Our Speaker Journey
TEDxSammamish Women • 2026
Our vision is to inspire women to cultivate their worthiness and live the life of their dreams.
Sharing ideas transforms mindsets and enhances growth exponentially.
We seek ideas shared with heart, purpose, and offered from reflective experiences.
From the first spark of an idea to standing on our TEDx stage - here’s everything you need to know.
Speaker applications open March 23 - April 6, 2026
2026 Theme. Vision. Process.
2026 THEME
Worthy.
When we remember our worth and dare to live from it, new possibilities open up.
In 2025, we paused to remember: our worthiness was never something to earn, only something to return to.
We lingered there for a moment—letting worth sink into our beings, our stories, our shared spaces.
In 2026, we consider: when we embrace our worth and live from it, what possibilities open up—on our streets, in our homes, and in the quiet corners of our own lives?
This year, we’re inviting speakers whose ideas show what can happen in the beautiful, messy middle—when women dare to dream from their worth and then move, build, and disrupt from there.
Our vision is to inspire women to cultivate their worthiness and live the life of their dreams.
Get familiar with what makes a great TEDx talk and whether your idea is a fit for TEDxSammamish Women. Explore past talks, learn the TEDx format, and then submit your application by April 9.
Watch our past speakers on the TEDxSammamish Women YouTube playlist.
Read TED’s information on speaking at a TEDx event at an independently organized TEDx event
Browse TED’s speaker resources on constructing an outline and script.
Explore TED and TEDx talks related to your idea to see how others frame “ideas worth spreading.”
Review our 2026 speaker application screenshots so you know what to prepare.
We welcome all — the strongest applications lead with a clear, compelling idea, not a résumé.
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March 23 - April 6
Discover & Apply
Process launches on March 23!
2025 TEDxSammamish Women Talks (YouTube playlist)
You don't need to be a professional speaker. You need an idea worth spreading. We'll guide you along the way — with coaching, community, and a team that is rooting for you to succeed.
Photo credit: Ashley Kay Smith, Last Forever ImagesPitch Day Sessions
Some applicants will be invited to a live Pitch Day session. Modeled lightly after pitch days in the startup technology sector, our Pitch Day sessions are a structured, supportive space to share your idea out loud, receive feedback, and help us understand your talk beyond what fits in an application form.
Pitch Day has three goals:
Help you refine and focus your idea.
Increase equity and access for people who are newer to public speaking.
Strengthen the overall quality and clarity of talks we consider for the stage.
Not all applicants will attend Pitch Day; we’ll first review written applications, then invite a smaller group based on available time and capacity. If you’re invited, attending Pitch Day is required to move forward in the selection process for 2026. We plan to host Pitch Days online, in person, or as a mix of formats during the week of April 27. You’ll receive full details and timing if selected.
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April 7 - May 8
Review & Selection
Our team reviews every application using a shared rubric so each idea is evaluated thoughtfully and consistently. We look beyond resumes to understand the strength of your idea, your connection to it, and its potential impact on our audience.
We consider:
Idea quality, strength, clarity
Impact potential
Diversity of perspective
Audience relevance
Speaker delivery potential/coachability
Alignment with theme and vision
Personal story connection
During our review process, you may be invited to a brief conversation or Pitch Day so we can learn more about you and your idea. This is not an audition; it is a chance to clarify your concept, answer questions, and ensure the TEDx format is a good fit for what you want to share.
This isn’t just a talk—it’s months of deep inner and outer work. If you’re ready to show up fully, we’ll surround you with coaching, community, and unwavering support.
Photo credit: Ashley Kay Smith, Last Forever ImagesBeing chosen as a TEDxSammamish Women speaker is both an honor and a significant time commitment over several months. You’ll be supported by coaches, peers, and our organizing team—but you’ll also be doing deep work on your idea, your talk, and your delivery.
If selected, expect to commit about 2–4 hours per week from May–November, plus additional time in rehearsals and the event itself from October–November.
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May - January
Selected as a TEDxSammamish Women speaker: Next steps and expectations
Onboarding & Commitment
If selected, you’ll receive a welcome call, sign a speaker agreement, and meet with us. At this stage we’ll confirm expectations, key dates, and the time commitment so you can decide whether you’re able to fully participate.
Coaching & Development
Rehearsals & Run-Throughs
May - September
As your talk nears its final form, you’ll participate in mandatory full-cohort rehearsals and a tech rehearsal in the event space. These sessions help you fine-tune timing, get comfortable on stage, and coordinate with AV and production teams.
Event Day & After
May
October - November
November - January
On event day, plan to be with us for most of the day (5–7 hours including early arrival, the event itself, and networking celebration afterward). After event day, you’ll spend 1-2 hours reviewing your edited talk, sharing your feedback with us, and contribute to social media posts about the talk.
You’ll work on your own and 1:1 with a dedicated coach through multiple sessions to refine your idea, craft your narrative arc, and practice delivery. Alongside coaching, you’ll join group workshops with your cohort to share drafts, give and receive feedback, and work through common challenges like structure, transitions, and timing.
Required to meet key milestones along the way.
If this level of commitment isn’t realistic for you this year, we’d still love your application in a future cycle.