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).

Welsh-Ryan Arena
2705 Ashland Ave.
Evanston, Illinois, 60208
United States

Chad McClennan

Chad McClennan is President & Chief Executive Owl of Koios Medical, empowering radiologists with proven deep learning algorithms in the fight against cancer and elevating care, worldwide. An experienced executive with demonstrated results working across industries, and a Master of Management from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and BA from Middlebury College.

Corey Winchester

Corey Winchester is an educator who teaches US History and Sociology of Class, Gender, and Race at Evanston Township High School in Evanston, Illinois. There he also serves as the staff coordinator of the Students Organized Against Racism (SOAR) organization and is the Induction Coordinator for District 202's newly hired licensed staff. He was recognized in 2013 by District 202 and by the Illinois State Board of Education as an Excellent Early Career Educator. In 2016, he received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the School of Education at Loyola University Chicago. Corey served for four years on the Board of Directors of Evanston Scholars, a non-profit college access and success program supporting first-generation, low-income, and students of color. For the 2018-19 school year, he is working as a Teaching Policy Fellow for Teach Plus Illinois. He earned his BS in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University, his MEd from Loyola University Chicago in Cultural and Educational Policy Studies, and is currently pursuing an EdD in Educational Leadership at DePaul University.

Jacob Schmidt

After a remarkable playing career at Northwestern that saw him go from walk-on to starting running back, Jacob was named Director of Player Development in March of 2012. In this role, Jacob coordinates all aspects of players’ off-the-field experience at Northwestern, including NU’s alumni mentoring program, leadership council, internship and full-time job placement, and overall academic success. A native of Rhinelander, Wis., Jacob was a key contributor to what became the winningest senior class in Northwestern Football history and led the program to a then school-record four consecutive bowl games. A Capital One Academic All-American in 2011, Jacob completed his undergraduate studies at Northwestern with a degree in human development and psychological services before earning a master’s in higher education administration and policy from NU in 2014. Jacob currently lives in Highland Park with his wife, Hallie, and son, Emmett.

Jennifer Lackey

Jennifer Lackey is the Director of the Northwestern Prison Education Program, the editor of academic journals Episteme and Philosophical Studies, and a philosophy professor at Northwestern University. Her research is in the area of social epistemology, asking questions about the rationality of punishment, credibility, and false confessions. Every week, Jennifer teaches college-level courses to inmates at Stateville Correctional Center and in Division 10 of the Cook County Department of Corrections, enlightening her students to the social and institutional structures present in our correctional system. She has had the work of her incarcerated students published in The New Yorker, bringing mass attention to the need for prison reform and education.

Nadya Okamoto

Nadya Okamoto, who grew up in Portland, OR, is a 20-year-old Harvard student on a leave of absence. She is the Founder and Executive Director of PERIOD (period.org), an organization she founded at the age of 16. PERIOD is now the largest youth-run NGO in women’s health, and one of the fastest growing ones here in the United States. Since 2014 they have addressed over 400,000 periods and registered over 230 campus chapters. In 2017, Nadya ran for office in Cambridge, MA. While she did not win, her campaign team made historic waves in mobilizing young people on the ground and at polls. Nadya recently published her debut book, Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement with publisher Simon & Schuster, which made the Kirkus Reviews list for Best Young Adult Nonfiction of 2018. Most recently, Nadya has become the Chief Brand Officer of JÜV Consulting, a Generation Z marketing agency based in NYC. Most recently Nadya was named to Instyle Magazine's “The Badass 50: Meet the Women Who Are Changing the World” list, along with Michelle Obama, Ariana Grande, and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.

Neal Sáles-Griffin

Neal Sáles-Griffin is an entrepreneur, teacher, and nonprofit leader. He loves solving meaningful problems and helping people make progress. Neal recently ran for mayor of Chicago where he was born, raised, and still lives. He attended Northwestern University, where he became student body president. Neal went on to work in venture capital, an experience that inspired him to teach himself to code. He then co-founded The Starter League. It was one of the first beginner-focused in-person coding schools and first tenants of 1871, Chicago’s technology hub. Today Neal is the CEO of CodeNow, a national nonprofit serving low-income students. Every Monday morning, he returns to the neighborhood where he grew up to teach students how to solve problems their own communities with technology.

Rola Kaakeh

Dr. Rola Kaakeh is the CEO of Salus Vitae Group, a healthcare consultancy, as well as a pharmacist, entrepreneur, mentor and published scholar. Dr. Kaakeh also teaches at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She has advised organizations globally and engaged with various organizations such as the United Nations agencies, universities, professional agencies, corporations, consultancies and startups. Her work highlighting the burden of drug shortages in the US has been cited over 175 times and used as supporting data for legislation. Dr. Kaakeh is working to tackle local and global health issues through her commitment to education, research, practice and innovation.

Steve Pemberton

Steve Pemberton is the best-selling author of "A Chance In The World", a memoir that recounts his triumphant life journey and drive to become a man of resilience, determination and vision. He is also working as the current Chief People Officer for WorkHuman. Previously, Pemberton served as Global Chief Diversity Officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance, the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise in the world. Before his post at Walgreens, Pemberton was the Chief Diversity Officer for Monster.com where he helped the company achieve all-time growth in applicants. He has earned national recognition for his commitment to others, including the Trumpet Awards and Horizon Award by the U.S. Congress.

Tony Hunter

Tony Hunter is known for his success as an architect of change and a leader of business transformation. His firm belief in the importance of talent and culture is exemplified by the strong executives he’s developed. He now works closely with executives and organizations to help them capitalize on marketplace opportunities and proactively address digital disruption. Tony’s approach to leadership was developed over a 20-year tenure at Tribune Publishing Company. During this time, he refined his approach in transforming organizations during a period of radical change and digital disruption. His operating experience and the lessons learned during his time at Tribune uniquely qualify current work combines his proven, hands-on experience with a passion and talent for turning on what he calls “the leadership gene in others.” Tony is a non-practicing CPA. He earned his BA from Coe College and his MBA from DePaul University. He is the former chair of the News Media Alliance, Chair Emeritus of Metropolitan Family Services, and a United Way board member.

William Rosen

William Rosen is chief executive officer of VSA Partners, a design-driven branding, marketing and technology firm known for its work on behalf of clients such as Google, Nike, and McDonald’s. As a leader in marketing and brand development, William has been honored more than 300 times with major creative awards around the world, including Lions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Effie Awards, and Oracle World Retail Awards. In addition, William has written for the Harvard Business Review, Wired and Advertising Age, and is co-author of the book The Activation Imperative, which launched as Amazon’s #1 New Release in Business Marketing. William believes that the key to successful differentiation in today’s industry relies on a diverse pool of perspectives in the workplace, which lead to what he calls a “paradigm shift,” where the same set of data gives way to innovative and beneficial insights.