Theme: Leading Change

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Due to COVID-19, our inaugural 2020 event will be virtual.

Union Stage
740 Water St SW
Washington, District of Columbia, 20024
United States

Aaliyah Polite

Juvenile Justice Reformer

Aaliyah Polite is a behavior and educational aide at Ballou Senior High School in DC and a violence interrupter with the National Association for the Advancement of Returning Citizens’ “Cure the Streets.”

Amy Kalokerinos

Growth Operator

Amy Kalokerinos is a growth operator and hired gun frequently brought in by entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and investors to accelerate product development, sales, marketing, business development, and cross-border strategic optimization.

Anastasiia Mazurok

Concert Violinist

Anastasiia Mazurok is a concert violinist and native of Saint Petersburg, Russia. She has performed around the world and is a former Rockefeller Foundation fellow at the Juilliard School.

Cassandra Worthy

Change Enthusiast

Cassandra Worthy helps organizations embrace change. Through her unique strategy of Change Enthusiasm, she equips individuals with the tools to harness the power of emotion and accelerate their transformational journeys into the future.

Daisy Auger Domínguez

Diversity & Inclusion Strategist

Daisy Auger-Domínguez is on a mission to make workplaces more equitable, compassionate and inclusive. She inspires global organizations to think inclusively, lead with purpose, embrace courage and shape the future of work. As the Chief People Officer at VICE Media Group, Daisy shapes the culture of the Vice teams, promotes professional growth, engagement and development, helps to accelerate business performance, and champions an equitable and inclusive employee experience.

Davey Yarborough

Jazz Educator

Davey Yarborough is the President and Artistic Director of The Washington Jazz Arts in Washington DC. In 2019, Mr. Yarborough retired from Duke Ellington School of the Arts after 30 years of service as jazz educator. His lifelong commitment to mentoring young musicians was recognized in 2018 when he was inducted into the Downbeat Jazz Educator Hall of Fame.

Dr. Amy Johnson

Conservation Scientist

Dr. Amy Johnson is an experienced research ecologist and conservation leader with a demonstrated history of developing landscape-scale conservation research and outreach programs on public and private lands.

Dr. Chung Hyuk Park

Biomedical Engineer

Dr. Chung Hyuk Park is an Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering at George Washington University. His interests include Interactive Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning. One of his primary goals as a roboticist is to design intelligent robotic systems that can assist people with disabilities, in rehabilitation, and with emotional and social interactions for the well-being of human society. hold for bio

Dr. Kaveh Akbari Hamed

Robotics Engineer

Dr. Kaveh Akbari Hamed is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Hybrid Dynamic Systems and Robot Locomotion (HDSRL) Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech. His primary academic interests span control theory, robotics, cyber-physical systems, hybrid dynamical systems, and optimization. hold for bio This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.

Dr. Marty Makary

Healthcare Disruptor

Dr. Marty Makary practices surgical oncology and advanced laparoscopic surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital and is a professor of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Halim Flowers

Criminal Justice Reformer

Halim Flowers was sentenced to life in prison at the age of 16. Held in a cage for 22 years, he began crafting his method of artistic expression to find some sense of peace in a hopeless place. After being released from prison, Halim uses photography, painting, poetry, and spoken word to further his love revolution and advocate for criminal justice reform.

Jessica Buchanan

Humanitarian

Jessica Buchanan is a bestselling author and podcast host who unpacks the uncomfortable topics that nobody is talking about, but definitely should. Previously, Jessica was a humanitarian aid worker living and working in Somali who was kidnapped and held hostage for 93 days by Somali land pirates before being rescued bya team of United States Navy SEALs.

Jessica Carson

Creative Entrepreneur

Jessica Carson is the Director of Innovation at the American Psychological Association, an Expert in Residence at Georgetown University. With a background in psychology, neuroscience, startups, venture capital, and mindfulness, Jessica has both a scientific and embodied understanding of the unique wiring of entrepreneurial spirits, and empowers them to develop their capacity for self-study, which she discusses in her book Wired This Way.

Jessica Hall

Product Developer

Jessica Hall helps companies design better products. She is an accomplished product manager who helps her clients understand customers, focus efforts and drive business results. Her book “The Product Mindset: Succeed in the Digital Economy by Changing the Way Your Organization Thinks" inspires leaders to approach product development from a bold, new direction, based on a shared internal outlook that drives focus, speed, experimentation, and innovation.

Karen Gray Houston

Journalist

Karen Gray Houston is an award-winning journalist, whose career in broadcast news has spanned more than 40 years at radio and television stations and networks in Boston, New York City and Washington, DC. h

Kwame Onwuachi

Culinary Innovator

Chef Kwame Onwuachi is an American-Nigerian chef and best-selling author. Most recently, he was the executive chef at Kith/Kin, a high-end Afro-Caribbean restaurant in The Wharf neighborhood of Washington, DC. He has been a contestant on Top Chef, and has been recognized by Food & Wine magazine, Esquire magazine, and the James Beard Foundation as "Rising Star Chef of the Year."

Maggie O'Neill

Artist

Maggie O’Neill is an artist, designer and creative entrepreneur based in Washington, DC. As a fine artist, Maggie is best known for her iconic pop impressionistic paintings of Washington, DC including landmarks and both the famous and familiar individuals who inspire and make history

Malik "Dope" Stewart

Drummer

Malik Stewart aka “Malik DOPE” is a Washington, D.C. native who provides entertainment, education, inspiration, motivation, innovation, artistic awareness & production through the live nature of percussion, ultimately displaying his unique brand as a positive influence on living life.

Matt Wallaert

Behavioral Scientist

Matt Wallaert has been applying behavioral science to practical problems, from startup exits to the Fortune 500 to an array of pro-social side projects, for over 20 years. As one of the first behavioral scientists to leave academia and work in industry, he’s given hundreds of talks on the science of behavior change at the UN, SXSW, and beyond.

Michael Berkowitz

Resilient Cities Catalyst

Michael Berkowitz is a founding principal of Resilient Cities Catalyst a new global non-profit helping cities and their partners tackle their toughest challenges.

Na'Vaughn Martin

Jazz Musician

Na’Vaughn Martin is an entrepreneur, educator and jazz musician based in Washington DC. He is founder and band leader of the Na’Vaughn Martin Trio, and he travels around the world to perform with Niigata’s Big Band Jazz Quest in different events and competitions as 1st tenor saxophonist.

Patrick Sweeney

Fear Guru

Patrick Sweeney helps others find courage in those moments when they recognize they are at a crossroads. An adventurer and entrepreneur, he has been dubbed the “Fear Guru” for his work with more than 500 global CEOs, actors, professional athletes, Navy SEALs and corporations and is known for his ability to teach others how to turn fear into fuel that can help you can take the path that leads to growth, happiness, success and fulfilment.

Vincent Mikolay

Social Entrepreneur

Vincent Mikolay is a balanced humanitarian and social entrepreneur who has served as a leader of change in roles for non-profits, state governments and Fortune 100 companies as well as leading his own entrepreneurial endeavors in North America and abroad.