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As we gear up for this year’s TEDx event, marking the monumental 10th year of inspiring TEDx talks hosted on the MSU campus, we travel down memory lane, reconnecting with some of the brilliant minds who graced the stage in previous TEDxMSU conferences. We caught up with a couple of past speakers, the remarkable Marcia Williams and intelligent Brittany Garza.
MARCIA WILLIAMS
TEDxMSU: What was your experience like speaking at our TEDx conference?
MW: It was a dream come true. MSU gave me so many great opportunities! Coming back to campus for my TEDx talk was an honor because of the school's outstanding reputation in Supply Chain and the top quality of the other speakers. I also loved the complete experience: MSU, the TEDx team, students, loved it all!
TEDxMSU: In what ways has your TEDx talk been a transformative experience for you?
MW: I put myself out there, conquering the fear of my English accent to see that the audience did care about my message. I'm passionate about supply chain and I think I was able to convey that.
TEDxMSU: What impact has your TEDx talk had on your personal or professional life?
MW: I have had other speaking opportunities that I couldn't believe I received. The preparation for my TEDx talk was critical and gave me the confidence to hone in my speaking skills considering that I'm not a native English speaker. I know that if I prepare well, I can accomplish everything.
TEDxMSU: Have you noticed any changes in public perception or engagement with your work since your TEDx appearance?
MW: Absolutely! Sometimes I feel like I am a celebrity in Supply Chain.
TEDxMSU: Were there any memorable interactions or questions from the audience that stood out to you?
MW: In the first part of my talk, I asked for drumroll sound and the response was amazing. They also laughed about the story where I mentioned that I could look like Taylor Swift with the summer beauty kit. The audience was so engaging and supportive!
TEDxMSU: Can you share any significant accomplishments or developments in your work or personal life since your TEDx talk at MSU?
MW: I was in 3 top podcasts: 1. The Supply Chain Show 2. The Art of Procurement 3. IBF (Institute of Business Forecasting and Planning) on demand. I also published another book: Scaling Supply Chains with Maria.
TEDxMSU: How has your message or work evolved since you spoke at our event?
MW: In my TEDx talk, I explained the importance of supply chain and how critical synchronizing the different moving parts is. I am now focusing my work on synchronization in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP)/ Integrated Business Planning (IBP). More specifically, in the intersection between Finance and Supply Chain-turning operational plans into financial plans.
TEDxMSU: What advice would you give to future TEDx speakers based on your experience?
MW: Preparation is fundamental. There is a Spartan credo that Robin Sharma mentions frequently that I think is great advice: "sweat more in practice to bleed less in war."
TEDxMSU: What are your future goals or plans?
MW: I would like to write another book and develop online training materials on the connection between supply chain and finance.
BRITTANY GARZA
TEDxMSU: What was your experience like speaking at our TEDx conference?
BG: Speaking at the MSU TEDx conference was the experience of a lifetime! I have always dreamed of doing a TED Talk and I felt incredibly blessed that I had the opportunity as a 3rd year medical student. The amount of preparation required for TEDx was much more than I thought. The entire production team served as an amazing resource, for me, in getting every last word right. Finally, the cohort of speakers during my year will always be a special group. It’s great to see all the impressive things that the speakers are doing these days.
TEDxMSU: What impact has your TEDx talk had on your personal or professional life?
BG: Whenever I tell people that I have given a TEDx talk, they always ask for the link to take a look for themselves. Being a part of the TEDx community also gave me a way to connect with people from all over the country. TEDx is known all over the world and people also know what you mean when you say you have given a TEDx Talk. This has definitely enhanced my professional career.
TEDxMSU: Have you noticed any changes in public perception or engagement with your work since your TEDx appearance?
BG: I have noted more and more speaking opportunities offered to me since delivering my TEDx talk. People trust in your ability to prepare and speak in large settings if you have given a TEDx talk. I have presented at both state level and national level emergency medicine conferences, the MSU WILD Conference (Women’s Initiative in Leadership Development), and I have more talks planned for the future. With every opportunity comes improvement in my public speaking skills, but none of it would have been possible without my experiences with TEDx MSU.
TEDxMSU: Can you share any significant accomplishments or developments in your work or personal life since your TEDx talk?
BG: Since TEDx MSU, I have graduated medical school and I started emergency medicine residency at Central Michigan University in Saginaw, Michigan. I have also gotten married to the love of my life, Andrew. I am now Dr. Brittany Garza!
TEDxMSU: How has your message or work evolved since you spoke at our event?
BG: Since TEDx, I have remained steadfast in sharing my message and encouragement of STEMinism and women in medicine. I continue to share all my STEMinist content on my Instagram page, @MyMilesToMedicine. It makes me incredibly proud to see women having success in the medical field! My message in my TED talk will be one that I preach for the rest of my life.
TEDxMSU: What advice would you give to future TEDx speakers based on your experience?
BG: My best advice would be to never give up. I applied to TEDx more than once before finally getting accepted. Use that time between applications to improve your work and develop more interesting conversation points. Don’t use it as a setback, use it as an opportunity for improvement.
TEDxMSU: Have you embarked on any new projects or research that build on your TEDx talk?
BG: I have presented several times at the MSU WILD Conference (Women’s Initiative in Leadership Development). My talks have built off of my TEDx concept of “STEMinism: If You Can See Her, You Can Be Her.” At MSU WILD, I presented on women navigating the corporate ladder as well as the fertility issues and challenges of motherhood in medicine. I have also given a similar talk on a news station, The Mitt.tv, in my hometown of Romeo, Michigan.
TEDxMSU: In what ways has your TEDx talk been a transformative experience for you?
BG: TEDx has made me so much more confident in myself. If you would have told me that I would be giving a TED talk as a medical student, I would have told you that you were joking. I would have never thought I would have the skills and confidence to do a TED talk. Now that I have done one, I know that there isn’t anything that I can’t accomplish. This has been an empowering experience unlike any other!
TEDxMSU: What are your future goals or plans in relation to the themes you discussed in your TEDx talk?
BG: I plan to complete my emergency medicine residency education and plan on starting a family with my husband. With these changes, I plan on doing another TEDx talk to discuss my personal experiences as a mother in medicine. It was great giving my previous TED talk while I was in medical school and this next concept would be great to present while being a new mother.
