Dear Readers,
Some of you may have received the announcement this week already, but as friends, colleagues and a connected community of readers, I wanted to share a personal perspective on the news about TEDWomen.
TEDWomen is evolving into TEDNext, expanding its platform with a change of name but with the same mission to spread the ideas and innovations that shape a better future for the world and to provide a platform for connection and for community. I am grateful for the global community TEDWomen has convened each year for more than a decade, and with a broader curatorial lens, we can extend the possibilities and opportunities for speakers and attendees.
As many of you know, a little more than 15 years ago, I approached Chris Anderson, the founder and leader of TED, with the proposal that we offer the unique platform of a TED talk and conference with a special focus on the ever evolving narrative of women around the world, their ideas, challenges and accomplishments.
(clockwise) Introducing Hillary Clinton at the first TEDWomen in Washington, DC, in 2010; Interviewing Jane Fonda at TEDWomen 2019. (Stacie McChesney/TED); Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim speaking at TEDWomen 2019 (Marla Aufmuth/TED); interviewing writer, producer and visionary filmmaker Ava DuVernay at TEDWomen 2023 in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Gilberto Tadday/TED)
The result was TEDWomen, which accomplished that mission with hundreds of TED talks by women from all over the world — thought leaders from every sector of life and work. These talks, streamed on the TED.com platforms, have been shared and watched millions of times…and have had real impact on lives and communities.
I am especially pleased with the global community that developed around the concept of TEDWomen as thousands of TEDx organizers took up the opportunity to convene TEDxWomen events, independently curated and convened, held in cities, towns, and villages around the globe. Importantly, the global community for more than 2,000 TEDxWomen conferences in more than 135 countries will continue to grow and be a vital part of TEDNext.
Activist, filmmaker and entrepreneur Maya Penn, TEDWomen editorial director Pat Mitchell and TED’s head of curation Helen Walters host Session 5 of TEDWomen 2023 in Atlanta, GA. | Photo: Gilberto Tadday / TED
Now, it’s time to do even more!
TEDNext will expand the TEDWomen experience, opening up more possibilities for the community to become even more inclusive.
In October, we will convene again in Atlanta, GA, with a program of TED Talks and Discovery Sessions that go beyond a singular lens of gender to explore the ideas that move us forward as individuals seeking to know more, do more, and be more. TEDNext will be an open invitation to a global community from all geographies, generations and genders to interrogate and share ideas for how we might better work together to shape a more just and sustainable future.
TEDNext is an opportunity to explore what’s next for you and for us all — offering an experience and connections that inspire meaningful change, from personal life and career decisions to our roles as citizens of the world.
Be assured that we are not declaring victory for gender equality — there is still much work to do, and the promise from TED across all its programs and conferences is to keep curating and facilitating important related conversations and ideas about equality for all.
We believe we’re expanding our perspective at just the right time to focus on the challenges ahead, and we’re committed to using the TEDNext platform to present the best new ideas that can move us forward, both personally and as a global community.
I hope you will join us and help shape what happens next.
Onward!
- Pat
P.S. TEDNext has not been announced publicly because we want to save your spot. Click here to let us know if you’d like to be the first to know when registration opens.
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