TEDxStLouisWomen

Speakers

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

• Dail Chambers

  Visionary Artist, Researcher, Wellness Advocate, Cultural Developer

  Dail Chambers is a multidisciplinary visual artist, creative consultant, and grower whose work explores genealogy, women’s narratives, and social-environmental art. Based on Osage/Illini land in St. Louis, Missouri, her practice weaves together food systems, pollinators, and intergenerational knowledge rooted in place and community. A homeschooling mother, doula, and teaching artist, Dail has developed curricula for global audiences and earned fellowships and awards across the US She is the founder of Yeyo Arts Collective, which has supported the creative empowerment of women and families since 2010. As director of Coahoma Orchards Community Research Institute, Dail leads a grower-led approach to social science and agriculture. Her work has been featured in initiatives like Women's Earth Alliance, Urban Bush Women, and the National Women's Caucus for Art. She is also an arts appraiser, writer, and seed saver—nurturing blackberries, peaches, and bee balm as part of her life practice.

• Emily Hemingway

  Transforming Communities through Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Economic Development Executive, Ecosystem Builder

  Tech founder turned ecosystem architect, Emily Hemingway transforms communities through entrepreneurship and innovation. For 20 years, she has advanced equitable economic opportunity across the U.S. by leading data-driven planning, public-private partnerships, and cutting-edge community development. From coast to coast, Emily has become a powerhouse in economic development, an award-winning event producer, startup accelerator director, PR specialist, and nationally recognized leader in entrepreneurial ecosystem design. Her work has been implemented in over 200 cities and 60 Tribal Nations. Most recently, Emily served as the Founding Executive Director of TechSTL, the tech council for the 15-county Greater St. Louis region. There, she partnered with the City of St. Louis to launch the area’s largest tech community and host STL TechWeek, an award-winning conference drawing 10,000+ attendees annually.

• Kris Kleindienst

  Owner, Left Bank Books, St. Louis, Missouri, writer, activist

  Kris Kleindienst is a writer, bookseller, and lifelong advocate for social justice. She joined Left Bank Books in 1974, became co-owner in 1977, and sole owner in 2021. In 2010, she co-founded the Left Bank Books Foundation, a pioneering nonprofit devoted to access, equity, and community engagement through literature. Kris has served on the boards of the American Booksellers Association, Midwest Independent Booksellers Association, and ACLU of Eastern Missouri, among others. A Lambda Literary Award-winning editor, her work has appeared in Delmar, The Griffin, and The Liminality Project. Her activism spans decades, from feminist collectives and LGBTQIA organizing to founding BUILD St. Louis and Bookfest St. Louis. A former columnist for The Vital Voice, she continues to write essays and is working on a memoir exploring the intersection of the personal and the political.

• Lindsey Hermes

  President & COO

  Lindsey Hermes is a global leader in tech, innovation, and sustainability with a career spanning four continents. As President and COO of BioSpan Technologies, she drives the development of connected material sciences that advance the circular economy. A St. Louis native with 16 years in Hong Kong, Lindsey brings a global lens to supply chain transformation, collaborating with top brands across apparel, beauty, food, logistics, and more. She’s spoken at major events including CES and GreenBiz Circularity and is known for building communities around innovation. A former agency founder, she’s led initiatives with companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Target, and held leadership roles at FleishmanHillard, Avery Dennison, and Serai. Lindsey co-chaired AmCham Hong Kong’s supply chain committee and advises startups globally. An alumna of WashU and a Harvard Sustainability master’s candidate, she’s passionate about using purpose-driven tech to fuel transparent, sustainable change.

• Mary Lamie

  Executive Vice President of Multimodal Enterprises for Bi-State Development

  Mary Lamie is the Executive Vice President of Multimodal Enterprises for Bi-State Development, where she oversees critical regional assets including the Gateway Arch, Gateway Arch Riverboats, St. Louis Downtown Airport, and the St. Louis Regional Freightway. A national leader in freight and multimodal strategy, she spearheads public-private partnerships to enhance the region’s freight infrastructure and position the bi-state area as a global logistics hub. Her efforts have earned the region national recognition for regionalism and transportation innovation, significantly boosting competitiveness for infrastructure funding and economic development. Mary’s accolades include the 2022 Institute of Transportation Engineers Professional of the Year, the 2019 World Affairs Council Gateway Globe Award, and the 2017 St. Louis Business Journal Most Influential Business Women Award. She is widely respected for advancing freight mobility, fostering collaboration, and driving regional impact.

• Volume Speaks

  Multi-instrumentalist, Audio Engineer and Music Producer

  Volume Speaks brings more than music; she brings movement. A multi-instrumentalist, audio engineer, and the only woman to win the Champions Battle with St. Louis’ Fresh Produce Beat Battle, she’s performed with over 20 bands across genres and stages. Her performance at TEDxStLouis is a celebration of sound, story, and creative power.