Ideas worth spreading

Theranos, whistleblowing and speaking truth to power

2,580,856 views |

Erika Cheung |

TEDxBerkeley

• February 2020

In 2014, Erika Cheung made a discovery that would ultimately help bring down her employer, Theranos, as well as its founder, Elizabeth Holmes, who claimed to have invented technology that would transform medicine. The decision to become a whistleblower proved a hard lesson in figuring out how to do what's right in the face of both personal and professional obstacles. With candor and humility, Cheung shares her journey of speaking truth to power -- and offers a framework to encourage others to come forward and act in the service of all.

In 2014, Erika Cheung made a discovery that would ultimately help bring down her employer, Theranos, as well as its founder, Elizabeth Holmes, who claimed to have invented technology that would transform medicine. The decision to become a whistleblower proved a hard lesson in figuring out how to do what's right in the face of both personal and professional obstacles. With candor and humility, Cheung shares her journey of speaking truth to power -- and offers a framework to encourage others to come forward and act in the service of all.

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxBerkeley, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

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About the speaker

Erika Cheung

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Erika Cheung was one of the key whistleblowers in the Theranos scandal.

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxBerkeley, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.