Education
TED Speakers
TED Speakers:
Bestselling Author, Cancer Survivor, Host of the PBS Series Tell Me More With Kelly Corrigan
Called “the voice of a generation” by O Magazine, Kelly Corrigan is the author of four New York Times bestsellers and host of the PBS primetime interview show Tell Me More with Kelly Corrigan and the weekly podcast, Kelly Corrigan Wonders.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalists
Husband-and-wife duo Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn were the first married couple to win a Pulitzer in journalism and have written a series of best-selling books together as well as appeared in television documentaries of their books.
Award-Winning Author & Curator
Samina Ali is an award-winning author, curator, and popular speaker. Her debut novel, Madras on Rainy Days , was the winner of France’s prestigious Prix Premier Roman Etranger Award and a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award in Fiction.
Entrepreneur, Veteran & Bestselling Author
The founder of an NGO and a former Marine, Rye Barcott has the distinction of being both a warrior and a peacemaker, a juxtaposition he explores in the memoir It Happened on the Way to War.
Distinguished Mathematician
Dr. Arthur Benjamin is a distinguished mathematician, professional magician and one of the world’s fastest mental calculators. His TED talks have been viewed over 12 million times.
Best-Selling Author of Thrivers, Parenting & Child Expert
Educational psychologist Dr. Michele Borba is as world-renowned for her warm, down-to-earth speaking style as she is for cutting edge insights. Her informative presentations leave audiences with usable strategies.
Founder, Homeboy Industries
Father Gregory Boyle is the founder and CEO of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang intervention and re-entry program in Los Angeles County.
Inner-City Youth & Education Advocate
Founder of the Harlem Children’s Zone, Canada addresses inner city poverty and violence. His model was featured in Waiting for Superman and has been replicated across the U.S.
"Cool Dad" & Foster Care Expert
Derek Clark, the viral "Rapping Dad" sensation, had a life of resilience and redemption. As a speaker, author and singer, Clark has spoken about his history of child abuse with a hopeful message to never give up.
First-Generation Martian, Mars Rover Engineer & Interplanetary Storyteller
As a child, Nagin Cox had a dream of exploring space. And through incredible determination, a fighting spirit and a never-quit attitude, she has done just that. Cox has been a spacecraft operations engineer at NASA’s JPL for over 2 decades.
Harvard Medical School Psychologist & WSJ Best-Selling Author
Susan David, Ph.D. is the visionary who developed the concept of Emotional Agility. An award-winning Harvard Medical School psychologist, Susan has been named one of the world’s most influential management thinkers.
Award-Winning Essayist & Critic
William Deresiewicz is an award-winning essayist and critic, a frequent college speaker, and the best-selling author of Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life.
CEO of Not Impossible Labs
Recently named by Fortune Magazine as one of the Top 50 World’s Greatest Leaders, Mick Ebeling has sparked a movement of pragmatic, inspirational innovation.
Professor of Science Education & Author
Christopher Emdin teaches STEM classes at Columbia where he serves as Director of Secondary School Initiatives at the Urban Science Education Center. He wrote Urban Science Education for the Hip-Hop Generation.
#1 NYT Bestselling Author of Range, The Sports Gene, and now Inside the Box & Expert on Human Performance
David Epstein has spent his career investigating—and overturning—our most deeply held assumptions about what makes people and teams perform at their best.
NASA Aerospace Engineer, Defense Tech Strategist, Program Manager & STEM Educator
Named one of the top 50 minority women in science and engineering, Ericsson is the first African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. in engineering from NASA’s Goddard Flight Center.
CEO of Global Citizen/Global Poverty Project
Hugh Evans’ breakthrough brand of action-oriented humanitarianism has mobilized millions to end extreme poverty, climate change and gender inequality around the world.
Psychiatrist & Founder of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine
James S. Gordon, MD, a Harvard-educated psychiatrist and former NIMH researcher. He is the Founder and CEO of the nonprofit Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM) in Washington, DC.
Animal Scientist & Autism Self-Advocate
The most accomplished adult with autism in the world, Grandin inspired the HBO film Temple Grandin (starring Claire Danes). Grandin shares the challenges and successes of her fascinating life.
Inspirational Educator & Author
Erin Gruwell helped students "written off" by the system harness the power of education to graduate high school. Her dedication to her students resulted in the publication of The Freedom Writers Diary.
Photographer & Founder, POSITIVE EXPOSURE
Rick Guidotti has spent the past 25 years collaborating internationally with communities to affect a sea of change in societal attitudes toward individuals living with genetic, physical, behavioral or intellectual differences.
First Blind Contestant & Winner of MasterChef
The season three winner of Gordon Ramsay’s competitive amateur cooking show, MasterChef, Ha is the author of Recipes from My Home Kitchen: Asian and American Comfort Food.
Former Surgeon General of California
Dr. Nadine Burke Harris is an award-winning physician, researcher and public health leader who has spent her career on the front lines of some of our world’s most pressing public health challenges.
Academy Award-Winning Actress
One of Hollywood's most beloved actresses, Goldie Hawn is an Academy Award winner, producer, director, best-selling author, and children's advocate.
Biologist & Stress Expert, Author
Dr. Heiss is a stress expert dedicated to transforming our fears into fuel we can use through her T-minus 3 Technique. Her research has been designated “transformative” by the National Science Foundation.
Former NBA Player / Addiction Recovery Advocate
A hometown basketball legend, Chris Herren realized his dream of playing for the Celtics only to lose it all to addiction. He shares his story in Basketball Junkie & the ESPN documentary Unguarded.
Emmy & Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist
Maria Hinojosa is the Pulitzer Prize-winning founder of Futuro Media based in New York City. She has written four books, won multiple awards, and is the Anchor and Executive Producer of the Peabody Award-winning show Latino US.
Author, Mentoring & Leadership Expert
Carl Hobert, a leading voice on global education equity, human rights and social justice, reveals how to harness creativity, passion, teamwork, and determination to make the world a better place.
President Emeritus of UMBC
Award-winning educator and diversity expert Hrabowski transformed UMBC with his enthusiasm for STEM. Partnering with businesses, UMBC fosters skills to ensure employability.
Best-Selling Author & "Human Guinea Pig"
Known as "the human guinea pig," A.J. Jacobs lived as a biblical subject, followed every bit of medical advice to be the healthiest man alive, and followed other bizarre situations that he documents in his novels.
Pioneering Advertising Researcher & Filmmaker
Recognized for her work on the image of women in advertising and for her studies of alcohol and tobacco advertising, Jean Kilbourne is renowned for her ability to present provocative topics in a way that unites.
Self-Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome
Rosie King became well-recognized after accurately diagnosed her own Asperger's Syndrome. After her popular TEDMED talk, she raises awareness about autism and is working towards becoming a professional actress.
Former MS-13 Gang Member
Gerardo Lopez, a.k.a., Clever, has been working in gang intervention since 1998. Formerly of the notorious MS-13 from Los Angeles, Lopez escaped gang life and works to keep at-risk youth from making the same mistakes.
American Astrophysicist & Strategist
Emma Louden is an American astrophysicist, strategist, and speaker. Raised in Park City, UT, she spent many nights outside looking up at the Milky Way through the crisp and clear mountain air.
Astrophysicist & Author of The End of Everything
Dr. Katie Mack is a theoretical astrophysicist exploring a range of questions in cosmology, the study of the universe from beginning to end.
Youth Mental Health Expert & Parenting Coach
Dr. Andrea Mata, PhD, is on a mission to throat-punch the youth mental health crisis and equip parents, educators, and leaders with the tools they need to raise emotionally strong kids and build resilient communities.
Best-Selling Author, Creator and Host of Podcasts Thanks for Asking & It’s Going To Be OK
How are you? Nora McInerny wants to know the truth. TED speaker known for her viral talk; Nora specializes in making space for emotional honesty and difficult conversations.
Host, History Channel’s Lost History & Brad Meltzer's Decoded; New York Times Best-Selling Author
History. Legacy. Character. Great leadership. Brad Meltzer draws upon the themes of his best-selling books and popular television shows, challenging audiences to look at their lives, work and mission through the lens of legacy.
NYT Best-Selling Author & Motivational Leader
Moore energizes audiences with his remarkable personal story of overcoming adversity through education, embracing personal responsibility and emerging as an inspirational leader.
World Renowned Composer, Storyteller & Cellist of “The Piano Guys”
Steven Sharp Nelson is an award winning, Billboard chart-topping, YouTube total ROCK STAR, but in a cellist sort of way. His creative content is watched and streamed over 3 MILLION TIMES EVERY DAY.
Creator of Go! Go! Sports Girls Dolls & Books
An expert in creating change, Jodi Bondi Norgaard shares her entrepreneurial journey of passion. She is the founder and creator of the award-winning Go! Go! Sports Girls line of dolls, books and apps for girls.
Geneticist, Professor, Mentor & TEDx Speaker
Dr. Tiffany Oliver is a dynamic motivational speaker, author, professor, and scientist. For almost 20 years, she has captivated audiences with her research and presentations on leadership, persistence, and excellence.
Leadership & Happiness Expert
After graduating from Harvard Business School, Neil Pasricha spent a decade as Director of Leadership at Walmart, the world’s largest company. While there he wrote the 50-million-hit, award-winning blog 1000 Awesome Things and NYT bestsellers.
High Wire Artist & Master of the Impossible
From his legendary 1974 high wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center to an Oscar-nominated film and highly viewed TED Talk, Renaissance man Philippe Petit continues to amaze the world with his artistry and eloquence as a speaker.
Emmy-Winning CBS Sunday Morning Correspondent
Whether he’s covering AI, the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, the latest consumer tech, a post-robot world, or preparing for climate change, David Pogue is a master communicator who brings even the most non-technical audiences up to speed.
Award-Winning Journalist & Author of The Family Roe
For more than twenty years, Joshua Prager, a former senior writer for The Wall Street Journal, has written about historical secrets. His work has shed new light on our cultural touchstones.
DEI Expert, Bestselling Author & Award-Winning Former Nonprofit Leader
Ruth Rathblott is an expert on inclusion and diversity. She is a TEDx and inspirational speaker, bestselling author, and an award-winning former nonprofit leader.
Founder of Green Bronx Machine
Stephen Ritz is a South Bronx educator/administrator who believes that students shouldn't have to leave their community to live, learn, and earn in a better one.
Disability Public Speaker, DEI Consultant & Content Creator
As a young child, Catarina Rivera began wearing hearing aids. At 17, she was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome, which includes progressive vision loss. Currently, she has about 5% of her vision remaining.
Creator of the 5 Second Rule
Mel Robbins is the co-founder of Inspire52 and an award-winning CNN commentator and legal analyst. In her motivational presentations, Robbins speaks at events around the world on human behavior and leadership.
Author & Leadership Speaker
Mike Robbins is a sought-after keynote speaker, author, and leadership expert known for captivating audiences with his insights on team performance and company culture.
Former President of Ireland & Former Chair of The Elders
One of the world’s most respected advocates for human rights and Ireland’s first woman President, Mary Robinson leads the mission of the Mary Robinson Foundation—Climate Justice.
Award-Winning Producer, Transgender Fashion Model & Activist
Geena Rocero, born and raised in Manila, Philippines, is an Award Winning Producer, Writer, Director, Model, Public Speaker, Trans Rights Advocate and co-host of the Webby Awards honoree TV Show ASPIREist, broadcasted on HLN/CNN.
Founder & Artistic Director of National Disability Theatre
Mickey Rowe is on the autism spectrum. He was the epicenter of significant publicity when he became the first autistic actor to play Christopher Boone, the lead role in the Tony Award-winning play “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.”
Bestselling Author, International Keynote Speaker & Award-Winning Educator
Bestselling author and international keynote speaker Lainie Rowell inspires and equips individuals and organizations to thrive by fostering meaningful connections, optimizing well-being, and driving innovation.
Former Editor & Managing Director, Fast Company
As the former Editor & Managing Director of Fast Company, Robert Safian is known for highlighting the “new” in business while keeping reverence for the “tried and true.”
Renowned Finnish Educator & Scholar
Pasi Sahlberg is a Finnish educator and scholar. Known as the international “school improvement activist,” he shares his experiences in classroom teaching, teacher education, and global educational change.
Former Education Correspondent, NPR
A former elementary and middle school teacher, Sanchez was the education correspondent for NPR. His reports air on NPR's award-winning newsmagazines Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition.
2014 Nobel Peace Prize Winner & Child Rights’ Activist
Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi has been a tireless global advocate of children’s rights for four decades now. He left a lucrative career and started Save the Childhood Movement to rescue children from the shackles of slavery.
Higher Education Thought Leader
Selingo has spent his journalism career covering colleges and universities worldwide. His book, College (Un)Bound: The Future of Higher Education and What It Means for Students, explores the college of tomorrow.
Author, Professor at UCL and MIT & Expert on Human Behavior
Award-winning author and acclaimed Professor, Tali Sharot is a leading expert on decision-making, emotion, influence, motivation and mental health.
Organizational Thought Leader, Expert on Rejection & Best-Selling Author
As the CEO and publisher of College Magazine, the trusted guide to navigating college, reaching millions of readers, Amanda Silver empowers young professionals to achieve a career they love.
Best-Selling Author & Leadership Educator
Rachel Simmons is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Odd Girl Out and The Curse of the Good Girl, and Enough As She Is.
Innovative Educational Consultant
Speaker David Sousa is the author of How the Brain Learns, in which he translates discoveries on brain research into practical and effective classroom strategies.
Keynote Speaker, TED Presenter & Global Positivity Advocate
Aaron Stark was almost a school shooter. As a dark and destructive teen, he almost committed a terrible attack. After watching the news coverage of the Parkland school shootings, he wrote an open letter “I was almost a school shooter.”
Cultural Scientist & Author
A cultural scientist, passionate traveler and science journalist, Sukel has no problem tackling interesting (and often taboo) subjects spanning love, sex, risk taking, neuroscience, travel and politics.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist, Author
The author of Life, Animated (inspiration for the Academy Award nominated film of the same name) shares his journey of connecting with his son, who has autism, through Disney movies.
Inspirational Principal
Being driven by a purpose larger than the self is the theme of I Choose to Stay, a memoir written by the award-winning school principal and speaker Salome Thomas-EL.
Bestselling Author & Creator of the Wildly Popular Blog Wait But Why
Tim Urban is a wildly popular thinker, blogger, illustrator, and speaker beloved for his ability to make sense of our world and humanity in head-spinning, hilarious ways.
Human Rights Activist & Advocacy Educator
Natalie Warne is an activist who at the age of 17 decided to work for the humanitarian aid organization, Invisible Children. What began as a 5 month internship resulted in Natalie producing award-winning international human rights awareness campaigns.
Award-Winning Writer & Educator
Tony Weaver, Jr. is an award winning writer and educator creating diverse stories that make young people feel seen and valued. After seeing the impact that media stereotypes had on students in his community, Tony created new media narratives.
Physician & Healthcare Executive
Dr. Leana Wen is a practicing physician, healthcare executive, and one of America’s leading public health experts. She is a columnist for The Washington Post, where she writes a twice-weekly column on medicine and public health.
Big Data Expert, Professor, Host of Nova Wonders
A popular TED speaker and passionate STEM education advocate, Dr. Williams deploys data in unusual and insightful ways, viewing subjects ranging from health to diversity in a new light.
Author & Journalist
After ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff was wounded in Iraq, he and his wife, speaker Lee Woodruff, penned the best-selling In an Instant to help others cope with crisis.
Co-Founder, Apple Computer, Inc.
Speaker Steve Wozniak changed the computer world when he designed Apple's first product line: Apple I and II. He is also a philanthropist focusing on computer use in schools.
Globalization & Education Expert
Speaker Yong Zhao is the presidential chair and associate dean for global education at the University of Oregon. He covers everything from policy to innovation and technology.