TEDxWakeForestU 2026: ‘Playing with Fire’
Wake Forest University will host TEDxWakeForestU on Sunday, March 22, at 2 p.m. in Wait Chapel.
TEDx events aim to bring the spirit of TED to local communities to share a TED-like experience. “Playing with Fire,” an independent student-organized event licensed by TED, is free and open to the public. Registration is requested, and a reception will follow the event.
TEDxWakeForestU 2026 speaker spotlights:
- “Advocating for yourself after failure” (Leanda Cave): A four-time world champion triathlete and the first woman in history to win both the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 World Championships in the same year (2012), Cave competed at the highest levels across Olympic, half and full Ironman distances — earning global recognition by CNN as one of the fittest women in the world.
- “Don’t ask for permission” (Meryl Poster): An award-winning producer, media executive and industry leader with a distinguished career spanning film, television and digital media. Poster began as one of the first female trainees in the famed William Morris Agency mailroom and went on to become a driving force in entertainment.
- “Mentoring is Messy” (Artis Stevens): As president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the largest and most experienced youth mentoring organization in the country, Stevens is a global thought leader on youth empowerment and mentorship.
A complete list of speakers and biographies can be found on the 2026 TEDxWakeForestU website here. On-campus parking near Wait Chapel will be available.
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