If you are applying to speak at TEDxThirdWard Salon on Sunday, June 14th, 2026 at MATCH Theater in Houston, this is where you introduce yourself. In the comments below, please share: • Your name • Where you’re from • Your big idea in one or two sentences This is how we begin building community beyond the application. We want to know who you are and what you hope to bring to the stage! Drop your intro below.

This episode brings the TEDxThirdWard family together for a powerful group conversation. Hosted by event director Durrel Douglas, the roundtable includes: • Emem Washington – our speaker coach • Chris Wright – TEDxThirdWard speaker • Tiffany Yvonne – TEDxThirdWard speaker • Dr. Amber Gunner – TEDxThirdWard speaker Together, we unpack the real journey of stepping onto the TEDx stage: • The pros and cons of the process • Why a TEDx talk isn’t an Easter speech or commencement address • The transformation that happens behind the scenes • How this experience became both a challenge and a reunion This candid, fun, and wisdom-filled conversation is packed with nuggets for anyone curious about the TEDx process — or dreaming of giving a talk themselves. What stood out to you in this discussion? What questions do you have about the process?

One month ago my TEDx talk dropped. 52,000 views later, I’m still in awe. If you haven’t watched it yet, go check it out (link below). But more than the views, I want to hear from YOU. Head to the YouTube video and drop a comment. What stood out? What hit different? What are you still thinking about? And since we’re all here because TEDx is on our radar, I want you to know this is exactly what I help people do. Not just get on the stage. But get SEEN after the stage. Building the strategy, the relationships, and the relational organizing approach that turns a talk into real exposure. Watch it. Comment on YouTube. And if you’re ready to talk strategy, you know where to find me. 👇 After watching my TEDx talk, “Why You Should Break Up With Your Friends,” what resonated most?

@Dr. Ginny Baro gives advice to aspiring TEDx speakers. What questions do you have for her and others that’ve shared their idea on the big red dot?

A question I’ve been asking leaders lately: If hiring systems worked so well… why are so many companies still struggling to find the right people? Over the past 18+ years I’ve worked in recruiting and career strategy and helped more than 12,000 professionals land roles across many industries. From that vantage point, I’ve seen something surprising. Most hiring problems are not actually talent problems. They’re visibility problems. Companies often rely on resumes, job descriptions, and automated filters to evaluate people. But those tools only capture a tiny fraction of who someone is — their strengths, their working style, their motivations, and how they actually contribute to a team. As a result: Great candidates get filtered out. Good people get hired into the wrong environments. And organizations struggle with turnover and disengagement. That realization led me to build Cultural Transformation Systems (CTS) — a human-first platform designed to help organizations see how their people and culture actually function. CTS combines ethical AI, leadership rituals, and living talent profiles to help companies hire more accurately, strengthen teams, and create workplaces where people can truly contribute. Because businesses don’t run on headcounts. They run on humans. I’m curious to hear from others in this group: What part of the hiring process do you think is most broken today?