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2025 Lineup

Meet our 2025 speakers and performers!

Abe Powell

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John Abraham Powell (Abe), graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1987 and attended Vassar College, graduating in 1993 with a BA in Philosophy. He worked at Skate One Corporation until 2000 when he founded Solforce, a solar energy company, which he ran for 17 years.On January 28th, 2018 Abe, his wife Jessica Powell, PhD and three friends co-founded the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade to coordinate a community response to the debris flow of January 9th. Abe currently serves as the Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade.Abe’s expertise is organizing and leading the community's response to climate change and natural disasters. With decades of experience in organizing, community leadership, first response policy, environmental protection advocacy, alternative energy systems design and construction, and spontaneous volunteer deployment Abe focuses his time and energy building the Community Resilience Engine in Santa Barbara County.

John Abraham Powell (Abe), graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1987 and attended Vassar College, graduating in 1993 with a BA in Philosophy. He worked at Skate One Corporation until 2000 when he founded Solforce, a solar energy company, which he ran for 17 years. On January 28th, 2018 Abe, his wife Jessica Powell, PhD and three friends co-founded the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade to coordinate a community response to the debris flow of January 9th. Abe currently serves as the Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade. Abe’s expertise is organizing and leading the community's response to climate change and natural disasters. With decades of experience in organizing, community leadership, first response policy, environmental protection advocacy, alternative energy systems design and construction, and spontaneous volunteer deployment Abe focuses his time and energy building the Community Resilience Engine in Santa Barbara County.
 

Ada Green

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Ada Green is a senior at Laguna Blanca. Ada fell in love with acting at the age of seven, and has been in dozens of productions since. She is a sixth-year company member with Lights Up! Theatre Company and has been in every upper-school theatre production during her time at Laguna. Last summer, she attended the National High School Institute at Northwestern University for five weeks where she studied theatre arts with Chicago theatre professionals. Ada is also an avid creative writer and enjoys reading and writing poetry, plays, and journalism. Someday she hopes to publish her working novel. Ada has found acting and creative writing to be invaluable creative outlets for discovering herself and vulnerability.

Alana Tillim

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Cara Ferrick

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Head in Alana Tillim is an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and business coach. She has owned Santa Barbara Dance Arts for almost three decades and is the founder of mother-daughter empowerment brand, I am Her. She is Me. She has spent the last eighteen years as a founder and leader of nonprofits that have helped those from underserved communities find healing, confidence, and community through dance. Her latest venture Move With Purpose provides scholarships along with career mentorship and an inclusive dance company. Alana’s businesses share a culture where people learn to love themselves from inside and out while pursuing their passion.   She believes that we can learn so much from sharing lived experiences and listening to our younger self. She has encouraged and inspired thousands of entrepreneurs and young women to help them find a sense of purpose, and  balance in their life and leadership journey.   

Cara Ferrick is known for her warm and compassionate teaching style and encourages everyone she meets to embrace who they are and take small steps toward big dreams. Whether she’s mentoring her team, leading a retreat, or teaching a yoga class, Cara shows that leadership isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being present, kind, and willing to grow. As a mom, mentor, and leader, Cara believes in the power of community and the importance of self-care. She inspires her team to trust their instincts, follow their passions, and create a life that feels authentic and fulfilling. Her message to you: “You are stronger than you were yesterday!”At her core, she is dedicated to inspiring others to connect more deeply with themselves and their own healing path.Cara Ferrick is the co-owner and Director of Operations at CorePower Yoga Central Coast, where she leads a team of over 250 employees with heart and purpose. With 18+ years of experience in yoga, meditation, and leading women’s retreats, Cara has dedicated her life to helping others find strength and peace within themselves. As a certified Reiki Master and Breathwork Facilitator, she uses her skills to create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and inspired.

Chris Gocong

Elisabeth Robilio

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Chris Gocong is a visual artist passionate about capturing emotion through portraiture, figurative art, and abstraction. His work is deeply inspired by the shared human experience, focusing on the commonality of emotion and consciousness. Chris grew up in Carpinteria, California and later attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on a football scholarship, where he studied Biomedical Engineering. A standout athlete, he holds the FCS Division career sack record (42.5) and single-season sack record (23.5). In 2005, he was honored as the 1-AA Defensive Player of the Year, receiving the prestigious Buck Buchanan Award.In 2006, Gocong was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, where he transitioned from defensive end to linebacker and became a key defensive contributor. Over a seven-year NFL career with the Eagles (2006–2010) and Cleveland Browns (2010–2012), he earned a reputation for his physicality and tenacity. His NFL career was cut short with an Achilles injury in 2013. Chris was inducted into Cal Poly’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022 and the SBART Hall of Fame in 2016. After retiring from football, Chris turned his focus toward art and became a public advocate for brain health and mental wellness. Through his art and philanthropic efforts centered on youth development and education, Chris motivates others by sharing his story of resilience and adaptability. Chris lives in Santa Barbara with his wife and two daughters.

Elisabeth Robilio is a junior at Laguna Blanca School and a passionate ballet dancer. She has been dancing for 13 years, beginning her training at Pacific Northwest Ballet and now dancing with Santa Barbara Festival Ballet. Her most recent performance was Santa Barbara Festival Ballet’s 49th Annual Nutcracker at the Arlington, which she had the honor of participating in as Clara. Elisabeth trains under the Cecchetti method of ballet and is currently preparing for her Cecchetti Level 8 exam. Being such an integral part of her life, dance has affected nearly every aspect of her life and how she approaches learning; it has taught her discipline and the importance of expression. From the physicality to the music to the choreography, ballet has inspired Elisabeth to no end, and she hopes she can share some of that with you today.

James Chavez

Jim Sterne

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James is an entrepreneur and thought leader inspired by history’s boldest pioneers and innovators. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, he transitioned from a career in corporate environments to co-founding ventures across industries, including consumer packaged goods and biomedical, where he gained hands-on experience in launching and scaling businesses. These experiences deepened his understanding of the diverse challenges faced by startups and emerging companies. Today, as Co-Founder of Cabrillo Club, he channels this expertise into helping founders and businesses navigate critical growth stages, offering guidance on operational process improvement, fundraising, and governance. He explores mental models—dynamic tools for understanding and solving complex challenges—to unlock human potential. Guided by a love for groundbreaking ideas and thoughtful exploration, he draws on game theory, psychology, and history to reimagine boundaries and inspire transformative progress.

 

 

 

JJ Mcleod

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JJ McLeod, founder of Autism Embrace, is a dedicated autism advocate with over 15 years of experience creating inclusive programs, championing disability rights, and building vital resources that empower families with real support and impactful stories. As the current Education Director for the Santa Barbara Zoo, JJ has led inclusion initiatives, earning her recognition as one of Pacific Business Times' Top 40 Professionals in 2020. Honored specifically for her work advancing inclusion at the zoo, JJ brings both professional expertise and a unique, personal perspective—she’s both an autism professional and a parent navigating this journey with her own child.

A certified Autism Specialist, Education Director, and PhD student, JJ proudly calls “mom of three” her most valued role. Her work is driven by a vision to empower communities and create lasting change. JJ’s commitment is clear: to build a world where every family feels seen, supported, and ready to thrive. For JJ, inclusion is more than a mission; it’s a commitment to making sure no one journeys alone.

 

 

Jim Sterne has spent more than 35 years selling and marketing technical products. He began his career helping people understand Visicalc at a time when “personal computer” was an oxymoron. He sold business computers to companies that had never owned one in the 1980s, consulted and keynoted about online marketing in the 1990’s, and founded a conference and a professional association around digital analytics in the 2000’s. He is currently focused on the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to marketing.

 

 

Laura D'asaro

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Laura is the co-founder of Chirps, a company making food with insects as a more sustainable protein source. She helped pioneer the edible insect industry in the US, bringing Chirps into over 1500 stores nationwide. A Shark Tank winner and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Laura also holds multiple world records, including the Fastest Time to Crawl One Mile and the Largest Nachos—made, of course, with bugs.

 

 

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​Oneda Castillo

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Shaun Tomson

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Oneda joined the LPGA in 1997 to grow the game of golf and has since made remarkable contributions as a National Evaluator, Global Instructor, Leadership Academy Instructor, and LPGA*USGA Girls Golf site director. She has also served as Director of Golf for the Women in Golf Foundation, empowering youth and women for over 25 years. Oneda established an Adaptive Golf site in 2018 for people with disabilities and contributes to programs like The First Tee and PGA Hope for veterans.

In 2023, she earned her Master LPGA teaching certification, becoming only the second Black woman to achieve this honor. Recognized as a Top-50 Best Teacher since 2017 by the Women’s Golf Journal and the LPGA, her accolades include the Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama (2015) and induction into the African American Golfers Hall of Fame.

Oneda has hosted events at stunning golf destinations, including the 2023 Solheim Cup in Spain, and looks forward to the 2026 Solheim Cup in the Netherlands. Completing her goal of playing golf in all 50 states in 2018, she has also played on four continents and invites others to join her in continuing the global journey.

 

 

Shaun Tomson is a world-champion surfer, best-selling author, and leadership expert with over 20 years of keynote speaking experience. He developed the Code Method, a transformative framework that empowers individuals and teams to build resilience, foster engagement, and lead with purpose. Shaun has inspired organizations like Google, Disney, and General Motors through his authentic storytelling and actionable strategies. As an entrepreneur, he founded two global brands and authored three best-selling books, including The Code: The Power of "I Will." Shaun holds a Master of Science in Leadership and is dedicated to helping others achieve meaningful growth and lasting success.

 

Tom Kenney

Victor Rios

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Tom is an investment professional who has held leadership roles for several financial service companies, including being a Partner at Goldman Sachs, where his team was responsible for overseeing $650 billion in assets, and as an Executive Vice President for Franklin Resources, where his team managed over $50 billion in assets. Tom was fortunate enough to be able to “retire” at 48 years old and explore new opportunities for the next chapter of his life. He is currently a Board member and Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee for Aflac Insurance and Chair of the Board of the TIAA/Nuveen Mutual Fund Group. He also served in leadership roles on the boards of several non-profits here in town, which has been a rewarding way to give back to the community.  Tom is an active investor and has invested in and served on the board of a few private companies here in Santa Barbara.  He owns two successful real estate businesses. Tom loves spending time with his family, snow skiing, playing tennis, helping others, and solving problems.  He enjoys seeking new challenges.  And, he is a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair after a car accident while attending UC Santa Barbara 41 years ago. Tom’s defining attitude about life centers around how you deal with problems in life, big or small. 

Dr. Victor Rios is a MacArthur Foundation Professor at UC Santa Barbara and author of nine books on education. Known for his research on youth resilience and teacher motivation, he has advised local and national education and policy leaders, including the Obama Administration. Dr. Rios channels his journey from high school dropout to Berkeley Ph.D. into developing tools that help educators inspire marginalized students to succeed.  In his free time, he enjoys restoring old cars, training his “chihuahua” Korra, and spending time at the beach with his wife and three kids, where they attempt handstands and often end up with a mouthful of sand.

Shaylee Larson

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Robin Nabi

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Shaylee Larson is a Ph.D. candidate in Biological Engineering at UCSB, where she researches Electrochemical Aptamer-Based Biosensors and the adaptation of aptamer dynamics. She is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow and is supported by a T32 Grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Shaylee holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Utah, where she focused on developing non-invasive diagnostic methods for tuberculosis and advancing engineering education. In addition to her research, Shaylee teaches the course "Making Bio-Sense" as part of the Summer Research Academies at UCSB. She also mentors students and brings science education to underfunded schools in Santa Barbara through the Center for Science and Engineering Partnerships. Outside of academia, Shaylee is a certified yoga instructor, leading classes at CorePower. She is also an avid trail runner, enjoys the outdoors, loves live music, and cherishes time with her two cats.

Robin Nabi, PhD, is a Professor of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara. With degrees from Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania, she has published over 100 journal articles and book chapters, along with 2 edited books, investigating the emotional effects of media use on critical outcomes, such as healthy decision-making, coping, and well-being. Her work has been featured in a variety of outlets, including the New York Times, USA Today, and NPR, and her most recent research focuses on how media content selection can help reduce stress and build empathy. She’s the mom of a 9th grade girl, who serves as a constant reminder of how important it is to understand the impact of our current media environment on young people today. When not teaching, writing, sitting through endless meetings, or desperately trying to keep up with email, Robin enjoys doing nothing. Just joking! She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, volunteering in various educational settings, and (of course) watching her favorite TV shows.

This independent TEDx event is operated under license from TED. 

 

In the spirit of TED, the TEDx program was created to give communities the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at their local level. Hosted on our very own upper school campus, this annual event is produced entirely by a team of 9-12th grade students.

 

Learn more about TEDx.

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