TEDxPlano 2020 Announces Speaker Lineup

courtesy TEDxPlano

Passion can be one of the strongest influencers to motivate us in our work. TEDxPlano 2020 will explore the idea of “Meraki,” the notion that when you are so passionate about something you leave a piece of yourself in your work – whether it be your soul, creativity or love. Meraki suggests that your essence is forever connected to what you do.

TEDxPlano is a local event that hosts a series of speakers who give talks surrounding the fundamentals of TED: Technology, Entertainment and Design. TED Talks are all about an idea that is worth sharing. TEDxPlano will take place on Saturday, April 4, 2020 at the Courtyard Theater in the Downtown Plano Arts District.

2020 TEDxPlano Speakers:

John Bramblitt // photos courtesy TEDxPlano

John Bramblitt

After losing his sight in 2001, John decided to pick up a paintbrush. He never expected anyone to see any of his paintings; he just knew he needed to reconnect with the visual world he had lost. Since then his work has been featured in the New York Times and Discovery Channel. He has collaborated with celebrities such as Tony Hawk, Jeff Bridges and Lyle Lovett. He received three presidential service awards for his innovative multi-sensory art workshops. His unique journey from the dark enables him to connect with a visual world and promote overcoming obstacles.

Lauren Clark

Lauren Clark

On a mission to make you rethink and reuse your urban environment, Lauren founded Turn, a sustainability company which benefits businesses and households in reducing their environmental impact. This subscription-based model not only helps the environment, it rewards those who join them. Lauren is a certified Master Gardener with Texas A&M AgriLife and a Certified Culinarian with the American Culinary Federation.

Julie Coon

Julie Coon

After surviving a sudden cardiac arrest, Julie was grateful for the strangers who performed CPR and used an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to bring her back to life. This life-threatening event reinforced the importance of learning CPR and knowing where the nearest AED is located in case of an emergency. Thought led to action. Julie teamed up with Google to help make AED locations searchable items on Google Maps, first nationally and growing globally. Through crowd-sourcing, the AED you tag could possibly be used to save a life – maybe even your own.

Jennifer Edwards, PhD

Jennifer Edwards, PhD

Jennifer is a creative scientist who spends her time on wellness, research, and passion projects to support women and girls.  She is skilled in designing public health research evaluations and has served as Principal Investigator on grants from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Resources and Services Administration and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She has written congressional testimony submitted to the U.S. congressional record and values personal agency and advocacy of all people.

Mehari Gebreyohanns, MD

Mehari Gebreyohanns, MD

As an Assistant Professor in the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute at UT Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center, Mehari specializes in stroke care and telemedicine. He is on a mission to bring the Medical Center’s superior stroke care and education to communities throughout North Texas. As Director of UTSW’s Telestroke Development and Outreach program, Mehari mentors students and residents through several campus initiatives including the Department of Global Health mentorship program. Each summer he works in his home country of Ethiopia on a similar mission of care.

Hailey Summers

Hailey Summers

From ballet to hip-hop to popping, there are no limitations in texture, form or musical dynamic. Hailey draws inspiration from all over the world in an effort to create movement centered spaces of innovation. Movement philosopher, choreographer and artistic director of the performance unit “MERAKI” she collaborates with some of the best musicians and DJs in the Dallas/New York areas. “MERAKI” is a space where people of all ages explore movement freestyle and storytelling to raise awareness about the importance of movement to support mental health and heal from trauma.

Jaxson Turner

Jaxson Turner

Jaxson is in 7th grade and enjoys sports, family, church and playing piano – plus playing Fortnite when he can. A fifth generation Planoite, Jaxson’s journey in philanthropy started when he was 10 years old and started the “Never Too Young To Care Charity” (#N2Y2C). N2Y2C has grown, holding four charitable events a year and helping more than 1,000 families.

David Xing

David Xing

Founder and CEO of PLOTT, David created an award-winning Extended Reality company. Plott’s platform aims to close the loop between the virtual and the real world. By weaving together a user’s ability to imagine and to create, the loop between digital visualization and real world actualization closes. David started out in analytics of a buy side fund focusing on “why and what’s next.” After he studied for his MBA at Cambridge, he was involved in a project with entities of the European Space Agency and fell in love with using data and innovation to solve age old problems. 

Sanjiv Yajnik

Sanjiv Yajnik

President of the Financial Services division at Capital One, Sanjiv serves on the Capital One Executive Committee. He has leveraged his background in engineering, art and transformative leadership to creatively build businesses for massive growth. Sanjiv created Capital One’s innovation space in Plano called The Garage. He holds three patents, as well as several patents pending. Within the community, Sanjiv serves as Chairman of the Collin County Business Alliance (CCBA), Chairman of the nationally-acclaimed Dallas Symphony Association and sits on the Board of the National Academy Foundation (NAF). Sanjiv believes vibrant businesses and communities go hand-in-hand.


TEDxPlano 2020 tickets go on sale Thursday, Jan. 16 at 10 a.m. at the link below.

TEDxPlano >

 

Courtyard Theater
1509 H Avenue
Plano, Texas 75074

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