TEDxRVA invites the public to learn and discuss

Samantha Foster
Spectrum Editor

TED, the famous conference and video series, which carries the message that ideas worth spreading should be discussed, will be coming to Richmond for the first time.

The official TED conference is held only twice a year but smaller communities can organize TEDx events nationwide. TEDx events have been held in over 130 countries worldwide and more than 25,000 TEDtalk videos from TEDx conferences are available online to the public.

TEDx events include short talks, demonstrations or performances. Each presentation must be under 18 minutes in length. It is also required of all TEDx conferences to show at least two TEDtalks at their conference from the TED.com website, which are all available for free.

TEDx events offer a wide range of topics to encourage learning and conversations within the community. All TEDx events are planned locally and independently, but has to abide by specific TED requirements.

Richmond local Andy Stefanovich is bringing TEDx to Richmond for the first time. The main conference, officially titled TEDxRVA, will be held on March 22, but other events are being held before the main conference.

There will be an open mic night on Thursday, Jan. 31 where more than 20 speakers will be speaking to the TEDxRVA theme of “Create.” The audience will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite speakers at the end of the event, the best of which may be invited to speak at the March 22 TEDxRVA conference.

TEDtalks are the online component of the larger organization, known as TED, which stands for technology, entertainment and design. TED is a non-profit group that hosts speakers worldwide, giving them a platform to voice their ideas and tell their stories.

These speeches are filmed, no matter their location, and posted online for the world to view at no cost.  Speakers are not paid for their time and they cannot bolster views that are commercial, political or religious in nature, so TEDtalks remain purely informational.  As the name suggests, TEDtalks often discuss technology, entertainment and design, but can venture beyond that occasionally.

Speakers at TEDx events must tell a story of note or argue for an idea.  They must also be able to confirm the points they discuss within the time of frame 18 minutes. The conference for TEDxRVA will be held at the Power Plant at Haxall Point on the Canal Walk, right next to the James River.

While six speakers have already been chosen for TEDxRVA, applications are still being taken and must be submitted via the TEDxRVA website by Feb. 15.

The TEDx Open Mic night is free and open to the public. The event is being held at the historic Hippodrome in Jackson Ward, located at 528 N. 2nd St.  Doors will open at 7 p.m., with speakers and music following at 8 p.m.Tickets for the TEDxRVA conference can be purchased starting Feb. 1, also through the TEDxRVA website.  The conference will also be recorded and streamed online by anyone who visits the TEDtalks website.

TEDxRVA Speakers

Despite TEDxRVA being several months away, several speakers have already been chosen. Although the topics of the speakers are not released prior to their presentations, each speaker has backgrounds and interests that vary from one another.

Seth Farbman

Seth Farbman was named by Forbes magazine as one of 2012’s top ten most influential Chief Marketing Officers in the U.S.  He also founded the company OgilvyEarth, which is a global sustainability marketing team.  Farbman then led the team from OgilvyEarth to found Hopenhagen, which is a campaign to raise awareness for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.  While in graduate school at Syracuse University, Farbman reported for ABC and NBC television affiliates.  Farbman now works as the Global Chief Marketing Officer for Gap.

The KaosPilot Business School – Christer Windeløv-Lidzélius and David Storkholm

The KaosPilot Business School was recognized by Business Week as one of the top design schools in the world.  Started in Denmark in 1991, the school teaches personal development, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation.  Speaking at TEDxRVA will be Christer Windeløv-Lidzélius and David Storkholm, who is the co-founder and program director for KaosPilot’s Creative Leadership program, which specializes in creating courses and workshops to help individuals and organizations.

Kevin Carroll

In 2004, Kevin Carroll founded his company, Kevin Carroll Katalyst/LLC.  His goal was to show the power of sport and play to the world.  In 2005, Carroll addressed 31 dignitaries from the United Nations about the importance of sport and play in their developing countries.  Carroll’s company continues to inspire businesses and organizations to embrace playing and creativity to maximize their potential.

Cheryl Heller

Cheryl Heller is a faculty member for Pop Tech’s Social Innovation and Science Fellows. She mentors entrepreneurs as they create models for issues such as poverty, water, health care and energy conservation, through technology. Heller is also a founding Chair for the New York’s School of Visual Arts MFA program in Design for Social Innovation.  She has led transformational initiatives with corporations such as Ford and American Express, as well as non-profits like the Girl Scout of America and WWF.

ELEW

ELEW will offer something different to TEDxRVA, a musical performance.  ELEW is a pianist and pop artist. He is also behind the musical movement he calls “Rockjazz.”  ELEW often takes rock songs and plays them enthusiastically and energetically at a piano.  He has interpreted artists like Coldplay, The Killers and Nirvana.

Ivy Ross

Ivy Ross is an acclaimed artist and entrepreneur.  She acts as the Chief Marketing Officer for Art.com, which is the world’s largest online retailer of art prints. Ross has also served as the president and product-design head for such companies as Old Navy, Calvin Klein and Coach, among others. Ross has her metal-work jewelry in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institute, as well as 11 other museums. Ross
was named by Fast Company and Business Week as “one of the new faces of
leadership.”