Theme: Confluence

Confluence is the recalibration, amalgamation, and celebration of dynamic ideas that extend beyond the limits we place on society, in our relationships, and ourselves. It emphasizes the diverse voices in shaping our understanding of society. The event features accomplished speakers who will share their stories and expertise across various fields. Entrepreneurs, educators, and advocates will come together to explore the meeting points of their disciplines and backgrounds.

TEDxAAW’s mission and goals are creating inclusive spaces, sparking Filipino-centered conversations, and ultimately, turning the Philippines into an Idea Sharing Society where women are strongly encouraged to assert themselves and share their voices.

TIU Theater
Makati Central Square, Metro Manila
2/F
Makati, National Capital Region, 1224
Philippines

Aaron Leung

TED Coach

An award-winning international dynamic speaker & TED coach that connects you to your inner voice & potential while customizing your speaking style to create your lifetime of opportunities. A renowned speech enthusiast that innovates and revolutionizes the art of speaking with proven results. Aaron has been in the industry coaching speakers since he was a student. Inspired by wisdom shared by storytellers & immersed in cultures in over 90 countries plus a unique life-twisting experience, he developed a passion for public speaking. He has won over 100+ contests & eventually became a Global Impromptu Speaking Champion virtually across 100 countries in 2019. He became a TEDx Coach in 2016 and by 2023, he became a TED Coach & TEDx speaker. He is also the founder of hybrid training in corporations while pioneering virtual, VR, AR & holograms since 2009. He occasionally serves as a renowned judge in speech contests worldwide - NSDA, USAP, HOSA, 21st, JCI, TM, etc.

Dae Lee

Founder of The Fourth Wall

Dr. Dae specializes in making information simple and actionable by understanding people's behavior and culture. Driven by this, he immerses himself in diverse environments, extracting invaluable insights to understand what makes people shift their mindsets and choose to change. With a diverse background as an entrepreneur, educator, usability designer, and former military personnel under the U.N., he brings unique perspectives to his work. He holds a Ph.D. in Organization Development and Planning. He tests his frameworks and strategies by creating companies that are able to sustain themselves while sharing his expertise through his research, consulting, discussions, workshops, and learning programs. His mission is to empower individuals to craft environments that foster continuous growth and development.

David Nilssen

CEO of DOXA Talent

David Nilssen is an entrepreneur and thought leader in the future of work. As the CEO of DOXA Talent, he has pioneered a new approach to building and scaling high-performing teams, leveraging top talent from around the world without the need for traditional office space. With over 900 team members and no physical offices, David has cracked the code on how to create a borderless, high-performing workforce. Prior to DOXA, David co-founded Guidant Financial, which has helped over 25,000 entrepreneurs secure $6 billion in funding to start or buy a business in all 50 US states. His achievements have been recognized by the US Small Business Administration, which named him the National Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2007. His business has also been featured on the Inc 500 list. He serves on the Global Board of Directors of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) and is a sought-after speaker on the future of work, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Denise Haak

Head of Product Experience Strategy & Design of Globe Group

Denise is a visionary entrepreneur and renowned speaker with extensive expertise in customer experience, human-centered design, and digital innovation. As the newly-minted Head of Product Experience Strategy & Design at Globe Group, she’s working to create human-kind experiences through user experience, customer experience, accessibility, artificial intelligence, and product integration. With an illustrious career spanning several ventures, Denise founded and led Quiddity, Halcyon, and Triptech, specializing in user experience, customer experience, and seamless web and app experiences, respectively. Denise has designed and developed commercial and enterprise solutions, receiving recognition for participation in high-impact projects like Project One, a DTI-sponsored initiative for online business registration and facilitation. An exceptional speaker, she talks about business transformation, digital innovation, and the power of human-centric approaches in a rapidly evolving world.

Dr. Arpinder Bansi

Chartered Civil Engineer, Founder and Director of Kaur Values

Dr. Arpinder Kaur Bansi, Founder and MD of Kaur Values Associates Ltd, is a pioneering leader in promoting fairness, inclusiveness, and respect in business and leadership development. Despite being told she was only suited for factory work, she became the first Sikh girl to study civil engineering in the UK, earning a 1st Class BSc(Hons) and PhD in engineering. She had a successful career as a Chartered Civil Engineer, serving on committees and boards. In 2010, she launched Kaur Values to address the underrepresentation of women and minorities in senior executive teams and boardrooms. Arpinder has received awards for her work on unconscious bias in leadership, including "Inspirational Leader" and "Exceptional Woman of Excellence." Her mission is to empower people to become the leaders the world needs, promoting a culture of inclusivity and respect.

Fiona Gurtiza

Writer, Content Strategist, Founder of Fool's Gnosis

Fiona Gurtiza does best when she combines her creative and marketing skills. She leads content marketing at Sprout Solutions and has over 8 years of expertise. There, she manages content development and contributes her strategic vision to branding and data-driven marketing operations. Fiona's talents, however, are much broader than the corporate world. She is a published author, spoken word poet, and podcast host—a real Renaissance woman. She established Fool's Gnosis, a wellness brand that provides intuitive tarot readings.

Francisco "Paco" Magsaysay

CEO of Carmen's Best Ice Cream and Asian Vision Cable Holdings, Inc.

Francisco Magsaysay is known for his leadership and success in creating Carmen's Best Ice Cream. In 2018, he received the Agora Award for Outstanding Achievement in Entrepreneurship in the Medium Enterprise category. In 2022, he received the Mansmith Innovation Award for Product Innovation. He has been recognized as the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year by the Italian Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year by Entrepreneur Of The Year of Ernest Young/SGV. He also oversees Asian Vision, a successful cable TV and broadband company serving Batangas, Quezon, and Zambales provinces. After earning a marketing degree at the University of St. Thomas, he returned home to take over his father's business. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., was elected as a senator in 1995, continuing his family's media legacy.

Jared Dillinger

Professional Basketball Player, Producer of CNN's The Future

With a diverse background in business, sports, and media, he has spent 16 years navigating the intersection of these industries. His experience in cryptocurrency has equipped him to develop innovative marketing strategies and content that drive brand growth. A skilled negotiator and leader, he has contributed to several successful business ventures. As an athlete, he has had the privilege of representing the Philippine National team and club team, earning 9 championships and a bronze medal. Today, he is the creator of the top-ranked sports podcast in the Philippines and the host and producer of "The Future" on CNN Philippines, a show that explores the intersection of technology, business, and society.

Juanita Sorrano

Founder and Executive Director of CodeConnect

Juanita is a passionate advocate for tech education for all. Her journey began in finance, but a desire for change led her to a coding boot camp where she discovered a passion for technology and became a full-stack developer. Balancing a career and family, Juanita's story exemplifies perseverance and a commitment to lifelong learning. Empowered by her own experience, she founded CodeConnect to dismantle barriers and democratize access to tech education, particularly for underserved communities. Through CodeConnect, Juanita unites a diverse group of partners to make tech education a reality for everyone.

Jules Schroeder

Founder of Unconventional Life

Jules Schroeder is a visionary entrepreneur, musician, and event designer who has inspired millions of people worldwide to create a life by their own design. As the founder and CEO of Unconventional Life, a top-ranked podcast and events company, Jules has hosted 5-day life and business accelerators for entrepreneurs and creatives in exotic locations around the world. With a background in publishing, real estate investing, and music, Jules has built a diverse portfolio of entrepreneurial ventures and has been recognized as one of the "Top 27 Female Entrepreneurs Changing the World" by Inc. Magazine and one of the "10 Business Titans to Watch in 2024" by Maxim. Jules' journey began with a near-death experience that led her to re-evaluate her priorities and pursue a life of purpose and meaning. Today, she is a sought-after speaker, coach, and event designer who has worked with top companies and celebrities, including Jimmy Buffet's Coral Reefers Band.

Lijani Nakatani

Entrepreneur, Founder of RS English Dynamics

Lijani Limbang-Nakatani, entrepreneur and champion of education, ignites potential in children and women. Fueled by her own journey as the youngest of ten, overcoming obstacles to become her family's first college graduate, Lijani founded RS English Dynamics in Osaka. For nearly a decade, she's nurtured young minds and fostered a love of learning within the Japanese community. Her dedication extends beyond borders. Inspired, she leads impactful projects in the Philippines and abroad, empowering women and children through education. Lijani's story is one of grit, resilience, and a passion for igniting the spark of possibility within others.

Lisa Thomas

Coach

Lisa Thomas is a practitioner in the field of personal development who explores the potential for inherited patterns of anxiety, fear, and limiting beliefs to influence individual well-being. Her work draws on the emerging field of epigenetics, which examines how environmental and behavioral factors can affect gene expression across generations. Her work sheds light on the possible transgenerational transmission of psychological traits, a growing area of interest within psychology.

Nelson Buso Jr.

Instructor at University of the Philippines Diliman

Nelson Mangaldan Buso Jr. is an instructor at the Department of English and Comparative Literature (DECL) within the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he teaches undergraduate courses in academic writing and literature. Previously, he served as a Senior High School teacher at De La Salle University (Manila), where he taught practical research courses for the Arts and Design and the Humanities and Social Sciences tracks. Nelson graduated summa cum laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman with a Bachelor of Arts in English Studies (Language). His undergraduate program provided him with comprehensive training in the theoretical, technical, and practical aspects of the English language. The program also gave him interdisciplinary exposure to various academic fields, including literature, sociology, and anthropology.

Pamela Reyes

Film Producer and Director

An alumna and participant in Cannes L’Atelier Cinefondation, Berlinale Talent Campus, Torino Film Lab, Locarno Open Doors Hub, EAVE Ties That Bind, Festival des 3 Continents’ Produire au Sud workshop, Fantastic Film School, Pamela L. Reyes is an award winning Filipino Film Producer, Director, Script Consultant and overall creative. She graduated from UP Diliman with a degree in Visual Communications. With over a decade of experience, Pamela produced "Birdshot", the first Filipino film on Netflix and the Philippines' official entry to the 2018 Academy Awards. She co-founded Create Cinema Inc. and is producing several films, including "SAM", "Fruitcake", and "GG". Pamela is developing her debut feature film "Mysticism", which won 5 awards at the QCinema-DGPI pitch. She's passionate about fortifying the Philippine film industry and mentoring young filmmakers.

Pio Silva

Educational Content Creator, Host of the PIO-V Podcast

Pio Silva is a content creator under the Hepmil Creators’ Network and a media planner in GroupM. He has been recognized since 2020 for garnering a following on TikTok for his passionate delivery of topics about religion, philosophy, personal development, and social issues. Influenced by contemporary society and pop culture around him and inspired by today's most well-known unanswered questions, Pio found a community to discuss these relevant topics and open people's minds to different interdisciplinary subjects in bite-sized shareable videos. As a content creator, Pio's work on his content and speaking engagement opportunities brought him invitations to lecture at advocacy movements promoting human rights, media, and information literacy, such as the Break the Fake Movement. The advocacy of education drives him, and he aims to learn the best out of everything media and the current events of faith, society, and culture.

Raymond Rufino

CEO of NEO

Raymond Rufino is a leader and sustainability advocate who has revolutionized the real estate industry in the Philippines. As the CEO of NEO, a pioneering green building developer, he has championed the cause of sustainable development and has been instrumental in shaping the country's green building landscape. Under his leadership, NEO has achieved numerous milestones, including becoming the first office portfolio in Southeast Asia to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Seal and the first to receive a 5-star certification under the Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) rating tool. Raymond is a passionate advocate for Net Zero and has committed NEO to achieving ambitious decarbonization goals. He believes that the real estate industry has a critical role to play in mitigating climate change and is dedicated to inspiring others to join him on this journey.

Sam Sammane

Founder at TheoSym

Sam Sammane is a luminary in the ever-dynamic dataset of AI, dedicated to harnessing technological advancements. With a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Applied Physics, a Master’s in Digital Circuit Design, and a Ph.D. in Nanotechnology, Sam is also a seasoned entrepreneur with multiple successful exits, having founded innovative companies like Garmen, Labofine, SBI Solutions, American Testing Lab, and Tetnamus Labs of America. His expertise covers a broad spectrum, from applied physics to business. Sam's book, "The Singularity of Hope," reflects his journey from a young, inquisitive mind to a leader in technology and human experience. His insights into AI, the economy, and job futures are informed by his extensive experience in various fields.

Therese Reyes

Reporter, Culture Writer, Editor

Therese is a reporter, writer, and editor. She's currently the APAC Lead Editor for behavioral insights practice Canvas8, where she uncovers and makes sense of trends and cultural shifts. Before this, she was the culture editor of VICE Asia, where she led the team in winning a Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) award for Excellence in Arts & Culture Reporting in 2022. She covers global culture, K-pop, life, and mental health, among other things. She's a graduate of The University of Hong Kong's Master of Journalism program, New York University's Summer Publishing Institute, and De La Salle University-Manila. Part city girly, part cottage core, she now splits her time between Manila and Baguio.