Dani Weinstein, MBA

120+ HR professionals at the Central California SHRM Symposium have spoken and they’re right. The most important leadership trait during times of change is COMMUNICATION. Then how is that most companies don’t regularly invest in leadership development and teach employees how to communicate?

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Talking Tariffs to Consumers? Don’t. In a recent Retail Dive article, Professor Kirthi Kalyanam of Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business offers valuable insights on how retailers should communicate the impact of tariffs on prices to consumers. He discusses the importance of transparency but cautions that directly displaying tariff costs alongside product prices may create friction and erode consumer trust. Instead, Kalyanam notes that a large body of academic work suggests that focusing on value creation is key to maintaining customer loyalty despite the pressures of rising costs. For more on this read the full article by @ Daphne Howland here: https://lnkd.in/gUjZQp88 #RetailStrategy #TariffImpact #SantaClaraUniversity #PricingStrategy #RetailDive

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Part one of a two part series I wrote for Sacramento Business Journal around how AI is changing the part of business few are talking about and that is lead generation. Are you ready for AI to be one of your best referral partners?

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Tracy Lynn West, Ph.D. new book "From Aspiration to Achievement" explores the persistent challenges women encounter as they strive to climb the career ladder, with a particular focus on executive leadership roles within Southern California community colleges. Women in executive roles frequently report feeling less supported by governing boards and lacking peers who truly understand the unique pressures of their positions. Dr. Lynn offers a candid assessment of the complex journey women must navigate to attain executive leadership, presenting a set of actionable recommendations for individuals and institutions committed to fostering gender equity in organizational leadership, making its insights relevant well beyond the realm of community colleges. Get a copy for yourself or someone else at https://lnkd.in/gxehN8SF For book marketing services, email info@blackleadersworldwide.com.

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What a great example of #airporttech! I like the "...friendly nudge by an officer." Excellent use case of curb management. Thank you Andrew K Kirk and Automotus for your partnership. INRIX #airports #govtech

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This work started with listening. We were hearing stories from nonprofits across the country who suddenly found themselves at risk of losing access to online fundraising due to compliance issues with California’s new law regulating online fundraising, AB 488. CalNonprofits was hearing the same stories. So together, we focused on a policy solution. As I shared with The NonProfit Times, our goal was simple: protect donors without unintentionally cutting nonprofits off from the fundraising they rely on to fund their critical work, especially during year-end giving. I’m proud of what collaboration made possible: • A pause on new non-compliance designations • Streamlined resolution for organizations to retain their good standing status • Over 16,500 nonprofits able to continue fundraising without disruption This is what it looks like when the sector, advocates, platforms, and policymakers work together with good intent and practical outcomes. As we fast approach the new January 15 deadline, I want to first say thank you to the California DOJ for engaging, to CalNonprofits for their partnership, and to The NonProfit Times for helping tell this story and making sure that nonprofits know how to take action: https://gfme.co/4jGPOKo 

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Folsom Tech Week 2026 kicks off TODAY in Folsom, CA, and the energy is electric. From March 3-6, innovators, founders, investors, and public sector leaders are converging for four days of ideas, deals, and collaboration that will shape the future of technology in the Sacramento region and beyond. This year's event features a powerful lineup across HealthTech, GovTech, and Artificial Intelligence, with dedicated programming for startups at every stage. Whether you are competing in the pitch competition, hacking through the night at the hackathon, or sitting across the table from potential investors at the founder/funder breakfast, there is no shortage of high-value moments. The networking opportunities alone make the trip worthwhile. Folsom Tech Week brings together the builders, the backers, and the decision-makers who are driving real change. If you are not already here, it is not too late to join us. Let us make this week count. Tag a founder or investor who needs to be in the room. Folsom Tech Week 2026 starts now.

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While on the California Intellectual Property Alliance (CAIPA) board call I was reminded of this phenomenal publication by Mary Fuller, Laura Lee Norris, Joy Baker Peacock, and Sidney Yazzolino — and it’s practical takeaways for organizations of any size looking to build a stronger culture around innovation and intellectual property. What stood out most: Many people don’t recognize when they’ve created something patentable — awareness is the first unlock. Simple, repeatable processes for capturing ideas matter just as much for small teams as they do for Fortune 500s. Diversity in who gets to “be an inventor” directly expands what gets invented. IP isn’t just a legal function — it’s a culture, and it has to be intentional. If you care about democratizing innovation, empowering more inventors, or building an internal IP mindset, this guide is well worth the read. 📄 Link to publication: https://lnkd.in/eQU93xi7 Happy to connect with anyone working on similar initiatives across academia, startups, law firms, or corporate IP teams.

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Thinking about starting your own business? This in-person event breaks down exactly what you need to know to get started, and it’s free to attend.

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Had a great, lively conversation with the Santa Clara University Leavey School of Business Exec MBA students sharing my entrepreneurial journey and lessons learned. Thank you Dr. Dennis Charlebois for the invite. A few tips if you’re thinking about starting a company: 1️⃣ Find cofounder(s) who truly complement you. You can’t be great at everything. Sales, marketing, product, engineering — they’re all different skill sets. (And no, ChatGPT is not a cofounder 😂) 2️⃣ Get feedback early and often. Talk to customers, watch how people actually use your product, and build in analytics from day one. It’s the fastest way to know if you’re really finding product–market fit. 3️⃣ Be disciplined about burn. Know your costs, your runway, and plan fundraising accordingly. Giving your idea enough time is everything. Bonus: stay positive but realistic. As a founder, you set the tone. Your energy shows up in the culture and morale more than you think. I became an entrepreneur because I wanted to create something worth sharing. Know your why — and if you believe your idea can help people, don’t keep it to yourself. Get it out into the world. What’s your top tips for students interested in being an entrepreneur? #entrepreneurship #startuplife #SCU #Broncos #founderjourney #ExecMBA #leadership

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UCLA's zero-waste journey with Reusables.com: Tap to Reuse™ is now available at UCLA building retail locations — helping Bruins ditch single-use and step into a cleaner, circular future. https://lnkd.in/edYGyCxz

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Kick off 2026 prepared with our HR Boot Camp focused on New California Employment Laws. This live session breaks down key updates every HR professional and business leader needs to know. Learn what is changing, why it matters, and how to stay compliant with confidence. Led by industry expert Jacquelyn Thorp, this boot camp delivers clear guidance you can apply right away. It is ideal for HR professionals, managers, and business owners navigating California workplaces. Save your seat and start the year informed and ready. 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://lnkd.in/dA3tPAu7 #HRBootCamp #CaliforniaEmploymentLaws #HRTraining #HRCompliance #HRProfessionals #EmploymentLawUpdate #WorkplaceCompliance #TrainMeToday #HRLeadership #2026Planning

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The Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce launched its first AI workshop on October 28, 2025, in partnership with SCORE Silicon Valley—achieving 100% attendance from eager business professionals. David Mortaz, AI Chair of SCORE Silicon Valley, equipped attendees with in-demand skills including Content Generation and Generative AI Search Optimization. These workshops are designed to transform how local professionals approach AI-powered customer discovery. Thanks to the exceptional coordination by SCORE team members Aneetha Vijay, Amaria Achour Tani, and Tripti Bindal, the event exceeded expectations. The Chamber is expanding the series in 2026 to meet growing demand for AI expertise in the Silicon Valley business community. Building the AI-Ready Workforce of Tomorrow. #AITalent #AISkills #TechRecruiting #SiliconValleyTalent #AIHiring #GenerativeAI #FutureOfWork #TalentDevelopment #AITraining #LosGatosChamber #SCORESiliconValley #ProfessionalDevelopment #AIJobs #TechCareers #Upskilling #SCOREMentors

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What does it truly mean to deliver Whole Person Care (WPC)? It means bridging the gap between a doctor's visit and the real-life social needs that impact health—like access to housing, food, and behavioral support. This is why the recent announcement from SACVALLEY MEDSHARE represents a significant step forward for healthcare in California. They have officially launched the statewide NinePatch, Inc. platform, in a key partnership with NinePatch, Inc. and Solano Women in Medicine (SWIM). John Helvey, CEO of SACVALLEY MEDSHARE, highlighted the impact: "This is a huge step forward for the communities we serve. By integrating the NinePatch, Inc. platform and collaborating with visionary partners like SWIM, we’re helping our providers and counties close care gaps, reduce fragmentation, and improve outcomes for individuals and families—especially those facing complex social and behavioral health challenges." This collaborative vision is shared by their partners. Dr. Lisa Holt, Chief Wellness Officer at NinePatch, adds that the partnership is about "This partnership is founded on a culture of collaboration and a shared commitment to transforming care delivery across the nation. By enabling seamless information flow, targeted referrals, and vendor-agnostic systems, we’re creating the federated infrastructure CalAIM envisioned—one that supports integrated, data-informed care for the whole person.” It's truly exciting to see this level of commitment to making integrated care the new standard in California! IDENTOS Inc. is also working on creating products and solutions for seamless data interoperability between systems that enable the flow of consented information across key stakeholders. Initiatives and projects, like the ones undertaken by SacValley Medshare, highlight the importance of all the hard work we are collectively doing to care for the whole person. https://lnkd.in/gMQ8XbAm #WholePersonCare #CalAIM #HealthcareInnovation #HealthIT #SDOH #Interoperability #HealthEquity #CommunityHealth #PublicHealth #HIE #CIE #DxF

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From simplifying academic planning to managing on-campus jobs, Santa Clara University is empowering students like Kaitlyn Perry to focus on what matters most. Hear her story: https://bit.ly/4h3w5D2 #TeamWDAY

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🔥 Hot news- California Governor Newsom passed SB-53, the first law of its kind in the US. And, as many know, what starts in CA for legislation typically directs other states (and the US Fed Government) to follow. #LLMs are driving the AI that we are using in our workplaces, and California continues to dominate the AI sector, as it is home to 32 of the 50 top AI companies worldwide. 📰 What the law does (direct from the Press Release): SB 53 establishes new requirements for frontier AI developers creating stronger: ✅ Transparency: Requires large frontier developers to publicly publish a framework on its website describing how the company has incorporated national standards, international standards, and industry-consensus best practices into its frontier AI framework. ✅ Innovation: Establishes a new consortium within the Government Operations Agency to develop a framework for creating a public computing cluster. The consortium, called CalCompute, will advance the development and deployment of artificial intelligence that is safe, ethical, equitable, and sustainable by fostering research and innovation. ✅ Safety: Creates a new mechanism for frontier AI companies and the public to report potential critical safety incidents to California’s Office of Emergency Services. ✅ Accountability: Protects whistleblowers who disclose significant health and safety risks posed by frontier models, and creates a civil penalty for noncompliance, enforceable by the Attorney General’s office. ✅ Responsiveness: Directs the California Department of Technology to annually recommend appropriate updates to the law based on multistakeholder input, technological developments, and international standards. 🤔 What are your thoughts on this new CA law? https://lnkd.in/gEB2qXYq

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What an honor to receive the Professional BusinessWomen of California (PBWC) Industry Leadership Award alongside so many incredible visionary leaders. I've been fortunate to learn and grow in my career, thanks to HP and thanks to some great external development programs, mentors and sponsors. I’ve learned from leaders who lead with empathy, champion others, and relentlessly pursue excellence. Leadership, to me, comes down to three essentials: #1: Embrace discomfort and just say yes. Growth lives outside your comfort zone. If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be: lean into the unknown. You don’t need to have it all figured out before to step into new opportunities. It is those moments that become catalysts for your best career development. #2: Find leaders going through similar business challenges or those who you can share and debate with, discuss, and compare notes. As you rise in your career, having a diverse sounding board and place to discuss ideas outside of your own company is helpful. #3: Keep learning. Seek work that inspires you, stay curious, and never stop growing. Thank you to the PBWC community, (and Stacey Heiss for accepting the award on my behalf at this year’s PBWC celebration), as well as everyone at HP who made this moment possible.

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