My First TEDx Talk Just Went Live!

You Don't Have to be the CEO to be a Leader

Dear Changemakers,

March 17, Stockholm, Sweden.

I took a deep breath, peered out from behind the curtain and started walking to the red circle — a huge bullseye that even my temporary nerves couldn’t miss.

Now after four long months of waiting, I’m excited / nervous / delighted/ overwhelmed / all the feelings…to say that the talk *just* went live on YouTube, and I now get to share it with all of you!

⬆️ Click to watch!

I am so grateful to the amazing TEDxKI team for believing in me, supporting me, and for the opportunity to deliver a message I’ve been dreaming of sharing more widely for years now: that we can all become leaders through tiny acts of service.

What’s Inside?

In the talk, I introduce the concept of Microleadership, which breaks leadership down into its smallest unit: individual leadership moments.

I attempt to show that while leadership can often feel scary, microleadership is inclusive. It’s for all of us. The bravest act is to stand up and believe that you can be a leader.

To bring microleadership to life, and to show how each of us can practice it, I got to share the stories of four incredible changemakers who inspire me:

—Sedona Prince who stood up to the NCAA in a small but powerful way in fighting for equality.

—Sam McCracken who led with service from within Nike to provide new opportunities for indigenous communities like his own.

—18 year old Paige Hunter whose “notes of hope” that she leaves every week on Wearmouth Bridge in Sunderland, England have saved several lives.

—92 year old Virginia, my next-door neighbor in Stockholm, who took it upon herself to help me learn Swedish by checking out library books for me and sliding them under my door (I’m not too proud to admit they were definitely all from the kids’ section)!

How You Can Help

I’ll be honest, I haven’t actually brought myself to watch it yet! 🙈

But I’ve learned that a TED talk’s engagement in the first 24 hours makes all the difference with how widely its message spreads. So, I would be so, so grateful if you would:

1. Watch the video! Here’s the link again.

2. Like and comment on the video on YouTube. This is a perfect example of microleadership! A small action that can have really big impact, collectively.

3. Share the video link with friends, family, and connections via social media, email, and text!

4. Respond to this message and share your thoughts on the talk! Everything I do is to support changemakers like you, so I’d love to hear what resonated with you and what you think.

The message of microleadership is a radically inclusive one. Thank you for helping me spread the message to everyone who needs to hear it!

I’m grateful x1000 for all of your support, encouragement, and belief in writing and sharing this talk. THANK YOU.

All my best,

Alex