The end of my TEDxPretoria journey

After 7 wonderful events and 8 years as the founder and license holder of TEDxPretoria, the time has come for me to move on and to hand the reigns over to someone new.

TEDxPretoria was more than a project to me. It was almost like raising a child - mom’s would relate ?? I had to nurture it from infancy, into the difficult toddler years, and finally saw it graduate to school and beyond. It made me realise the importance of collaboration and trust and it opened my eyes to the potential of people. I saw the brand walk, then crawl, then run - it wasn’t perfect, but we strived to continuously improve along every step of the way.

The TED brand and what it stands for resonates deeply with me. ‘Ideas worth spreading’ has become part of my daily life and the way I teach and share. I share TED talks at work to inspire my team, to educate people on important issues and just for fun amongst friends and family. Whenever someone shares a new topic or something interesting I would always search for a TED talk on the related topic.

After organising seven events and meeting more than 80 wonderful speakers and performers, I can say in my heart that South Africa has so much to offer. So many talented scientists, humanitarians, doctors, entrepreneurs and performers live amongst us. There is so much talent yet to be uncovered on African soil. We have incredible people with the most unique and sometimes out of this world ideas! I’ve met so many profound people on my journey and got to work with the MOST FANTASTIC team of volunteers, many who stuck with me for +5 years.

I had the opportunity to travel to Arusha, Tanzania in August 2017 on a scholarship from TED to attend a TED Global conference and it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I experienced another side of Africa, although I am South African, this was an eye-opener. I met more than 300 other TEDx organisers from across the globe and even “Mr TED” himself, Chris Anderson. I felt the spirit of Ohana, community and Ubuntu all very much alive, and felt like I was walking amongst giants who selflessly gave to their communities with expecting very little in return.

The event that stands out for me is from 2018 at 012Central in the Central Business District in Pretoria (Tshwane). People were worried about the location (which is known as a crime hotspot), but we were adamant to showcase the city and it’s full potential. We pulled it off and even had one of my favorite people Gareth Cliff on stage that year. These memories will remain with me forever - the talks that our team so carefully curated, the speakers and performers spending tireless hours working, will forever live on.

I am thankful to TEDxPretoria, for giving me a platform to identify potential in people and for allowing me to showcase the incredible talent that our country has to offer. I look forward to my next adventure, where @TED global 2027 is already on my bucket list.

I'm excited about what the future has in store for TEDxPretoria and will always remain a big fan! Thank you to those who supported my TEDxPretoria journey. Onwards and upwards.