TED Community

Building systems that protect and elevate humanity at scale. My work is not simply about operations, strategy, or leadership—it is about solving consequential problems that matter to billions of people. At my core is a deep commitment to advancing safety science, societal resilience, and human well-being in a world being reshaped by technology, climate pressures, and global complexity. A central theme in my work is **trust**. I believe trust is one of the most valuable currencies in business and in society. Institutions, markets, and communities function only when trust is earned, protected, and continuously reinforced. I am passionate about helping organizations build credibility through transparency, scientific rigor, operational excellence, and ethical leadership. When trust is strong, innovation accelerates, collaboration flourishes, and societies thrive. I believe that the greatest challenges of our time—energy transition, digital safety, infrastructure resilience, and public health—require institutions that are both scientifically rigorous and operationally excellent. I am driven to transform organizations into globally respected engines of discovery and impact. Incremental progress is not enough; I strive to build institutions known for breakthrough insights, trusted authority, and lasting influence. I am equally passionate about scaling impact through structure. I am energized by designing operating models, governance systems, and strategic frameworks that turn vision into measurable outcomes. Whether shaping a multibillion-dollar enterprise, guiding board-level decisions, or building new research campuses, I focus on aligning people, capital, and purpose to achieve outsized results. I believe excellence is not accidental—it is designed, disciplined, and sustained. I care deeply about people and potential. I am committed to creating environments where exceptional talent can thrive—where scientists, operators, and leaders are empowered to do their best work in service of a greater mission. This includes recruiting and developing world-class talent, fostering cultures of curiosity and accountability, and creating pathways for others to grow and contribute meaningfully. My leadership is grounded in stewardship—of people, purpose, and possibility. A defining part of my work is **generational succession planning**. I focus on anticipating future global needs and ambitions—often before they are fully visible—and ensuring that the next generation of leaders is prepared to meet them. I am intentional about identifying the critical skills, mindsets, and interdisciplinary capabilities required to solve emerging challenges. To me, succession is not a handoff; it is a deliberate, forward-looking design of leadership continuity that sustains impact across decades. My passion is also personal. Through the Derek Farmer Foundation and my commitment to lifelong learning, I work to expand access to knowledge and opportunity across generations. I believe education is transformative, and I am driven to create systems that enable individuals—regardless of age or background—to continue learning, evolving, and contributing to society. I am committed to engaging on the global stage to help shape the future. Through international forums and leadership communities, I contribute to and learn from the world’s most pressing conversations. My “push, pull, position” philosophy reflects how I approach leadership: advancing ideas and impact, gathering insight, and ensuring a seat at the tables where decisions are made. Ultimately, I am motivated by legacy. I want to build institutions, ideas, and initiatives that endure—work that continues to serve humanity long after my direct involvement. My aspiration is to lead at the intersection of mission, scale, and global relevance, creating meaningful and lasting impact. At the heart of everything I do is a simple but powerful belief: I am here to create meaningful, scalable, and enduring impact in service of humanity—through leadership, innovation, disciplined execution, trust, and the intentional development of future generations who will carry that mission forward.

Leading with heart and sharing your story

children, education, programming, art, different cultures, ideas, archaeology, architecture and design, books

The potential of networked knowledge to transform the world. Diversity. Preserving core values and personal responsibility in the face of change.