TEDxPlano

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Cheryl Jackson

  Social Impact Leader

  Dr. Cheryl Jackson is a distinguished social entrepreneur and community leader whose visionary leadership has transformed lives across multiple cities. As the founder of Minnie’s Food Pantry—a nationally recognized, award-winning organization—she has led efforts to provide over 31 million meals to children and families in need, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to social impact and community service. Under her leadership, Minnie’s Food Pantry has expanded from a modest 500-square-foot facility to a state-of-the-art 28,000-square-foot operation, equipped with a Life Lab training center and social enterprise store. Her organization’s success is driven by a dedicated team of over 40,000 volunteers and strategic partnerships with prominent individuals and corporations such as Oprah Winfrey, Mark Cuban, Tyler Perry, and Jeffrey Katzenberg.

• Eric Kildebeck

  Biotech innovator | AI architect

  Dr. Eric Kildebeck, MD, PhD manages the Center for Engineering Innovation (CEI) at UT Dallas and the Center for Applied AI at the Richardson Innovation Quarter (CAIQUE). The mission of these Centers is to use an engineering and entrepreneurial mindset to innovate and translate technologies that solve real-world problems. Dr. Kildebeck directs the CEI’s Polycraft World team, which builds immersive training environments for learners, AI agents, and human-AI teams in video games such as Minecraft. Eric co-founded EdTech startup Pedegree Studios, Inc. in 2024, a UTD spinout focused on delivering personalized learning, where he serves as SVP of Education and leads pedagogy and AI strategy.

• Khimen Cooper

  Professor | Rethinker

  Dr. Khimen Cooper began her teaching journey as a fitness instructor during her undergraduate years, bringing that same dynamic energy to the English classroom as a graduate student in 2011. She earned her doctorate in Rhetoric and Composition from Texas A&M University-Commerce (now East Texas A&M), with a focus on Rhetoric Theory. Specializing in Rhetoric and Children’s/Young Adult Literature, Khimen teaches a wide range of English courses, from developmental reading and writing to First-Year Composition and advanced Literature classes. Critical Pedagogy is vital element in each of her courses and she recently authored, F*ck The Five Paragraph Essay: A Writing Handbook for College (And Maybe Even The “Real World”). She’s passionate about cross-disciplinary communication and often collaborates with colleagues both within and beyond her field to emphasize the importance of writing and communication across contexts.

• Pam Rosener

  Founder | Change Maker

  Pam Rosener is the President and Founder of Young Men’s Service League. Pam loves mentoring young men to develop their hearts for service. She also delights in seeing moms deepen their relationships with their sons while growing personally through their leadership roles in YMSL. She’s on a mission to bring the YMSL experience to as many communities as possible to provide YMSL’s unique service, learning and leadership opportunities to young men and their moms across the country and around the world. Currently, there are over 100 chapters in 15 states. Since its inception YMSL members have served over 2 million community service hours.

• Sai Balasubramanian

  Healthcare Futurist

  Dr. Sai Balasubramanian, M.D., J.D., is a healthcare strategy executive and speaker, focusing on the intersections of healthcare, AI, digital innovation, and technology. He pursued dual-doctorates in medicine and law and graduated with distinguished honors, focusing his scholarship on the impacts of innovation and AI on healthcare. Dr. Balasubramanian’s career as a strategy consultant and technology executive has positioned him as a sought after and trusted advisor to C-suite leaders, executives, and Fortune 500 companies. He draws upon his clinical training, legal education, and background in management to analyze and advise on the operational and business frameworks that impact organizations and enterprises. He is an avid reader of non-fiction books and enjoys writing in his free time.

• Shivam Dhol Tasha Pathak

  Percussion Ensemble

  Shivam Dhol Tasha Pathak is a groundbreaking Indian-American drum ensemble founded in 2014 in North Texas. Blending ancient tradition with bold modern energy, the group brings the powerful sounds of dhol tasha—traditional Indian drums—into contemporary spaces and global moments. Inspired by their name, Shivam—a fusion of “Shiva” and “Om”—the group channels both spiritual resonance and rhythmic force in every performance. Their members come from diverse backgrounds, united by culture and a shared love of percussion. Shivam has taken center stage at major events, including the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, NBA and NHL games, and the 2019 “Howdy Modi” rally. In 2025, they became the first Indian dhol tasha group to perform at a U.S. Presidential Inaugural Parade. More than performers, Shivam is a cultural movement—celebrating heritage, fostering unity, and reimagining tradition one powerful beat at a time.

• Tejasvi Manoj

  Student | Developer

  Tejasvi Manoj is a high school junior with a passion for technology, advocacy, and community impact. After her grandfather was nearly scammed online, she created Shield Seniors, an AI-powered web app to protect and educate older adults about cybersecurity. Her work has been recognized by the Congressional App Challenge, AARP Leaders, Dallas Observer, and Global Indian. The Plano native has published articles with American Society of Aging and the US-India Chamber of Commerce DFW, and leads cybersecurity seminars for seniors across Collin County. A CyberPatriot Semifinalist and recipient of the Presidential Gold Volunteer Service Award, Tejasvi also serves as Secretary of the North Texas Food Bank Young Advocates Council and is pursuing her Eagle Scout rank.

• Trey Bowles

  Serial Entrepreneur

  Trey Bowles is a serial entrepreneur, social capitalist, and educator. He co-founded the Dallas Entrepreneur Center (The DEC), a central location for entrepreneurs to learn how to start, build, and grow businesses through training, education, mentorship, promotion, and capital investment. Under his leadership, the DEC launched a public-private partnership called the Dallas Innovation Alliance to help design, develop, and launch a Smart Cities solution in Dallas.