Inside TED's New Show—Where Conference Innovation and Personal Growth Took Center Stage

Unlike traditional TED conferences that often focus on broad societal issues and innovations, TEDNext was created to emphasize individual aspirations and personal development.Photo: Jason Redmond/TED

This article originally appeared on BizBash's sister site Corporate Event News.

ATLANTA—Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past four decades, you’ve likely heard of TED conferences, known for “ideas worth spreading” via talks spanning a cornucopia of inspiring, thought-provoking topics and diverse perspectives delivered by celebrities, thought leaders, and groundbreaking leaders and legends in their respective fields. 

One of the latest TED platforms to appear on the scene is TEDNext, a new three-day, future-focused conference series designed to explore personal and societal growth. Unlike traditional TED conferences that often focus on broad societal issues and innovations, TEDNext was created to emphasize individual aspirations and personal development. The conference’s programming encourages attendees to actively engage in shaping their own futures as they examine how their passions and aspirations intersect with broader societal progress and innovation. 

Held Oct. 22-24 at Pullman Yards in Atlanta, the inaugural event attracted a robust attendance of 1,000 entrepreneurs, executives, artists, educators, scientists, philanthropists, and thought leaders, as well as young professionals looking to redefine their careers. The event’s dynamic programming featured more than 40 TED Talks and live musical performances, group activities, dinners, parties, and hands-on workshops, as well as immersive experiences, interactive exhibits, and comfortable spaces designed to inspire and foster connections among attendees. 

TEDNext evolved from TEDWomen, a conference series launched in 2010 that was last held in Atlanta in 2023, explained Monique Ruff-Bell, TED's chief program and strategy officer. Designed to be an expansion of the TEDWomen mission and concept, TEDNext was launched in its place as a broader, more inclusive event focused on personal and professional evolution. 

“When we started TEDWomen, TED wasn’t platforming enough women doing kick-ass things, [so we decided to] create a conference where we could do more of that,” Ruff-Bell said. “Thirteen years later, over 51% of our speakers are women—on all of our stages, not just TEDWomen. That was the goal, and we feel like we accomplished that goal, but what comes next? Society is evolving, so we needed to continue to evolve, and make sure we bring other communities into TED for an in-person experience.” 

She continued, “When you’re thinking about [the main TED conference in] Vancouver, it’s based on what is the ‘future of’ things like technology, society, humanity, and science. That’s what the builders built, but how do you become the builder? How do you evolve yourself to have that spark of imagination to do things differently, whether that’s professionally or personally? [TEDNext is] all about the future—the future you.” 

Keep scrolling for more insights and photos from inside TEDNext...