Theme: Trailblazer

TEDxUoPacific is proud to present 10 trailblazing speakers who will take the stage at Faye Spanos Concert Hall at the University of the Pacific to share ‘ideas worth spreading.’ Aligned with this year’s theme, ‘Trailblazer,’ our speakers are pioneers in their fields—thinkers, doers, and innovators who challenge the status quo and inspire others to forge new paths. Join us as we bring the spirit of the TED conference to the San Joaquin Valley, sparking conversations that ignite change.

Faye Spanos Concert Hall
3601 Pacific Ave
Stockon, California, 95211
United States

Alyssa Ackerman

Grief Tender & Death Doula

Alyssa Rose stands at the threshold of life's profound transitions, illuminating paths through our deepest grief. As Portland's visionary Grief Tender and Death Doula, she weaves together the wisdom of ancient ritual arts with modern somatic and trauma-informed healing to create transformative spaces of honoring and integrating loss of all kinds. As a facilitator, speaker and doula in the death-positive movement, Alyssa challenges our culture's relationship with mortality and invites us to re-imagine our relationship with loss, ritual, and community care.

Cory Charles

Transformational Growth Architect

Standing still in today’s world makes you a sitting duck. Disruption’s inevitable, but why let others disrupt you? Cory "Kxng" Charles, the Transformational Growth Architect, has spent years empowering leaders and teams to redefine success. Through his Leap, Fail, Grow! (LFG!) approach and The SuperHero Mindset, he turns audacious ideas into impactful realities. Cory's worked with clients like Taylor Morrison, CarMax and NASCAR, proving that with the right mindset, growth is limitless. His philosophy? Choice separates heroes from villains- victors from victims, and the belief that we all have the power to rewrite our stories.

Deborah Biddle

Founder and Principal, The People Company Consulting Group

Deborah Biddle is a highly respected diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consultant, coach, speaker, and trainer with over 30 years of experience across corporate, non-profit, and small business sectors. As the founder of The People Company Consulting Group, Deborah helps organizations build inclusive cultures, rethink strategies, and make impactful decisions. Known for her calm, thoughtful approach and passion for belonging, she has transformed how organizations and individuals approach DEI.

Jason Tran

Career Education Enthusiast

Passionate and dedicated, Jason’s mission is to empower all students to unlock their full potential and successfully navigate their academic and career journeys. He brings over a decade of experience to diverse student populations, including first-gen, international, undergraduates, graduates, and doctoral candidates through his work as a career strategist. Born to immigrant parents, he is a proud first-generation professional driven by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to make a positive impact. Jason provides comprehensive advising, coaching, and counseling to support the personal and professional growth of his students. Beyond individual support, he has a proven track record of designing and leading innovative, large-scale career development programs carefully tailored to meet students' unique needs. These programs equip students with essential skills for success in today’s competitive job market through a combination of workshops, group sessions, and networking events.

Linda Lee Smith & Rich Schmelke

Transformational Wellness Services

Linda has a rich healthcare background, from high-tech nursing to administration. As a hospice director, she discovered energy healing and aromatherapy, aligning with her holistic nursing approach. She founded the Institute of Spiritual Healing and Aromatherapy, offering international certification programs. With nearly 40 books on the subject, she is a leading authority on essential oils. After retiring, she found her true passion—helping seniors as a Certified Dreambuilder Coach and Life Mastery Consultant with her husband, Rich. Rich worked in aerospace quality assurance before early retirement, dedicating time to volunteer work. Meeting Linda introduced him to energy healing, aromatherapy, and transformational coaching. Since then, he has shared his experiences at local events, highlighting their positive impact.

Pamela Slaughter

Founder and executive director of People of Color Outdoors (POCO)

Pamela Slaughter is a prominent advocate for outdoor access and inclusion in Portland, Oregon. She is the founder and executive director of People of Color Outdoors (POCO), an organization dedicated to creating safe and inclusive outdoor experiences for people of color. Pamela has been recognized for her work with several accolades, including being the first recipient of the Joey Pope Award from the Portland Parks Foundation in 2022, and being selected by adidas to join the Adidas Community Lab Accelerator as one of an eight-person cohort of community leaders and entrepreneurs and nonprofit founders in 2023, and being featured on OPB’s Think Out Loud radio show and “Oregon Field Guide” television show in 2024. Her efforts have significantly contributed to increasing visibility and access to natural spaces for marginalized communities in Portland.

Rajeev Kapur

President and CEO at 1105 Media

Rajeev has over 30 years of leadership experience, including building a $1B+ business at Dell and leading its China and South Asia divisions to record growth. He has served as President/CEO of three mid-size companies, achieving three exits. His success stems from fostering winning cultures, innovation, and high-performance teams. In 2021 and 2022, he was a finalist for Entrepreneur and Innovator of the Year by the Orange County Business Journal, and in 2024, he was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. A YPO member for 18 years, Rajeev holds a Global MBA from USC and dual AI certifications from MIT. He sits on three AI boards and is a bestselling author of Chase Greatness and AI Made Simple. A sought-after keynote speaker on AI and leadership, he also coaches executives at Samsung, Amazon, and Hugo Boss. Additionally, he is a three-time screenplay writer and frequent CNBC contributor.

Renrick Palmer

Author, Actor, and Military Veteran

Renrick Palmer is a Bestselling author, accomplished actor, and military veteran renowned for his exceptional talent in the performing arts, both on stage and screen. He has garnered critical acclaim and earned awards for his outstanding performances. Renrick's memoir, War Your Way to Success: A Veteran's Journey from Loading Bombs to the Stage, shares his inspiring life story and serves as a motivational guide for readers striving to achieve their dreams. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science from Medgar Evers College in New York City and a Master’s degree from Long Island University. Renrick also completed the Acting for Film one-year conservatory program at the New York Film Academy. In his free time, he enjoys exercising, reading, listening to audiobooks or motivational speakers, and supporting charitable causes, including regularly donating to The Homeless Alliance.