Today we are planting the seeds for a better tomorrow.

We know that women don’t become successful alone. They need the support of other women in their lives who will recognize and nurture female talent. San Jose and the greater Bay Area is host to a number of women’s leadership organizations whose missions are to support, educate and inspire the women in our community.

We would like to recognize the following groups for their support of the TEDxSanJoseCA community and participation at our event.

Susan Fonseca
On the Forefront of the Frontier – Are We There Yet?

As founding architect of Singularity University and as founder/CEO of Women@TheFrontier, Susan works to create a dynamic forum highlighting female game-changers from around the globe that are leveraging exponential technologies, designing innovative platforms and creating positive social impact.

An anthropologist and lawyer with international experience primarily in Central America, Susan was raised in Honduras by Peace Corps parents. She is passionate about igniting a global 10^9+ mindset and activating and empowering today’s female catalysts.  view her talk>>

Jack Andraka
My 3 Cents 0n Cancer

Jack is a fifteen year old freshman in high school. He developed a paper sensor that could detect pancreatic, ovarian and lung cancer in five minutes for as little as 3 cents. He conducted his research at John Hopkins University. This research could change the face of cancer and promote early detection. He has been selected as the Intel 2012 ISEF winner and has won awards at multiple national and international math competitions. Jack is on the national junior wildwater kayaking team and enjoys playing with his dog and folding origami. view his talk>>

Adam Steltzner
Mars: Been There, Done That

Adam, also know as Mr. Mars, is a NASA engineer leading the Entry, Descent and Landing team for the Mars Rover, Curiosity. After a brief career in rock and roll, Adam graduated from CalTech and promptly joined the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab where his eyes have been focused on Mars ever since. Adam has the insiders view of one of the most amazing space explorations feats in the history of humankind. view his talk>>

Super Awesome Sylvia
Let’s Make Stuff Fun!
Super-Awesome Sylvia had been making and tinkering with things since she was 7, but it wasn’t until she attended a Maker Faire that she was inspired to create “Sylvia’s Super-Awesome Maker Show,” a web show “on everything cool and worth making.” One million views later, Super-Awesome Sylvia continues to win rave reviews from kids and adults alike. In each episode, 11-year-old Sylvia helps viewers discover that making things can be fun, easy and more rewarding than buying them. view her talk>>

Megan Keely
Your Life Needs More Lyrics

American Singer, Songwriter, co-composer of Rules, one of the songs featured on the soundtrack for the blockbuster movie, The Hunger Games. Megan’s style is an eclectic range of folk, blues and jazz while sounding approachable and new.

Although she grew up in a musical family, Megan was not always a performer. Family vacations centered around her father’s touring psychedelic rock band. Her academic studies took her on a voyage to study landscape architecture. While she is working for a Landscape Architecture Firm, Megan has realized how much she loves singing and performing beyond the confines of her shower. Her deliciously intimate debut album, Acorn Collections also features her brother Brandon Keely, her father Bert Keely and friends from her musical community. view her talk>>

Leadership Through Humility:  How my own readiness to learn is the key to influencing and inspiring others. view her talk>>

Traci Des Jardins
My Secret Ingredient, People
Traci was born to parents of Mexican and French Acadian decent in a small rural community in the agriculturally rich Central Valley of California. Her family’s passion for food undoubtedly influenced her pursuit of a career as a chef. Dropping out of college at the age of 17, Traci quickly found herself thoroughly immersed in a very intense French kitchen in Los Angeles, leading to her informal training in the cutting edge food scene. Over the subsequent years she worked in top kitchens in France, New York and Los Angeles to hone her cooking skills and two decades ago Traci settled back in Northern California to pursue the dream of owning her own restaurant.

As an executive chef she quickly rose in the ranks and became one of the top female chefs in the country garnering many accolades for the restaurants she opened. Traci has adapted to the current day demands of chefs and not only rules over the kitchen, but also has appeared on Iron Chef America beating Mario Batali, and was a finalist on Top Chef Masters season 3. She currently operates five restaurants, is a devoted mother of a 12-year old son and is active in many philanthropic organizations. In her spare time she spends as much time as possible on the ski slopes in the winter and travels whenever and to wherever she can. view her talk>>

Dana is a proud ambassador for the American Heart Association. Due to Dana’s experience with a heart condition as a child, she is proud to support AHA in their mission to educate women about heart disease. view her talk>>