Abi Adamson
Talk Theme: Workplace Culture
Abi Adamson has lived in Lagos, London, New York, and across cultures, but one truth always follows her: belonging isn’t a trend, it’s a necessity. As the Founder of The Culture Partnership, Abi has helped global giants like Spotify, Sony Music, and Wise reimagine what inclusive workplaces really look like. Recognized by The New York Times as one of the “Stars of LinkedIn,” she’s part strategist, part truth-teller, and fully committed to reshaping the way we define culture at work and in the world. “Who owns culture? Who defines it? And why does it feel like someone else always holds the pen?” At TEDxUnityPark, Abi is asking the big questions and inviting us to slow down, listen deeply, and reconsider the way we move through difference. Her talk challenges us to stop forcing people to fit into rigid frameworks and start allowing culture to emerge authentically, together.
Bryan Davis
Talk Theme: Entrepreneurship & Ecosystems
Bryan Davis didn’t just grow up in Greenville, he built his first business in a backyard here at age six. Today, he’s helped launch over 650 startups across the Southeast, and he’s still betting big on the place he calls home. As Executive Director of The Hill Institute at Furman, Bryan is one of the Southeast’s leading champions for startup ecosystems—named to the Palmetto Power List, a Forbes® contributor, and a trusted voice for innovation strategy. His message at TEDxUnityPark? The future of entrepreneurship isn’t coastal, it’s community-driven. “We may not be the unicorn capital of the world, but we are the conveyor belt of entrepreneurship.” At TEDxUnityPark, Bryan is making the case that billion-dollar ideas can grow just as fast under a magnolia tree as they can in Menlo Park and that the Southeast is no longer an underdog. It’s the future.
Anita Yokota
Talk Theme: Design & Wellbeing
Anita Yokota is a licensed therapist turned interior designer who blends psychology and design to transform how we live. Author of Home Therapy and host of the podcast by the same name, Anita has been featured on Good Morning America, The Drew Barrymore Show, and Oprah Daily for her pioneering work on the emotional power of space. At TEDxUnityPark, she’s revealing why cluttered corners reflect cluttered minds and how intentional design can create emotional safety, healing, and connection. Whether you live in a studio or a split-level, your home can become your most powerful tool for wellbeing.
JD Slajchert
Talk Theme: Storytelling & Resilience
JD Slajchert has written bestsellers, spoken to NBA teams, and earned an Emmy nomination, but none of it would’ve happened without a handwritten page and a 10-year-old boy named Luc. A former Division I athlete turned author, JD’s first novel MoonFlower began as a way to process the grief of losing his biggest fan, Luc, a young boy with Sickle Cell Disease who never missed a single one of his games. He wrote the entire book by hand. That decision didn’t just lead to a published story, it led to a mission. Today, JD speaks around the world about purpose, resilience, and how the act of handwriting can unlock the stories that change lives. “Handwriting was the axe that broke the frozen sea within me.” At TEDxUnityPark, JD returns not as host, but as a featured speaker, sharing how writing by hand helped him rediscover his voice and why your own story might be waiting on the other side of a pen.
Dr. Jordan Floyd
Talk Theme: Resilience & Physical Health
Dr. Jordan Floyd is here to flip your definition of success by showing how losing might be your biggest advantage. Jordan built a high-performance physical therapy company from the ground up, applying lessons from elite sports to everyday care. But his TEDx talk tackles something deeper: the moments that don’t go according to plan. Whether it’s business failure, personal grief, or a game-day loss, Jordan argues that the ability to lose well, with reflection, resilience, and grace, is the real secret to momentum. “Your ability to lose is actually your competitive advantage.” From the clinic to the farm, from the weight room to the TEDx stage, Jordan is living proof that strength isn’t avoiding failure, it’s knowing how to rise from it.
Amanda de Leon
Talk Theme: Youth Leadership
At just 17, Amanda de Leon is already reshaping the future of Greenville by amplifying the voices of those who rarely get the mic. As the head organizer of TEDxFiveForks Youth, she’s created platforms where students lead, speak, and spark change. Her TEDx talk is a raw, honest reflection on the real lessons of high school, not GPA or popularity, but self-discovery. “High school isn’t just about grades, it’s about becoming who you want to be.” Amanda’s message isn’t just for teens. It’s for anyone navigating chaos, growth, and identity. Her voice is bold, compassionate, and clear: the future is youth-led, and it’s already here.
Sam Sokolow
Talk Theme: Film Production & Education
From Emmy-nominated productions to the classroom, Sam Sokolow knows how to turn stories into impact. As Executive Producer of GENIUS on Disney+ and Nat Geo — and collaborator to Ron Howard, Geoffrey Rush, and Antonio Banderas — Sam has shaped some of the most ambitious biographical storytelling in modern television. Now based part-time in Greenville, Sam is a Professor of Practice at Clemson University where he mentors the next generation of creators. His TEDxUnityPark talk connects the world of film production to the journey of life — where risk, rejection, and resilience are just part of the process.
David Kilzer
Talk Theme: AI & Robotics
What happens when robotics and artificial intelligence finally converge? According to David Kilzer, it’s not science fiction — it’s happening now, and it’s going to change everything. A global automation strategist who once redesigned farm equipment in rural North Dakota and now advises Fortune 100s, David led a $130M robotic transformation of a massive logistics center. His TEDx talk explores how AI and robotics are reshaping fulfillment, operations, and human potential. “The future isn’t man versus machine, it’s co-creation.” From his earliest inventions to modern breakthroughs, David brings a lifetime of experience to the TEDxUnityPark stage and a call to embrace this transformation before we get left behind.
Nada Rothbart
Talk Theme: Overcoming Adversity
Nada Rothbart escaped a warzone with her two young sons—and the only weapon she carried was her voice. Confronted by six armed men while fleeing Sarajevo, Nada didn’t fight fire with fire. She leaned on something else: gratitude, kindness, and patience. What followed wasn’t just survival—it was a life-defining moment of human connection that changed everything. A former professional athlete turned advocate, lawyer, and yoga instructor, Nada now shares her story to show that strength isn’t always loud—and sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is thank you. “My only weapon was my voice—kindness, gratitude, and patience became my shield.” At TEDxUnityPark, Nada will take the stage to explore how grace under pressure can disarm fear, build bridges, and remind us that even in darkness, connection is possible.
Jake Fehling
Talk Theme: Energy & Leadership
By day, he’s the Chief Marketing Officer of one of the nation’s fastest-growing mortgage companies. By weekend, he’s rallying 70,000 fans as the in-stadium Hype Man for the Carolina Panthers. But Jake Fehling’s real superpower? Bringing energy to the moments that matter most: the ones nobody sees. His TEDxUnityPark talk is a playbook for how hype, encouragement, and authentic energy can transform teams, families, and communities. “Hype isn’t just for halftime, it’s how we change the entire game.” This one’s for anyone who leads with heart, lifts others up, and wants to start a ripple effect that lasts far beyond the spotlight.
John Gardner
Talk Theme: Skate & Mental Health
As a pro skateboarder, John Gardner traveled the world with DC Shoes. But behind the highlight reels was a much deeper journey, one of loss, reflection, and healing. Now a social work grad student and founder of Nothing But Today, John is on a mission to transform how we talk about mental health, especially among young men. His TEDx talk confronts suicide, stress, and stigma through the unexpected power of skateboarding. “Men don’t talk face to face. They speak shoulder to shoulder.” His story is part grief, part grit — and all about helping others roll through what they can’t talk through.
Stacy Flynn
Talk Theme: Sustainable Fashion
What if we could turn garment waste into premium fabric with no compromise on strength, style, or sustainability? Stacy Flynn is a pioneer in textile-to-textile recycling and the CEO of EVRNU, the Upstate-based company building the first garment recycling facility of its kind in the U.S. Her revolutionary NUCYCL™ fiber is three times stronger than cotton, fully recyclable, and engineered to outperform fast fashion at scale. “We turn garment waste into premium fabric with no loss of value, no compromise on strength.” At TEDxUnityPark, Stacy will show why the future of fashion starts in South Carolina, where textile legacy meets circular innovation. Her talk is a bold invitation to design a world that’s cleaner, smarter, and better for everyone.
Mike Claudio
Talk Theme: Confidence & Service
Whether he’s coaching $100M CEOs or writing cards to kids who’ve never had new shoes, Mike Claudio is on a mission to build one thing: belief. As founder of WinRate Consulting and the nonprofit A Champion’s Shoes, Mike combines raw confidence with radical service. His TEDxUnityPark talk is about something money can’t buy, the momentum that starts when someone finally believes in you. “Self-belief is not an abundant resource, no matter what social class you’re in.” Through coaching, content, and compassion, Mike is helping people see what’s possible — one champion at a time.
Adam Anderson
Talk Theme: Cybersecurity & Community Safety
Adam Anderson wants you to stop thinking of cybersecurity as a scary expense and start seeing it as a strategic advantage. With over 25 years in the field, Adam has built four cybersecurity companies, coached hundreds of CEOs, and even advised heads of state on digital risk. As the Founder of Hook Security, he’s leading the charge in flipping the script: from fear-based messaging to empowering business owners with data they actually understand. His secret? Speak human. Lead with ROI. And stop selling “cyber” like it’s the apocalypse. “The number one problem in cybersecurity isn’t tech, it’s translation. We’re scaring people instead of speaking their language.” At TEDxUnityPark, Adam is breaking down the communication gap between tech and leadership translating digital risk into business language, and helping us all protect what matters most.
Will Shurtz
Talk Theme: Coffee, Culture, & Community
What if a cup of coffee could change the way we connect with each other? Will Shurtz, co-founder of the nationally recognized Methodical Coffee, has spent the last decade brewing more than just great espresso: he’s built a movement around intentionality, hospitality, and human connection. From high school barista to New York Times–featured coffee pioneer, Will believes the ritual of coffee holds something sacred: real, face-to-face conversation. “Talking to strangers and spending real time with people we know is becoming less routine. Coffee allows us to keep that alive.” His TEDxUnityPark talk explores how the third wave coffee movement isn’t just about flavor profiles, it’s about building culture, careers, and community from the ground up.