Mexico City, August 30, 2023. Universidad Panamericanaheld the 7th edition of TEDx UP: Redefining the Future. It is precisely on the occasion of this event that we interviewed Juan Pablo Chávez Peniche, president of the Academic Student Group (GEA) TEDx UP..
What is TEDx UP?
With the purpose of sharing ideas worth spreading, TED created the TEDx program, where a license is granted to recreate an experience similar to that of the popular organization's conferences.
TEDx is a local event, organized independently by different entities. However, they all share the same style and authentic objective.
"My interest in TEDx UP originated from knowing the value of TED talks to global thinking," explains Juan Pablo Chavez. He further states, "Valuing our university's TEDx license, I consider it essential to maximize its impact."
The challenge of being an organizer
Running an event at the level required by TEDx is no easy task, as it involves such tasks as selecting speakers with valuable ideas to share and who are suited to the TEDx format, as well as attracting audiences and involving students and the university community.
Juan Pablo argues that a combination of vision, passion, strategic planning, communication skills, adaptability, effective time management, creativity and unwavering ethical commitment is essential for the success of the event.
"The key, however, is not individual mastery, but building a cohesive and complementary team," assures the TEDx UP president.
Have something to tell the world
Juan Pablo says that what TED looks for in a speaker is to find a person who "has something to tell the world. While that phrase encourages the idea that everyone can be a speaker, in practice that would be impossible. Therefore, out of 100 applications received this year for TEDx UP, only 11 were selected.
To do this, speakers go through two filters: "First they send a video telling their idea in one minute. The objective of this round is to identify whether the message has value and can influenceothers," says the Industrial Engineering and Innovation Management student.
The second phase is an interview where the electeds give a short talk. "We try to select topics balancing the interests of today's world as well as the general theme assigned in the interview," he says.
This is how people capable of captivating others, for five to 18 minutes, through stories that transmit value , are finally chosen. According to Juan Pablo, this event seeks to promote "critical thinking through new ideas and perspectives" in the university community.
It is also intended "(...) to inspire and motivate all those attending and involved in the organization of the event, as well as to encourage innovative ideas and achieve a community connection, since it is an event open to all," he reveals.
Driving leadership
As a student group, Juan Pablo believes that TEDx helps to promote university leadership, due to all that its members must do to carry out the event.
This is due, in the first place, to the commitment of the organization: "(...) we have the objective and the mission to make it go as well as possible, working as a team and following the guidelines required by the license," he says.
Second, it speaks of the group's autonomy and the obligation, at the same time, to report its plans and missions to the Smart Center. Smart CenterThis helps us to improve our decision making, problem analysis and organization".
And thirdly, he mentions that "all the members of the board of directors have gone through a period of personal improvement and development throughout our term of office".
Join TEDx UP!
During his time at the head of this GEA, Juan Pablo says: "I have learned the importance of properly managing the diversity of roles in the team and of valuing the great talent of our university community".
Likewise, he admits that as a member of TEDx UP, the most enriching experience was the day the Redefining the Future event was held. "It's amazing to see how capable a good team is and the results that come from running a good organization," he shares.
That's why he invites other students to be part of TEDx Universidad Panamericana: "It's more than a student group, it's a real-life simulation of business challenges, where each individual strives to improve, learns from their peers and strives to raise the standard of our annual event," he assures.
