Invited Talk
Every month, the Hoperation Fund invites outstanding students, professionals, professors, and researchers to deliver inspiring talks to us.
List of Invited Talks:
Title: Introduction to Venture Capital
Speaker: Angela Liu
Time: 7:00 pm CST, February 1, 2026
Ms. Liu has over 20 years of experience in investment, including more than a decade in venture capital. She has served as both a General Partner (GP) and a Limited Partner (LP) in multiple venture capital firms, giving her a comprehensive perspective on the industry from both the fund management and investor sides. In this talk, she will explain what venture capital is, how it works and why it matters.
Title: Inside Data Science: Career Paths and Future Trends
Speaker: Jing Wan
Time: 7:00 pm CST, January 11, 2026
Dr. Wan is a data science leader with a Ph.D. and 15+ years of experience in machine learning, big data, and analytics. At Verizon, she drives impactful insights through advanced modeling, Bayesian learning, and modern search technologies. She obtained her Ph.D. in machine learning from Purdue University and has published many AI papers in top-tier journals and conferences, such as IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging, CVPR, and MICCAI.
In this talk, she will give a practical overview of what data science work looks like across industries—how teams are structured, what different roles (analyst, data scientist, ML engineer, analytics engineer, product data) actually do day to day, and which skills create the most leverage early in your career. She’ll share a clear roadmap for breaking in and growing—portfolio and project ideas, and habits that accelerate learning on the job. Finally, she’ll look ahead at future trends shaping the field, including the impact of generative AI and automation, and how to future-proof your career by focusing on problem framing, data quality, experimentation, and communication.
Title: Introduction to Consulting
Speaker: Carrie Su
Time: 5:00 pm CST, February 2, 2025
Ms. Su is a senior at UCLA, majoring in Business Economics and minoring in Social Data Science. Her impressive professional journey includes experience at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and L.E.K. Consulting. After graduation, she will join Bain & Company as an Associate Consultant.
In this talk, Ms. Su will provide an introduction to the consulting industry and share valuable career advice for aspiring professionals. Whether you're exploring a career in consulting or seeking guidance on navigating your career path, this talk is an excellent opportunity to gain insights from someone who has walked the path and succeeded.
