Theme: What If?

It’s about possibility. It’s about courage. It’s about chance. It’s about one simple question that advances, creates, ignites. Meet 14 people who will surprise, delight, educate, and open our eyes to what is possible when we ask, “What if?...”

Mira Costa High School
1401 Artesia Blvd
Manhattan Beach, California, 90266
United States

Grades of Green Youth Corps

Grades of Green is an environmental education non-profit with a mission to inspire and empower students to care for the environment. Grades of Green’s Youth Corps Eco-Leadership Program mentors 60 selected 2nd-12th grade students to become eco-leaders by providing one-on-one guidance to select and implement a Grades of Green Project that will help protect the environment.

Mira Costa Chamber Orchestra

The Mira Costa Chamber Orchestra is the most prestigious ensemble of the GRAMMY Award winning Mira Costa Orchestras.

Mira Costa Sax Pack

The Mira Costa Sax Pack is a highly proficient, student organized, high school saxophone group.

Amy Alkon

“science-help” columnist, author, speaker, and podcast host

Amy Alkon is a “science-help” columnist, author, speaker, and podcast host. Referred to by The LA Weekly as ‘Miss Manners with fangs’, Alkon’s award-winning, science-based syndicated advice column, “The Advice Goddess,” runs in about 100 papers across North America. Believing that science and comedy are not mutually exclusive disciplines, Alkon’s most recent book, ”Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck,” demonstrates how we can all live less counterproductively. The Library Journal calls the book, ’solid psychology, [with] a wealth of helpful knowledge and rapier wit’. Amy’s favorite TED talk is Steve Jobs’ “How To Live Before You Die,” which is not an actual TED talk, but is on the TED channel and which she finds enormously inspiring.

Anita Sanchez

Author, Consultant, Trainer, Executive Coach

Anita was born into a Midwest family that was economically poor, yet rich in Mexican-American and Aztec Indian heritage and is committed to bridging indigenous wisdom to modern life, to support our wholeness and partnership between People, Spirit and the Earth. With four decades of providing training and coaching to global leaders and their teams in diversity and inclusion, leadership, culture and positive change, she is a member of the Transformational Leadership Council. A passionate board member of Bioneers and of the Pachamama Alliance, Anita also leads an annual summer journey into the Ecuador Amazon Rainforest to learn about our connection to nature from the Achuar and Sapara dream culture tribes. Anita is author of “The Four Sacred Gifts: Indigenous Wisdom for Modern Times”, coming in August 2017. Success University for Women: Wisdom Working for You, 2015; Ecological and Social Healing: Multi-Cultural Women’s Voices, 2016; Success University for Women in Business, 2016.

Belisa Vranich

Clinical Psychologist, Author, Public Speaker

Dr. Belisa Vranich is a clinical psychologist, author, public speaker, and the author of “Breathe: The Simple, Revolutionary 14-Day Program to Improve your Mental and Physical Health”. As founder of The Breathing Class™, Belisa has taught and lectured nationwide on topics related to dysfunctional breathing patterns and stress. The Breathing Class™ addresses both physical and psychological problems related to oxygenation that is out of balance, and teaches people to breathe in an anatomically congruous way that maximizes balanced inhales and exhales. Belisa received her PhD in Psychology from New York University and completed an internship at Bellevue Hospital with specialization in neuropsychology, psychiatric consultation and liaison, and bilingual treatment. An outspoken advocate for women’s health issues and veterans’ rights, Belisa also volunteers with several animal rescue organizations and is an advisory board member of Philosophy’s Hope and Grace Mental Health Campaign.

Ed Garnero

Professor at Arizona State University (ASU)

Dr. Ed Garnero is a Professor at Arizona State University (ASU), where he teaches classes about the Earth and its interior He actively researches topics relating to imaging the insides of the Earth and the Moon. With over 30 years of research experience, and over 100 published papers in peer reviewed scientific journals, Ed and his team use seismic waves from earthquakes to image the details of our deep planet. Born in California to a large family of Italian descent, Ed’s path towards science first included working in construction for his father, then playing electric bass 5 nights a week for about 5 years before going off to Berkeley. This musical background has often appeared in the course of his science career: seismology concerns vibrations in the Earth from earthquakes, which is not very dissimilar from vibrations in music from bass rumblings! Ed’s favorite TED Talks are Richard Turere: My invention that made peace with lions and Linsey Pollak: Carrot Clarinet.

Eduardo Briceño

Co-Founder & CEO, Mindset Works

An alumni speaker of TEDxManhattanBeach, Eduardo is the Co-Founder and CEO of Mindset Works. Eduardo has spoken at numerous industry conferences for educators, school leaders, business executives, policy makers, and others. His highly-rated 2012 TEDxManhattanBeach talk on the growth mindset has been viewed by over 1.5 million people. Eduardo grew up in Caracas, Venezuela and received Bachelor degrees in Economics and Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as an MBA and M.A. in Education from Stanford University. Most importantly, he continues to enjoy lifelong learning every day.

Gene Yang

Cartoonist and Teacher

A 2016 MacArthur fellow, Gene Luen Yang began drawing comics in the fifth grade. “American Born Chinese”, Yang’s first graphic novel, put him on the map. A finalist for the National Book Award, the book caused a controversy over whether graphic novels were Currently, Gene is writing the middle-grade, computer programming series Secret Coders, illustrated by Mike Holmes. Gene is a strong proponent of using comics in education, and of representing diversity through the comics medium, which he does in all of his comics work. After speaking out against the lack of diversity in the casting of the Avatar: The Last Airbender movie, Yang was asked to write the Avatar: The Last Airbender comics, which he does to this day, as well as co-writing Superman for DC Comics. Yang is also a founding member of the Bay Area’s Art Night Crew, a local group of cartoonists.

Ken Dolin

Photographer

Kenneth Dolin is a Los Angeles based portrait and headshot photographer. Over the last 12 years, he’s worked with a clientele that’s included multiple Emmy, Golden Globe and Academy Award nominees and winners. His work has been featured in People, Us Weekly, Angeleno, Beverly Hills Magazine, L.A. Stage and more. Entertainment Tonight called him, “the go-to guy for great headshots”. Kenneth believes that while most people pose for the camera, it’s his job to get them to stop posing. He describes his process as being part photographer, part life coach, part clown and part provocateur. Prior to becoming a photographer, Kenneth was a commercial producer, associate creative director for ad agencies, and a working actor. When not shooting, Kenneth also coaches and mentor photographers and actors. He does not own a tie.

Kevin Kelly

Radiologist and Inventor

Dr. Kevin Kelly is passionate and dedicated to the early detection of breast cancer. His goal is to educate women about the importance of understanding their breast type so they can make informed decisions about their screening options. Kevin is the Medical Director of The Breast Ultrasound Center in Pasadena, CA, and has been in private practice as a diagnostic radiologist for 34 years. Dr. Kelly is one of this country’s leading authorities on using ultrasound to detect cancers in women with dense breast tissue and/or implants. Since 1993, he has been conducting clinical research on the discovery and characterization of breast cancer by ultrasound, and in 1997 began his journey to develop SonoCiné AWBUS (Automated Whole Breast Ultrasound). Launched in 2000, SonoCiné Inc. has been instrumental in identifying numerous very small cancers that were not detected by mammography, thus saving many lives and avoiding unnecessary chemotherapy treatments in many women.

Kyle Hill

CEO of HomeHero

Kyle Hill is the co-founder and CEO of HomeHero, a licensed non-medical home care provider that leverages smart technology and human compassion to extend the health system into the home. HomeHero caters to families seeking assistance in the home and empowers health systems to launch, operate and grow their own non-medical home care programs. Before HomeHero, Kyle was an equity analyst at Robert W Baird & Co, built online experiences at Kaleazy Creative, and launched the mobile payments app Flowtab in 2011. Kyle was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list in Healthcare in 2016. He actively speaks at healthcare and technology events worldwide and is a contributor to the Huffington Post. Kyle sits on the Board at Pomona College, working with healthcare and venture groups. He’s an avid soccer player, triathlete, scuba diver and is a camp counselor at the Muscular Dystrophy Association summer camp every year. His favorite TED Talk is Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action.

Lucas Deines

Business Executive

If Lucas ruled the world he would focus his energy on improving education and reducing child hunger. Lucas grew up on a farm in Kansas and subsequently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with an engineering degree. He then followed the sun to Southern California. His definition of success is happiness, and he derives his happiness through the time he spends with his wife and two children. Beyond his home life, Lucas runs the West Coast office for a performance improvement agency, which focuses on consumer, employee and sales channel engagement. His favorite TED Talk is Angela Lee: Grit: The power of passion and perseverance.

Malissia Clinton

Sr. VP, General Counsel and Secretary

Malissia Clinton is senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary of Aerospace, an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to the objective application of science and technology to move the nation's space program forward. Before joining Aerospace, Malissia worked for several years in the Office of General Counsel at Northrop Grumman. She began her career working summers during college as an analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency. Malissia received her BA from Arizona State University and her JD from Stanford Law School, where she was an editor for the Stanford Law Review. She serves on the boards of directors of the City of Hope Medical Center and the Arizona State University Alumni Association, and she formerly served on the board of the Constitutional Rights Foundation. Malissia lives with her husband, Ronald, and their three children in Manhattan Beach.

Per Håkansson

Digital Transformer

If Per Håkansson ruled the world, he would dissolve all physical and political borders and boundaries. Per Håkansson is a pioneering digital transformer, living and exploring the interface of technology, humanity and culture. His work help teams and organizations across the world to become successful in the era of exponential technology and cultural awakening. Today Per splits his time between Mexico City, Silicon Valley and wherever his clients roam, to live different points of views through the experiences of multiple cultures and languages. He owns fewer than 100 things and chooses only to reside in Airbnb’s and to use sharing platforms. Per’s favorite TED talk is Steve Jobs: How To Live Before You Die.

Ramaa Mosley

Commercial Director and Filmmaker

Ramaa Mosley is an advocate and filmmaker who, over the past seventeen years, has directed feature films and hundreds of award winning commercials, and was named one of Shoot Magazine’s top 10 Female directors. In the Fall of 2013, Mosley directed the Afghanistan segment of “Girl Rising”, which was nominated for outstanding documentary at the Image Awards. Her debut feature film, “The Brass Teapot” was nominated for the International Critics’ Award (FIPRESCI) and Saturn Award. In 2014 Ramaa founded Adolescent Content, a production and media company dedicated to content made by youth for youth. As CEO, she oversees mentoring all Adolescent’s youth filmmakers, as well as new campaigns and the creation of original content. Ramaa is a vocal advocate for girls’ and women’s rights around the world, launching the US social media campaign behind “Bring Back Our Girls”, which brought the story of 276 kidnapped Nigerian School Girls to the mainstream media.

Wendy Troxel

Senior Behavioral and Social Scientist, RAND and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Troxel’s research focuses on the interface between sleep, the social environment, and health, and on implications for public policy. Her research is supported by the Department of Defense and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. As an active clinical psychologist, Dr. Troxel helps patients overcome sleep disorders through behavioral (nonpharmacologic) treatment. She was the founding director of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine–an accredited training program in Behavioral Sleep Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. She continues to provide research and clinical training opportunities for graduate and postdoctoral students interested in sleep medicine. She also holds leadership roles in several professional sleep societies, is an Associate Editor for the journal “Sleep Health”, and has been involved in local and national efforts focused on healthy school start times for adolescents.

William Santana Li

Inventor

William is an American entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience and has a broad and deep range of expertise gained from several global assignments in the automotive sector and a number of startups. William is currently the Chairman and CEO of Knightscope Inc. Previously, William founded and served as COO of GreenLeaf LLC, a Ford subsidiary that became the world’s 2nd largest automotive recycler. He also co-founded Build-To-Order Inc. (BTO) a new car company based on the direct distribution of build-to-order products. William also founded Carbon Motors, and as its Chairman and CEO, focused on developing the world’s first purpose-built law enforcement patrol vehicle.