Theme: Empower, Educate, Elevate: Women Leading the Future

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).

Xiamen International School
Xiamen International School
262 Xingbei San Lu Xinglin
Xiamen, Fujian, 361000
China

Candy Yang

XIS Student

Candy is a High School student who has been at XIS since Grade 1. She participates in numerous clubs, has represented the school at a number of MUN Conferences, is a strong component of the school’s HS Volleyball Team and is currently serving as the President of Student Council. Her speech will focus on the need to take action because of the cause of inequality in education, and how we can resolve or mitigate those inequalities. Her grade 10 Personal Project and it was this that sparked her interest in inequality of women in education.

Jana Chen

XIS Student

Jana is a Middle School student who has been at XIS since Pre-K. She is an avid writer and recently was short listed for the John Locke Essay Writing Competition. Jana’s speech will focus on the women in her extended family who have inspired her. She wants to share their stories with the world, in the hope they can inspire others.

Mary Collins

Elementary Principal

Mary Collins is the elementary school principal at XIS. She has worked as an educational leader in Southeast Asia over the last 20 years as a teacher, coordinator, principal & deputy head of school. However, her most important accomplishment is as a mother! She has four children and is proud of how they are each leaders in different ways. Mary’s speech will share her experiences as a teacher and a leader who learned to show her students that she cared about them and without this, it’s not possible for a leader to earn the trust of those they serve. Mary will also share some experiences from her past that highlight this valuable lesson.

Selina Wu

Parent Speaker

Selina is a mother who has navigated the challenging but rewarding journey of balancing the responsibilities of raising her children with her professional life. She has a range of experience in diverse fields, including jewelry appraisal, auction administration, and international trade. While balancing her personal and professional live she has also completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology at the University of Auckland. Her speech will focus on how motherhood is a powerful source of growth and empowerment for both mother and child, as well as highlighting the struggles of motherhood and how overcoming them leads to personal empowerment.