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).

Washinton International School
3100 Macomb St NW
Washington, District of Columbia, 20008
United States

Alaina Kupec

Gender Acceptance Advocate

Alaina is the founder and President of GRACE. After serving seven years on the board of one of the preeminent national transgender non-profits, seven of which were as board cochair, she felt the need to address anti-transgender rhetoric by creating a communications and public policy-focused organization solely focused on challenging the extreme right’s narrative of the transgender community. She is also currently an Executive Director of Portfolio Strategy & Analytics at Gilead Sciences in Foster City, CA. She leads the company’s portfolio strategy team for the Virology and Inflammation therapeutic areas, helping teams work through complex decisions, life cycle planning, decision prioritization, and optimal development strategy for its new drugs.

Cristina Pombo

Economist + Social Impact Leader

Cristina is an economist with an emphasis on social policy, working at the intersection of technology and government ethics. She leads efforts to use digital technologies for better social services such as health, social protection, education, and skills development. Cristina is part of the OECD Network of Experts on AI and a member of the Advisory Board of Northeastern University's Artificial Intelligence Experiential Institute. Expert in Digital Transformation in Governments with educational accreditation from the Harvard Kennedy School and in Data Ethics from the University of Michigan.

Desmond Dunham

Author, Speaker, Coach, Entrepreneur

Under Armour Coach, Desmond Dunham ”Coach Dez” is a nationally acclaimed coach, community leader, teacher, entrepreneur, and author. He is a youth sports expert with over two decades of coaching and teaching experience. He is one of the most decorated high school track & field and cross-country coaches in the country. Desmond is also the author of the memoir, Running Against The Odds, a coming-of-age and triumph story about how he overcame odds on and off the track. His coaching accomplishments in track & field and cross-country are expansive: he has coached over 100 high school All-Americans won 75 state and conference championships named the 2022 USA Track & Field Coaches Association “National Coach of the Year”. Coach Dez has been a teacher for over 25 years in DC and he’s a mentor, a community leader, and a proud husband and dad. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Howard University in exercise physiology and a Master of Arts in Teaching

Dr. Afua Branoah Banful, Ph.D

Economist and Founder

Afua Branoah Banful, simply known as “B.B.” by everyone except telemarketers, is a mom by choice, an economist by training, a management consultant by profession, and a founder by calling. B.B.’s journey blends personal experiences with professional actions to address issues near to her heart. Her latest adventure as Founder of AnetaEd.com Inc., an EdTech platform that empowers kids to independently explore curated educational content, was born out of her frustration in guiding her own children through the vastness of the internet. At the time a management consultant with McKinsey and Company, B.B. began to serve healthcare providers on operational improvement initiatives. B.B. holds undergraduate degrees in Materials Science and Engineering, and in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she was also a track star. She holds a Ph.D in Economics from The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, at Harvard University.

Dr. Samuel H. Houston Jr, Ed.D

President and CEO of the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center

Dr. Houston, serves as the President and CEO of the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center. Dr. Houston’s career spans several prestigious roles, including the inaugural executive director of the University of North Carolina Center for School Leadership Development. His prior experience includes teaching in public schools, various administrative roles in education, and superintendent of Mooresville City Schools. Dr. Houston serves on the Smithsonian Science Education Advisory Board, and the James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy Board of Directors. A respected voice in education reform, Dr. Samuel H. Houston, Jr. has received the Jay Robinson Leadership Award for his exceptional statewide impact on public K-12 education, was recently presented a Distinguished Career Award from the University of North Carolina – Greensboro School of Education and was inducted into East Carolina University’s Educators Hall of Fame.

Pawel Swiatek

COO @ Moniepoint

Pawel Swiatek is the Chief Operating Officer at Moniepoint, an African fintech company. Prior to joining Moniepoint, Pawel spent 5 years as an executive at Capital One, where his work focused on financial inclusion. Before moving to Washington DC, he spent a decade in the institutional asset management industry. Originally from Poland, Pawel began his business career as a management consultant in Warsaw. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an AB in Chemistry from Harvard College.

Sowmya Pelluru

Adjunct Professor @ Georgetown University

Sowmya Pelluru is a multifaceted leader with a passion for driving social impact and fostering community. Currently serving as the Senior Manager of Partnerships at WHOOP, she brings a wealth of experience from diverse fields. Prior to her role at WHOOP, Sowmya served as the Chief Brand and Communications Officer at the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif), where she championed equity and economic opportunity. Before Wacif, she founded manakii, a sustainable and socially conscious underwear company for women that embodies her commitment to empowering girls and women. Sowmya's journey also includes academia, serving in her third year as an Adjunct Professor and Academic Director at Georgetown University, imparting her knowledge and passion for entrepreneurship to the next generation of leaders. She holds a Masters in Design Management & Communications from Georgetown University and a BA in Global Supply Chain Management & Marketing from the University of South Carolina.