a global keynote speaker known for making big ideas land simply. Her premise: the future may not be figureoutable, but it is followable.

Leave Cecily's keynote with the ability to:

  • Recognize where you are in the cycle of change
  • Read both ends of any trend
  • Decode disruption and reveal new opportunities
  • Increase alignment and effectiveness of your teams

Agenda

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 · Liberty Station Conference Center

9hrs9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
5Sessions & Discussions
3hrsDedicated Networking
9:00 – 9:45 AM
Networking

Coffee & Connection

The Coffee Cart & Isabelle Briend Fresh Pastry Cafe

Check in and reconnect with your San Diego network before the event kicks off, over great coffee and award winning pastries.

9:45 – 10:00 AM
Chapter

Welcome to TECHsurf

Kicking off a great day of insight, discussion, and networking.

11:15 – 11:35 AM
Networking

Surf Break

11:35 AM – 12:30 PM
Session

Surf's Up! The Next Wave of Cyber Threats

Speaker & Discussion

Just as surfers study the horizon for the next big swell, today's technology leaders must anticipate the emerging cyber threats that could impact their organizations. This discussion explores the next wave of cybersecurity challenges, from AI-powered attacks and evolving ransomware tactics to third-party risks and the growing threat of new technologies such as quantum computing.

12:30 – 1:30 PM
Networking

Lunch

Get your lunch and return to your tables by 1:00 PM to hear what's next for SIM San Diego in 2027.

1:30 – 2:00 PM
Chapter

TECHsurf Scholars

Awarding Our Next Generation of Leaders

Philanthropy has always been a big part of the SIM San Diego Chapter since its founding. We'll honor the next generation of technology leaders with scholarships.

2:00 – 3:30 PM
Session

Mastering the Current

3 Perspectives on Technology at Scale

Three innovators have 20 minutes each to share their thinking on applying emerging technologies at scale. A rapid TED Talk style session, followed by an immediate discussion to reflect on what we've heard.

3:30 – 3:45 PM
Chapter

TECHsurf Wave Report

Key Insights from the Day

We'll sum up the day and make sure you know how to paddle to the After Set party.

3:45 – 4:00 PM
Networking

Paddling to the After Set

Make your way to the Happy Hour

4:00 – 6:00 PM
Networking

The TECHsurf After Set

Continue the discussion and watch the sunset on a great day, networking with your peers over great food and drinks.

Agenda subject to change. Additional speakers to be announced.

TECHsurf Leadership Team

Erica Hausheer

Maria Zack

Steve Hoyt

Aldino Parchment

Barb Munro

Dave Samara

Gopal Govindarajula

Yash Murali

Yasmin Shah

Naresh Lachmandas

Sponsorship

Put your organization in front of San Diego's technology leadership

Sponsorship opportunities for TECHsurf are still available for software vendors and consulting organizations.

Request Sponsorship Details

Sponsorships@simsandiego.org

Join San Diego's technology leadership on October 27

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 · 9:00 AM · Liberty Station Conference Center