Ricardo Plasencia

Athlete, Business leader, Connector, Consultant, Educator/Teacher, Engineer, Entrepreneur, Idea generator, Investor, Project manager, Scientist, Technologist, Web guru

Ricardo is a technology and social innovation leader focused on education, community development, and human-centered impact. He is the CEO and Founder of Overseer Investigation Center, where he leads projects that use education, technology, and dialogue as tools for social transformation. His work is driven by the belief that everyone deserves an opportunity to be heard and that meaningful change begins when people are empowered to discover their purpose and potential.

I am passionate about creating opportunities for those who are often unheard, just as someone once believed in me and gave me an opportunity. I care deeply about education, human development, and building spaces where people can reflect, grow, and reconnect with their sense of purpose. I believe that every person has value and potential, and that when communities focus on empathy, attitude, and shared responsibility, meaningful transformation can occur.

The human and social progress is built through the connections between people. Many times, we move forward thanks to the effort and sacrifice of others without even realizing it. When we acknowledge this invisible value, we learn to move together with greater empathy and responsibility. A community can transform when it applies the right ideas at the right time, with a clear purpose. Nothing truly meaningful is built alone, but progress is also impossible when we surround ourselves with the wrong people. Change happens when we connect, choose carefully who we walk with, and put ideas at the service of the common good.

Artificial Intelligence, Educational Technolog, Game Development, Gamification in Education, Innovative Learning Platforms, Leadership and Team Management, Project Management in Technology, Software Engineering, Virtual and Augmented Reality

My relationship with TED began as a listener, at a moment in my life when I was searching for meaning, direction, and clarity. I did not come from a privileged background, and many of the opportunities I have today exist because someone once believed in me when I did not fully believe in myself. Over time, I realized that my personal story was closely connected to the stories of many others around me. I have experienced how small acts of trust, guidance, and shared effort can change the course of a person’s life. I have also seen how communities move forward thanks to invisible sacrifices made by people who rarely receive recognition. My journey has been shaped by education, technology, and human connection. Working in environments affected by social challenges taught me that progress is not achieved alone, but neither is it achieved by surrounding ourselves with the wrong people. True change happens when the right ideas meet the right people at the right moment. TED represents, to me, a space where ideas are not only shared, but honored. It is a platform that values humanity, reflection, and purpose.

People don’t usually know that I am good at listening deeply and connecting people from different backgrounds. I enjoy creating safe spaces for dialogue, helping others clarify their ideas, and encouraging individuals to see possibilities in themselves that they may not yet recognize.