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What I Learned from My TEDx Pitch (So You Don’t Have To)
Lessons from the stage I didn’t make — yet.
I pitched my idea for a TEDx talk. They invited me in person to hear more, which was a great opportunity. While I didn’t get selected for the final stage this time, the experience was invaluable. It gave me a clearer understanding of what works, what organizers are looking for, and how I can make my next pitch even stronger.
So, here’s what I’ll absolutely do when I pitch this event — or any other event — in the future.
1. Get to the Core of My Idea — Fast
TEDx organizers hear dozens (if not hundreds) of pitches, and the ones that stand out don’t waste time getting to the point.
What I did this time: I shared my story and framed the problem well, but I could have been even more concise in setting up the idea.
What I’ll do next time: I’ll lead with the punchline. Instead of easing into my message, I’ll hit them with the core idea in the first 30 seconds and then build from there.
TEDx talks are about “ideas worth spreading” — not just stories, not just personal journeys, but a clear takeaway that the audience can apply. Next time, I’ll make my big idea undeniably clear and impossible to ignore.
