Mike Lundgren

Idea generator, Inventor, Marketer, Technologist, World traveler, Writer/Editor

Mike Lundgren is an Executive Director of Intellectual Programming & Global Communications at VML and is the founder of TEDxKC. Mike joined VML in August 2005. With decades of high-tech management, marketing, and product development experience, he has provided insights, strategy, and thought leadership on emerging trends, disruptive technologies, and innovation for clients as varied as Microsoft, Ford, Pfizer, and Wendy’s. Mike is also the author of the comprehensive Digital Acceleration and Digital Way Forward curriculum commissioned by WPP for the executive leadership of its global network of operating companies. Before joining VML, Mike worked for GE, Apple, and Iomega. He has also served as an independent consultant for entertainment and technology companies and multi-platinum recording artists. While at Iomega, he served as the General Manager of the company's award-winning Mobile Storage Division. During his nearly nine years with Apple, Mike held various marketing positions, including Worldwide Director of Market Development for the Newton Solutions Group. Since 2009 Mike has been active in the TED community and is the founding curator of TEDxKC, one of the world's largest and longest-running independent TED events. Mike graduated from Missouri State University, is a patent holder in e-commerce and digital rights management, and is a board member at Reconsider (an organization dedicated to the emergence of psychedelic-assisted therapies).

The role of transformational and psychedelic-assisted therapies in the treatment of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and addiction. www.reconsider.org

advertising, business strategy, digital marketing, digital rights management, digital strategy, event design, event management, innovation, intellectual programming, marketing, mobile, product development, product marketing, public speaking, social media, storytelling, strategic planning, technology, technology strategy

I attended my first TED Conference in 2009. Already an underground organizer of free TED viewing parties at digital cinemas ... long story short, when the TEDx program was launched that same year, I jumped at the chance to apply and have hosted 30+ TEDxKC events since. A tribute to the power of the TED brand -- each year our event sells out in about 5-minutes and has grown to be one of the largest TEDx events in the world. A number of our speakers have gone on to the TED main stage, TEDWomen and/or featured on TED.com. I'm humbled to be part of the TED community and take the responsibility of protecting the TED brand and furthering its ethos and mission as seriously as anything else in my adult life. Why? Because ignorance and indifference are the twin enemies of progress. Because TED celebrates intellectual curiosity. Because TED places ideas and alternative points-of-view in the pop culture. Because this is the place where in some small way, I can help amplify and contribute energy to something a little bigger and more important than myself. Isn't that what we all want?