TEDxSouthlake

Speakers

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

• David Olayanju

  David Olayanju is a 15-year-old high school student and passionate writer focused on using his talents and interests as vessels to create impact in his community and the world. He is the author of Soar, an inspirational children’s book about the benefits of hard work and perseverance on the basketball court. His work has been published in the Saint Elizabeth University Community Quill and has earned him a Silver Key award in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. He is thrilled to be sharing his story on a TEDx stage.

• Dr. Christie McMullen

  Meet Dr. Christie McMullen, a best-selling author, and a seasoned 25-year educator turned entrepreneur, on a mission to make work not just productive but genuinely fun. Armed with a master's and doctorate in Educational Leadership and a rich background of two and a half decades in practical experience, Dr. McMullen possesses a unique ability to connect with individuals across the professional spectrum – from CEOs and directors to educators, salespeople, and everyone in between. As a coach, networking specialist, podcaster, and compelling keynote speaker, Dr. McMullen offers more than just guidance; she provides a transformative experience for any individual looking to elevate their interactions from ordinary to extraordinary. Using her AIM approach, she helps you Analyze your current interactions, Improve upon them, and Move towards building extraordinary relationships. As CEO of Intentionality Group she helps businesses thrive by equipping people to be excellent at their jobs.

• Dr. Jessica Kriegel

  Dr. Jessica Kriegel is a workplace culture expert, keynote speaker, and researcher. As Chief Strategy Officer at Culture Partners, she leads research that challenges outdated ideas about control, power, and performance—offering bold new frameworks that drive real results. She’s the host of the CEO Daily Brief and Culture Leaders podcasts, and a frequent guest on CNN, Fox Business, CNBC, and Bloomberg. Jessica holds an MBA and a doctorate in educational leadership, and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity. She’s also a trained death doula, a role that deepens her presence and perspective as a leader. Her first book, Unfairly Labeled, breaks down generational myths in the workplace. Her upcoming book, Surrender to Lead, launches in January 2026. When she’s not doing all that, she’s cruising in a motorcycle with a sidecar with her eight-year-old daughter.

• Harvey Castro

  Dr. Harvey Castro, MD, MBA, is an emergency physician, AI futurist, and Chief AI Officer at Phantom Space Corporation. Nicknamed “Dr. GPT,” he bridges frontline medicine with cutting‑edge technology to re‑imagine human health and exploration. A four‑time TEDx speaker, Harvey authored 27 books—including the bestselling ChatGPT and Healthcare and advises the Singapore Ministry of Health and the Texas Medical Association on responsible AI policy. At Phantom Space, he leads development of AI‑driven orbital data centers, merging medicine and aerospace to extend human capability beyond Earth. His insights have been featured on Fox News, HLTH, and CES, inspiring global audiences to harness exponential technologies for societal good. When not in the ER or on stage, he mentors entrepreneurs and invests in AI‑enabled startups, championing ethical innovation that augments rather than replaces human potential.

• Jacqueline Schmidt

  bio coming soon

• Jill Waggoner

  Dr. Jill Waggoner holds a Medical Degree and a Master’s Degree from the University of Oklahoma. She is a board-certified Family Practice Physician with nearly 30 years of experience and holds certifications in Preventive Medicine and Wellness Coordination from the Cooper Institute. For 15 years, she has studied Functional and Integrative Medicine, focusing on identifying root causes of illness and using multiple healing modalities. She also earned a certification in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University and is passionate about helping patients thrive through better health. Dr. Waggoner is the author of eight books, including Maddie on a Mission, and has served as a national medical expert for NBC, ABC, and FOX affiliates. Named a D Magazine Best Doctor five years in a row, her greatest joy is being wife to Mark and mother to Jillian and Uriah. Her mission is to empower others to move beyond early detection to true prevention through connection, compassion, education, & love.

• Jonathan Donath

  Dr. Jonathan Donath is the President of Daily Giving, which he co-founded in 2019. Daily Giving's mission is to enable people to give to charity every day and to distribute those funds to deserving Jewish non-profit organizations worldwide daily. Daily Giving takes nothing. 100 cents of every dollar donated goes to their diversified portfolio of over 75 incredible beneficiary organizations. Daily giving has over 20,000 people from 43 countries giving $1 daily together, and they are giving out over $7.8 million yearly. They have already distributed over $25 million. Dr. Donath is also the owner and clinic director of Joint Effort Chiropractic in White Plains, NY, where he specializes in cutting-edge non-surgical treatments for severe neck and back pain. In 2015, his book The Neck and Back Pain Solution was published. He lives with his wife, Meira, and their children, Eitan and Talia, in White Plains, NY.

• Justin Day

  Justin Day is a four-time bestselling author, SXSW speaker, and the visionary founder of SwarmSystem™ , an AI-powered business platform designed to help creators, coaches, and business owners reclaim their time, amplify their message, and scale with ease. After losing his father in a moment that revealed the painful limits of traditional systems, Justin turned his grief into purpose-building tech that brings humanity back to the center of innovation. His work has generated over $10M in revenue and 5M+ leads for clients ranging from mom-and-pop shops to brands like 7-Eleven, CVS, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He’s co-authored alongside thought leaders like Les Brown, Rudy Mawer, and Kevin Harrington, and his journey will soon be featured in an upcoming Amazon Prime series. With humor, heart, and hard-won insight, Justin challenges us to stop fearing AI and start using it to take our power back

• Morgan Massie

  Morgan Massie is a leadership strategist, coach, and best-selling author with over 20 years of experience helping leaders grow their impact from the inside out. As the founder of Leadership and Training Concierge, she guides executives, entrepreneurs, and teams to lead with presence, purpose, and heart. Morgan holds a master’s degree in instructional systems design and is currently completing her PhD in business management and leadership studies. Her work has been featured by Forbes, Nasdaq, and major media outlets. Drawing from lived experience and research, Morgan speaks on authentic leadership, connected communication, and the courage to show up real. She believes the future of leadership won’t be written by those who wait—but by those who speak the truth of where they are.

• Odell Bizzell II

  Odell A. Bizzell II is a communication strategist, author, and nationally recognized speaker who has delivered hundreds of presentations to universities, companies, and nonprofit organizations. For nearly two decades, he has inspired audiences to rethink the way they approach work and life, helping leaders and teams strengthen connection, boost morale, and create cultures people actually want to be part of. Odell’s insights have been featured in outlets such as USA Today, NBC, and CBS. A graduate of NC State University, he began his career working in law enforcement—an experience that gave him firsthand perspective on burnout, communication, and resilience. Today, Odell combines humor, storytelling, and research to challenge audiences with one clear message: there’s no such thing as a bad job, just employees with the wrong perspective.

• Rachael Fritz

  Rachael Fritz is a leading voice in the parenting revolution. A sought-after educator, coach, and child advocate, Rachael has spent her career not just raising children - but reimagining the systems that shape them. She is the founder of Parenting on Mars, a groundbreaking organization that equips parents to raise emotionally intelligent, deeply connected humans in a world that often encourages disconnection. Her approach fuses neuroscience, trauma-informed care, and real-world parenting with radical empathy - honoring each family’s past experiences, present dynamics, and future vision. Her clients call her work life-changing, accessible, and unlike anything they’ve encountered in traditional parenting spaces. Whether she’s guiding overwhelmed parents through emotional storms or challenging cultural norms on stages and in the media, Rachael’s mission is to help families feel safe, seen, and profoundly connected.

• Sahana Shrinivas

  Sahana Shrinivas is a rising sophomore at Centennial High School in Frisco, Texas, and is passionate about engineering, aerospace, and using technology as a force for good. As a member of her school’s debate team, robotics team, and marching band, she demonstrates curiosity, creativity, and collaboration across multiple disciplines. Sahana is especially dedicated to sustainable innovation—and she shares this vision through her educational YouTube channel, empowering kids to embrace “reuse” as a vital, often overlooked pillar of sustainability. Her channel inspires young learners to see creative potential in everyday items, fostering eco-conscious habits and personal agency while highlighting the environmental and community benefits of reusing materials.

• Shreya Kumar

  Shreya Kumar is a student researcher and mental health advocate passionate about making youth mental wellness a global priority. She has authored articles on brain-computer interfaces in psychiatry and the genetic roots of mental illness, and has deepened her studies through neuroscience and pre-med programs at UC Berkeley, MIT, and Duke University. Currently, Shreya is in the process of building a nonprofit dedicated to supporting mental health awareness and education among young people. Her work bridges cutting-edge research with real-world impact, empowering teens to better understand their minds and break stigma. At TEDx Southlake, Shreya will deliver a powerful and personal talk on why youth mental health cannot wait—highlighting the science, the urgency, and the role we all play in creating a future where emotional well-being is treated as a right, not a luxury.

• Sidharth Ramsinghaney

  Sidharth Ramsinghaney is the strategist CEOs call when everything’s on the line. This McKinsey veteran and award-winning operator has spent 15+ years solving the world’s toughest problems from Fortune 100 boardrooms to emerging market transformations. When high-stakes moments demand impossible outcomes, Sid builds the war rooms that deliver miracles. He’s orchestrated $26B mega-deals, connected 150 million users overnight, and turned pandemic chaos into multi-billion-dollar transformation opportunities for communities in need. A global thought leader, master storyteller, and problem-solving maverick, he doesn’t just drive growth he rewrites what’s possible under pressure. As a Forbes contributor and international speaker, Sid shares battle-tested strategies from business war rooms that apply across industries, relationships, student lives, and personal goals. As a storyteller, he makes billion-dollar complexities feel like adrenaline-fueled adventures anyone can relate to.

• Stephanie Wedgeworth

  Stephanie Wedgeworth is a strategic consultant with 15+ years of experience in sales enablement, leadership development, and organizational growth. She’s created over 1,000 micro-learning guides, built certification programs, and led initiatives that streamline onboarding and accelerate performance. As Director of Sales Content at The RockED Company, Stephanie drives curriculum innovation across sales, leadership, and onboarding. Known for her expertise in coaching, change management, and cross-functional collaboration, she’s partnered with brands like Hyundai, Ford, and GM to elevate learning experiences and drive results. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Stephanie blends creative insight with strategic execution to help teams thrive and leaders grow.

• Suzanne Thai

  Dr. Suzanne Thai, DDS, D.ABDSM, D.ASBA, D.IAOS is the founder and owner of Swisher Dental and DFW Sleep Solutions, where she has practiced dentistry and airway-focused care for over 20 years. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, the American Sleep and Breathing Academy, and the International Academy of Sleep. Dr. Thai has helped thousands of patients reclaim energy, memory, and health by designing personalized treatments for obstructive sleep apnea, particularly for those unable to tolerate CPAP. She is the author of Snoring: The Clue That Could Save Your Life. An engaging communicator and advocate for public health, she has appeared on national television, podcasts including Sleeping Around the Podcast, and spoken at Harvard’s Business Expert Forum on sleep disordered breathing. Her mission is simple: educate the community, drive early diagnosis, and elevate lives through the power of sound sleep.

• Todd Kackley

  Todd Kackley is Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Textron, leading enterprise-wide digital strategy, IT operations, and cybersecurity across its aerospace, defense, and industrial businesses. With over 25 years of experience, he has driven digital transformation to enhance performance, innovation, and strategic decision-making. Previously, Todd held leadership roles at Textron Systems and Bell, modernizing technology and aligning IT with business goals. Recognized for developing high-performing teams, he advances emerging tech like AI and cloud computing to strengthen Textron’s competitive edge. A multiple cancer survivor, Todd advocates for cancer awareness and serves on the American Cancer Society’s Dallas board of CEOs Against Cancer. He and his wife, Elsa, have lived in Southlake, Texas, for over 17 years, where they raised their daughters, Isabella and Gabriela, proud graduates of Southlake Carroll High School.

• Yashu Nagalla

  Yashu Nagalla is a 17-year-old aspiring speaker who attends Leadership Preparatory School. He was born in Minneapolis and moved to Texas in 2012. Yashu is a strong and independent speaker who seeks to be the voice of others and the voice of change in the world. He has always believed that the best way to reach someone is to speak to them. Yashu is a member of his school's yearbook team, CFO of C.E.G, President of his school’s TSA Chapter, DECA member, and President of the aerospace and economics club at his school. He is also an amateur photographer as well as a fashion designer. Since Yashu was a kid, he always grew up watching TED Talks and TEDx, and now he relishes his opportunity to speak on that very stage.