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Meet the
Team
Our Story
TEDxAtlanta is one of 2500+ local TED affiliates across the globe and its license holder Jacqui Chew is widely recognized in the global TEDx community as a pioneer organizer.
Originally operating under the TEDxPeachtree name, we produced one of the first 25 TEDx events in the world in 2009! In 2018, we rebranded to TEDxAtlanta and continue to organize the largest, and longest-running TEDx event in Georgia and beyond.
TEDxAtlanta is an initiative of Ideas into Action, a Georgia-registered nonprofit founded on the belief in the power of ideas to build stronger communities.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDxAtlanta is part of TED’s TEDx program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but TEDxAtlanta events are organized by local volunteers. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)
Since 2009, more than 40,000 TEDx events (and counting) have been held in over 130 countries.
TEDxAtlanta
Licensee/Curator
Jacqui Chew
Licensee / Organizer
Jacqui Chew
Licensee / Organizer
When not dreaming up the latest community-building experience, she relishes grokking ideas across science, tech, design and entertainment with friends across the globe.
❤️ Talk: Why you should make useless things. / Simone Giertz
"Simone's indomitable spirit and the simple message of 'always be asking questions' gave me the joy and lift I need at just the right moment in my life."
Co-Organizer
Sophie Desert
Co-organizer
Sophie Desert
Co-organizer
After work, and not just under the shower, you can find Sophie attending live music events in the audience or as a singer on stage.
❤️ Talk: Teach girls bravery, not perfection. / Reshma Saujani
"It is a different approach to today's gender inequalities especially in education and the tech industry."
Speaker Coaches
Diana Stoian
Coach / Special Projects
Diana Stoian
Coach / Special Projects
When she is not tackling the complexities of commercial real estate investments, Diana serves as a TEDxAtlanta coach. A speaker coached by Diana is among the 16 TEDxAtlanta speakers to be featured by TED.
❤️ Talk:
Elaine Powell
Coach
Elaine Powell
Coach
Elaine has spoken at over 250 global events, training 35,000+ people, including members, senior leaders, and thought leaders, in the art of transformational thinking and effective communication. Her career highlights being a former TEDx curator in London for three years, featuring in Forbes, Stand-Up Comedian, and Producer of Amazon Prime's Speak UP series.
❤️ Talk: The Power of Vulnerability / Brené Brown
"Brené Brown's talk on vulnerability is powerful because it encourages authenticity and openness, which I think are essential for building meaningful connections. Her insights on embracing imperfection resonate deeply with me and remind me that vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness."
Jacqui Chew
Coach
Jacqui Chew
Coach
When not dreaming up the latest community-building experience, she relishes grokking ideas across science, tech, design and entertainment with friends across the globe.
❤️ Talk: Why you should make useless things. / Simone Giertz
"Simone's indomitable spirit and the simple message of 'always be asking questions' gave me the joy and lift I need at just the right moment in my life."
Becky Spieth
Coach
Becky Spieth
Coach
Roddy serves as a faculty member for the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team, an international team made up certified teachers, trainers and coaches.
❤️ Talk:
Speaker Sherpas
Savita Taylor
Speaker Sherpa
Savita Taylor
Speaker Sherpa
❤️ Talk: How to find the person who can help you get ahead at work | Carla Harris
"More than anything, I love Carla's confidence and command of the stage."
Alba Prifti
Speaker Sherpa
Alba Prifti
Speaker Sherpa
❤️ Talk: Rethinking infidelity ... a talk for anyone who has ever loved / Esther Perel
"I love understanding the human mind at its deepest level: love and desire, how they affect the human psyche is something we can all strive to better understand."
John Bartkus
Speaker Sherpa
John Bartkus
Speaker Sherpa
Since 2017, John has been a dedicated TEDx volunteer. He has also played key roles in curating content and selecting speakers for major conferences and events, including Mobility Live, SuperNova South, Mobile X Festival, RetailLoco, Wireless Technology Forum, and the MIT Enterprise Forum.
Trudy Loper
Speaker Sherpa
Trudy Loper
Speaker Sherpa
❤️ Talk: You are contagious / Vanessa Van Edwards
"Applicable to my professional life and as a parent. The idea that we are contagious, how we hold ourselves, how we present, how we dress and use gestures is something that can be taught."
Annette Stanley
Speaker Sherpa
Annette Stanley
Speaker Sherpa
In her downtime, she enjoys the challenge and sereneness of sailing. Sailing lets her mind, body, and spirit imagine infinite possibilities and fulfills her sense of wanderlust.
❤️ Talk: The Power of Vulnerability/Brene Brown.
"Most of us tend to feel uncomfortable with showing vulnerability. I believe that vulnerability is one of my core strengths because it allows me to build deep trust-based relationships with my friends, colleagues, and clients."
Morgan Doyle
Speaker Sherpa
Morgan Doyle
Speaker Sherpa
❤️ Talk: How great leaders inspire action / Simon Sinek
My first TED Talk, Simon Sinek's "How Great Leaders Inspire Action," further ignited my passion for impactful leadership and a love for TED Talks. Its powerful message of starting with "why" redefined leadership for me—as inspiring others through purpose-driven vision and creating meaningful growth.
Production / Audience Xperience
Sophie Desert
Head of Audience Xperience
Sophie Desert
Head of Audience Xperience
After work, and not just under the shower, you can find Sophie attending live music events in the audience or as a singer on stage.
❤️ Talk: Teach girls bravery, not perfection. / Reshma Saujani
"It is a different approach to today's gender inequalities especially in education and the tech industry."
Reid Kersey
Stage Manager
Reid Kersey
Stage Manager
❤️ Talk: How great leaders inspire action / Simon Sinek
This talk resonates with me because it highlights the power of leading with purpose and integrity. It aligns with my belief that true leaders inspire by example and never ask others to do what they wouldn’t do themselves.
Juliet Charney
Audience Xperience Captain
Juliet Charney
Audience Xperience Captain
❤️ Talk: The Clues to a Great Story / Andrew Stanton
"Stanton, the filmmaker behind Toy Story and Wall-E reveals how and why we are so captivated by great stories in any medium. He taps into our own love of film and our innate curiosity."
Usayd Siddiqi
Audience Xperience Captain
Usayd Siddiqi
Audience Xperience Captain
❤️ Talk: If I should have a daughter... / Sarah Kay
"I'll never forget watching this talk in high school and how Sarah Kay's spoken word performances left me with goosebumps in the moment. Her creativity with words combined with her captivating style taught me the potential we all have to leave an impact. Little did I know that it would inspire me to begin dabbling in poetry a few years later."
Hamza Sahri
Head of Production
Hamza Sahri
Head of Production
❤️ Talk: Strange answers to the psychopath test / Jon Ronson
"It made me aware of my default instinct to try to put people in boxes as soon as I meet them, human behavior is complex and that should always be kept in mind when interacting with others."
Roxana Dondera
Audience Xperience Captain
Roxana Dondera
Audience Xperience Captain
❤️ Talk: Your body language may change who you are/Amy Cuddy
"This talk is a powerful reminder of how resilient human beings are and how one small gesture can have such an impact."
Volunteer Xperience
Isiah Jones
Volunteer Xperience Coordinator
Isiah Jones
Volunteer Xperience Coordinator
Constantly seeking new perspectives and experiences, Isiah enjoys attending alternative music festivals, kayaking, participating in focus groups, and more.
❤️ Talk: How to Discover Your Authentic Self -- at Any Age / Bevy Smith
"The speaker combines humility, storytelling, and confidence in a powerful message about embracing authenticity and refusing to settle. She argues that intentional decision making is crucial to happiness, highlighting that the process of shaping and refining one's identity is neither linear nor finite, but an ongoing journey where conscious choices help cultivate an identity that aligns with our deepest desires."
Olivia Nelson
Volunteer Xperience Coordinator
Olivia Nelson
Volunteer Xperience Coordinator
As a natural extrovert, Olivia enjoys connecting with others and the diverse perspectives each new person brings. Her love for meeting new people has enriched both her personal life and professional career.
❤️ Talk: A guerrilla gardener in South Central LA / Ron Finley
"Ron Finley decided to become the change he wanted to see in his community. His seemingly small act of growing a few vegetables turned into a beautiful place for the community to come together and learn from one another. "
Marketing / Storytelling
Aby Varma
Head of Marketing
Aby Varma
Head of Marketing
A champion of the power of people to drive meaningful change, Aby leads with kindness and positivity. He draws inspiration from tech, travel, humor and music.
❤️ Talk: How great leaders inspire action / Simon Sinek
Simon's codification of how leaders inspire action stands out for its simplicity. He emphasizes 'inside-out' communication—starting with 'Why,' then 'How,' and 'What,' unlike most organizations and leaders. The beauty in the simplicity of this idea has left an indelible impression, prompting my insatiable appetite to seek out the 'why' in all things.
Vrishti Savalani
Marketing/Content
Vrishti Savalani
Marketing/Content
Her specialty is in editorial work and journalism, but also has experience in marketing. Her unique blend of two backgrounds has taught her how to lead with creativity and innovation, but back her stories with strategy and research.
❤️ Talk: Inside the Mind of a Procrastinator / Time Urban
"Urban’s talk explores a subject that many people often struggle with without even realizing and creates an inspiring speech about self-discipline and goals. What’s really enjoyable is his delivery and his sense of humor, which ultimately makes for a really engaging presentation."
Chloe Davis
Marketing/Content
Chloe Davis
Marketing/Content
Curious by nature, you can find Chloe trying new out the latest outdoor trend or getting into the latest book.
❤️ Talk: Go ahead, dream about the future. / Charlie Jane Enders
"This TED Talk is my favorite because Charlie Jane Anders powerfully emphasizes the role of imagination in shaping our agency and collective future. Her message, which connects imagination to research, reality, and conversation, reminds us that while we can’t predict the future, our ability to imagine it drives innovation and fosters a sense of shared existence and purpose."
Emma Husk
Video Content
Emma Husk
Video Content
Skilled in filmmaking, screenwriting, and producing, Emma is passionate about storytelling and driven by a commitment to connecting communities. Her work is inspired by world travel, activism, and a love of journaling.
❤️ Talk: My year of saying yes to everything | Shonda Rhimes
"I resonate with her message about applying hard work to the thing that inspires you! As a filmmaker, it’s motivating to hear someone so successful and groundbreaking in her field talk about the blood, sweat, and tears that goes into making her dreams come true. "
Atembe Giles
Marketing/Content
Atembe Giles
Marketing/Content
From dancing and visiting art spaces to exploring new parks with her kids and trying new restaurants with her husband, Atembe’s life in Atlanta is filled with activities that continually inspire her. These everyday adventures enrich her perspective and fuel her passion for sharing stories that uplift and unite communities.
❤️ Talk: The Power of Introverts - Susan Cain
"Susan Cain verbalized so many of my lived experiences and feelings about myself that I never knew how to express, and made me feel more comfortable and empowered about who I am."
Ideas into Action Board of Directors
Jacqui Chew
President & Chair
Jacqui Chew
President & Chair
When not dreaming up the latest community-building experience, she relishes grokking ideas across science, tech, design and entertainment with friends across the globe.
❤️ Talk: Why you should make useless things. / Simone Giertz
"Simone's indomitable spirit and the simple message of 'always be asking questions' gave me the joy and lift I need at just the right moment in my life."