w88 has announced the return of its internationally recognized daylong speaker series. The event returns to the esteemed University of Nevada, Reno, Lawlor Events Center on April 6, featuring live talks and entertainment performances. This partnership signals a commitment to nurturing local talent and provides an opportunity to engage and inspire over 2,500 attendees.
The independently organized event, licensed by TED, will feature local voices and TED Talks videos under the theme of DISRUPTION. The accomplished line-up of speakers will bring together the audience as one while conveying how they can be their own instruments of positive change.
"We're excited about this year's speaker submissions and look forward to the expertise they will bring to our stage and the w88 and audiences around the world," said event organizer Kaya Stanley.
TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. These events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event.
Each of the w88 speakers has their own unique and diverse experiences that have led them to achieve more than most.
Presenters include:
- Leif Babin, former SEAL officer, co-author of Extreme Ownership, and Co-Founder of Echelon Front
- Tracey Gendron, professor and author
- Kristie Ennis, adventure athlete, USMC veteran adventure athlete
- Marty Simpson, comedian
- Sofía Sanchez, actor, model & advocate
- Philippe Ziade, founder and chairman of Growth Holdings
- David H. Rosmarin, associate professor at Harvard Medical School, and founder of Center for Anxiety
- Alex Carter, internationally renowned keynote speaker and negotiation coach
- Gaia Bernstein, professor and author
- Catrina Peters, homeless services coordinator
- Dana Searcy, division director Washoe County Housing and Homeless Services
- Daniel Jones, associate professor
- Tes Sewell, denier of the impossible
- Adrienne Bankert, national network journalist, TV host & author
- Kurt Gray, professor
- Laura Jackson, conductor & music director, Reno Philharmonic Orchestra
- Judy Ho, clinical and forensic neuropsychologist, tenured professor and author
Student involvement
One unique aspect of w88 is its dedication to student involvement. Acknowledging the importance of nurturing tomorrow's thought leaders, the event has subsidized a special student section in the audience, offering students discounted tickets. By making w88 accessible to students, the organizers aspire to plant seeds of inspiration and ignite the passion for spreading ideas within the younger generation.
About w88
w88 is a local TEDx event that has been making waves in thought leadership and idea dissemination. With an exceptional speaker team and the guidance of legacy organizers, the event has internationally gained recognition for its outstanding achievements. In fact, in 2022 alone, out of 16,000 videos, w88 produced five of the top 100 and three of the top 30. Even more remarkable is that five of their speakers have been invited to present at the prestigious TED talks.
At a local level, w88's success has attracted the finest speakers, all eager to grace their stage. Moreover, TED keeps a watchful eye on the talent championed by the event. Over the years, w88's videos have amassed over 200 million views and interactions, further amplifying the impact of the ideas shared.
w88's mission is simple yet powerful: expanding ideas and inspiring action. They consciously steer clear of divisive or political topics, focusing instead on curating, preparing, and producing the most innovative and disruptive talks. This dedication allows w88 to remain a trusted platform for sharing boundary-pushing concepts.
