Call for Speakers

TEDxPhnomPenh Speaker Application

Ideas worth spreading.

Click here to nominate a TEDxPhnomPenh speaker.

After two successful events in 2011, TEDxPhnomPenh is returning in June 2012 with the theme, “Aspirations. Inspirations. Generations.” We are now accepting applications to speak; please read over the guidelines below.

TEDxPhnomPenh brings together a global mix of today’s established pioneers and emerging innovators in the business, entertainment, art, design, and development communities.

Speaker Selection

Speakers will be selected by the speaker selection committee, which is comprised of prominent members of the Cambodian community, both Khmer and foreign-born.

Speaker applicants will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

-       What is the applicant’s “idea worth spreading”?

-       How does this idea relate to the event’s theme? “Inspirations. Aspirations. Generations.”

-       How is the idea relevant to Cambodia?

-       What about the applicant’s story or perspective makes them particularly well suited to talk on this idea?

-       Would the applicant be inspiring? Engaging? Interesting?

 

The TED Commandments (see TEDx.com for more information)

  1. Dream big. Strive to create the best talk you have ever given. Reveal something never seen before. Do something the audience will remember forever. Share an idea that could change the world.
  2. Show us the real you. Share your passions, your dreams … and also your fears. Be vulnerable. Speak of failure as well as success.
  3. Make the complex plain. Don’t try to dazzle intellectually. Don’t speak in abstractions. Explain! Give examples. Tell stories. Be specific.
  4. Connect with people’s emotions. Make us laugh! Make us cry!
  5. Don’t flaunt your ego. Don’t boast. It’s the surest way to switch everyone off.
  6. No selling from the stage! Unless we have specifically asked you to, do not talk about your company or organization. And don’t even think about pitching your products or services or asking for funding from stage.
  7. Feel free to comment on other speakers’ talks, to praise or to criticize. Controversy energizes! Enthusiastic endorsement is powerful!
  8. Don’t read your talk. Notes are fine. But if the choice is between reading or rambling, then read!
  9. End your talk on time. Doing otherwise is to steal time from the people that follow you. We won’t allow it. Each talk can be a maximum length of 18 minutes.
  10. Rehearse your talk in front of a trusted friend … for timing, for clarity, for impact.

The Process

Use the application form to introduce yourself to the speaker selection committee. We are just as interested in your “idea worth spreading” as we are in your ability to share it in an engaging, logical way. Make sure your application is coherent, clear, and concise.

Depending on the pool of applicants, we may request an interview with you either in person or via phone/Skype. We will notify you directly if you have been selected for an interview.

Applicants who are selected to speak at TEDxPhnomPenh will be notified in early April. Upon accepting the invitation to speak, each speaker will have the opportunity to be paired with a mentor from the speaker selection committee who will help to develop and practice his or her presentation.

Each speaker will be required to participate in a full TEDxPhnomPenh rehearsal the day before the event, and be present at TEDxPhnomPenh for the duration of the event in order to share their perspective on other talks and answer questions about their own.

 


The application form for interested speakers will be posted here shortly. E-mail info@tedxphnompenh.com with any questions.