Theme: Pathways

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, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. 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).

Winston Churchill High School
11300 Gainsborough Road
Potomac, Maryland
United States

Anand Subramony

Anand Subramony is Vice President of Drug Delivery & Device Development at MedImmune, the global biological arm of AstraZeneca. In this role, Anand heads the combination development for early and late stage biologics, including drug delivery. His key focus areas are creating patient-centric devices, building device platforms, and evaluating disruptive drug delivery technologies in the areas of drug targeting/nanomedicine.

Mark Bucher

Mark Bucher is an entrepreneur, restaurateur, and a three time World Champion Burger Maker. Previously, Mark was the creator and founder of The Burger Joint, but he is now working as the co-founder of the Medium Rare Steak Frites Restaurant in DC and the founder managing principal of Winthorpe & Valentine's Community Restaurant and Lounge.

Monika Samtani

Mrs. Monika Samtani is well-known in the D.C. area for her accomplishments in the fields of market media and broadcast journalism. She is the founder of Ms. Media, a media management and public relations firm that aims to increase productivity through effective communication. Mrs. Samtani’s company has had a wide variety of clients, including The World Bank, the globally-known film “Girl Rising,” and the feature film “Sold.” She has also spoken at numerous events on the importance of female entrepreneurship, and she is an advocate for education causes directed towards underprivileged girls.

Sarah Hesterman

Sarah Hesterman is a seventeen-year-old advocate for gender equality. Sarah has been named one of the BBC's 100 Women in 2014, a "#GirlHero" by Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, and Air Force Military Child of the Year 2015. She has also spoken at the World Innovation Summit for Education, and participated as a Youth Delegate in the United Nations Youth Assembly. Sarah is currently on the national Teen Advisory board for Girl Up, a United Nations Foundation campaign that promotes education and leadership opportunities for girls in developing countries.

Susan Pereles

Mrs. Susan Pereles is currently a Director of Development for Autism Speaks, the national organization that aims to raise funds for autism research and to promote autism awareness. She has been the Race Director of the Autism Speaks 5k race in Potomac, MD for the past 15 years. The race combines her passions for running and for helping others, and it is now the most successful athletic fundraising event for autism in the U.S.

Tisha Thompson

Tisha Thompson is an investigative reporter at NBC Washington. Her in-depth investigations focus on rooting out public corruption and making her viewers safer, smarter and healthier. Her stories have consistently led to the creation of new laws and policies, multiple firings and major corporate changes within national companies. She’s won more than 100 national and regional journalism awards, including 21 Emmy awards.