Assistant Professor of Marketing

Breanne A. Mertz, DBA is a marketing professor, researcher, and entrepreneur passionate about helping people live and work with greater well-being and purpose. She serves as an Assistant Professor of Marketing at The University of Tampa. In her TEDx talk, Breanne reveals how social media quietly steals years of our lives and how small intentional choices can help us reclaim our time, attention, and purpose. Connect on LinkedIn —

Escaping the Digital Riptide

Area Coordinator, Life Coach, Educator

Jessica Dueñas is a mother, writer, life coach, and Residence Life professional at the University of Tampa. Jessica was previously a classroom teacher and was named the 2019 Kentucky State Teacher of the Year and recognized as a Kentucky Colonel in 2021 for her leadership in addiction awareness and mental health advocacy. Jessica’s talk explores the emotional cost of chasing external success and the freedom that comes from redefining worth on your own terms. She invites audiences to question the pressures to prove themselves and imagine a life built on alignment, not performance. Connect on LinkedIn —

What’s Success Without Self-Worth?

Licensed and Registered Dietitian

Kait Richardson RDN, LD is a Licensed and Registered Dietitian, author, and mom on a mission to redefine the conversation around nutrition and self-worth. As in her talks, Kait challenges society’s obsession with willpower and perfection when it comes to food. She encourages people to trust their hunger cues and nourish themselves without guilt, fostering a more fulfilling and balanced life. Connect on LinkedIn —

You Can’t Live a Full Life on an Empty Stomach

Senior Product Marketing Manager

Jasmine Jenkins is a seasoned marketer with over a decade of experience helping technology and SaaS companies connect with their audiences in meaningful ways. Outside of work, Jasmine’s proudest role is being wife and mom. In her talk, she shares her personal journey through motherhood – shedding light on the silent pressures moms face, challenging outdated norms, and encouraging support without judgment. Her message is simple yet powerful: every mother is enough, just as she is. Connect on LinkedIn —

Redefining the Supermom

Associate Professor of Economics

Abigail Hall Blanco is an Associate Professor in Economics at the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida. She is a Senior affiliated scholar with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and a Senior Fellow with the Independent Institute in Oakland, California. Dr. Hall is deeply engaged in bringing economics to life both inside and outside the classroom. In her talk, Abby discusses the importance of navigating tough conversations around divisive topics like pornography, the death penalty, and abortion with confidence and curiosity. Connect on LinkedIn —

Rethinking the Taboo

Store Manager, Resilience & Emotional Well-being Advocate

Arbaina Kawilan is a store manager based in Texas. She began her career in the Mayor’s Office in the Philippines before transitioning to nonprofit work and later moving to the United States. Her TEDx talk builds on the mission of showing that safety isn’t always about locks or alarms — it’s about cultivating inner strength and clarity. Her journey demonstrates how lived experience can serve as a framework for growth, resilience, and quiet power. Connect on LinkedIn —

Safety Is an Inside Job

Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Lymphedema Therapist

Emilie Robinson, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA, is a licensed physical therapist, certified lymphedema therapist through the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA), and a certified Pilates instructor. In her talk, Emilie invites us to reimagine end-of-life care. With older adults soon to outnumber children in the U.S., she urges us to plan ahead, share our wishes, and build supportive networks with loved ones, healthcare professionals, and death doulas, ensuring that life’s final chapter is met with dignity and humanity. Connect on LinkedIn —

Rethinking Care at Life’s End

Men's Coach, Writer, Speaker, and Aspiring Non-Profit Leader, Veteran

Alexander Lange, a father, writer, men’s coach, and Navy veteran. After the loss of his son Liam, his daughter’s brain tumor diagnosis, and his own, he discovered that pain, while universal, can be transformed into purpose. His talk, rooted in his son Liam’s legacy, speaks to those who suffer silently or question their worth in adversity. Alex delivers a message of reimagining the pain as it is not something to escape, but a sacred invitation to live more fully, love more deeply, and lead with authenticity. Connect on LinkedIn —

Growing Through Grief

Chief Operating Officer

Daniel H. Cuneo is a lawyer, leader, and Chief Operating Officer serving clients across Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, and Texas for the company in the Inc. 5000’s list of America’s fastest growing companies. Dan’s talk, challenges the traditional metrics of success by showing how investing in people drives growth, resilience, and lasting impact. Through his own journey and the lessons he’s learned leading high-performing teams, he invites audiences to rethink leadership and reimagine what true success looks like. Connect on LinkedIn —

Why People Matter More Than Profits