Theme: Think Forward

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).

American University of Armenia
40 Marshal Baghramyan Avenue
Yerevan, Erevan, 0019
Armenia

Hrachuhi Barseghyan

Founder and CEO of ArPR Holding

Hrachuhi Barseghyan, MA, CMCE, MBA is a qualified professional in the fields of PR, Marketing, Management Consulting and Organizational Development with over 15 years of experience in various positions and projects across diverse industries. Currently she runs her own company – ArPR Holding. She is a strategist and a quality manager who prefers being a mentor rather than a boss. Hrachuhi is happily sharing her knowledge and expertise through teaching as an adjunct faculty at the American University of Armenia. Being a mother of two, Hrachuhi values the real power of constant education through personal development.

Luiza Avetisyan

Co-founder and VP Product & Marketing at staff.am

Luiza is the co-founder and VP Product & Marketing at staff.am, an AI driven career platform that seamlessly matches top talent with companies. Due to her vast experience in marketing, customer development and tech, she helped the startup to become the leading career platform in Armenia, building a strong HR community and user base. Luiza holds Ph.D in Engineering, has authored number of research papers, has studied in the US and has worked for one of the biggest financial institutions in the world. Currently she continues to lead staff.am to achieve ambitious plans of expanding its geography. Luiza is a tech enthusiast, who never stops appreciating the benefits of real human interaction. She is married and has two sons, whom she admires the most.

Matt Bartelsian

Director of Global Business Development and Partnerships at Volo

Matt is the Director of Global Business Development and Partnerships for Volo, a leading software innovation boutique based in Yerevan. He specializes in tech-focused business development, brand management, marketing and communications planning. For over 20 years Matt has helped build local, regional, and global strategies for some of the world's most powerful brands. While based in New York, Sydney, Singapore, Shanghai, Warsaw, and Yerevan, Matt has worked with clients such as PicsArt, Monitis, eBay, Monster, Travelocity, Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, Nestle, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, Mercedes Benz, HSBC, The Four Seasons Hotels, Westin Hotels, among others. Being from Minnesota, US, Matt is currently based in Yerevan, Armenia where he lives with his wife and four children. When he's not busy as a husband, a dad, or as an entrepreneur, he can be found on hiking through the industrial ruins of the Soviet Union, reading good spy novels, and dreaming of Pakistani tea houses in Dubai.

Nanar Avedessian

Student and Volunteer

Nanar was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria. She moved to Yerevan in 2014 because of the war. She is currently studying at the English and Communications department at the American University of Armenia; majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Genocide Studies. She plans on pursuing a master’s degree in a relevant field. She is also a volunteer at Repat Armenia and YMCA for Syrian Armenians. Nanar speaks Armenian, English and Arabic languages, and is currently studying the fourth language - French. When Nanar is not at her French language courses, she likes to read books or hang out with her friends.

Niery Grace Bardakjian

Interpreter and Founder of GRACE+ful learning

Niery Grace Bardakjian was born in the US but moved back to Armenia with her family. She is a musician by profession. Grace has graduated from music school and conservatory. She holds three Master degrees in Music, Business Administration (MBA) and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). She has conducted the world champion Avedis Choir earning three gold medals. However, from a young age Niery Grace has become proficient in English-Armenian simultaneous interpretation and found her calling in teaching. Currently she teaches English, Math and Music subjects and all related tests. Niery Grace runs her own language school named “Grace+ful learning”, where aside from teaching, she provides interpreting and translation services. She has also won the first prize in car racing among women in Armenia. Niery Grace is blessed with three sons and one husband.

Randall Rhodes

Provost of the American University of Armenia

Dr. Randall Rhodes is currently serving as Provost at the American University of Armenia. He holds a Ph.D., MA, and a BA in Art History from the University of Chicago. Prior to his work at AUA, Dr. Rhodes has been Associate Provost at Frostburg State University, Maryland, where he has won Faculty Achievement Awards for Teaching and Service. He has also taught at the State University College in Buffalo, NY, State University of New York in Geneseo, NY, Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, and Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. Dr. Rhodes has also been significantly involved in museum and gallery administration, including: Memorial Art Gallery, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY; Genesee County Museum, Mumford, NY; Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. He has presented 22 academic papers at various conferences and proceedings. He has published seven articles and catalogs on various aspects of art analysis. He has exhibited art works at 15 art exhibitions.

Richard Giragosian

Political Analyst and Director of the Regional Studies Center

Richard Giragosian is the Founding Director of the Regional Studies Center, an independent “think tank” located in Yerevan, Armenia and serves as both a Visiting Professor at the College of Europe’s Natolin Campus and Senior Expert at Yerevan State University’s Centre for European Studies. He has served as a consultant for the Asian Development Bank, the European Union Delegation to Armenia, the International Crisis Group, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the U.S. Departments of Defense and State, among others. For nine years, Giragosian was a Professional Staff Member of the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress. He was twice appointed as a State Commissioner on the Virginia Governor’s Commission on Armenian Affairs. He is deeply involved in Armenian-Turkish diplomacy and is regarded as an expert on South Caucasus. Giragosian is also a contributing analyst for al Jazeera and Oxford Analytica, a UK-based global analysis and advisory firm.

Ruben Malayan

Art Director and Visual Artist

Ruben Malayan is an award-winning art director and visual artist. He has studied painting at the Terlemezian Art College, and graphics at the Institute of Fine Arts in Yerevan, Armenia. His career in graphic design spans over twenty years - crossing over into the fields of visual identity design, typography and calligraphy. For over a decade he has been working on research about the art of specialized scripts, and has developed a portfolio of unique Armenian calligraphy. He is the founder of the "Armenian Genocide in Contemporary Graphic & Art Posters" (2001, Amsterdam) project, which has received wide coverage and acclaim in the international press. His work is featured in "The World Encyclopedia of Calligraphy" (Sterling, NYC 2011) and number of other publications. Ruben has lectured and taught workshops in Armenia and abroad, and is currently teaching Visual Communication course at the American University of Armenia and drawing classes at the Terlemezyan Art College.