The Summer Bonus of TED-Ed Talks - When Gen Z Speakers Connect with Epic Être Mentors

All photos by Erin Borzellino

Who wants to share their TED-Ed talk title this season, I usually ask at the start of each summer, and it's one of my favorite meetings of the year.

From the array of topics to the wide swath of U.S. states and global countries represented, the profound creativity and diversity of thought we hear knocks my socks off every time. Six years into Être's TED-Ed licensed series and I am just as excited to hear the answers at the meeting we will hold tonight.

In fact, my joy jumps up a level at the thought because at tonight's TED-Ed meeting we will also start talking about the element that makes Être's partnership with TED-Ed so special - connecting each speaker with a mentor she was meant to meet.

And the mentors are epic.

For example, last year nine-year-old Anastasia Patoka-Smith (pictured above speaking about the power of her hair) connected with the CMO of isima on behalf of - wait for it - music legend Shakira.

Eleven-year-old Magnolia Baum-Wilson met with Bubble founder and CEO Shai Eisenman to learn how start-ups actually start.

Fifteen-year-old Rhea Shah gleaned gender pay gap wisdom from The Nobel Prize winner Claudia Goldin (note: this was the second Nobel Laureate to advise an Être TED-Ed talk).

Seventeen-year-old Hadley Horton, writing about grief, was mentored by Sheryl Sandberg, and

Eighteen-year-old My Anh Pham was matched with LoveShackFancy President Stacy Lilien as her talk showcased the pop-up app she created.

There were so many more, and the audience was left rapt and then roaring their applause as each speaker thanked her mentor onstage.

What are some of the summer 2026 topics that will be discussed at tonight's meeting as mentor connections begin? Emails and DMs coming in include snippets like:

I'm writing my TED-Ed talk on choosing courage over comfort.

My talk is about why great minds never think alike.

Intergenerational empathy...ethics in AI...how civic engagement boosts confidence...lessons immigrants learn early...balancing STEM and being recruited for sports...why older siblings become obvious leaders...the ultimate power of reading and storytelling...the intersection of art, music and humanity...the importance of small businesses...overcoming mental blocks as athletes...comparison and it's effect on joy...cybersecurity in healthcare...the art of being extra.

The list goes on - as does my awe.

With 100+ speakers this year, our class is nearly double the size of last year. That means TED-Ed mentor outreach - which begins this week - is more important than ever.

When speakers ages eight to eighteen take so much care selecting topics, researching and writing, matching them with exactly the right mentor means everything.

Who are we looking for as mentors this year? Experts. Execs. Founders. Thought leaders and rockstars. Women leading in their fields, running the show in their boardrooms, accepting awards and clearing the way so the next gen can learn from the paths they have paved.

What does it take to mentor a TED-Ed talk? Trust me when I tell you it's the lightest lift ever. Since the talks are short and must center around the student's experience and research, the mentor's input is quick (one short zoom or 3 questions sent by email) and easy, yet the impact on the young speaker is enormous.

Why? Because that girl knows that a leader at the top of her game took a few moments to review her questions and send back answers that enrich and add gravitas to her talk. That girl recognizes that her topic choice is worthwhile and that when she references her mentor at the TED-Ed mic everyone else will know it too.

Imagine what that would have felt like in middle school, high school or at the start of college?

It takes courage for speakers to share their ideas on the TED-Ed stage. It takes only a few moments for a mentor's encouragement or shared anecdote to bolster her bravery.

In the coming weeks you may get an email or DM from me asking to match you with an Être TED-Ed Season 6 speaker. Even better, you might read this and offer your time or suggest a colleague who'd be perfect for a particular topic.

My request at the start of the week - please consider joining us. I promise, the experience and your speaker will make you proud.

Looking forward with gratitude,

Illana

ÊXTRAS: Three more ways you can participate in Season 6 of Être TED-Ed you won't want to miss: watch last year's live and virtual shows to be stunned by the full speaker set, review last year's program to get a sense of more topics and titles, and DM me here to suggest any other ways you or your company might like to join the fun! We love hearing new TED-Ed partner ideas!