Theme: Note to Self

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).

University of St. Gallen
Dufourstrasse 50
St. Gallen, Sankt Gallen (de), 9000
Switzerland

Adam Neely

Adam Neely is a bassist, and music educator and YouTuber with an engaged subscriber base of 500,000, 2 million monthly views, and 42 million lifetime views. His video essays, gig vlogs and educational content explore what music means, and what it means to be a musician. Sometimes called the "VSauce of music," Adam engages a wide popular audience with esoteric and obscure subjects in music, tying them to other subjects in neuroscience, acoustics, aesthetics, history and art. As a bass player, he also shares his experiences as a working professional session musician in New York City.

Adina Rom

As a result of her extensive research and field experience in developing countries, Adina Rom stands at the forefront of impact analysis. She recently founded Policy Analytics Switzerland, an ETH-Spin-Off, which uses novel data, methods and insights from economics and other behavioral sciences to help organizations to analyze and increase their social and environmental impact. Previously she studied development economics at Harvard, Berkeley and ETH Zurich and served as Director of Operations for Innovations for Poverty Action in Kenya, where, together with local partners and some of the world’s leading economists, she oversaw and evaluated the effectiveness of different large scale poverty reduction programs. Adina can provide valuable insights on evidence-informed decision making as well as the effectiveness of interventions aiming to reduce poverty and achieve environmental sustainability.

André Hoffmann

André Hoffmann is the Vice-Chairman of Roche, a pharmaceuticals group created by his grandfather in 1896, considered as the world’s largest biotech company and the global leader in cancer treatments. Alumni of the University of St Gallen, former Vice President of the WWF and recently awarded of the Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Medal, André combines a passion for the natural world and a strong understanding of the responsibilities as a business owner. He advocates for a humanity that lives in harmony with nature and emphasises that the one planet reality does not correspond to short term profit maximisation. He aims to show that business, especially family business, is part of the solution to a sustainable future.

Damian Browne

Damian Browne is an Irish adventurer and traveler who started his career as a professional Rugby player. Since his retirement from professional sports, he has visited more than 50 countries on six continents, joined numerous expeditions, completed the 257 km long "Marathon de Sables", known as the toughest footrace on earth, and has solo rowed across the Atlantic ocean in 63 days. Damian strives to constantly push himself both mentally and physically and is out to live an extra-ordinary life, filled with challenges, risk and growth.

Denholm Aspy

The night before Dr Denholm Aspy began his Ph.D in psychology, he had a spontaneous lucid dream! Struck by inspiration, he changed his proposed research topic the very next day to focus on techniques for teaching others how they too can experience this fascinating state of consciousness. He went on to conduct the world’s most in-depth field study of lucid dream induction techniques to date. Dr Denholm Aspy has also conducted research on meditation and has a keen interest in naturalistic perspectives on spirituality and counselling psychology.

Deyshawn Moser

Deyshawn Moser in an Ecological Economist who is interested in factors that promote a sustainable wellbeing economy: linking business sustainability to environmental and human wellbeing. He has travelled extensively, graduated from top Universities in different continents, and has also pursued a competitive swimming career in the Florida Keys. Having to deal with many goals reached and not reached, he has become aware of the thrill but also the dangerous traps of reaching for the stars. As winner of the 2018 “Bring your Voice” contest, he will share his experience and claims that the secret lies in developing a habit of being journey orientated rather than just being fixed on set goals.

Erik Kessels

Erik Kessels is a Dutch artist, designer and curator and is since 1996 Creative Director of international communications agency KesselsKramer. Worked for clients such as Nike, Diesel, The Standard, J&B, Oxfam, Ben, Vitra, Citizen M and The Hans Brinker Budget Hotel. As an artist and photography curator Kessels has published over 50 books of his 're-appropriated' images, is editor of the alternative photography magazine Useful Photography and has written the international bestseller Failed It! In 2010 Kessels was awarded with the Amsterdam Prize of the Arts, in 2016 nominated for the Deutsche Börse Photography Prize. He was called “a visual sorcerer” by Time Magazine and a “Modern Anthropologist” by Voque (Italia).

Jeffrey Franks

Jeffrey Franks is the Director of the IMF Office in Europe and the Senior Representative to the European Union. Boasting degrees from an impressive list of alma maters—Oxford, Harvard and Princeton—Jeffrey has been working at the International Monetary Fund for 25 years, including as resident representative in Ecuador and Ukraine, and mission chief for Belgium, France, Pakistan, Paraguay, and Romania. Such broad experience has allowed Jeff to gain an invaluable and unique perspective on how economic policy can impact the welfare of the individual and society as a whole.

Melanie Kovacs

Melanie is the founder and CEO of Master21, the first company to offer coding bootcamps in Switzerland in 2016. Master21’s purpose is to empower people to speak tech and shape the (digital) world. So far, 250+ people have attended their courses. Prior to Master2, Melanie worked as a client partner at the digital agency Ginetta where she felt the need to better communicate with software developers and decided to learn to code. Melanie holds degrees in International Management and Requirements Engineering. In 2018, she made it onto the the Forbes 30 under 30 DACH list and won the Female Innovation Recognition Award. Besides Master21, she is on the board of the Impact Hub Zürich Association and WE SHAPE TECH.

Michael Neill

Michael Neill is an internationally renowned transformative coach and the best-selling author of six books including Creating the Impossible, The Inside-Out Revolution and The Space Within. Michael is often described as the ‘coach’s coach,’ and commands extraordinary respect within his field for unleashing the human potential with intelligence, humor, and heart.

Nadia Damaso

Nadia Damaso is twenty-two years old and a 2x No.1 bestselling author. After her big success with „Eat Better Not Less“, she quickly realizes that what she does is not only a diet, it’s a whole lifestyle. A lifestyle that its not only about food, but about connection and bringing people together. In her second cookbook she goes on a culinary journey around the globe and shares stunning photos, short stories and personal experiences about her travels. With her boundless creativity and sense for new taste combinations, Nadia created & photographed over 100 new recipes for her last book and proves once again how delicious and varied healthy food can be.

Simone Askew

Simone Askew is a recent graduate from the United States Military Academy where she served as the first African American female First Captain in the school’s 200-year history. This role is the highest-ranking cadet position and has been held by many distinguished leaders, including General MacArthur and General Pershing. Simone was the first African American female Rhodes Scholar to be awarded the Rhodes Scholarship from her university. She now studies Refugee and Forced Migration Studies at Magdalen College and plays for the Oxford University Volleyball Team.