By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing
As a little kid in Tampa, Krishna Patel had advanced YouTube habits.
“Ever since I knew what YouTube was, TED Talks have been a part of my routine — listening to them on my way to school, while working out, even before I slept,” said the 20-year-old who graduated from the ݮƵ last Fall with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences. “These talks have helped me stay socially aware, motivated, and, most importantly, encouraged me to be the best version of myself.”
Krishna and her 23-year-old brother, Harikrishna Patel, curated a TEDx Talk at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa.
Their effort, shaped in part by unexpected leadership roles on a global stage, received support from a team of 50, half of whom were USF students and alumni.
Held on May 2, the Tampa TEDx activities began with networking at the Tampa Museum of Art.
The event continued at the nearby Straz Center, where about 1,000 people gathered. There, the 10 keynote speakers included USF President Rhea Law, Tampa General Hospital President and CEO John Couris and ReliaQuest CEO Brian Murphy.
It was the first TEDx held in Tampa since 2021. The siblings also organized that event, held on the USF campus.
“We want to give back to the city that has shaped us,” said Harikrishna, who graduates this month with a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity. “Our goal was to assemble changemakers who, like us, see Tampa as a city brimming with opportunity. In Tampa, we hope to have spurred people into making real, concrete progress.”
USF President Rhea Law was among the speakers at the TEDx Talk in Tampa [Photo courtesy of Vince Slomsky Jr., University Communications and Marketing]
What is TED?
The nonprofit TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design – three subject areas that the organization’s leaders believe are shaping the world.
Since its founding in 1984, TED Talks have become an annual event held in Vancouver, Canada showcasing inspiring presentations from such influential figures as Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey. Speakers explore topics ranging from innovation and philanthropy to personal growth, with the intent to educate, motivate and spark meaningful change.
TEDx Talks then began in 2009 as part of a program that let independent organizers host local events under the TED brand. While they follow the same format as TED Talks, TEDx events focus more on highlighting local ideas and voices.
Krishna Patel
“The difference between a TED and a TEDx conference and any other conference,” Harikrishna said, “is that everybody who goes to a TEDx conference expects to be inspired to change their lives, yes, but also to form tangible connections that shape their careers, businesses and social capital.”
YouTube broadcasts of TED and TEDx Talks further amplify that influence.
With TED’s approval, TEDx curators select the theme and speakers.
The Patels said more than 500 applied to speak at their event.
“We wanted our speakers to be a mix of changemakers, people who lead Tampa,” Harikrishna said, “and people who believe, like we do, that Tampa is a golden goose.”
The Tampa theme was “Lift as you climb.”
“There’s so much that can happen if you just help others along your climb,” Harikrishna said. “The story of your success is going to be written by those you’ve lifted.”
Law highlighted the vital role of U.S. research universities in shaping society, using USF to show how they fuel local economies and innovation. She noted USF’s key role in making the Tampa Bay region a hub for cybersecurity and stressed the need for continued support to build a healthier future.
The Patels chose the theme based on their personal experiences that they now want to pay forward.
“We’ve had mentors — people who have believed in us,” Harikrishna said. “We’ve had people willing to lift us up.”
Harikrishna Patel
The Patels
Raised in Tampa, the Patels graduated from Wiregrass High School, with Krishna completing her studies at the age of 15.
They were deeply engaged on the USF campus, especially through the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement, where they participated in workshops, retreats, trips and service projects.
“That was cool, but we really wanted to create something unique,” Harikrishna said. “We discovered USF hadn’t hosted a TEDx event in several years, so we applied to become organizers, and they accepted us.”
About 100 students attended the 2021 USF TEDx event at the Marshall Student Center, where nine speakers — a mix of students, professors and members of the community — discussed topics ranging from artificial intelligence to health science. This experience strengthened the siblings’ belief in storytelling’s power to inspire change.
An unexpected event soon reinforced that belief — on the other side of the world.
That mission began in 2022 when Krishna took a leisurely trip to Dubai. While there, she traveled to Abu Dhabi to visit the construction site of the first traditional stone Hindu temple in the Middle East.
“I was so inspired and taken aback that I wanted to be a part of that project,” Krishna said. “What began as a three-month gig turned into a two-year commitment, with my brother joining me after my first five months.”
Bellini College interim Dean Sudeep Sarkar and USF President Rhea Law at the TEDx Talk in Tampa [Photo courtesy of Vince Slomsky Jr., University Communications and Marketing]
India’s prime minister and Abu Dhabi national leaders attended the February 2024 dedication, which was covered by international media outlets.
“Despite our ages, they gave us big responsibilities,” Harikrishna said. “That helped us grow as leaders. Lift as you climb is an ethos they embodied. We wanted to bring that back to Tampa, using the skills we learned and things we saw in the Middle East.”
After connecting at talks in New York City and Atlanta, TED leaders pitched the siblings to hold a TEDx Talk in Tampa.
“I hope that attendees made meaningful connections and found inspiration,” Harikrishna said. “I hope our speakers’ presentations rank among the top on the TEDx YouTube channel. And I hope this event gets people all over the world talking about all that is going on in Tampa.”