ABOUT TEDx

We’re excited to officially launch TEDxLake Mary, where bold ideas and inspiring voices come together—from around the world and right around the corner.

TEDxLake Mary is part of the global TEDx movement, bringing the spirit of TED’s mission—“Ideas Worth Spreading”—to our local community. While we are proudly licensed by TED, our event is independently organized by a passionate team right here in Lake Mary, Florida.

2025 marks our inaugural event, and we couldn’t be more excited to create a stage for thought leaders, innovators, and storytellers to share ideas that spark conversation and drive change.

We’re thrilled to officially launch TEDxLake Mary with this year’s theme:

What If?

At the heart of every groundbreaking idea is a single, powerful question: What if?

It’s the beginning of possibility—the kind of thinking that challenges the status quo, opens minds, and dares us to imagine a different future.

What if one idea could shift a perspective?

What if your voice is the one someone is waiting to hear?

What if the next big breakthrough starts with your story?

This theme invites dreamers, doers, and disruptors to explore the endless potential hidden inside one simple question.

What if... you were meant to be on that stage?

🔴 What Makes a Great TEDx Talk (or Speaker)?

  • Think Big, Share Bold: Bring us your best-ever talk. Share something unexpected. Challenge us. Inspire us. Give us a “What if?” moment we’ll never forget.

  • Be Real: Talk to us like a human. Let us see your passion, your fear, your failures, your truth. Vulnerability connects deeper than perfection ever could.

  • Make It Clear: Don’t impress us with jargon—teach us something new. Use stories, examples, and analogies. Explain it like you would to a curious friend.

  • Move Us: Your idea should hit us in the heart as well as the head. Make us laugh, cry, or rethink what we thought we knew.

  • Leave the Ego Behind: This isn’t about showing off. It’s about showing up—with humility, purpose, and the intent to serve your audience.

  • No Selling or Pitching: TEDx isn’t the place to promote products, services, or fundraising. Your idea must stand on its own—no sales hook required.

  • Join the Conversation: Reference other talks or ideas! Agree, challenge, expand—TEDx is where ideas connect and evolve.

  • Don’t Memorize Every Word: Speak from the heart. Notes are fine. Rambling isn’t. We’d rather hear your truth than your script.

  • Respect the Clock: Stay under 8 minutes. Going over takes time from others—and we won’t allow it.

  • Practice Like You Mean It: Rehearse out loud. Time yourself. Get feedback. The most impactful talks are crafted—not just delivered.

The TEDx Mission

TED & TEDx Explained

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a 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 local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 30 years ago, TED has grown to support its mission with multiple initiatives. The two annual TED Conferences invite the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less. Many of these talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sal K han and Daniel Kahneman.

The annual TED Conference takes place each spring in Vancouver, British Columbia. TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TED Talks are posted daily; TED Translators, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as translations from volunteers worldwide; the educational initiative TED-Ed. TED has established The Audacious Project that takes a collaborative approach to funding ideas with the potential to create change at thrilling scale; TEDx, which supports individuals or groups in hosting local, self- organized TED-style events around the world, and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Follow TED on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TED.


©2025 TEDxLake Mary. This independent TEDx event is operated under license from TED.