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).

CFIA
Curridabat
San Jose, San José, 1000
Costa Rica

Carolina Víquez

Landscape designer

Passionate about green spaces as centers that can cure the evils of our time: stress, anxiety, and loneliness; Carolina fell in love with plants from a young age, taking care of her grandmother's garden and through the teachings of her mother who is a biologist. Caro is a communicator and software designer, but her passion for plants has led her to participate in courses on landscape design and landscaping and green roof design. She believes that concrete has taken over our natural spaces, and that it is time to reclaim them.

Cynthia Castro

Psychologist

Businesswoman and psychologist, passionate about social impact projects, human rights and gender equality. As a partner and Human Development Director at Reinventing Business for All, her work has impacted more than 45 communities in the country. Cynthia is a panelist at the World Economic Forum and the International Labor Organization in Switzerland, Global Shaper for the World Economic Forum San José Hub, Vice-President of the Fruktus Foundation and advisor to the CRUSA Foundation. Additionally, she was a member of the 2014-2017 Government Social Innovation Board and founder of the Gender Equality Program for Business Competitiveness that eliminates gender gaps within organizations and allows companies to obtain the INAMU (National Women’s Institute) Gender Equality Seal. Cynthia is a coach for the MenTe en Acción program and was Executive Director of the ALAS Association and curator of World Economic Forum San Jose Hub Global Shapers from 2015 to 2016.

Katherina Madriz

Dancer

Katherina started studying ballet when she was nine years old. She was the main dancer of the Costa Rican Youth Ballet until 2016. She has a master’s degree in sports physiotherapy and works in her own physiotherapy and pilates clinic. She was selected as the only foreigner to dance with the National Ballet School of Cuba during the 8th International Meeting of Ballet Academies. She also received a scholarship to attend the Interlochen Center for the Arts summer camp in Michigan USA. In Costa Rica she has participated in productions like the National Theater’s The Nutcracker (2004-2008), Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, La Bayadère, A Summer Night’s Dream, Beauty and the Beast, the musical West Side Story, and Alice in Wonderland, to name a few. She is the general director and artistic producer for the San José Ballet Festival.

Miguel Rivera, Mauricio Mata Mauricio Gómez

Engineers

Mauricio Gómez - Mechanical Engineer and Master in Technological Administration, he is an active member of the Project Management Institute associated with the Costa Rica chapter with 23 years of experience in project and program management. Miguel Rivera - Finance Graduate from the University of Costa Rica with 20 years experience in accounting and operational finance for technology companies. Co-chair of the Innovation and Development Council and leads the leadership development program for finance managers at Intel Costa Rica. Mauricio Mata - Information Systems Engineering Graduate, he is a certified mentor for Voces Vitales Costa Rica, and currently works as manager of Information Technology at Intel Costa Rica.

Paola Castro

Human behavior specialist

Author of the book "Free, Speaker, and Intuitive Coach", in the last 10 years she has been dedicated to learning about the mysticism of life and human behavior and since 2012 she assists her audience with their growth and internal healing. In a simple and profound way, in her talks, videos and individual sessions she guides with the wisdom and tools collected through her studies and experience in the field of personal and spiritual development. Paola interacts with her audience through free videos she posts on social networks (YouTube / Facebook), in talks and workshops for different companies and organizations, and in individual coaching sessions. She is currently a facilitator of the course "The Answer is You" by Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith in a spiritual center in Costa Rica called Rythmia. Her guidance style is imbued with peace, love and assertiveness, a formula that resonates with those who are on their own journey of expansion and search for inner light.

Raquel Hernández

Actress

Actress and comedian, with 20 years experience working on stage, graduated from the National Theater Workshop and the National University’s School of Scenic Arts. She has participated in shows representing Costa Rica in festivals and international meetings. She has also participated in many national and international editions of the Costa Rican Arts Festival. Manager and advisor on cultural projects for Municipalities and State Universities she also acts as facilitator for the Association of International Consultants and Advisors (ACAI) commissioned by the UNHCR on creative processes with women survivors of domestic violence and women refugees. Raquel is a theater professor at UNED and other educational centers, and has worked as a Cultural Manager in various associations such as Asociación Cultural Giratablas and the Asociación de Produccions Educarte, where she produced the first editions of the Educarte Children's Theater Festival.

Ximena Miranda

Biologist & Educator

Ximena is a Costa Rican biologist that specializes on insects. She enjoys working in learning processes & environments, graduated from the "Mind, Brain and Education" master's program at Harvard University. While at Cambridge, she was also a student at the MIT Media Lab and volunteer at Boston Computer Clubhouses. She has worked at the Omar Dengo Foundation and at the University of Costa Rica, where she is currently a professor at the School of Biology. Her scientific research has been mainly focused on thorn bugs’ communication through vibrations that travel through plants. She co-authored the book "Tropical America Membracidae" (2006), & has various publications on entomology and education. She developed the project Econiños in the Purisil Park Private Reserve, bringing children from the Purisil de Orosi community closer to the forests surrounding Tapantí. She recently started writing science fiction and won an international competition in Norway with her first science fiction story.

Yanela Barrantes

Coach

Yanela studied Business Administration with an emphasis on Marketing and Sales and has worked as a manager in national and transnational companies. She is a Special Education teacher, and specializes in Emotional and Behavioral Problems, and Mental Retardation, which she currently works on at the Ministry of Public Education. She was certified as a Coach at INCAE, specializing in coaching in cases of adversity, teams, leadership (studied with OlaCoach Spain) and happiness and family. She volunteers as mentor for Voces Vitales and at the Pintando Sonrisas Foundation in Cartago.