Hello everyone so glad that I’m finally able to post grateful to be amongst the elite once again I’m hoping this time I am a finalist. Something I want to say to the dreamer don’t stop dreaming don’t stop believing this isn’t my first talk that I’ve applied to, however, I thought that I would never see this opportunity again but yet here I am so to the man or a woman who may have also been in my shoes I wanted to declare and decree that this is our time delayed is never denied.

A question I’ve been asking leaders lately: If hiring systems worked so well… why are so many companies still struggling to find the right people? Over the past 18+ years I’ve worked in recruiting and career strategy and helped more than 12,000 professionals land roles across many industries. From that vantage point, I’ve seen something surprising. Most hiring problems are not actually talent problems. They’re visibility problems. Companies often rely on resumes, job descriptions, and automated filters to evaluate people. But those tools only capture a tiny fraction of who someone is — their strengths, their working style, their motivations, and how they actually contribute to a team. As a result: Great candidates get filtered out. Good people get hired into the wrong environments. And organizations struggle with turnover and disengagement. That realization led me to build Cultural Transformation Systems (CTS) — a human-first platform designed to help organizations see how their people and culture actually function. CTS combines ethical AI, leadership rituals, and living talent profiles to help companies hire more accurately, strengthen teams, and create workplaces where people can truly contribute. Because businesses don’t run on headcounts. They run on humans. I’m curious to hear from others in this group: What part of the hiring process do you think is most broken today?

One month ago my TEDx talk dropped. 52,000 views later, I’m still in awe. If you haven’t watched it yet, go check it out (link below). But more than the views, I want to hear from YOU. Head to the YouTube video and drop a comment. What stood out? What hit different? What are you still thinking about? And since we’re all here because TEDx is on our radar, I want you to know this is exactly what I help people do. Not just get on the stage. But get SEEN after the stage. Building the strategy, the relationships, and the relational organizing approach that turns a talk into real exposure. Watch it. Comment on YouTube. And if you’re ready to talk strategy, you know where to find me. 👇 After watching my TEDx talk, “Why You Should Break Up With Your Friends,” what resonated most?

One of the things that makes TEDxThirdWard different is that we actually build community. This will be the first opportunity for semi-finalists and volunteers to meet each other in person, and honestly, that’s where a lot of the magic begins. The relationships and conversations that start here are part of what makes the big event so special. What we create together on June 14, 2026 doesn’t just happen on stage. It starts with moments like this. So we’re hosting two casual Meet + Hang opportunities. No formal program. Just conversation, community, wings or drinks, and a chance to get to know the people who may end up sharing the TEDxThirdWard stage together. If you’re feeling brave, we might even hear a few talk ideas in the wild. PLEASE RSVP IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND. Option 1 Sunday, March 22, 2026 3:00–5:00 PM STUFF’d Wings (RSVP HERE) Owned by Semifinalist Jarrod De’Von Rector Option 2 Sunday, March 29, 2026 3:00–5:00 PM The Mood Room (RSVP Here) Owned by Semifinalist @Carlos Hernandez Come to whichever works best for you. If you plan to attend, please RSVP at the link below so we have a rough headcount. Looking forward to seeing some of you there. Also, there are still a few slots left for the $397 Virtual Speaker Lab

The applications are in, the reviews are done, and we are proud to announce our semifinalists for TEDx Third Ward Salon 2026. If your name is on this list, congratulations. Your idea stood out and you've earned your spot in the next round. [Semifinalist List Here] 📩 Already a semifinalist? Check your email including spam. We sent you a direct email with your next steps, including how to join the private semifinalist hub and your final submission deadline of April 3rd. If you don't see it, check your spam folder or message Durrel Douglas directly here on Skool. If you weren't chosen, we plan to have two other Salon opportunities this year before our next Main event. Not being chosen wasn't necessarily because of the strength of your submission, other factors like the quantity of similar submissions often plays a role. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. 🎙️ Want to walk into your final submission with confidence? We're running the Virtual Speaker Lab, a 3-day live intensive designed to help you flesh out the foundation of your big idea before the final round. March 16 – 18 • 6:00 – 7:30 PM CST each evening • $397 This is open to semifinalists and anyone serious about developing a talk worth putting on a stage. You'll get daily lessons, exercises, feedback from a TEDx curator, and peer practice sessions. 👉 [Register for the Virtual Speaker Lab] Questions? Message Durrell Douglas here on Skool or email [email protected]