One of the gifts we’re sending to each of our cohort 2 finalists at TEDxThirdWard: Hand-Drawn illustrations of their headshots. If you’re in the greater houston area and would like this live, in-person service for a wedding, convention, or another event, inbox and I can make the connect.

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?

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.

Before we move to the next phase, here’s something I want everyone in the TEDxThirdWard community to know, especially those who have been part of our first-ever Speaker Bootcamp. I’m proud of what’s being built here. This community has shown up with curiosity, courage, and commitment to big ideas. The Bootcamp was just one part of that journey, and it’s already producing results that make me excited about what’s ahead. For perspective, more than 600 people applied to speak at TEDxThirdWard, and 150 made it to the semifinal round. That means these Bootcamp members are already part of the top 25% of applicants. Out of that group, a select few will take the stage for the main event on January 10, 2026. Since becoming a TEDx curator, I can’t tell you how many people I meet who say they have always wanted to give a TED or TEDx talk. They pull me aside and tell me about the idea they have been sitting on. But most of them have never actually applied, let alone made it this far. This milestone is huge. It shows what is possible when you take your big idea seriously, no matter where you are in the process. And here’s the bigger picture. TEDx is not a one-time opportunity. There will be three additional TEDxThirdWard events in 2026, our Salons in April, July, and October, each smaller in size but equally polished, produced, and shared with the world. Also remember that TEDx is a global community. There are independently organized events in cities and countries all over the world. If your goal is to stand on that red dot, think beyond your city. Apply broadly, stay persistent, and keep refining your idea. Sometimes the opportunity that is meant for you is waiting in a place you have not looked yet. A great TED talk is not just a big idea. It is a clear, well-crafted message that connects with people and stays with them long after they have heard it. One of the best ways to sharpen your message is to talk about it. Share your idea with people around you. Not necessarily to take their critique, but because there is something powerful about explaining what you care about to someone you know. It helps you hear it differently and clarify it for yourself.

❤️‍🔥When you lead with your heart, you don’t just connect, you leave a lasting imprint that no title or talent could ever match. 👀For years, I looked at my mentor in awe, he was charismatic, funny, magnetic. 😔 I told myself, “I’ll never be like that.” 💬 When I tried to imitate him, it just didn’t feel right, it was awkward and unnatural. 💡 But after some deep reflection, I realized something powerful: people always told me they could feel my sincerity. ❤️ They felt my heart and that’s when it clicked. That was my secret weapon. 🙌 I didn’t need to outshine anyone; I just needed to show up with authenticity, vulnerability, and care. 🌟 I may always be a second-class someone else, but I’ll be a first-class me, and that’s enough. 🔥 You can’t go wrong when you show your heart. Sure, you might get hurt, but that’s part of living fully. 💫 The truth is, a warm heart will open more doors than a polished pitch ever could. Your thoughts? 👇🏻