Geoff Lewis

Artist, Christian, Concerned citizen, Connector, Designer, Educator/Teacher, Global soul, Musician, Parent, Photographer, World traveler, Writer/Editor

As the Assistant Director of Employer Relations at the SUU Career & Professional Development Center, I help students and employers connect with each other for great opportunities. In addition to developing and maintaining effective relationships with employers, I oversee all of the career fairs and other on-campus recruiting events, and also coach students on professional preparation. I was born in Provo, Utah, grew up mostly in California, and have lived in various locations in the U.S. and Asia, including New York, Texas, Hawaii, Japan, and China. After serving for ten years in the U.S. Air Force as a Chinese Linguist, I taught English in China before returning to California to earn my Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership. I recently completed the Stanford Graduate School of Business LEAD: Corporate Innovation program, and am giving my first TEDx talk on November 22, 2019. In addition to my full-time work, I also enjoy artwork, including photography and graphic design; languages, culture, and travel; and music. My wife, Daisy, grew up in Hebei, China, and holds a degree in Business Management with emphases in Supply Chain and Hospitality & Tourism Management.

I’m passionate about family (both my own and the value of strengthening families worldwide), organizational culture, international language and culture, the intersection of education and careers, and the interconnectedness of all things. I love creating through collaborative sharing and through art, music, and design.

When faced with a difficult decision, you can reduce anxiety and increase peace by remembering these three simple steps: Stop, breathe, and say to yourself, “I can design this moment.” While you can’t control situations or people, you can choose your responses and your actions. When you choose to stop, breathe, and design, you can relieve small suffering through small design changes in each moment. Choose to also believe you have the power to find relief for major suffering through major design changes, including asking for help. Step out of your fear as far as you can, and ask for as much help as you need throughout the process of designing moments and designing your life. Will you be perfect at any point in this process? Certainly not! You’re human, so when you forget to stop, breathe, and design—or when you fail or make mistakes in any area, forgive yourself! Go back and review what went well, what didn’t, and how you could improve the next time you’re in a similar situation. Talk it out with those you trust, and keep moving forward! Once you embrace your power to design, the changes that come into your life can give you the power to lead others out of darkness and into the refreshing light of peace. Having seen such great changes in my own life, I can witness that each one of us—including you—truly have the power to change our situations, shape our destinies, find relief, and positively influence those around us by recognizing that we can indeed design each moment. So choose today to try. The next time you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or anxious—stop, breathe, and design.

I have been fascinated by the format, effectiveness, and content of TED Talks for years. In addition to absorbing wisdom from watching countless TED Talks, I have used them as a recommended resource for students learning English while I taught in China and California. I am pleased to share that I will give my first TEDx Talk on 22 November 2019 at TEDxSUU! I am very grateful to the students at Southern Utah University (SUU) who got the ball rolling for TEDx on our campus, and have jumped in as an advisor for TEDxSUU 2020. I am attending TEDWomen 2019 to gain greater understanding of TED events and bring that knowledge back to campus to help TEDxSUU grow into a can’t-miss event.