TEDxLawson Middle School

Speakers

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

• Mukund Raghunath

  Founder & CEO

  Mukund Raghunath, Founder & CEO of Acies Global, has several years of experience building organizations in the data and technology space and empowering Fortune 1000 clients in their digital transformation journey. Mukund is a passionate problem solver with a penchant for bringing together business fundamentals with first principles analytical thinking and cutting edge technology. He is an investor in and advisor to several startups in the technology and AI space. Mukund was previously part of the leadership team at Mu Sigma where he helped scale the organization from the ground up. His prior experiences also include stints at Motorola and ZS Associates. Outside of work, Mukund loves to travel the world and is on a constant endeavor to improve his golf handicap. Mukund has a Masters in Computer Science from the University of Illinois and an MBA with Honors from The University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.

• Neeti Deshmukh

  AI and Trust & Safety leader building digital platforms that shape how millions of people discover ideas online

  Neeti Deshmukh has spent over fifteen years building products people love and trust — thinking hard about how trust is built online, how it breaks, and what it takes to deserve it. She’s passionate about making sure the next generation is equipped not just to use AI, but to think critically about it. Outside of work, she volunteers in STEM education because she believes the most important AI conversation is happening right here, with the next generation

• Rana Kanaan

  Founder & Principal at Makai Labs, UC Berkeley Lecturer

  Rana Kanaan is a venture builder and product leader who has spent two decades helping companies scale — from billion-dollar product lines at Citrix and HG Insights to early-stage startups finding their footing. She now teaches entrepreneurship at UC Berkeley’s Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology, where her courses focus on “regenerative ventures”: companies designed to generate profit while strengthening the people, communities, and ecosystems they’re part of. Through her firm Makai Labs, she advises founders and CEOs navigating critical growth inflection points, advises founders through Berkeley SkyDeck and Big Ideas, and volunteers as Board Chair of Equal Justice Under Law. With an international upbringing and having resided across the Middle East, Canada, UK and across North America, Rana believes that who you work with and how is what really matters in work and life.

• Sonnet Simmons

  Singer, Songwriter for TV and Film, Keynote Speaker, Executive Presence and Speaking Expert

  Sonnet Simmons is a singer, songwriter, and speaker who helps people connect to their true voice and build confidence from the inside out. She has performed on stages like the Hollywood Bowl and Walt Disney Concert Hall, toured internationally, and had her music featured in major ads and TV shows. With a background in vocal performance from UCLA, Sonnet now works with leaders, creatives, and students to communicate with clarity, presence, and authenticity. Her message is simple: you don’t need to find a new voice — it’s about connecting to your true voice, the one you already have. That’s your superpower. When you learn to use it, people don’t just hear your words — they actually hear you.