TEDxSCU Event Brings Ideas Worth Spreading

A student run forum for conversations that matterMeghan McLaughlin The Santa Clara April 19, 2018A teenager talked aerospace and a professional talked "Dungeons and Dragons."On April 12, Mayer Theater was filled to the brim with TEDxSCU attendees. Seven speakers presented ideas that inspired potential contributors to technology, entertainment and design, which is what TED stands for.Sue DoJunior English and Catholic studies student Sue Do brought some audience members to tears as she spoke of life as a cerebral palsy survivor and the daughter of immigrants. Originally from central Vietnam, Do beamed as she told stories of personal perseverance and obstacles she overcame. She emphasized the importance of a positive attitude and uplifting others. Do published her first book, “The Gift of Fortitude,” last year.Laura DrabikLaura Drabik, vice president of business innovation at Guidewire, displayed her passion for insurance on stage. She encouraged audience members to reconsider their initial reaction to the insurance industry and delved into her career path. Drabik presented on how technology has changed the industry and made it more efficient for people who need specific types of insurance, like Uber drivers.Taylor BerrySenior political science student-athlete Taylor Berry asked audience members, “When was the last time you had a genuine conversation?” Berry revealed that she firmly believes genuine conversations are catalysts for genuine relationships. These genuine conversations break down barriers between people and expose similarities that are key to forming bonds.Genevieve ConatyAs a leader of product and design teams at Indiegogo, Genevieve Conaty gets behind new entrepreneurial ideas that turn into popular products with the backing of venture capitalists. She spoke about her goal to change the landscape of venture capitalists into one that is more equal and diverse.Jennifer MirantiFirst-year engineering and aerospace student Jennifer Miranti proudly proclaimed her love for outer space during her presentation, emphasizing how much there is to learn about the galaxy. She shared stories about her experience working at Boeing in the propulsion department.Chris MurphyAs president of the Santa Cruz Warriors, Chris Murphy knows the importance of teamwork. He oversees the company’s business operations and leads a well run team. He spoke about healthy company culture and how that promotes happy, productive employees.Khaled Abdel RahmanKhaled Abdel Rahman is a product manager at Google and has worked in areas such as games, hardware and services. Rahman spoke about the collaborative aspects of the game Dungeons and Dragons. For Rahman, this translates to dynamic professional teams."In the long term, we want every Santa Clara student to have a TEDx experience by the time they graduate and be inspired by the speakers we curate," said sophomore Sydney Altobell, the TEDxSCU Chief Production Officer.Contact Meghan McLaughlin at mhmclaughlin@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.