TEDx William & Mary 2025: Accelerating Innovation - a night of inspiration and reflection
The TEDx William & Mary 2025 event, titled Accelerating Innovation, brought together an inspiring array of speakers and thinkers to the Sadler Commonwealth Auditorium. An evening of thought-provoking talks, diverse perspectives, and powerful ideas, the event reflected themes aligned with the William & Mary Vision 2026 and the ongoing academic and environmental initiatives on campus, including the new School of Computing, Data Science, and Physics, the School of Marine Science, and Year of the Environment.
An exciting and unexpected highlight of this year's TEDx gathering was the strong participation from the Raymond A. Mason School of Business, with five out of six speakers connected to the Mason School - one as a faculty member and others as current students or alumni. The event also embraced the Year of the Environment, featuring various topics—from artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship to personal growth, democracy reform, and cultural heritage preservation.
The evening started with opening remarks from William & Mary President Katherine Rowe, who emphasized the significance of such platforms in inspiring innovative thinking across disciplines. Then, the stage was set for the speakers to share their groundbreaking ideas.
Aanchal Goenka B.B.A. '23 (Finance): Rediscovering the Spark of Wonder
Alumna Aanchal Goenka '23, an analyst at Deloitte Consulting and former president of Smart Woman Securities, opened the event with a talk titled "Wonder Isn't Lost, It's Simply Waiting for You to Rediscover It." Drawing from her experiences in both the financial and data science sectors, Aanchal emphasized the importance of curiosity and introspection in fueling creativity and change.
"Wonder shapes the way we live," Aanchal said. "It isn't something we lose. It's something we rediscover again and again." She encouraged the audience to pause, reflect, and trust the journey to reignite their curiosity and wonder.
Elise Montemayor: The Art of Resilience
Elise Montemayor, a Part-Time M.B.A. student at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business, delivered a compelling talk on "Why Good Ideas Aren't Good Enough." A summa cum laude graduate in International Studies and Spanish, Elise shared her personal story of perseverance and resilience, offering tactical steps to overcome failure and build a strong foundation for success.
Elise explained, "Resilience isn't just an attitude—it's a repeatable, tactical process." She emphasized the importance of creating small victories, failing with humility, and finding a supportive community to fuel growth. "Dream big, fail hard, and keep going," she concluded.
Michael Foley '26: Revitalizing Democracy through Sortition
Michael Foley, a junior at William & Mary and the Mason Investment Fund Club president, introduced the audience to an ancient yet radical idea in his talk, "Beyond Elections: Can Random Selection Save Democracy?" Michael explored the concept of sortition, a method of randomly selecting citizens to serve as legislators, challenging the notion that more elections are the solution to democratic issues.
"Could sortition be the key to revitalizing modern democracy?" Michael asked, urging the audience to rethink governance. His talk sparked an engaging conversation about the future of democracy and the role of citizens in shaping political systems.
Emma Lankford '25: Reconnecting with the Land
Emma Lankford '25, a senior studying Biology and Integrative Conservation, captivated the audience with her talk "Footsteps to the Past," which delved into the history of wilderness areas and National Parks. Emma highlighted the deep connections Indigenous peoples have with the land long before it became protected as wilderness.
She urged the audience to rethink their understanding of these natural spaces, not as untouched landscapes but as places with rich cultural histories. "The land isn't empty," Emma said. "It's shaped by generations of people, and we need to honor those connections."
Professor Rachel Chung: Demystifying AI
Rachel Chung, a professor at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business and an expert in artificial intelligence, took the stage with her talk "Illusion or Innovation: The Secret of AI The Magic Box." Known for her innovative teaching methods, Chung explained how AI is not as intimidating as many believe, likening it to a magic box that can be understood with the proper perspective.
She remarked, "AI isn't a black box—it's a fascinating tool, and storytelling is key to making it resonate." Through interactive lessons and real-world examples, Chung made complex concepts accessible and fun, demystifying the world of AI for the audience.
Behind the scenes, those who worked with Chung during her preparation found the experience just as illuminating. Michele King, former William & Mary faculty member and advisor to the TEDx team until her departure in December, reflected: "Mentoring Rachel reminded me why I love this kind of work—helping someone take a big, intimidating idea and shape it into something that not only informs but delights. She came in already loaded with great data, boundless curiosity, and a natural gift for surprising you with just the right metaphor. Our work focused on sequencing her story arc so that her Magic Box didn’t just explain AI—it made it lovable. Helping her frame AI as an adorable guessing machine (with a math-loving tummy) was a masterclass in turning fear into fascination and complexity into childlike wonder. Her talk is a powerful example of how effective communication can demystify emerging technologies and reframe public perception through metaphor and structure."
Chung’s ability to translate technical ideas into emotionally resonant stories stood out as a hallmark of the evening’s theme—accelerating innovation not just through invention, but through understanding.
Jack Rizzo '25: The Power of Creation
The final speaker of the evening, Jack Rizzo '25, shared his passion for creation in his talk "Why It's Imperative We Create." A senior majoring in Business Analytics, Jack is also the founder of W&M T'Swap, a campus initiative promoting sustainability. Jack spoke about how creating, whether through work, relationships, or passions, leads to fulfillment and purpose.
"We are constantly entertained but never sustained," Jack said. "Creation—through work, service, and hobbies—is essential to our well-being." He urged the audience to align their passions with their work, relationships, and personal pursuits for a more meaningful life.
Reflections from Attendees
The event's impact was evident not only in the speakers' words but also in the attendees' reactions.
Brendon Matsikinya, M.S.B.A. '25, added, "The talk on resilience by Elise was especially inspiring. It's one thing to hear about perseverance, but she showed us how to make it a part of our strategy for success. Dream big, fail hard, and keep winning really resonated with me. In a world that often glorifies overnight success, this was a refreshing reminder that the real key is persistence."
"Professor Chung's talk led me to consider how AI can help track small victories by breaking big goals into manageable steps and offering real-time progress updates through habit-tracking apps, adaptive learning platforms, and performance analytics. While the follow-through is up to us, AI supports accountability, celebrates milestones, and adjusts challenges to keep us motivated," shared Morgan Silvas, M.S.B.A. '25.
"This event was a perfect blend of intellectual rigor and creativity. The speakers truly challenged my thinking," said Nicole Sellers, B.B.A. Marketing '24, M.S.B.A. '25, and current Mason Marketing intern.
Watch the TEDx William & Mary 2025 Talks
For those who missed the event or wish to revisit the talks, the TEDx William & Mary 2025 videos are available on YouTube:
Celebrating the Team Behind the Talks
This year’s TEDx William & Mary event was a resounding success—an evening that sparked innovation, reflection, and inspiration. While the spotlight rightly shone on the speakers, the event would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of the student committee and coaching team who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.
The 2025 TEDx William & Mary Student Committee:
- Dean Waters, Co-President — Economics & Chinese Studies double major
- Alisa Yang, Co-President — Data Science & Business Analytics double major
- Jazzy Lorenz, Marketing Chair — Business Analytics & Philosophy double major
- Max Wang, Marketing Chair — International Relations & Finance double major
- Alek Danielyan, Logistics Chair — Psychology major
- Mahika Gupta, Logistics Chair — Finance & Economics double major
- Nyna Benjamin, Speaker Relations Chair — Master of Laws (LL.M.), American/U.S. Law
- Elijah Glassford, Speaker Relations Chair — History, Art & Art History, Classical Studies
- Daniel Choi, Sponsorship & Partnership Chair — Government major & Marketing minor
Their creativity, collaboration, and attention to detail shaped an event that exemplified William & Mary’s commitment to interdisciplinary thinking and bold ideas.
Special thanks also go to the incredible speaker coaches, who provided critical support through brainstorming sessions, draft reviews, and rehearsal feedback:
- Phil Wagner, Raymond A. Mason School of Business
- Tatia Granger, Raymond A. Mason School of Business
- Len Neighbors, Department of Speech
- Michele King, former W&M faculty member and longtime TEDx W&M mentor and coach, who continued her coaching this year in support of Rachel Chung’s talk
Together, this team not only elevated the quality of the presentations but also embodied the spirit of TED—collaborative, visionary, and deeply human.
If you missed the event or want to revisit these compelling talks, the TEDx William & Mary 2025 videos live online and are hosted on YouTube. The ideas shared will continue to
resonate as the William & Mary community accelerates innovation across all areas of study and service.
We can’t wait to see you next year.