The Inaugural WAVES Festival Kicked Off May 6 – 7, 2025
A Celebration of Well-being, Art, Vision, Entrepreneurship and Science in San Diego and Southern California.
Taking place at UCSD Scripps Seaside Forum & Balboa Park
Over 300 fellow San Diego and Southern California leaders, innovators and pathbreakers gathered to show how thoughtful collaboration sparks meaningful change and sustainable solutions.
The two-day, invite-only event featured visionary speakers, groundbreaking workshops, and immersive, hands-on experiences featuring business, academia, technology and AI, biomedicine, science and the military alongside voices from environmental, artistic, youth and cultural communities to show how thoughtful collaboration sparks meaningful change and sustainable solutions — and showcases San Diego and Southern California as a model for the nation.
Along with inspirational plenary sessions, interactive breakouts and hands-on learning opportunities, attendees experienced local music, creative art experiences and opportunities to connect with thought partners and leaders across our region!
Day 1 Speakers Included
Baratunde Thurston
Comedian, Daily Show | Host, America Outdoors
Rafael Payare
Music Director, San Diego Symphony
Omar Blaik
CEO and Co-founder, U3 Advisors
USMC BGen James Ryans
Brigadier General
Pradeep Khosla
UC San Diego Chancellor
Michele Norris
Award-winning author and MSNBC and NPR broadcaster
Day 2 Speakers Included
Irwin Jacobs
Co-founder, Qualcomm
David Brooks
New York Times columnist and best-selling author
Jay Pandit
Director, Digital Medicine, Scripps Research Translational Institute
Melanie Subin
Renowned Futurist
Cat Corral
Co-founder & Executive/Artistic Director
Amy Admire
Executive Director, ‘ataaxum Pomkwaan
Karl Anthony
Program Director, Rady Children’s Hospital Healing Arts Department
Stephen Squinto
Chief Investment Officer, J.P. Morgan Asset Management
