What does it take to keep going when your world falls apart? Kevin shares how showing up, asking for help, and embracing perseverance can help us rebuild hope, love, and joy—even in the darkest moments. For nearly three decades, Kevin Kay has proven to have the Midas touch. During his long tenure at media-giant Viacom, he was responsible for creating and developing award-winning, cultural-driving, distinctive global franchises that entertained millions and added billions in revenue to Viacom’s balance sheet.Kay’s wealth of experience as a media executive includes leading Nickelodeon Development and Production with content that solidified Nickelodeon as the #1 kids network, overseeing the launch and extraordinary growth of Spike TV as President, and ultimately, serving as President of Paramount Network, TV Land and CMT. Among the enduring franchises for Viacom he shepherded include “Yellowstone” “The UFC”, “Lip Sync Battle” and “SpongeBob SquarePants.” These franchises were not only mega hits on television, but created licensing and merchandising gold.As President of Paramount Network, TV Land and CMT Kay led the day-to-day management of the overall growth strategy and creative direction for all three business units directly reporting to the CEO of Viacom. Combining his passion for great storytelling and music with an emphasis on creativity, Kay directed all aspects of original programming and specials, marketing/creative, research, scheduling, digital/social, corporate communications, music strategy and collaboration with ad sales and affiliate relations executives and branded content teams. He led the charge on Paramount Network’s launch in January 2018, featuring premium original scripted and non-scripted programming, while guiding the success of TV Land and CMT; both of which enjoyed unprecedented ratings and revenue growth throughout his tenure.Prior to the rebranding of Paramount Network, Kay’s accomplishments as President of Spike included successfully shifting the network’s focus to target a more gender-balanced audience with brand-defining original hit series which resulted in dramatic revenue growth for Viacom building distribution to 98 million homes at its peak. Most notably, this includes the five-time Emmy-nominated and critically-acclaimed multi-platform mega-hit series, “Lip Sync Battle,” hosted by LL COOL J and Chrissy Teigen.In the sports arena, Kay was responsible for bringing the UFC to Spike and was named in USA Today’s list of “Most Powerful Men in Mixed Martial Arts,” overseeing the development and production of the fastest rising sports franchise on television. Kay developed and green lit the hit series “The Ultimate Fighter” which lasted 14 seasons on Spike and helped to propel the UFC into a 4.2 billion dollar sale.
Before joining Spike in 2003, Kay served as Executive Vice President, Production and Original Series Development for Nickelodeon, Nick At Nite and TV Land. He was responsible for Nickelodeon’s program development and current series production activities. He oversaw the development of many Nickelodeon franchise hits, including the animated smash hit “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “The Fairly OddParents” as well as “All That” and “Kenan and Kel.”Not one to rest in transition, Kay launched DJKay Entertainment, a full-service multi-platform production company focused on scripted and non-fiction programming.
Recent series include Nickelodeon’s “All That”, “Warped” and “Weed Rescue” as well as the documentaries “Comedy Against the Odds” and “Virtual Insanity.” This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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- 14:23Your Face Isn’t the Problem | Dr. Sapnna Vaderra | TEDxNerulWe’ve been told our faces are the problem. That beauty is a checklist of features—big eyes, sharp jawlines, smooth skin. But what if the issue isn’t your face at all… it’s the standard you’ve been compared to? "Dr. Sapnna Vaderra is a globally recognized Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (specialized in Facial Aesthetics and Cosmetic Surgery) and researcher known for pioneering ethnicity-specific aesthetic protocols. She leads a clinic, an academy, and a non-profit—all centered around one bold belief: that you don’t have to change who you are to feel beautiful. She is the Director of Stellar Aesthetics and co-founder of SIACE, a premier academy that has trained 1000s of doctors from across the Global South — including India, Africa, and the Middle East — in safe, science-backed, and culturally-specific aesthetic medicine. Her pioneering research has redefined how rejuvenation, volume restoration, and facial harmony are approached for ethnic morphotypes, particularly the Asian Indian face. Dr. Vaderra is a bold voice for redefining beauty through the lens of identity. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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