Theme: The Power Of...

A group of eight local and national inspirational thought leaders will be sharing insights, and “Ideas Worth Spreading”, when TEDxHiltonHead returns to Hilton Head Island on November 4th at The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. This year’s exciting panel of speakers includes a wide range of today’s well-known “movers and shakers” – including national/local leaders in the area of sports, health, media and business – who will be gathering to share their unique perspectives and insights for a thought-provoking afternoon.

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
14 Shelter Cove Lane
Hilton Head, South Carolina, 29928
United States

Charlie Clark

The Power of Media to Shape Who We Are

The average American now consumes 11 hours of media each day. What we consume and how we consume media has the power to shape our everyday lives and determine our view of the world and what we value in life. Unbiased media is a thing of the past, but what are the ramifications of that? Conflict and click-throughs are profitable. Billions are spent to get us hooked on content and it’s working. Learn how to live in a digital world in a mindful way that adds to your life vs consuming it.

Jeff Ford

The Power of Three Stair Steps to Change

Throughout life, we stumble into seasons where we feel caught in a storm. We drift or even hit rock bottom. The problem we all have is redirecting our lives and cultivating long-term change isn’t easy because we have never been given a process. Jeff Ford believes there are three simple steps to that apply to creating change in every area of your life, with this model called the Triangle of Change. This talk will focus on the power of this Triange of Change – which starts with creating awareness by reflecting on your life accounts, cultivating clarity by crafting a clear vision, and building confidence by doing less of what’s getting in your way and consistently executing on the first small step.

Jeff Weiss

The Power of Active Agers

The world is getting older and you can’t stop it, with over 17% of the population projected to be 65 and older by the year 2100. There are over 100 million adults 55 and over in North America who are consumers of products or services, yet despite this group accounting for over 40% of all consumer spending, they are largely ignored or stereotyped in most marketing efforts. Given the growing list of unmet needs that adults have as they get older, there is a significant opportunity for organizations to create solutions that are more usable, desirable and marketable to older adults.

Lester Young

The Power of Redemption

Lester Young, Jr., a native of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, has carved an extraordinary path of transformation, resilience, and empowerment. At the age of 19, Lester found himself facing a life sentence, a daunting reality that could have stifled his potential. However, he embraced the challenge, determined to turn his life around and positively impact the lives of others.

Mary-Kay Messier

The Power of Equity in Sport

As Vice President of Marketing for the world’s most recognized hockey brand, Mary-Kay Messier is on a mission to make ice hockey as much of a sport for girls and women as it is for boys and men. Mary-Kay believes inclusion is a key pillar of equity, and that girls and women deserve access to all the opportunities that hockey – and all sports — offer, including exercise, learning life lessons, developing character, team skills and life-long friendships they will carry forever, as athletes or in other career opportunities. Her talk will focus on the importance of equal access, exposure and opportunity in sports today, the power of equity in sport, and what you can do to advance the cause.

Rachel Stratton

The Power of Finding the “Now” in a World That Has a Playback Button

Learning from her unique experience in the spotlight as both a high school student and current college senior, Rachel knows that social media is one of the many forms of stimulus convincing people they are not doing/creating/being enough. She feels that the more we rely on the media to navigate what “authentic” or “true” looks like, the stronger we distort our reality that was never to be corrected. In her talk, Rachel shares what methods have aided in her self-understanding, provides insight into living an authentic life in an inauthentic world – and provides a unique perspective about how we can change the world by changing ourselves.

Ross Szabo

The Power of Language for Mental Health

As one of the most sought-after mental health speakers in the country, Ross Szabo provides an honest, humorous and relatable approach to mental health. He believes we can teach mental health the same way we teach physical health, and can use lessons to teach people about brain development, vocabulary, coping skills, healthy relationships, how to help others, and most importantly, how to take care of their minds. Ross uses his story with mental health disorders and trauma to help others feel comfortable addressing challenges in their own lives. His talk focuses on the importance of mental health literacy as a way to give people the language they need to truly address mental health the same way they manage their physical health.

Tonya Matthews

The Power of Radical Empathy

Dr. Tonya M. Matthews is an influential figure in social entrepreneurship, equity strategy, and the convergence of formal and informal education. With a unique background in poetry and engineering, she is a sought-after visionary for community projects and boards, and dynamic speaker across age groups and sectors. Dr. Matthews currently serves as President and CEO of the International African American Museum, elevating its mission of authentic and empathetic telling of African American history as a thoughtful and critical challenge to institutional racism.