TEDxMilpitas

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Aishwarya Srinivasan

  Aishwarya currently leads the Developer Relations - Growth at Fireworks AI. She was previously at Microsoft for Startups as a Senior AI Advisor to help Y Combinator startups build machine learning solutions, leveraging core Microsoft/ OpenAI products. Prior to this, Aishwarya was working as a Data Scientist in Google Cloud and before that an AI & ML Innovation Leader at IBM Data & AI. She holds a post-graduate in Data Science from Columbia University.

• Cole Ashman

  Cole Ashman is the Founder and CEO of Pila Energy, creators of the Pila Mesh Home Battery, a sleek, plug-in energy storage system that transforms everyday appliances and spaces into smart, resilient power hubs. Pila is designed to bring energy independence to renters, owners, homes, and businesses alike. With a background in smart home IoT and energy infrastructure, Cole previously led hardware product development at SPAN and contributed to flagship energy products at Tesla, including Powerwall and Backup Gateway

• Farhan Hossain

  Farhan Hossain is a product design engineer who works at the intersection of rigorous hardware, advanced manufacturing, and human-centered design. He helped build Apple’s Vision Pro program from early concept to mass production and is named on a portfolio of patents spanning head-mounted systems, input, and sensing. He has since founded and advised startups and is currently in YC S25 building technologies for the future of human–machine interfaces. Farhan’s practice is simple: design for people and the world they touch, make things that last, and share knowledge openly.

• Greg Wohlman

  As Principal and Chief Innovator of Milpitas High School, Greg Wohlman draws upon over 26 years of educational leadership forged in some of the world's most unique environments, from remote, fly-in schools in the Alaskan Bush to the heart of Silicon Valley. This diverse journey shaped his core philosophy: that strong, supportive communities are the key to success, a belief he now puts into action by championing a “Culture of We” where student voice and well-being are paramount. Now guiding initiatives at a new Innovation Campus, Greg is dedicated to reimagining the K-12 experience, ensuring that education becomes profoundly relevant and empowering for every student preparing to navigate a rapidly changing world. Greg Wohlman and Dr. Jamie Alarcon recently launched the book "Getting to the Point: A Modern School Approach to Data-Based Decision Making"

• Kurtis Lee Thomas

  Kurtis Lee Thomas is a #1 best-selling author and the founder of Breathwork Detox, a modality recognized as the #1 Corporate Wellness Provider of 2023 by HR Manager Magazine, and 2024 Program of the Year by Best Holistic Life Magazine. He’s been featured on The Today Show for his impactful work in mindfulness and wellbeing within top Fortune 500 companies such as Nike and NASA. Kurtis is a committed mental health advocate and author of the #1 new release How to Thrive in the Age of Anxiety. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Just Breathe Foundation and works with global brands, elite athletes, and celebrities to raise awareness and bring innovative solutions to the global mental health epidemic currently affecting our families and employees.

• Michelle Sung

  Michelle Sung is a classical flutist who has performed with leading orchestras, including the San Francisco Symphony, in venues such as Carnegie Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall. After a traumatic brain injury stripped her of her fine motor skills, she was told there was no cure. Defying the odds, she used neuroplasticity to retrain her brain, making a full recovery and returning triumphantly to the stage. This profound journey through loss and resilience ignited a new purpose. Today, alongside her music career, Michelle works in health tech, designing products that support mental health and recovery. What once felt like the end of her story became the beginning of a new one, driven by empathy and a mission to help others heal.

• Miqdad Jaffer

  Miqdad Jaffer is a Product Leader at OpenAI, driving innovation in API developer products with a focus on multimodal AI. With 18 years of experience building products at some of the world’s most successful companies, he previously served as Head of AI Products at Shopify. Recognized as one of the world’s leading AI executives and an AI product educator, Miqdad’s work has been featured in TechCrunch, MIT’s AI Podcast, Fast Company, The Globe and Mail, and Spotify. He was named one of Business Insider’s “Top 100 People to Follow in Artificial Intelligence” and has earned numerous other awards and accolades for his contributions to the field.

• Xingjian (XJ) Zhang

  “XJ” Zhang is a business leader who bridges finance, growth, and innovation to scale intelligent enterprise systems. He has led multi-billion-dollar equity investments, brought AI- powered software from roadmap to market for leading mobility companies, and deployed enterprise intelligence software across organizations with tens of thousands of employees. As Head of Growth at Apex.AI, an autonomous software pioneer, he forged high-impact partnerships and launched cutting-edge products that make vehicles and robots smarter and safer. He holds a master’s degree from Stanford University, where he co-founded two tech startups and published research on the future of mobility.

• Zoe Zhu

  Ziyuan ‘Zoey’ Zhu is a designer and creative technologist working at the intersection of design, art, and emerging technology. At IDEO, a global design company committed to fostering social impact with human-centric design, she helps teams tangibly explore the future of product experience with creativity and technologies, including AI, spatial computing, and data visualization. Her works have been featured in SXSW, iF Design Trend Conference, MIT Museum, SF Design Week, IDSA, NY Climate Week, and more. Beyond her digital realm, Ziyuan is a multimedia and textile artist, translating data and digital graphics into weaving patterns to create new forms of storytelling. She holds a dual degree in architecture studies and computer science from MIT.