When Today's Top Leaders Mentor Gen Z TED-Ed Talks
All photos courtesy of Erin Borzellino
"Would an international rock star ever mentor my TED-Ed talk?"
"What about a Nobel Prize winner?"
"Do you think the CEO of that company we visited would be my mentor?"
"Could I ask a legendary leader even though she's such an icon?"
YES. The answer to each of these questions is a resounding YES.
Since the day I founded Être - a mentorship platform bringing girls into companies and face to face with female leaders - I've watched a new generation of thought leaders raise their voices to share big ideas.
In every boardroom we visited, game-changing suggestions and transformative thoughts bubbled up in conversations with execs and girls kept their hands in the air, ready to say more.
They needed, it dawned on me, a bigger stage to tell the world.
So, five years ago we became a licensed TED-Ed Club, uniting our global school communities across 7 countries and offering girls the chance to stand before giant TED-Ed letters and pick up a world-renowned mic.
The first three years of our TED-Ed series were virtual, and as girls faced COVID head-on they filmed their talks in classrooms and kitchens, on lawns and in laboratories. In 2024 we held our first live TED-Ed event welcoming 30 young speakers to New York City, and this year, on October 19th, we will double our TED-Ed roster with over 60 girls joining from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Guatemala, India, Pakistan and 15 states across the U.S.
What's happening right now as girls prep for this thrilling event? They are writing and editing, refining and rehearsing.
But what's our favorite part of summer TED-Ed prep?
Ohhhh...the mentors. Hands down, it's the mentor connections. Because part of what makes Être's TED-Ed program so special is that each speaker is paired with a woman leading in the field of her talk - offering the unparalleled opportunity to ask exactly the right question to exactly the right mentor at exactly the right time.
Who are some Être mentors from past TED-Ed seasons?
Think Nobel Laureate Jen Doudna, NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, PhD, Pro-Skydiver Melanie Curtis, ADHD scientist Dr Samantha Hiew, Chief People Officer and author Daisy Auger-Domínguez (she/her/ella), Hall of Fame athlete and podcast host Dr. Atoya Burleson, founder Sophie Beren and executives at companies like Hello Sunshine , The Jane Goodall Institute, Geena Davis Institute, Global Oceanic, Spotify and more.
Who is lined up to be a TED-Ed mentor this year?
While we can't announce specific names just yet, every one of the questions asked at the top of this article is a go (pinch me - our second Nobel Laureate and an international rock star)...plus startup founders we love, journalists we revere, authors we applaud and athletes we idolize.
New companies offering executive advice alongside returning favorites? We're already grateful to Bubble, Golden Globe Foundation, Lilly Pulitzer, LoveShackFancy, Petite Plume and Redwire Space, with more mentor brands signing on every day.
Why are these TED-Ed mentor moments so special?
Imagine being 11-year-old Maggie from New Jersey, giving your first TED-Ed talk about how startups actually start? Or 15-year-old Katelyn from California unpacking the role of AI in education? Put yourself in the shoes of 16-year-old Maria from Guatemala breaking down Gen Z leadership, 17-year-old Maryam from Pakistan proposing fresh solutions for clean water, or 18-year-old Laura from Brazil considering the impact of modern media on teen values?
Now imagine being told the mentor at the very top of your wish list said she'd answer your biggest questions.
These are magical moments - both for the speakers and the mentors - and they are happening right now behind the scenes. Want to offer your own mentor advice to a rising TED-Ed speaker? DM me here and let's chat! Want to involve your school in our 2026 TED-Ed season? Same DM - let's fill the stage with your students next year!
Whether in the boardroom of their favorite company or backstage at TED-Ed, today's girls have big ideas to share. Come join us on October 19th as we turn their microphones way up.
Looking forward,
Illana
ÊXTRAS: Three TED-Ed extras you won't want to miss: a full catalog of Être's TED-Ed talks, a link to our YouTube page to catch our TED-Ed Shorts, and a link to the form (scroll to the bottom) to sign up to be a 2026 Être TED-Ed speaker or mentor!
