Theme: Legacy

Law, business and culture. What do these things have in common? The concept of leaving a legacy. Whether you are leaving behind a Will and Testament, transferring business values and knowledge, or passing down traditions to the next generation, legacies are all around us. They provide continuous progress and forward momentum in countries, communities, companies and even families. A legacy can be a case study for others to draw conclusions from and plan their own course in life, one that would eventually become a legacy to their successors.

With the celebration of Bentley University's Centennial, TEDxBentleyU is honored to welcome speakers who represent, experience, or inspire legacy in themselves and others.

TEDxBentleyU was established to spark open-minded conversation and foster diverse perspectives throughout the Bentley University community, where 94% of undergraduate students are pursuing business-related degrees. We believe in the incredible power of new ideas... because all it takes is a slight shift in one individual's perspective to inspire a great idea; one that blossoms into action and goes on to create positive change in our community.

TEDxBentleyU is a student-led initiative; a group of curious individuals, united by our collective desire to share “ideas worth spreading” and dedicated to bringing a memorable TEDx experience to our university's campus.

Wilder Pavilion
Bentley University - 175 Forest Street
Waltham, Massachusetts, 02452
United States

Dr. Allana Da Graca

Bentley University Educator

Dr. Allana Da Graca is a Bentley University educator who loves to inspire her students to use effective speaking skills. A teacher at heart, Dr. Da Graca understands the dilemma of navigating city life while pursuing an education. Her dedication to civility and bridging ties with institutions of learning is evident with her work on an domestic and international level. Dr. Da Graca is the recipient of the Robert C. Ford fellowship, BHCC MLK Award, and contributing author of the first Encyclopedia of Online Learning. She is the author of Tomorrow Can’t Wait, Chronicles of a Poet and the Women Build Confidence Coaching Series. She is the founder of Turning On the Lights Global Institute.

Emilia Javorsky

Physician Scientist at Mass General Hospital and Harvard Medical School

Emilia Javorsky is a physician-scientist who is passionate about using a problem-focused approach to invent, develop and translate new therapies into clinical practice. Previously, Emilia worked in the regulation and conduct of clinical trials and was a Fulbright-Schuman scholar to the European Union. Her work in medical innovation led to her being selected for the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2017 in Healthcare. Emilia received her BA cum laude from Columbia University, MPH in Health Policy& Management from Boston University, and MD from University of Massachusetts.

Greg Shewmaker

Founder of Food + Future

One day, Greg Shewmaker asked the questions “what’s in my food?” and “what’s it doing to me and my family?” When the search for answers simply led to more questions, Greg decided to dedicate his life to understanding food and our food systems. Greg was the Founder of Food+Future, a multi-year exploration into the future of food with Target, IDEO, MIT and Intel. He also started two other international companies and was the Chief Merchant at the #2 e-commerce company in the world. He is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of TeakOrigin, a company working to fingerprint, decode, and demystify food for everyone.

Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun

Co-owner and Chairperson of the United Africa Group

Dr. Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun is the co-owner and Chairperson of the United Africa Group (Pty) Ltd, a diverse privately owned multi-billion-dollar company focusing on Hospitality, financial services, property development, real estate, travel services as well as renewable energy. Dr. Namundjebo-Tilahun is also co-owner of the first five star ENP Hilton Hotel in Windhoek. In 2015, Dr. Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun was conferred with a Doctorate Degree Honoris Causa in Business Administration from the University of Namibia for her business contribution to the economy of Namibia. Soon thereafter she founded the Dr. Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun Foundation aimed at empowering the African Girl Child to be a key architect of her life and her society. As a holder of two MBA degrees in Finance, Dr. Tilahun has special skills in integrating financial and other operational resources to achieve set goals.

Michael Payne

CEO and Founder of Private Flight Advisors

Michael Payne founded Private Flight Advisors after nearly two decades of exemplary achievement with some of the most respected companies in the U.S. His record of success includes accomplishments in the areas of management, major sales, marketing, and business development with corporations such as Genentech, Merck, EMC, Sentient Jet Membership, and most recently Apollo Jets. Michael is actively involved with his alma mater Bentley University B.Sc. (MT). MBA (Mktg) as an Adjunct Lecture and an Executive in Residence in the Marketing Department. A former student athlete playing Hockey and Lacrosse, Michael enjoys giving back as the faculty advisor to the Woman’s Varsity Field Hockey team and to the Bentley community at large.

Nataly Kogan

Co-Founder and CEO at Happier, Inc.

Nataly is a successful entrepreneur, speaker, author, and co-founder and CEO of Happier, the leading learning platform with a mission to help millions of people lead happier, more meaningful lives. Nataly emigrated to the U.S. as a refugee from the former Soviet Union when she was just thirteen. Starting her journey in the projects outside of Detroit, Nataly reached the highest level of corporate success, including careers at McKinsey and Microsoft, and became a venture capitalist at the age of 26. But she found herself unfulfilled and was inspired to learn how to live a truly happier, fuller life. Her discoveries led her to create Happier.

Onic Palandjian

Director at Group RMC

Onic Palandjian has managed industrial corporations, venture funds and technology companies for 25 years. Before joining real estate group RMC, he served as the CEO of Europa Aluminium and orchestrated the Group’s restructuring. Previously, he served as the Director of Capital Connect VC. Prior to that, he founded and sold two technology companies, ihavemoved.com and ichziehum.de. His three TEDx talks and ‘UP Greek Tourism’ project gained international coverage. He earned a BSc in Management from Bentley and a CSS in Business from Harvard.

Woody Benson

Venture Partner at Launch Capital Partners

Woody's career in emerging technology has brought him from Apple's retail sales floor in the 1980s to the global venture capital industry. He thrives in the space between an uncertain market, new technology, and brilliant entrepreneurs. Woody has worn a number of different hats in several IPOs. One of his most recent successes was as the first investor in Boston’s LogMeIn, now valued at over $5 billion.  Behind the scenes this has all been part of a purpose-built career that carefully navigates roles, markets, technology, mentors and risk.