Jobeda Ali

Atheist, Business leader, Entrepreneur, Explorer, Filmmaker, Global soul, Idea generator, Producer, Social entrepreneur, Writer/Editor

I'm the founder/owner of a care-giving company with over 400 employees and with an unusual specialism in care robots. I've been displaying entrepreneurial traits since I was 14, though I wouldn't have recognised them as such back then. After graduating from Cambridge University I started out in the government and community sectors, in education and employability. I became self-employed at 27 and alongside freelance government consultancy, I started running my own ventures in media and education, which culminated five years later in my starting my first proper business Fair Knowledge in 2007. Fair Knowledge produces films and conferences all aimed at advancing the voices of marginalised people, especially women. In 2012, I started my second business, Three Sisters Care, with my two sisters, so all the sisters are now entrepreneurs! Three Sisters Care provides care services to older people and people with disabilities. It also encourages and provides employment, education and training for women who are becoming economically active for the very first time. We've grown to 400 care staff now. In 2016 we won a UK government contract to develop care robots, working with the UK's top robotics firms. I stepped down as CEO in January 2018 and am staying involved as chairman of the board and in this role I still spearhead our work in care robotics. Previously, as part of my consultancy work, in 2012, I helped organise TEDxKPMGDelhi.

I'm passionate about women's advancement in society, economic independence and spreading secularism.

Robots are tools to help us become closer to other humans.

Adult Social Care, Ageing, Editing (Final Cut Pro), Events Management, Film - Directing and Producing, Health and Care, Social Entrepreneurship, women's leadership, Women's Political Influence, Women's Social Advancement

I think I discovered TED in about 2005 when a friend expressed incredible surprise that I hadn't heard of it as he was sure it was right up my street - and how right he was (thanks Toffael!). I've been addicted ever since. When my company got into event organising, I borrowed many ideas from TED about format and how to really engage people with new ideas. I listen to TED Talks over breakfast most mornings and often while cooking, and I suggest the TEDx format to anyone who is interesting in organising events. This led to my helping KPMG to organise their first TEDx in 2012 and I'm supporting three different groups at the moment who want to run a TEDx and also planning my own event later this year (2013). Like most remote TED-heads, attending a proper TED conference in the US is a dream of mine and not just because it's warmer then drizzly London.

I've done some stand-up comedy. Not sure I was very good at it but I'd love to continue.