It is important to us that everyone featured on the TEDxCoventry stage have that magical combination of a fascinating idea coupled with the ability to share it in an engaging and relatable way. Some of the characteristics we are seeking to include are:

Novelty: we want innovative and original ideas – or ideas presented in a way unique to you and your experience/knowledge – we are not likely to feature motivational speakers, confidence coaches, business advisors or people who have given similar TEDx talks elsewhere in recent years.

Diversity: we actively seek diversity in ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, age, disability, education and non-traditional experts. We want to champion the voices that are often marginalised or underrepresented in our society.

Creativity: we are looking for speakers who present their ideas in a unique and captivating way, which is personal to their experiences, perspectives and expertises.

Credibility: we are looking for speakers who are committed to their idea and knowledgeable on the topic. You don’t need to have a PhD, published a book, or be a world recognised public figure. But we do ask that you have spent time understanding, developing and validating your ideas – this can be through your work, studies, research and/or lived experience.

Successful speakers come in many guises, from raw talent to vast experience, and we are always seeking the elusive ‘diamond in the rough’! Don’t be discouraged from applying because you feel you don’t conform to the image of the ‘traditional public speaker’.

Every speaker has their own motivation for participating and we hope you will benefit from your TEDxCoventry experience in many ways. As a team, we are committed to:

– Mentorship and guidance throughout your TEDxCoventry journey: You will have individualised coaching support from our Curator Lead Donna Preece and Speaker Coach Priya Gondalia, and will have the opportunity to develop your public speaking skills through this process.

– Creating a professional platform with great exposure: This is an opportunity to spread your ideas to Coventry and globbally. We will facilitate this through filming and editing your talk to broadcast quality and promoting it to our community, online networks.

– Assembling a dynamic, diverse audience and networking opportunities: Our audiences are passionate about ideas and through our curation and communication on the day and in the run up to the event, we will create the best environment for your idea to be heard and spread.

– Delivering a professional event to showcase your idea: We have a committed speaker team of dedicated experts ready to help you prepare before the event and ensure that you have an incredible experience on the day. Our wider team of professionals works tirelessly to create an unforgettable experience for speakers and audiences alike, enabling you to present your talk in the best possible light.

As a TEDxCoventry speaker you have an essential role in contributing towards making the event a great success. Commiting to speak is an important undertaking and we have some clear expectations of all our speakers:

– Commitment: speaking at a TEDx event is unlike no other. From experienced to first-time public speakers, we ask everyone to engage with our coaching and rehearsal process. You will be working closely with our Curator Lead Donna Preece and Speaker Coach Priya Gondalia,, who will tailor the coaching process to your needs, experience and time.

– Time: we ask all our speakers to have three meetings (in person or remotely) before the event with our Curator Lead Donna Preece and Speaker Coach Priya Gondalia,, to develop their talk. We also ask all speakers to attend one informal speaker rehearsal (Saturday 1st of February 2020), the formal dress rehearsal on Friday 28th February 2020 and the event itself on Saturday 29th February 2020. If you want more time for the preparation or rehearsal process, we can definitely make this happen.

– Passion: development of your talk takes effort! Your enthusiasm, positivity and willingness to collaborate throughout the process is essential.