TEDxWesleyChapel Speaker Page

As we curate our event, we have some guiding principles and expectations for our speakers:

1. Ideas Over Individuals: We believe it's the ideas and innovations that matter most. We seek speakers with groundbreaking ideas and perspectives that leave a lasting impact on our audience.
2. Community-Centric: We prioritize ideas that originate in our local community but have global relevance. We look for ideas that are relatable and resonate with a wide audience.
3. Defendable Ideas: We seek ideas that need to be defended, not just self-evident concepts. Engaging arguments and unique perspectives are highly valued.
4. Originality: We encourage speakers to bring forward ideas that the TED world hasn't heard before. Our goal is to provide fresh, innovative content.
5. Perception-Shifting: We value ideas that challenge and change perceptions. Whether it's a scientific discovery or a philosophical argument, we aim to reshape our audience's thinking.

 To help us find extraordinary speakers who align with our mission, we use the following checklist:

• Local Voice: Is the speaker a local voice that few people have heard before, offering a fresh perspective?
• New Light: Can the speaker present their field or idea in a new and enlightening way?
• Unique Perspective: Does the speaker bring a perspective that the global TED community may not have encountered?
• Diversity: Does the speaker bring diversity in terms of demographic, ethnicity, background, or topic, complementing our lineup of speakers?

 A TEDx Talk is a unique and impactful experience, different from traditional lectures or speeches. It's a platform for speakers to share their groundbreaking ideas, perspectives, and innovations. TEDx Talks aim to:

• Inspire and Inform: TEDx Talks should inspire and inform the audience about a novel idea or innovation.
• Engage and Challenge: These talks engage the audience and challenge conventional thinking.
• Create Conversations: TEDx Talks spark meaningful conversations that resonate long after the event ends.

 We want our speakers to be fully prepared for the TEDxWesleyChapel experience. Here are our expectations:

1. Outline/Script and Slides: Speakers are required to write an outline and/or script for their talk, and create accompanying slides.
2. Accessibility: Speakers must be reachable before the event and participate in occasional check-ins.
3. Rehearsals: Speakers should rehearse their talk for weeks or months in advance and attend at least one rehearsal with our team, including a dress rehearsal.

 Finding your speaker's idea is crucial. It's the heart of the TEDx Talk. To help speakers identify their idea, we ask questions like:

• What's a controversy in your field that a general audience would understand?
• What's a common misconception you'd love to clear up?
• Why is this idea important, and to whom?
• Who would disagree with you, and why?
• How did you carry out this idea in your own work?
• What's the big idea behind your new project? How did you sell that idea to funders and collaborators?

Finding the idea is a collaborative process, and we'll work closely with speakers to ensure their talk is impactful and thought-provoking.