Meghna Usharani Ravishankar '17 Attends TEDSummit

As the student organizer of TEDxGrinnellCollege, Meghna Usharani Ravishankar '17 knows how to put an inspirational show together. But in the summer of 2016, she applied and was chosen to attend TEDSummit, a week-long gathering of leaders, innovators and thinkers from all over the world. She then sought and received funding from the Wilson Center for Innovation & Leadership.

She first attended the TEDx Global Forum, which was a two-day mini conference dedicated specifically for TEDx organizers from all around the world to get together and start a conversation about the power of TEDx to make real change. The official TEDSummit showcased six sessions of live talks with more than 50 speakers and performers sharing compelling stories and ground-breaking ideas. Beyond the live talks, there were several opportunities to participate in community workshops, classes, and activities with Banff as a stunning backdrop.

"I was able to absorb a seemingly infinite amount of wisdom and knowledge" from the other attendees, she said after the event. "I got a lot of technical advice on how to run TEDx events as well as how I could succeed as a professional, but also how to live better as a person.

"This conference is unique in the way it engages its participants. The whole week is filled with workshops, talks, outdoor team activities and networking events. I think this aligns with the Wilson Program's mission and goals as it fosters innovation and leadership in a very unique way. TED is an organisation that celebrates innovation in both academic and non-academic fields. This conference provides opportunities to interact, participate and gain leadership skills through intellectual workshops and other non-intellectual, non-conventional activities."