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 Texas at Dallas, Jonsson Performance Hall
800 West campbell road
Richardson, Texas, 75080
United States

Erin Lauraine

Erin Lauraine’s life defies convention! Whether it’s getting a teaching license without having a degree, buying a business without money or investors, or finding a great partner through online dating – her journey is a story of how the loopholes and backdoors of life can still get you to where you want to go. Finding a passion for martial arts, she owned a gym in her early 20’s and began a 15-year-long coaching career in Oregon. Despite losing a business partner, the tragic death of her sister, becoming homeless during the 2008 recession, a divorce, and debilitating mental health struggles, Erin’s optimism and drive to learn and grow endures. Now in her 40’s, she’s currently an undergrad at UT Dallas where she is majoring in neuroscience and psychology, building her next business venture, and celebrating a new marriage!

Grant Rose

Grant Rose is a Business Administration Major at The University of Texas at Dallas. He is a world traveler, having been to all 50 states and 34 countries worldwide. He also enjoys studying multiple languages, with Spanish being the one he has spent the most time with. He loves to combine his two biggest hobbies by traveling somewhere and attempting to use their language to communicate.

Justin Mann

Head of Research & Standards for the Technology Business Management Council

Justin Mann is the product of two worlds: his multi-decade career in corporate America and his upbringing and lifelong connections throughout rural, working-class America. He grew up in a small town outside Abilene navigating a rough and tumble culture with a few rowdy friends, roofing houses during the summer, and teaching himself programming at night. He is now the Head of Research & Standards for the Technology Business Management Council, a published author, contributor to multiple technology industry standards bodies, and has presented at conferences on multiple continents. He is a lifelong reader and book collector with an expansive home library, an avid traveler, and enjoys horseback riding on the weekends. More recently he has begun dedicating his free time to distilling ideas across economics, science, technology, and politics into engaging, accessible formats that resonate with both urban professional and rural, working-class audiences.

Katherine Liu

Kate Liu is currently a junior in high school and permanently an over-thinker and talker. She manages to channel her made-up words through public speaking, and her Speech and Debate career. Aside from accidentally winning the Texas State Championship in Impromptu Speaking, Kate primarily competes in Extemporaneous Speaking. Having championed national tournaments like the Sunvitational, placing 3rd at the University of Texas at Austin’s Longhorn Classic, and being invited to the Montgomery Bell Academy Round Robin — exclusive to the top 16 in the country, Kate enjoys advocacy and helping others to find their voice. In addition, Kate is the Founder and Head of a nonprofit organization called Lifting All Women, an organization dedicated to creating accessible resources for women across the nation. From reading random Wikipedia pages to learning obscure lists of words, there’s a plethora of undefined issues for Generation Z to understand. By defining their current one, Kate hopes that it can be a foundation to solve all of the rest!

Sugata Biswas

Sugata is an accomplished author, award-winning entrepreneur, and advocate of the servant-leadership management philosophy. He specializes in human behavior and decision-making. In 2008, he co-founded a professional services firm in the life sciences industry which has been featured on the Inc 500/5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies three times.

Theresa Nguyen

Dr. Nguyen is the Chair of Pediatrics at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Nguyen completed her undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University. She received her medical degree and master’s degree in health policy from New York University School of Medicine and New York University Wagner. She completed her pediatric residency and Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She also completed a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. Dr. Nguyen has practiced pediatrics for over 25 years. She is passionate about whole-person wellness (mind, body and spirit). She helps engage and empower young adults and the adults in their lives best support them. Dr. Nguyen helps young adults and their supporters launch them into adulthood with confidence and resilience. She frequently contributes her pediatric and wellness expertise on television news (NBC Nightly News, WBFF Fox 45, WBAL TV 11, WMAR 2 TV) and in print media (CNN, NPR, Baltimore Sun). Dr. Nguyen has been recognized by her peers as a Top Doctor in Baltimore Magazine for many years. She is a recognized leader; she received a Women of Impact Leadership Award from GBMC in 2023 and a Maryland Record's Top 100 Women of 2024 award.