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).

Alice Statler Auditorium
106 Statler Dr
Ithaca, New York, 14853
United States

Laurie Strongin

Founder & CEO @ Hope for Henry | Nonprofit Leader

Laurie Strongin is a distinguished nonprofit leader, acclaimed author, and prominent advocate with over 30 years of experience catalyzing social change through innovative program development, strategic partnerships, and impactful storytelling. With a Master of Social Work from Catholic University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan, Laurie embodies the passion, expertise, and leadership necessary to drive meaningful social impact. As the founder and CEO of Hope for Henry Foundation, Laurie has spearheaded a transformative approach to pediatric patient care, enhancing outcomes for hospitalized children. Her leadership has propelled Hope for Henry to raise over $20 million, benefiting over 130,000 children and families across 40 hospitals nationwide. Laurie's entrepreneurial prowess and unwavering commitment to excellence have solidified Hope for Henry as a pioneering force.

Mike Fontaine

Professor, Author

Mike Fontaine is a Professor in the Department of Classics at Cornell University. He is a Latinist with a wide-ranging passion for Ancient Rome, the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Enlightenment. Professor Fontaine's latest publications, "Breakups" and "Addiction and Bullying," are published by Princeton University Press. Previous works encompass topics such as wine, swine, grief, mind, and humor. Currently, Professor Fontaine is writing a book on free speech across different historical periods, focusing on Plato, Plutarch, Lucian, and the Enlightenment. At Cornell, he instructs courses on Ancient Rome, Greek Mythology, Wine Culture, and Latin literature, alongside teaching eCornell courses on leadership from Ancient Rome and humor in the workplace. Additionally, Mike was recently parodied on Saturday Night Live.

Natalie Monbiot

Founder, Technology Strategist

Natalie is an emerging technology strategist and builder, and pioneer in the field of AI, virtual humans and generative video technologies. As a founding team member and head of strategy at Hour One, she has helped to create the AI avatar and video category from the ground up - from vision to ethics to commercialization. A leading voice in the industry, she has made the case for the “virtual human economy” in which real people profit from putting their virtual selves to work. Natalie excels at identifying commercial opportunities in their infancy and steering organizations towards future growth. She’s a trusted futurist, responsible for creating emerging technology roadmaps for companies. Natalie is an active collaborator and advisor to startups, agency boards and media publishers; a frequent keynote speaker and contributor to publications like WSJ and The Information; and has received awards including Fast Company Next Big Things in Tech and Cannes Lions Gold.

Sarah Davis

DJ

Sarah Davis, better known in the music community as DJ_Dave, has quickly launched a career in live coding music despite only having started in 2021. Instead of mixing records or using a turntable, Davis uses software called Sonic Pi and writes code in Ruby to generate her unique sound. Her journey into this innovative method began during a college course where she developed a passion for the art form. Although she had no prior DJ experience, she began performing live within a few months of working with the software. Davis' event setup is portable and features a digital display that allows the audience to see her coding process, providing an engaging glimpse into how her music is created.

Zilala Mamat

Activist, Co-Founder, and President

Zilala Mamat is a Uyghur-American Activist and student at Cornell University. She is the Co-Founder and President of United Uyghur Youth, an organization working to preserve and advocate for Uyghur culture and language while promoting connectivity within the community.