Ideas That Echoed Through Time: TEDxVezins at Château de Vezins
Amid the regal splendour of Château de Vezins, where history whispers through its elegant halls, a gathering of minds took centre stage to share powerful ideas and ignite inspiration. TEDxVezins, a unique independently organised TED event, unfolded within the château’s grand setting, offering an intimate yet deeply impactful exchange of knowledge and vision.
The event brought together an eclectic array of thought leaders, visionaries, and changemakers, each delivering a talk that challenged perceptions, stirred emotions, and left an indelible mark on all who attended.
The Voices That Shaped TEDxVezins
Anne Empain – Navigating the Financial Landscape with Vision
A luminary in the financial sector, Anne Empain took the audience on a journey through her transformative career, from London’s prestigious legal firms to Switzerland’s thriving banking landscape. She shared insights on the evolving nature of finance and investment, as well as the lessons she has learned from co-founding a successful startup. Her story, rich with experience and wisdom, underscored the importance of adaptability and strategic foresight.
Claire Dale – The Chemistry of Success: Physical Intelligence Unleashed
With her background in choreography, business leadership, and neuroscience, Claire Dale illuminated the power of ‘Physical Intelligence’ – the science of harnessing our body’s inner chemistry to foster resilience, innovation, and growth. Her talk encouraged the audience to rethink how movement and physiology can influence success, a compelling fusion of science and artistry.
Francis Paraïso – Rediscovering Forgotten Composers
A virtuoso pianist and passionate advocate for musical diversity, Francis Paraïso captivated the room with his dedication to reviving the works of forgotten composers. His talk, punctuated with mesmerising performances, explored how classical music history often neglects certain voices, and why it’s time to bring them back to life.
Frédérique Mercier – The Power of Connection
As the communications lead for the esteemed Cadre Noir, Frédérique Mercier delved into the intricate world of interpersonal communication. Her talk highlighted how meaningful interactions shape both our personal and professional lives, and how understanding human connection can create profound change.
Gaëlle Deschamps – Empowering Women to Lead
With an impressive career spanning global corporations like L’Oréal, SABMiller, and Coca-Cola, Gaëlle Deschamps stood as a fierce advocate for women’s leadership. She introduced transformative programmes designed to instil confidence and authenticity in female leaders, urging women to step into their power with conviction.
Jonathan Roos – A Vision for the Future
A decorated ophthalmologist and academic, Dr Jonathan Roos shared groundbreaking research on eye movement and aesthetic medicine. His insights into the science of sight and its impact on perception left attendees contemplating the extraordinary complexity of human vision.
Maître Dominique Saatenang – The Way of Shaolin
Bringing the discipline of Kung Fu to TEDxVezins, Maître Dominique Saatenang, a Shaolin Temple Ambassador and world champion, spoke about the philosophy behind martial arts. Through his journey as the first African disciple of the Shaolin order, he shared how discipline, willpower, and determination can sculpt not only the body but also the mind and spirit.
Michel Shah – The Essential Soft Skills of Leadership
Renowned educator and author Michel Shah championed the necessity of ‘soft skills’ in modern leadership. Drawing from her bestselling book; UpSkill, she argued that empathy, communication, and adaptability are just as critical as technical knowledge in shaping influential leaders.
Mickaël Vincent – Cultivating Life Through Gardens
From Versailles to Château Colbert, Mickaël Vincent has dedicated his life to the art of gardening. His talk explored how gardens serve as metaphors for patience, creativity, and sustainability, lessons we can apply to our own personal and professional growth.
Professor Hanna Roos – AI and the Future of Law
With a career straddling Oxford, Cambridge, and cutting-edge AI innovation, Professor Hanna Roos introduced a new era of legal intelligence. She discussed how AI is revolutionising dispute resolution, streamlining the legal process, and what this means for the future of justice.
Dr. Rachna Murthy – The Intersection of Beauty and Medicine
Dr. Murthy, an esteemed surgeon and researcher, revealed the hidden effects of cosmetic ingredients on skin and eye health. Her work, which has shaped industry standards worldwide, demonstrated the fine line between aesthetics and medical well-being.
Rosalie Audoin – Leadership Without Limits
A mentor to female entrepreneurs, Rosalie Audoin spoke about dismantling the psychological barriers that prevent women from scaling their businesses. She inspired many with her call to action: to think bigger, push boundaries, and lead fearlessly.
Sayde Shah – The Voice of the Future
At just 16, Sayde Shah delivered a powerful talk on leadership from the perspective of the next generation. As a student leader, she spoke passionately about fostering inclusivity, critical thinking, and ethical leadership in young minds.
Adeline Rouquet – Against All Odds
A passionate doctor and mother of three, Adeline Rouquet brought a deeply personal story of resilience and hope. After facing a cancer diagnosis that resulted in infertility, she made the bold decision to pursue her dream of having a third child. Her story is one of optimism, perseverance, and the human spirit’s capacity to triumph over adversity.
Dr. Agnieszka Piotrowska – Teaching AI to Love
Award-winning filmmaker and psychoanalytic scholar Dr. Agnieszka Piotrowska invited us to radically rethink how we train AI, not through fear or strict guardrails, but through the lenses of care, ethics, and love. Drawing from her iconic film work and her upcoming book AI Intimacy and Psychoanalysis, she challenges the boundaries of machine learning and moral responsibility.
Fiona Forster – Changing the Menopause Narrative
Founder of The Menopause Coach, Fiona Forster shared lessons drawn from her global coaching practice and personal journey. A former teacher with nearly 30 years of experience, she now empowers women around the world to navigate menopause with confidence, compassion, and clarity.
Jason Meads – AI for Ocean Protection
As CEO of Subsee, Jason Meads blends artificial intelligence with ocean conservation. With decades of experience in private equity and strategy, he now leads pioneering initiatives to protect marine ecosystems. His TEDxVezins talk focused on how AI can help us better understand and preserve our most vital resource, the ocean.
Lara Lewington – Hacking Humanity
Broadcaster and author Lara Lewington explored the fast-approaching future of personalised health. Known for her work on BBC’s Click and ITV’s Tonight, she revealed how advancements in AI and tech are allowing us to monitor, predict, and optimise our wellbeing like never before. Her message: the future of health is personal.
Quentin Solomianski – The Power of Surroundings
Quentin Solomianski, global strategist and endurance enthusiast, explored how the people around us shape our lives and sense of balance. From running marathons to earning a CAP cuisine qualification, Quentin proves that performance isn’t just strategy, it’s also soul. His talk explored how intentional environments and support networks fuel success.
Sophie Hinson – Music Beyond Words
A violinist of global acclaim, Sophie Hinson shared how musical collaboration transcends spoken language. With performances across elite orchestras and as part of the award-winning Odora Trio, Sophie illuminated how music connects us to one another and ourselves, in ways words never could.
A Stage for Bold Ideas
The grandeur of Château de Vezins provided more than just a venue, it became an integral part of the event’s storytelling. The history-soaked walls bore witness to conversations that spanned industries, disciplines, and generations. The event was not just a conference; it was an experience, where intellect and artistry converged, leaving every attendee with a renewed sense of purpose and curiosity.
Watch the Talks
