Meet Our Speakers

Main Event 2024

We proudly introduce the 12 speakers of our Main Event 2024 "Where Change Begins".

David JP Phillips

High on Life: The ultimate life and communication skill

Have you ever met someone who could choose to always be their best self in every situation, both for others and for themselves?

In his talk, David will share a cocktail of hormones key to self-leadership, rooted in deep personal lessons, as well as the secret that was eluding him in his first three TEDx talks.

Discover the ultimate skill in public speaking and communication, which just happened to save a life.

Marine Tanguy

Why you should be worried about the images you see every day: Breaking the habit of visual prejudice

As a dynamic writer and speaker, Marine sheds light on contemporary art and investment, with captivating TEDx Talks and her book "Visual Detox" published by Penguin.

Philipp Sostmann

How immersive technologies like AR/VR will change our workspace forever

In a landscape dominated by immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), public opinion stands sharply divided. These advancements evoke a spectrum of reactions, from excitement and admiration to doubt and fear.

Philipp’s talk delves into this intricate sentiment, exploring how immersive technologies are already positively impacting individual lives. It highlights the tangible advantages of spatial computing technology today and envisions a future where digital content seamlessly integrates into daily life, offering unprecedented opportunities for progress, education, and connection. How might the ever-evolving relationship between humans and technology redefine the very essence of reality?

Miren Bengoa

Women who lead: accelerating women’s empowerment in fragile communities

After several decades working in many countries around the world, Miren Bengoa shares her insights on what has worked to progress women's empowerment in difficult situations.

In this talk, she explores several themes including economic empowerment and politicial activism through unbelievable stories of what has worked, and why. These experiences are framed with lessons for all of us on supporting women and girls.

Jessica & Annika Horn

Embracing the Horn Legacy: Conquering Our Personal North Pole

In an intimate and revealing interview, the Horn sisters share powerful lessons learned from their father, famed adventurer Mike Horn.

From the North Pole to Lausanne, they reflect on their family's journey, the pressures of living up to a legacy, and the journey to embrace their uniqueness. "Thank you, Father; we'll take it from here," they say as they step beyond the shadow of expectation to chart their own course.

Entrepreneurs, adventurers, and daughters of Mike Horn.

Raised in the shadow of their father Mike Horn's global expeditions, Annika and Jessica Horn grew up far from ordinary, often feeling worlds apart from their peers due to their unique family lifestyle. Since 2015, they have been instrumental in planning and promoting Mike's adventures, including educational projects like Pangeae X.

Their work not only continues their father's adventurous legacy but also broadens its impact. The Horn sisters stand out as key figures behind one of the world's most intrepid explorers, merging their familial bond with a shared zeal for exploration.

Samuel Kembou

Change begins within - a journey of growth and development

In this talk, Samuel Kembou will take us on a multi-layered journey of development. We will travel with him from Cameroon to Switzerland back to Côte d’Ivoire; we will navigate from early childhood to fulfilled adult lives, from receiving to giving, from mud to gold…

This exploration of the different meanings of development will bring unexpected findings and leave us with a question: what do we do in the face of adversity?

Sarah Koller

Towards a post-growth economic culture

Her talk delves into the existential motivations driving polarized ideological stances on the feasibility and desirability of continuing economic growth within the contemporary ecological paradigm. Through a blend of theoretical inquiry and empirical investigation, this study elucidates the psychological hurdles obstructing open discourse on the topic.

At their core, these obstacles stem from a deeply ingrained, often subconscious fear of mortality, fostering a disconnection from nature that disregards its limits in favor of an unwavering belief in boundless economic expansion.

Jean-Claude Artonne

Disrupting Loneliness: Can AI Lead the Way?

Join a journey to unravel the complexities of loneliness. Discover its profound impact on our health and economy, affecting nearly one-third of the world's population. It has tangible physiological effects that call for a change to address this silent epidemic. Enter Jean-Claude's vision of an emotional AI that serves not as a virtual companion but as a catalyst for serendipitous real-world connections between like-minded people to foster friendships.

This venture into harnessing AI's potential for benevolence challenges us to rethink socialization, emphasizing serendipity, synchronicity, and the preservation of free will, offering a new paradigm for genuine human interaction.

Lise Volkart

Assessing the impact of machine translation on language

With the rapid and massive adoption of AI tools in the translation sector, there is growing concern about their long-term impact on languages.

Lise aims to shed light on this yet relatively unexplored area, identifying and describing the impact of machine translation tools on translations produced by professional translators.

Arnaud Lyon

Advancing Organ Transplantation: Unveiling the Immune System's Vital Role

When an organ is transplanted, it is no longer supplied with blood, which damages the cells and triggers an inflammatory response. The breakthrough? Female sex hormones could be the heroes, protecting organs by modulating the immune system.

As the world faces a critical shortage of organs, these findings might offer a glimmer of hope to open up new, life-saving avenues. Get ready for a journey into a field where cutting-edge innovation meets urgent needs.

Charline Carron

Your Brain Contains An Incredible Garden.

The thesis work is titled "Exploring the Impact of a Molecule Secreted by Astrocytes on Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis." As a foundational research endeavor in neuroscience, a comprehensive grasp of neurobiology is essential to fully appreciate its intricacies.

However, articulating its concepts to individuals outside the field can be challenging. In an effort to condense the essence of the thesis into a concise 180-second presentation, she aimed to enhance accessibility and figurative representation through the utilization of a straightforward metaphor.

Académie Sharivari

Where change begins: A Live Visual Metamorphosis

Dive into a captivating experience with this live video project, the result of the workshop led by Ali-Eddine Abdelkhalek from Académie Sharivari. Emerging talents, Hugo Cruz and Jean-Baptiste Courtois, invite you into a world where art comes to life, exploring innovative ideas and unique expressions. 

Presented as part of TEDxLausanne: Where change begins, this captivating video performance promises to stimulate your imagination and inspire change. Join us for an unforgettable artistic experience, where creativity meets boldness, drawing inspiration from the varied themes addressed during the event.

Join the event

At TEDx Lausanne, we hold a steadfast belief: true change begins by focusing on our immediate sphere of influence. We understand that effective systemic change is not solely an individual responsibility but a collective endeavor.

Together, let's explore the power of collective action and ignite the sparks of transformation.