TEDxAtlanta speakers share fresh perspectives on sustainability, innovation and action.
Every June 5, the world marks World Environment Day, the UN’s biggest day for getting people to actually do something about the planet. It has run since 1973, and each year millions of people across more than 150 countries use it to push for cleaner air, less waste, and a healthier environment.
It is easy to treat a day like this as a far-off, global thing. But you do not have to look to a UN summit to find people working on it. Some of them are right here in Atlanta.
Here are three TEDxAtlanta speakers worth revisiting this World Environment Day, each tackling the environment from a completely different angle: the places we build, the things we wear, and the ground beneath our feet.
Sandeep Ahuja wants sustainable design to be the easy choice, not the hard one. She is co-founder and CEO of Cove, an AI platform that helps architects and engineers model a building’s energy and carbon performance early, when changes are still cheap to make. She has presented at the UN Environment Assembly and co-authored “Build Like It’s the End of the World,” a practical guide to decarbonizing architecture, engineering, and construction. Her argument is that better buildings start with better decisions at the drawing board.
Tia Robinson builds clothes only after someone orders them. As founder and CEO of Atlanta-based Vertical Activewear, she runs a vertically integrated, on-demand model that cuts out the overproduction driving fashion’s waste problem, where 30 to 40% of garments never sell. A trip to Ghana, where she saw beaches buried under discarded clothing, sharpened her conviction. Her talk, “How to be a sustainable online shopper,” puts real power in the hands of the person at checkout.
James Marlow has spent his career in clean energy, including leading Atlanta’s Southface Institute and working on more than 350 solar and energy storage projects. But his talk takes a quieter path. In “What I Learned Walking 100 Miles of Georgia’s Coastline,” he reflects on the restorative power of nature and what a long walk along the coast taught him about our relationship to the natural world. It is a reminder that protecting the environment starts with paying attention to it.
Three Atlanta thinkers, three very different answers to the same question: how do we take better care of the place we live? Watch their talks this week, then follow TEDxAtlanta for more ideas worth acting on.
Our 2026 mainstage conference lands October 2 and 3 at Atlanta International School in Sandy Springs, with the TEDxAtlanta Youth Conference following on October 3. Rooted in Atlanta’s spirit of reinvention and momentum, this year’s theme, Bold. Brave. Unbreakable., celebrates ideas that challenge convention, confront complexity, and imagine stronger futures in a rapidly changing world. Register now.
Mothers Day arrives every year wrapped in the same familiar packaging of bouquets, cards, and maybe a brunch or spa day. There’s nothing wrong with that, but motherhood itself is so much bigger than one Sunday in May. We often see the highlight reel of joyful times, but what about the moments in between–the identity shifts and invisible labor; feelings of pride and feelings of isolation; and sometimes, dealing with loss and grief?
To shine a light on those moments, this Mother’s Day, we want to support and honor moms by understanding what motherhood really is through these Talks that give us the full, unfiltered reality of being a mom.
The Mental Load and Myth of the Perfect Mother
The standard of motherhood evolves generation by generation, and it can put a lot of pressure on moms. In her Talk The Perfect Mother Needs To Go, Andrea Jansen makes the case that the bar we’ve set for “good motherhood” isn’t just high, it’s downright unattainable, and the longer we pretend otherwise, the more damage we do to real mothers living real lives.
Kendra Estle goes even further in The BS of Motherhood, arguing that motherhood can be an isolating and exhausting experience, and that we need more physical and virtual spaces where mothers can say that out loud without shame.
Lastly, Diana Spalding shares the devastating consequences that happen when a society does not take care of mothers in her Talk, What if We Nurtured Moms? The good news is, she also has a very simple way of how we can start fixing the problem.
The Health Crisis We Don’t Talk About Enough
Here in Georgia, we have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, and Black women bear a disproportionate share of that burden.
Shawnee Benton Gibson speaks to this in Words and Wombs Create Worlds: The Black Maternal Health Crisis. After losing her daughter to maternal mortality in 2019, she turned her grief into advocacy.
As a response to the broken maternal health system our country faces, Dr. Nikia Grayson supports midwifery as a solution. Her Talk How Black Midwives Can Help Our Broken Maternal Healthcare System calls for the training and development of midwives, especially Black midwives who have a closer understanding of their patients’ lived experiences.
On the postpartum side, Auburn Harrison’s Talk Why We All Need to Talk About Postpartum Depression brings personal experience to a condition that affects far more mothers than we acknowledge.
The Identity Crisis of Motherhood: You Are Still You
Becoming a mother does not mean disappearing into motherhood. Reproductive psychiatrist Alexandra Sacks explains the concept of matrescence (the psychological and identity shift that comes with becoming a mother) in her widely watched TED talk, A New Way to Think About the Transition to Motherhood.
For mothers navigating their careers, Irene Mora’s For Women in Pursuit of Motherhood and a Career encourages moms to pursue both a family and a career, and how their kids may just thank them for doing so. Meanwhile, Whitnee Hawthorne’s What Corporate America Needs to Know about Working Moms shows the reality of being a working mother today, and how to use parenting skills to become leaders in the workplace.
Motherhood has always been one of the most powerful forces in the world. These Talks are a testament to that, making room for the mothers who are exhausted, the ones who feel unseen, the ones fighting a broken system, and the ones still figuring out who they are on the other side of having a child.
Sometimes, the most meaningful thing you can do for a mom is to just listen to her. This Mother’s Day, we hope these talks are a good starting point.
Sakshi Jain is a social entrepreneur, fundraiser and artist. She is currently focussed on solutions that enable older adults to live with purpose, prosperity, and joy. At TEDx Atlanta, she is a member of the core team, leading events that are relevant and meaningful to the city’s diverse communities. She moved to Atlanta in 2024 and is always up for long walks with iced coffee (shout out to the Beltline!), trying anything creative, and the conversations that happen along the way.
I love that TEDx makes knowledge more accessible and ideas more contextualized for audiences who will find those ideas most relevant to them. When I learned about TEDx Atlanta, I knew that I had to reach out!
Ed Yong’s TED talk Zombie Roaches and Other Parasite Tales has got to be one of the most delightful and pun-tastic Talks on the TED platform. Ed packs a punch with his theme, but he really nails the storytelling and humor so well that I remember parts of his Talk, down to the pauses, years later. His Talk had me adding ‘parasites making crickets jump into swimming pools’ to my search history, and he made me appreciate and rethink nature, even at its wildest.
Fun, thoughtful, curious.
That has to be the 2025 Pollinator Census, where we were terribly rained out. It didn’t stop us from showing up for the folks who joined the count, and it definitely did not stop us from having fun while learning about the amazing work pollinators do to keep our ecosystem running and the gardeners who help them thrive. I also learned that the most appropriate reaction to meeting a bee was not, in fact, to screech, but to simply allow it to fly away and do its thing. Look out for the 2026 Pollinator Census in a few months!
The annual mainstage event is not all we do! Our programming includes multiple curated, smaller-scale events and experiences throughout the year. These are great to meet people in the Atlanta community and see how you can actually contribute your time and skills, before deciding if you want to commit to volunteering for a longer period.
Another way to get involved is by partnering with us to bring a unique experience–or even experiment–to Atlanta. In just the last year, we have hosted an adventure at Chantelle Rytter’s parade studio, a panel on sustainability and innovation in fashion, participated in the Southeast Pollinator Census, and enabled skills-based volunteering with five impactful Atlanta area non-profits.
TEDx has helped me see sides of Atlanta I probably would not have discovered on my own. I’ve got to be in some really cool rooms and meet people who are obsessed with, and excel at, their craft. I love that at every event, I meet people from diverse walks of life–people who have come together for no reason other than their curiosity and intent. I have met people who are attending their first TEDxAtlanta event, and people who are attending their 15th, simply because we make sure that our programming is unique.
For new experiences, to learn about how the world works, and meet fantastic people!
Interested in volunteering with us and getting immersed in all things Atlanta? Complete the form at the bottom of this link: https://www.tedxatlanta.com/volunteer/
The TEDxAtlanta conference and year-round programming are fueled by four groups of amazing individuals: speakers, volunteers, attendees, and partners. In our Partner Spotlight series, we invite you to meet the businesses that lend us their time, expertise, and/or financial support in service of furthering the mission of spreading ideas that spark curiosity, civil discourse and ultimately a more cohesive community.
In conversation with Jamie Maglietta, Founder of (ON CAM) Ready Media, providing services ranging from production and marketing to media readiness and strategic guidance.
After more than 20 years in television news, I realized something most people outside the industry don’t see: the people getting booked weren’t always the most qualified–they were the most prepared.
I spent my career in control rooms at CNN and FOX News deciding who made it on air and who didn’t. And over time, I saw incredibly smart, credible experts get passed over, simply because their message wasn’t clear, their presence wasn’t dialed in, or their digital footprint didn’t support their expertise.
(ON CAM) Ready Media was created to close that gap. In addition to serving as a client’s Fractional Chief Creative Director, we produce short-form content for thought leaders and brands, provide event coverage to help brands and speakers elevate their online presence, and craft long-form videos.
I wanted to give professionals access to the same level of strategic thinking, storytelling, and preparation that goes into broadcast — so they can show up with clarity and confidence and actually be seen.
Most people in this space focus on content creation or social media growth tactics, but I approach it from a producer’s lens. That means, we don’t just ask, “What should you post?” We ask, “How is your story being packaged, positioned, and perceived — and would it hold up in a newsroom, on a stage, or in front of a national audience?”
Everything we do is rooted in real media experience: How producers evaluate guests, how stories are structured for impact, and how presence translates on camera. It’s not about performing. It’s about being ready — strategically, visually, and verbally — so the right opportunities can find you.
Outside of my work with TEDxAtlanta, one of the most meaningful achievements has been watching clients step into visibility in a way that actually reflects who they are.
Seeing someone go from hesitant on camera to confidently sharing their ideas, or landing podcast interviews, speaking opportunities, and press, or simply feeling proud of how they show up online is the work that matters most to me.
On a personal level, building (ON CAM) Ready Media after a long career in traditional media has been a defining chapter. It’s allowed me to take everything I learned behind the scenes (and on-camera, as I once was a performer) and turn it into something that empowers others to be seen.
The biggest challenge was shifting from being behind the scenes to becoming the face of my own brand. In television, I was used to producing others — shaping their message and guiding their presence. Stepping in front of the camera myself required a different kind of confidence.
What helped me overcome that was applying the same frameworks I teach: getting clear on my message, practicing consistently, and treating my own content like a production, not a performance. It reminded me that confidence doesn’t come first — clarity and repetition do. As a speaker, I present how I turned the camera around using my framework R.E.A.L. and the mindset concept, Dipping to Black™. Shaping my own thought leadership into a course and a talk has been a huge shift and a challenge I overcame, which I now use to help others turn their own thought leadership into content.
Working with TEDxAtlanta has strongly aligned with the mission of (ON CAM) Ready Media. TEDx is all about ideas worth sharing — and what I love about this partnership is the intention behind how those ideas are presented, supported, and elevated. It’s been inspiring to be part of a community that values storytelling, thoughtful communication, and creating a platform for voices that deserve to be heard.
While I provide marketing support for TEDxAtlanta, I can also offer other services such as guidance on stage presentations. I hope to continue collaborating with TEDxAtlanta, as I truly appreciate working with Jacqui Chew, the licensee and organizer, as well as Aby Varma, the head of marketing.
Jamie Maglietta is an Emmy-nominated television news producer and media strategist with more than 20 years of experience at CNN and FOX News Channel. She partners with TEDxAtlanta via her business (ON CAM) Ready Media, supporting marketing initiatives with a focus on video and photo content on Instagram & Facebook, helping amplify big ideas and elevate thought leaders through intentional, story-driven digital strategy. Jamie brings a producer’s mindset to audience growth—testing what builds trust, momentum, and connection around live events. She is the founder of (ON CAM) Ready, where she helps professionals show up with clarity and confidence on camera as a media readiness strategist.
To learn more about (ON CAM) Ready Media, visit the website or connect with Jamie on LinkedIn.
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Reid Kersey is a software engineer and entrepreneur who has been a volunteer with TEDxAtlanta for 10 years. A graduate of Georgia Tech, he is passionate about finding new ideas that can change the world and the way we live in it. Read more about how he applies this passion toward being a Stage Manager at TEDxAtlanta.
What first sparked your interest in TEDx?
While studying at Georgia Tech in 2015, I came across an email inviting volunteers to join TEDxPeachtree (now TEDxAtlanta). The idea of being part of an organization dedicated to sharing ideas and inspiring change immediately resonated with me. I joined the Stage Management team and have been stage managing TEDx shows ever since. It’s become one of my favorite ways to give back and stay connected to a community of innovative thinkers.
What’s your favorite TED Talk or TEDx Talk?
My favorite TED Talk is “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” by Simon Sinek. His message about leading with purpose and inspiring others by example deeply resonates with me. It’s a reminder that great leadership starts with clarity of vision and a commitment to authenticity.
If you could describe your volunteer experience with TEDxAtlanta in three words, what would they be?
Dynamic, energizing, rewarding
What is your favorite memory from your time working with TEDxAtlanta?
One of my favorite memories was the year we had to assemble a full-sized submarine on stage during a short intermission. It was an ambitious challenge requiring all hands on deck, precise coordination, and countless rehearsals. In the end, we managed to execute it seamlessly in just a few minutes while the emcee spoke to the audience. Moments like this remind me how rewarding it is to work behind the scenes. Every year brings a unique set of challenges, but there’s nothing quite like the feeling of seeing the event come together flawlessly and knowing you played a role in making it happen.
What is something that may surprise people about TEDx?
Despite all the months of meticulous planning, there are always last-minute adjustments and discoveries during tech rehearsals. Live shows demand a balance of careful preparation and adaptability on the day of the event. Our goal is to make everything appear effortless to the audience. When we succeed, it’s because everyone worked together to ensure every detail was accounted for and every challenge was met with a solution.
How has TEDx helped you grow professionally and/or personally?
TEDx has introduced me to a network of incredibly talented and curious individuals who are passionate about learning and sharing ideas. Being part of this community has helped me grow both personally and professionally by fostering connections, encouraging collaboration, and inspiring me to think more broadly about the world. Volunteering with TEDx has been a transformative experience. Listening to speakers share their passions and ideas not only inspires me but also gives me a fresh perspective on life. It’s hard not to take something meaningful away from each talk, and those lessons often influence how I approach my own work and personal growth.
Why should others volunteer with TEDx?
Volunteering with TEDx is an unforgettable experience that allows you to be part of something truly impactful. At its core, TEDx is about spreading knowledge, and knowledge is at the root of what changes the world. By contributing your time and skills, you’re helping bring transformative ideas to life and sharing them with others who are eager to learn and grow. In a small but meaningful way, you’re playing a role in making the world a better place—one idea at a time.
Over the years, we’ve curated ideas by changemakers who strive to make our world and communities a safer, fairer, more enlightened place for all, amplifying the voiceless by using our own voices to challenge injustice and expand our empathy.Besides being home to multiple TEDx communities, Atlanta is also a place with a legacy for human rights. As a key hub for the Civil Rights Movement in the US and the home of many leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Senator John Lewis, Atlanta is a place where conversations about justice and equity are part of the city’s DNA.
World Human Rights Day acknowledges the intersection of these two realities. On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a revolutionary document that has been translated into over 500 languages and used as the basis for more than 70 human rights treaties around the world. This simple yet ground-breaking document declares that every human is born with the right to dignity, freedom, and a secure and just environment–not because they worked for it; not because of the country they were born in; and not because of their socioeconomic status. Simply because they are human.
Jasmine Burton: Innovation to Sanitation Through Empathic Design
“Knowing exactly where the restroom is right now puts you among the world’s most privileged half of the population.”
Humanitarian and industrial designer Jasmine Burton begins her talk with this quote and the fact that about 2.5 billion people do not have access to a toilet. Her Talk takes us through the sanitation crisis in global public health, its impact on education and mental health, and the economic and human cost of diseases stemming from lack of sanitation. Learn how she’s applying empathic design toward innovative and sustainable mobile toilet solutions to restore dignity and hope to many who live with little or no sanitation measures.
L. Denise Wells: The Accessibility Conversation You’re Not Having (But Should Be)
“Our progress as a society is not based on how we treat the privileged. It’s based on how we treat those who are marginalized and the most vulnerable.”
Accessibility for persons with disabilities is often overlooked in DEI conversations and societal advances in general. In this talk, accompanied on stage by a sign language interpreter, DEI practitioner and accessibility advocate L. Denise urges us to speak up for the excluded and the overlooked. When we do, innovative solutions often blossom and benefit us all; after all, it’s how products like the elevator, electric toothbrush, and even phone texting came to be. When we lean in to embrace inclusivity, we unlock opportunities for new inventions, new perspectives, and new advancements.
Jonathan Rapping: Building a New Generation of Public Defenders
“I learned that if we fail to see the humanity of the people in our criminal justice system, we will drive injustice.”
Attorney Jonathan Rapping admits that “it’s really hard to be a caring lawyer. Caring is painful.” After witnessing many injustices toward people from vulnerable communities (such as children) who were accused of crimes, he decided to channel these painful experiences into his work building a new generation of public defenders based on a culture of empathy, hope, and humanity. Jonathan’s work directly addresses the constitutional right to counsel, the human right to a fair public trial, and the cultural transformation required to reinstill human dignity to those facing criminal charges.
Precious Price: Why We Need to Rethink Housing Insecurity
“Access to adequate housing is a human right, and not having it is an injustice.”
Housing justice advocate Precious Price combines her real estate experience with community action, imploring us to confront housing insecurity with honesty and curiosity. She walks us through examples of the housing insecure, also known as the “hidden homeless,” shining a light on how there are people across all demographics in the US that are just one step away from homelessness. Quoting the UDHR’s decree that access to safe and affordable housing is a fundamental human right, Jasmine takes us through examples of cities and communities that have tackled this issue through the unity and collaboration of policymakers, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs.
World Human Rights Day is not just a passive observance of what was accomplished by an international group of leaders in 1948. It is a day to celebrate the world’s progress with human rights, and a day to mobilize to continue advocating for positive change. Fortunately, as our TEDxAtlanta speakers have proven, you don’t need a lot of money, a ton of followers, or a high-ranking position to make a difference. You can start with your voice, your time, your community, and your passion. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Listen and learn. Watch and listen to the Talks above, discuss your takeaways with friends, and research other human rights stories and anecdotes.
Speak up and advocate. Use the influence you already have, whether it’s online or at the dinner table, to share stories and statistics about human rights in your daily life. Counter misinformation and call out injustice when you see it.
Support and encourage. Countless organizations work daily and tirelessly to defend human rights. Consider donating, volunteering, or amplifying their work.
Address and demand. Learn who your local and state elected officials are and hold them accountable in prioritizing human rights in their policies. You can write to them, make phone calls, or even tag them on social media.
By choosing to honor the dignity and rights of others each day, these small choices add up and shape our world and global thinking about equity, justice, and the right to thrive where you live–no matter who you are.
Kathryn Woods is a communication consultant and speaking coach with more than 20 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist. As a “recovering shy person,” she understands how challenging communicating with confidence can be. She fuses her experience and expertise together to form the foundation of training and communicating she uses to help speakers, professionals, and teams feel comfortable and confident when communicating. Kathryn’s impactful and interactive presentations and trainings give participants the “Aha!” moment they seek, while teaching practical strategies that can be implemented immediately and with ease.
The opportunity to be part of a community that works as a team to highlight the voices of TEDx Atlanta speakers and spread innovative ideas to make the world a better place.
Collaboration, community, and impact.
The satisfaction of witnessing the joy and pride the speakers feel when they finally get up on that red dot and deliver their message powerfully after weeks or months of working together to refine and practice their talks.
The events are not just a random group of speakers talking about unrelated ideas, but rather, a curated selection of ideas and speakers centered around a theme. It reminds me of a great album where each song relates back to a central motif.
If you want to meet fascinating, mission-driven human beings, I highly recommend joining the TEDx volunteer team!
Meggie Powell is a product marketing manager for a tech company focused on bringing digital workflows to the manufacturing industry. At TEDxAtlanta, she leads marketing and storytelling initiatives, sharing big ideas and amplifying the voices of local innovators. Meggie moved to Atlanta from Louisiana in 2016 and is passionate about sustainability, supporting local communities, and connecting with people who care about making a difference. Read more about how she’s applied her skills and passions as a marketing lead with TEDxAtlanta.
I’ve always loved ideas that challenge the way we think or work. TEDx offered a way to not just hear those ideas, but to help bring them to life. It’s been inspiring to work alongside people who believe in the power of sharing bold perspectives.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the kind of impact we choose to make, through our work, our buying decisions, and how we build brands.
That’s why Esha Chhabra’s TED Talk, “How Business Can Improve the World, Not Just the Bottom Line,” struck such a chord with me. She challenges the old idea that profit and purpose are mutually exclusive, and instead makes the case for regenerative businesses that prioritize people and the planet alongside performance.
As someone who works in product marketing for technology that helps frontline teams work smarter and safer, I’m constantly thinking about how innovation can support not just efficiency, but human impact. This talk is a reminder that doing good business and doing better for the world don’t have to be at odds.
Curious. Energizing. Thoughtful.
Seeing the talks go live—knowing how much care and collaboration went into every single one. There’s something special about being part of that process behind the scenes.
It’s 100% volunteer-run. Every detail you see—online, on stage, or in person—was created by people who care deeply about the mission.
It’s given me the chance to connect with incredible professionals and learn from some of the most inspiring leaders in Atlanta. Being part of this community has expanded my perspective and helped me grow both creatively and professionally.
Because it’s a front-row seat to the best of humanity. You’ll be part of something bigger than yourself, surrounded by people who care deeply about ideas, impact, and community.
Every September 21, the world comes together to observe the International Day of Peace. This day is a reminder that peace is not a passive state, but an active one, built through compassion, dialogue, and the everyday choices we make to connect with one another.
To mark this day, we’ve gathered five powerful talks from TED and TEDx stages around the world that shine a light on what peace looks like in action. From global movements to simple acts of kindness, these talks challenge us to see peace as more than an abstract dream, but as something we can create—together.
Speaker: Jeremy Gilley, TEDGlobal
Filmmaker and activist Jeremy Gilley recounts his journey in contributing to the formation of what is now known as the International Day of Peace. His story highlights how a simple idea grew into a worldwide observance, sparking ceasefires and humanitarian aid efforts. He shows that collective action can turn peace into a lived reality.
Speaker: Jody Williams, TED
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams offers a pragmatic perspective on building peace, urging us to focus on tangible actions rather than utopian ideals. Her vision emphasizes grassroots activism and accountability, showing us that peace is the product of choices we make together.
Speaker: Jordan Arogeti, TEDxAtlanta
Jordan Arogeti challenges us to rethink the ways we show support to one another in moments of loss and need. By moving beyond transactional gestures, she reminds us that true peace begins in the way we extend compassion and presence in our daily lives, building stronger and more resilient communities.
Speaker: Shunichi Karube, TEDxSuginami
Shunichi Karube, a 4th grader from Tokyo, shares his heartfelt journey toward peace and friendship across cultures. A trip to Phuket, Thailand showed him the joy of connecting with others despite language barriers and inspired him to see language learning as a bridge to stronger bonds.
He calls on all of us to build a peaceful world through kindness, understanding, and friendship, proof that even the youngest voices can inspire change.
Speaker: Susan Sparks, TEDxPeachtree (predecessor to TEDxAtlanta)
Susan Sparks shares how humor can break down barriers, heal wounds, and bring people together across divides. By highlighting the universal language of laughter, she reminds us that peace often starts with something as simple and profound as joy.
On this International Day of Peace, let these talks serve as a reminder that peace is not passive. It is a decisive act, big or small, built through compassion, action, and connection. Through advocacy, humor, or small acts of care, each of us has the power to be a peacemaker in our own lives and communities.
Kafi is a dynamic leadership catalyst who curates engaging experiences that bring the art of leading with energy to life. As the author of Fired Up! Lead with Energy and Create Ripples of Impact, she champions positive energy as the key to drawing people in and creating meaningful impact—an antidote to burnout-driven leadership that pushes others away. Whenever she’s not busy with her practice, you’ll find Kafi in the community leading spirited indoor cycling classes, joyfully spinning on the salsa dance floor, or volunteering with local groups and associations.
What first drew me to TEDx was how it sparks conversations and brings big ideas to life. I’ve always loved how TEDx gives people a platform to share stories and insights that can really change perspectives and inspire action. It’s such a unique mix of community, creativity, and impact—and that totally aligns with my passion for creating positive ripples through connection and energy. Being part of something that helps people think differently and connect in meaningful ways just felt like a perfect fit.
All it Takes is 10 Mindful Minutes by Andy Puddicombe. Andy is such an engaging storyteller, and he makes it so easy to see how a simple daily habit like mindfulness can make a big difference in our energy and focus. His approach feels approachable and doable, which is what I love about it!
Exciting, energizing, and impactful.
One of my favorite memories from working with TEDx was in 2024 when I joined the team as a Speaker Sherpa. It was such a cool experience to help speakers with all the behind-the-scenes logistics in the final weeks before the event and to be their go-to person on the big day. There was something so rewarding about being there to calm nerves, answer last-minute questions, and make sure everything ran smoothly so they could shine on stage. Seeing their hard work come to life and knowing I played a part in making it all come together was really special.
One thing people might find surprising about TEDx is that it’s 100% volunteer-driven and planning starts months in advance. The energy and collaboration behind the scenes are incredible—every detail, from coordinating speakers to managing event-day logistics, is handled by people who are passionate about sharing ideas that matter. It’s not just about the Talks; it’s about creating an experience where those ideas can truly come to life for the audience
It has helped me grow in ways I didn’t see coming. In 2023, I joined the team as a Speaker Sherpa, which was all about supporting speakers and managing logistics. It sharpened my ability to stay calm under pressure and think on my feet. This year, in 2025, it’s been exciting to step into one of the Guest Emcee roles, which is stretching me in a whole new way. Along the way, I’ve met so many amazing people, and being surrounded by such inspiring energy has made the experience even more meaningful.
Overall, being part of TEDx has changed how I view teamwork and what’s possible when people come together with a shared purpose. It’s given me a deeper appreciation for the little details that make a big impact—whether it’s calming a speaker’s nerves or ensuring everything flows smoothly on event day. It’s also inspired me to stay curious and open to new ideas in my own life, which has been such a fun and unexpected bonus!
Volunteering with TEDx is such a rewarding experience because you get to be part of something truly inspiring. It’s not just about the talks—it’s about working with an incredible team of people, building skills in ways you didn’t expect, and knowing you’re helping bring ideas that matter to life. Whether you’re behind the scenes managing logistics or upfront engaging with speakers, there’s something special about being part of a community that’s all about making an impact.
