Theme: Rebirth

All it takes is a slight shift in one individual's perspective to inspire a great idea; one that blossoms into action and goes on to create positive change in our community... That's why TEDxBentleyU believes in the incredible power of new ideas. We're a student-led initiative; a group of curious individuals, united by our collective desire to share “ideas worth spreading” and dedicated to bringing a memorable TEDx experience to our university's campus.

At our annual conferences, a line-­up of unique speakers make the stage come alive with their thought-provoking and diverse "ideas worth spreading" through talks and performances (of less than 18 minutes) to an audience of Bentley University students, alumni, and faculty. Our goal is for every TEDxBentleyU talk to inspire ingenuity, imagination, and vibrant discussion throughout the Bentley University community and the global TEDx community online.

When you hear "rebirth", what do you think of it?

When posed to our student organization, this question warranted responses of “the need of rebirth of art and science in a business school,” “the newly enacted tax laws and business regulations that gave rebirth to small businesses,” and “the rebirth of accounting and auditing relying on data technology.”

As TEDxBentleyU, we challenge you to interpret “rebirth” for yourself and come up with your own definition. Do you see the concept as some of our organization members or do you see it totally differently? Come join us on April 16th! Network with entrepreneurs, professors, and advocates to learn their thought!

Wilder Pavilion
Bentley University - 175 Forest Street
Waltham, Massachusetts, 02452
United States

Cecilia Hermawan

Founder / Entrepreneur

Cecilia went to Bentley University for her undergraduate degree and is on her way to completing her MBA in entrepreneurship from Babson College. She built her career in the apparel and footwear industry and then moved on to technology start-ups. Combining her entrepreneurial spirit and her passion for building community within the start-up ecosystem, she caught the start-up bug. She is a founder of Vico Style, a pre-loved fashion start-up. As a single parent, she likes to encourage others to pursue their aspirations by taking steps towards their goals.

Christie Lindor

Workplace Culture & Inclusion Strategist / CEO

Christie Lindor is a Workplace Culture & Inclusion Strategist and the CEO of Tessi Consulting, a Certified B Corporation focused on creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces for mid and large-size organizations. A keynote speaker, adjunct professor, and bestselling award-winning author, her work on workforce inclusion and culture has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Company. She lives in Boston with her husband and kids.

Katie Armstrong

Supplier Quality Engineer

Katie Armstrong is pursuing a part-time MBA at Bentley University and is the graduate winner of the 2022 BentleyU TEDx speaker competition. She currently works as a supplier quality engineer in the semiconductor industry and has experience working in automotive manufacturing as well. Katie is passionate about technological innovation and the positive benefits of change in manufacturing. When not working or at school, Katie enjoys hiking, rock climbing, backpacking, and anything else outdoors.

Laura Uguccioni

Data Scientist

Laura is a lead data scientist at Digital Lighthouse, KPMG’s Center of Excellence for Advanced Analytics. The focus of her work is statical modeling and Natural Language Processing. She joined this company after completing her M.A. in Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences at Columbia University. Laura also worked as a senior researcher at Sampark, an NGO based in Bangalore, focusing on poverty relief and human rights protection.

Matt Banks

Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Educator

Matt Banks (Pronouns: they/them/theirs/Mx.) is a justice, equity, diversity and inclusion educator with over ten years of experience in training, advising and supporting the needs of historically underserved populations on college and university campuses. Currently the Associate Director for Diversity & Inclusion at Bentley University, Matt has lived across the United States and seen how stories and environment directly influence people's comfort and engagement with identity and anti-oppression work. Matt's philosophy utilizes storytelling to help us understand our differences in order to interrogate and disrupt oppressive attitudes, beliefs and systems.

Michael Thorne

Personal Growth Mentor

Mike Thorne is an executive coach and personal growth mentor. Using his "Personal Trust Community" model to unleash greatness in people. Mike helps leaders find belonging; build toward their greatest dreams; and believe in themselves, their work, and others. He has held numerous executive leadership positions, including President of Team Sports at Russell Athletic and President of the Wholesale Division at Yankee Candle. In 2020, he decided to step away from the C-Suite to further his mission of spreading the value of trust and vulnerability in leadership. He leads workshops and one-on-one sessions to coach leaders and executives toward greater performance and fulfillment in their personal and professional lives. He believes outside of I love you, the 3 most powerful words in life are I NEED HELP.

Ranjoo Herr

Professor

Ranjoo S. Herr is Professor of Philosophy at Bentley University, MA, U.S.A. Her areas of research are comparative philosophy, feminist philosophy, and political philosophy. Her TED presentation is based on her 2016 article, “Confucian Mothering: The Origin of Tiger Mothering.”

Roberta (Bobby) Pellant

Author, Professor, Consultant, Entrepreneur

Dr. Roberta (Bobby) Pellant is an international bestselling author, Professor, Consultant, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker looking to transform leaders one business at a time. Most recently, Bobby founded The Business Success Institute, which was developed as a holistic approach to business. While profits drive the majority of business endeavors, people ultimately, are at the core of the business. Bobby has 25 years teaching as a Professor in Higher Education, including international lecturing, across 4 departments: management, marketing, human resources, and communication. She is the owner of Roberta Pellant Consulting, which helps Fortune 500 leaders with strategic planning in management, marketing, and other unique projects. She is a professional development trainer and is sought after for her executive leadership coaching.

Roger Grannis

Sales Communications Expert

Roger Grannis is a keynote speaker and expert in the field of influence, persuasion, and sales. Roger has improved business performance at some of the biggest names in business: GE, PepsiCo, Symantec, Vertex, Wells Fargo, Underwriters Laboratories. Prior to forming GrannisGroup, in 2004, Roger spent 17 years at Gartner, the world’s leading technology advisory firm. He built Gartner Sales Academy, helping grow revenues from $22 million to $850 million. Eagle Scout, creative writer, and family man, Roger is known for his energetic, educational, and entertaining speaking style.

Sia Goel

Aspiring Data Analytics Student at Bentley University

Sia is currently a sophomore at Bentley University and is majoring in Data Analytics with a Liberal Studies Major in Global Perspectives as well as a minor in Business Studies. He is originally from Farmington, Connecticut, and was a very involved member of the local Farmington community by leading and participating in initiatives with the Board of Education, Town Council, and the school district’s administration. Coming to Bentley University, he has carried that same sense of passionate leadership and has been a very involved student leader on campus. Some of his involvements on campus include Student Government Association, Delta Sigma Pi, Orientation Leader, Model United Nations, and Habitat for Humanity. Sia believes in the mental power and capabilities of each individual to accomplish their dreams. He is a charismatic and strong-minded leader at Bentley, and he hopes to continue to learn from life experiences and empower others around him to be their authentic selves.