top of page

Watch the Talks:
Mavericks & Moonshots (2022)

Our presenters run some of the most admired companies and organizations, invent world-changing devices, and create ground-breaking media. They are trusted voices and convention-breaking mavericks, icons and geniuses who gather for a full day of inspiring talks, interactive experiences, food for thought & connections to nourish the soul. 

Our Democracy is Worth Defending. Here’s How. | Trevor Potter & Jane Mayer | TEDxPearlStreet
21:02

Our Democracy is Worth Defending. Here’s How. | Trevor Potter & Jane Mayer | TEDxPearlStreet

The American election system is complicated, to say the least -- but voting is one of the most tangible ways that each of us can shape our communities. How can we rebuild public trust in the American election system and move toward a more transparent, accountable and inclusive democracy? Former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission and current President of the nonpartisan organization Campaign Legal Center Trevor Potter and journalist Jane Mayer share a frank conversation about what’s needed to advance democracy and fight for every American’s right to participate in the democratic process. Trevor Potter is one of the nation's best-known and most experienced campaign and election lawyers. He is the President of the Campaign Legal Center, a former Commissioner and Chairman of the Federal Election Commission, and counsel to several Presidential campaigns. The American Bar Association Journal has described Trevor Potter as “hands-down one of the top lawyers in the country on the delicate intersection of politics, law and money.” During the 2020 election season, Trevor was named to the cross-partisan National Task Force on Election Crises. He is a member of the DC Bar and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar. Jane Mayer is the chief Washington correspondent for The New Yorker, where she covers politics, culture, and national security. Previously, she worked at the The Wall Street Journal where she covered the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, the Gulf War, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. In 1984, she became that paper’s first female White House correspondent. Jane is the author of four best-selling books including “Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right,” which in 2016 the Times named as one of the ten best books of the year. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
How to use design thinking to create objects of desire | Mei Xu | TEDxPearlStreet
15:35

How to use design thinking to create objects of desire | Mei Xu | TEDxPearlStreet

NOTE FROM TED: TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdf How do you transport people during the pandemic from their home to the beaches of Bora Bora or to a rainy evening in Seattle so that they feel the peace and joy of a vacation? And how, in doing so, do business founders create multi-million-dollar global brands? The answer lies with Mei’s story on applying design thinking to everyday mundane products. Her theory is that the most ordinary products people use cannot deliver the perfect solution unless more innovation and passion driven businesses make them more desirable and enjoyable, while providing better sustainability, local jobs, and more thoughtful consumption! As the new consumers look for transparency, transformative experiences and meaning social connections, this is a moment to explore such opportunities! Mei Xu is a Chinese American entrepreneur. The founder and CEO of three global companies, Yes She May, BlissLiving Home® and Chesapeake Bay Candle®. Xu successfully negotiated the sale of Chesapeake Bay Candle to Newell Brands in 2017, a conglomerate with a $14 billion portfolio of consumer goods. Mei is now focused on helping women-owned consumer product companies grow and prosper with the Yes She May product platform. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx