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).

ASB auditorium
Carrer Jaume Balmes 7
Esplugues de llobregat, Barcelona (ca), 08950
Spain

Emma Poma

Student

Emma Poma is an 11th grader at the American School of Barcelona. At 9 months, she was adopted from China by her parents, who are from the US. She has 5 sisters, 3 of which are also adopted from China. After living in California for 12 years, she moved to Spain with her family. Emma loves science, debate, reading, and public speaking. Emma started public speaking 3 years ago, and she’s found it to be a powerful and exciting way to share the ideas and thoughts she considers important with others. In her free time, she likes to ride bikes, read, swim with her sisters, and watch movies and documentaries.

Gabriel Rodgers

Gabriel Rodgers is the author of the speech "Debunked", which outlines the history of the Spanish Civil War, the legacy of forgetting the past, and most importantly the profound significance of abandoned air-raid shelters (from the war) in the city. He was born in Barcelona, has lived all of his life here, and is currently attending his fifth year at the American School of Barcelona. Gabriel went down the rabbit hole of these bunkers because of his belief in the importance of not letting history become neglected, his fascination with maps and the city of Barcelona, and a newfound passion for investigating the last remaining tangible artefacts of a time period. Even though this was his first TEDx, it has given him countless treasured memories, and he hopes that because of the skills he developed, the new ideas he has come in contact with, and his awareness of new and relevant topics and issues that the world is facing he can continue contributing to TEDxASBarcelona for many years to come.

Jeff Gothelf

Jeff helps organizations build better products and executives build the cultures that build better products. He is the co-author of the award-winning book Lean UX and the Harvard Business Review Press book Sense & Respond. Starting off as a software designer, Jeff now works as a coach, consultant and keynote speaker helping companies bridge the gaps between business agility, digital transformation, product management and human-centred design. Most recently Jeff co-founded Sense & Respond Press, a publishing house for practical business books for busy executives. His most recent book, Forever Employable, was published in June 2020.

Joan Lopez

Born in Tarragona(Catalonia-Spain) in 1974. Raised in a working class environment in a bilingual society. Went to University in my hometown and discovered my passion for Languages, Politics and Philosophy. Started teaching in 1997 and teaching abroad in 2000 when I discovered my love for education and multilingualism. Taught in public and private schools in the US, the UK, Germany, Barcelona and now back in Germany. My best teachers have been my friends and family but especially my students. Never wrote a book about education but, like most of us in this profession, have a fair amount of experiences and perspectives to share. Hence my Ted talk.

Jonathan Kurtz

Jonathan Kurtz is the co-founder and Managing Partner for Simplify Contract Compliance Solutions LLC, a firm which helps international clients manage complex contractual business relationships with licensees, suppliers, distribution partners, etc. Audits and investigations led by Mr. Kurtz and/or the Firm have generated hundreds of millions of dollars in recoveries for his clients, and fostered future transparency, compliance and savings. More importantly, Mr. Kurtz is a proud husband and father, and a passionate CrossFit athlete and barbecue host.

Victoria Alvarez

High School Student

Victoria Alvarez is a student at the American School of Barcelona. She is deeply interested in seeing how technology has affected society and solutions to these problems.

Will Jenkins

William “Will” Jenkins is an 11 th grade student at the American School of Barcelona. An athlete on the ASB Cross Country and Tennis teams, he is also very active in the EcoClub. His on-going interest in the environment, sparked his efforts to co-lead the initiative to make ASB the first Carbon Neutral Secondary School in Europe. He is the recipient of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal for science and math. Outside of school, Will founded STEMSpark.org with his brother in 2019 to share his love of science with kids. Since then, STEMSpark.org has reached over 800 children in three countries. As a tennis player and USOpen Ballperson, Will saw how thousands of slightly-used tennis balls end up in landfills. To tackle this problem, Will designed, built, and patented a machine that automatically separates playable balls from “dead” ones, as well as a reinflation process.

Zachary Freer

Zachary Freer is a Junior at the American School of Barcelona. He first moved to Spain when he was 8 years old from New York City. Beyond interests such as debate, baseball, and chess, he has always been intrigued by swear words: where they come from, how they are used, and why we find them so offensive. In this Ted talk, he hopes to give the audience the very simple (and hopefully reasonable) message, that perhaps bad words are not as bad as we have been led to believe.