Women’s health outcomes today reflect a troubling reality: maternal health outcomes are flagged as a national crisis; maternal health complications persist long after delivery; menopause is under-discussed despite its sweeping impact; and diseases like heart attacks and depression go undetected or misdiagnosed. These gaps are not merely clinical. They’re systemic.Women are the invisible majority in biomedical research. They’re present in numbers but absent in data. At the heart of the problem lies a research gap. For decades, biomedical studies have been leaving women underrepresented in trials and underserved in care. This oversight has led to misdiagnoses, ineffective treatments, and a healthcare system that often fails to meet women’s needs across their lifespan.Investing in women’s health isn’t just equitable. It’s transformative. It improves outcomes for all and strengthens public health. American poet William Ross Wallace coined the phrase “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” His words speak to the influence and impact that mothers have within their homes and on the health and wellbeing of their families. Women are the driving force in shaping future generations and sustaining strong families and communities. The invisible majority deserves visibility, and visionary care. Dr. Meenakshy Aiyer, MD, MACP, MHPE, serves as Regional Dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP). Under her leadership, UICOMP expanded Graduate Medical Education programs and strengthened collaboration to improve patient care across the region. The new Center for Health Research broadened the College’s mission by advancing research, outreach, and solutions to improve health equity and outcomes. UICOMP also launched a pathway program with Bradley University to mentor students with local ties who have an interest in medical school. Dr. Aiyer led the Peoria Healthcare Collaborative Initiative to address healthcare disparities in central Illinois. A trusted community leader, she has received the Athena International Woman of the Year Award from the Peoria Chamber of Commerce and the Woman to Woman Health Care/Wellness Award from the Women’s Fund of Central Illinois. 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

The strength of our nation does not rest on any single institution — but rather on a network of institutions that, together, uphold our highest ideals. There are two constants in the United States: the rule of law and the value of higher education. From my years of service in the judiciary, I can say with conviction that we had no lobbyists, no fundraisers, and no army – we only had our judgment. When the American people lose trust in that judgment, it opens the door for those who wish to tear down the institution itself. The same is true for higher education. When people lose trust in the value of higher education, it opens the door for those who wish to undermine it. Our mission as leaders in education remains more relevant than ever today. Our role in higher education is to shape leaders, nurture critical thinkers, and transform dreamers into doers. Let us explore how we can get there as a community. James E. Shadid is Bradley University’s 13th president. He served as a United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois, appointed to that position by U.S. President Barack Obama and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 7, 2011. Along the way, he ascended to chief judge during his federal stint on the bench. Prior to that, he was a state judge for 10 years, serving in the five-county 10th Judicial Circuit. After graduating from John Marshall Law School (now University of Illinois at Chicago School of Law) in 1983, he became an attorney in private practice in the Peoria area.As a 1979 Bradley graduate, Shadid has long given back to his alma mater, both as an adjunct professor and as a former university Trustee. 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

This talk is about navigating the transition from college to corporate, and having the confidence to eventually step away from corporate life to pursue your true purpose. Kayla Burke is a tech sales leader, entrepreneur, and founder of The Tech Level, an EdTech company that has helped hundreds of professionals—many from underserved backgrounds—break into high-paying careers in technology. With over eight years of experience driving $35M+ in SaaS sales at companies like Microsoft, IBM, and OneTrust, Kayla has built her career on turning belief into results. Her work blends cutting-edge sales strategy, workforce development, and empowerment, inspiring individuals to step beyond self-doubt and into purpose. Today, she uses her story and expertise to show others how belief, exposure, and action can transform both careers and lives. 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

In an age obsessed with AI tutors and online classrooms, are we forgetting the most human part of education—learning how to live together? Dominic Tomalin argues that boarding schools are not relics of the past, but blueprints for the future. They nurture empathy, resilience, independence, and deep teacher-student relationships that accelerate learning. By reclaiming wasted time and building communities of “serious fun,” boarding schools prepare young people not just for exams, but for life. Dominic Tomalin’s journey spans the army, business, and education — proving leadership has no single path. A former Captain in the British Army’s Corps of Royal Engineers, he went on to lead multinational projects before finding his true calling in education. Starting as a teacher of economics, business, mathematics, and physics, he rose to leadership as Vice Principal and later Principal at CATS Cambridge, UK. Today, he is the Founding Headmaster of Shrewsbury International School India in Bhopal, a pioneering 150-acre institution inspired by the holistic British model. Guided by his philosophy, Floreat, Dominic champions whole-person development through critical thinking, creativity, sportsmanship, and empathy. At Shrewsbury, he blends global standards with India’s cultural richness to nurture future-ready students. With his family as part of the school community, Dominic’s journey reflects that education is not just about careers, but about shaping lives and futures with purpose. 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

Ken Williams discovered that a simple slice of cake could spark extraordinary acts of kindness. He shares how listening to intuition, trusting inner nudges, and practicing intentional kindness can deepen human connection. Through the “Chocolate Cake Phenomenon,” he invites us to create a habit of generosity that transforms lives, one thoughtful act at a time. Ken Williams is a Career Clarity Coach, a Get Unstuck expert, and the creator of the Leader Success Accelerator. As someone who has felt trapped by the office politics of Corporate America and who realized that his dream would never be fulfilled by climbing the corporate ladder, he peeled away from the idea of the traditional career and created Ken Williams Coaching. Now, he teaches mid-career professionals who are stalled in their professional growth plan how to find clarity and direction as they identify and follow what truly lights them up.Ken is the author of several books on goal setting and business development, and he started a family tradition that is growing into a movement by giving away chocolate cakes every week--over 9,000 cakes so far! He's convinced that you, too, live and work on your own terms. 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

Award-winning media executive Kim Rittberg spent 20 years in TV, digital, and print, learning firsthand how fear can silently derail even the biggest ambitions. She shares lessons from her career and reveals how judgment, failure, and self-doubt often hold us back more than talent or time. With practical steps to crush fear and own your confidence, Kim shows how to finally move forward and achieve what you want. Kim Rittberg spent 15 years as a media executive at Netflix, PEOPLE Magazine, in TV News and launched the first-ever video unit for Us Weekly magazine and was integral in its $100 million sale. She’s a 6x-award-winning digital marketer and video expert. Kim has been featured in Business Insider and Forbes and contributes to Fast Company, is a speaker across the country including at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Convention, Inman Connect, Fast Company Innovation Festival and she guest lectures at Syracuse University. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Annenberg School. She also hosts the top 1% podcast The Exit Interview with Kim Rittberg and is a judge for the Emmys, Webbys and Anthem Awards. Kim’s podcast was spurred by her decision to quit corporate and launch her own business after working in the hospital while giving birth to her second child. 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