Premier Sponsor
The Mensa Foundation is proud to serve as the Premier Sponsor of Brilliance by the Bay, San Francisco Regional Mensa’s 2026 Regional Gathering taking place November 20–22 in Burlingame, California. The sponsorship includes a keynote presentation by acclaimed artist and designer Yiying Lu, whose work demonstrates how creativity can connect people across cultures.
In addition to the keynote, the Foundation’s sponsorship supports volunteer recognition and programming materials and experiences designed to encourage curiosity and connection.
“We want to meet our community where they are and create more opportunities to connect with the Foundation’s mission,” said Jill Beckham, Director of the Mensa Foundation. “Our Better Together efforts are about strengthening the relationship between the Foundation and American Mensa. This sponsorship is a great example of how we can work together to celebrate our community while showcasing the many ways intelligence can make a difference.”
Designing for Belonging: Creativity Connects Us
Lu’s keynote, Designing for Belonging: Creativity Connects Us, will explore how creativity and visual storytelling can bridge cultural differences and bring people together.
From creating Twitter’s iconic Fail Whale to helping bring the dumpling 🥟 and boba tea 🧋 emojis to keyboards worldwide, Lu has spent more than two decades using design to connect people across cultures. Drawing on her experiences working with global brands including Disney, Apple and Google, she will explore how color, typography and imagery can help people feel seen and foster a sense of belonging.
An award-winning artist and creative leader, Lu previously served as Global Creative Director at 500 Global and as a San Francisco Arts Commissioner. She currently leads Happy Creative Land, a San Francisco-based innovation studio, and serves as an Adobe Global Creative Ambassador.
In addition to her keynote presentation, Lu will auction one of her original artworks, with proceeds benefiting the Mensa Foundation.
Better Together
The sponsorship reflects a growing commitment to collaboration between the Mensa Foundation and American Mensa. Regional gatherings provide opportunities to put that partnership into action by supporting local programming and recognizing the volunteers whose contributions make these events possible.
Through efforts like these, the Foundation is building stronger relationships within the Mensa community while creating more ways for people to experience its mission to unleash intelligence for the benefit of humanity.
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