TEDxGeorgiaStateU

Speakers

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

• Browneel Landrum

  Brownell Landrum is a storyteller, speaker, inventor, and change catalyst with an MBA from Georgia State University. Her work blends imagination with insight, using storytelling as a vehicle to explore how people think, believe, and create change in their lives. She is the author of over a dozen books, including The Art & Science of Wishing and the forthcoming The Art & Science of Wishing at Work. Her exploration into the science behind wishing began while writing her novel A Love Story to The Universe, sparking a deeper inquiry into the intersection of belief, intention, and human potential. Drawing from both corporate and entrepreneurial experience, Brownell combines analytical, business-oriented thinking with a compelling narrative style. Through her work, she invites audiences to look beyond surface-level storytelling and engage with ideas that bridge logic and imagination.

• Dr. Carrie Freeman

  Carrie P. Freeman, PhD is a human animal earthling and Professor of Communication at Georgia State University who researches advocacy communication, especially for eco and animal protection movements. Her books include The Human Animal Earthling Identity: Shared Values Unifying Human Rights Animal Rights & Environmental Movements (UGA, 2020) and Framing Farming: Communication Strategies for Animal Rights (Brill, 2014). She co-authors the AnimalsandMedia.org style guidelines for media-makers. An avid herbivore since the 1990’s, Carrie likes laying in the grass and grassroots activism, hiking with her dog, and cohosting the “In Tune to Nature” radio show and podcast on Radio Free Georgia.

• Krithika Raju

  Krithika Raju is a graduate student in Information Systems at Georgia State University, with a global upbringing that spans seven countries. Born in Singapore and raised across diverse cultural environments, she brings a deeply multicultural perspective and adaptability to her work and worldview. With an academic background in Japanese language and experience across fields such as consulting and language studies, Krithika’s journey reflects a consistent curiosity for understanding people, systems, and ideas across contexts. Today, she is focused on the evolving intersection of technology and artificial intelligence, exploring how these advancements shape the way we live and connect. Beyond her professional interests, Krithika enjoys traveling, discovering new cuisines, and continuously expanding her linguistic and cultural horizons.

• Nathan Desta

  Nathan Desta is an undergraduate student of philosophy and a Georgia native, whose work explores fundamental questions of dignity, justice, and human experience. His academic interests draw from social and philosophical inquiry, with a focus on how systems shape our understanding of fairness and responsibility. Over the past two years, Nathan has engaged in experiential learning through coursework connected to Hancock State Prison and has conducted interviews with staff across the Georgia Department of Corrections. These experiences have deepened his perspective on institutional systems and the human realities within them. Through his work, Nathan seeks to bridge philosophical thought with real-world impact, with the long-term goal of contributing to fields that advance human development and understanding.

• Peace Bamidele

  Peace Bamidele is a Global Social Impact Supervisor at UPS, where he supports global communications and partnerships across five continents to advance economic empowerment and humanitarian initiatives. He holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School. He is the founder of three organizations, including MarkWillows Consulting, MarkWillows Foundation, and Hillcity International. Over the past decade, he has trained more than 10,000 professionals, authored two books, and spoken at over 70 conferences worldwide, helping individuals and organizations navigate change and reinvent for impact.

• Samuel Oriola

  Samuel Oriola is a second-year Data Science student at Georgia State University, where he actively contributes to student leadership and academic communities. He serves as Vice President of the International Students Club, an Honors College Ambassador, and an Honors Mentor, reflecting his commitment to mentorship and global engagement. Driven by a passion for teaching and interdisciplinary problem-solving, Samuel’s academic interests lie at the intersection of data science, neuroscience, and computer science. He aspires to pursue a Ph.D. in Computer Science and build a career in academia, with a focus on researching the ethical implementation of artificial intelligence in healthcare and its impact on human cognition. Beyond his academic and leadership roles, Samuel enjoys unwinding through video games, often fueled by an unwavering reliance on coffee.

• Victoria Oltean

  Victoria Oltean is a senior Political Science major in the Honors College at Georgia State University and a Presidential Fellow with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress. Her work draws from philosophy, history, and the study of human systems to explore how ideas shape the way we live and relate to one another. With experience supporting leadership within the Georgia State Senate, Victoria has developed a nuanced understanding of how institutions function, while remaining deeply interested in the human questions that exist beyond them. Her research centers on how our understanding of fulfillment has evolved over time, particularly how modern definitions of success and happiness have shifted away from more collective, community-oriented foundations. Through her work, she invites a deeper reflection on what it means to live well, not just individually, but together.

• Zahina Encarnacion

  Zahina Encarnacion is a first-year Political Science student at Georgia State University with a deep interest in literature, philosophy, and the complexities of human experience. Her work and intellectual curiosity are rooted in exploring themes of identity, emotion, and meaning; often through the lens of both classical and contemporary thought. An avid reader and emerging writer, Zahina is drawn to ideas that challenge surface-level understanding. She engages with questions that probe beneath immediate answers, using books, music, and everyday conversations as spaces to examine nuance and perspective. Her approach centers on the belief that meaningful understanding begins not with resolution, but with the willingness to sit with what is unresolved. Through her writing and reflections, Zahina seeks to create space for deeper inquiry, inviting others to move beyond easy conclusions and toward more intentional, thoughtful engagement with the world around them.