From Ideas to Action: Transforming Corporate Culture with TEDx Business Events
"An idea without action is nothing." – Lalaine Gedal
How can employees turn their innovative ideas into real impact within their organizations? Too often, great ideas remain just that—ideas. However, through strategic planning, strong community-building, and platforms like TEDx, companies can create spaces where creativity thrives and transformation begins.
In Episode 3 of “Advancing Ideas: the Cultivators Community Podcast,” Cultivate sits down with Lalaine Gedal, Associate Director of Leader Development at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, to explore the power of TEDx Business Events in fostering innovation, engagement, and personal growth within organizations.
Lalaine, an experienced TEDx curator and learning & development leader, shares valuable insights on transforming ideas into action, building strong communities, and strategically positioning initiatives for success.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the episode:
Understanding and Addressing Pain Points. Lalaine underscores the importance of identifying and addressing workplace pain points. She believes that real change starts with a deep understanding of the challenges employees face. By listening to people’s struggles and frustrations, leaders can create solutions that resonate and drive meaningful impact.
Bridging the Gap Between Ideas and Action. Many employees have innovative ideas but struggle to turn them into reality. Lalaine emphasizes that an idea without action is just a thought. To accelerate the transition from idea to execution, she advises being prepared for opportunities, continuously refining your pitch, and seeking the right moment to introduce your idea to decision-makers.
Finding Allies and Building Support. Lalaine also highlights the necessity of finding allies. She highlights how talking about your idea repeatedly can eventually attract the right supporters. For example, when bringing TEDx to Takeda, she consistently shared her vision until a key stakeholder took an interest. Having an ally who believes in your idea can be a game-changer when pitching to leadership.
Taking the First Step
For those looking to bring their ideas to life, Lalaine offers one crucial piece of advice: start with your why. Knowing why you are passionate about an initiative makes it easier to take action and find the right supporters. Once you have clarity on your purpose, the how will follow.
The Power of TEDx Business Events in Organizations
Lalaine’s experience with TEDx has shown her that these events are more than just conferences; they are catalysts for cultural transformation.
TEDx Business Events create spaces where employees can share their stories, learn from each other, and feel more connected to their workplace. She describes her first TEDx experience at Johnson & Johnson (where Cultivate’s Founder started the movement) as a pivotal moment that opened her eyes to the power of storytelling in building community.
But while the benefits are undeniable, organizing such an initiative within a corporate setting comes with challenges. Lalaine identifies securing sponsorship and determining where TEDx fits within an organization’s structure as major hurdles. Her advice? Be strategic—identify decision-makers, craft compelling stories, and demonstrate the value of the initiative in terms of engagement, culture, and leadership development.
Volunteers, according to Lalaine, are the backbone of any TEDx Business Event. Lalaine stresses the importance of valuing and recognizing their contributions. She shared that when Takeda launched its first TEDx Business Event, 25 employees volunteered. By the second event, that number had tripled and the overall reach is in the thousands. She emphasizes that leaders should tap into volunteers’ talents, assigning roles that align with their strengths and passions to keep them engaged and motivated.
Empowering Innovation and Engagement
Lalaine Gedal’s journey demonstrates that transforming corporate culture requires persistence, strategic thinking, and a strong community. Whether through TEDx or other initiatives, empowering employees to share ideas and take action can lead to lasting positive change.
Cultivate is the world’s leader (and originator of the first global approach) in helping large Organizations get the most from a TEDx Business Event. As the leader in employee empowerment and TEDx Business Events, Cultivate can help you develop a TED-style event or one that is more suited to your company’s needs. Reach out, and let’s talk!
If you’re inspired by Lalaine’s story and want to learn more from like-minded professionals, listen to the “Advancing Ideas” episodes on Spotify.
Notable Timestamps:
00:00 Meet Lalaine Gedal
00:58 Diving into Pain Points and Activating Ideas
01:44 First Influential Experience of Building TEDx
03:12 The Power of Ideas: From Curiosity to Action
05:02 Bridging the Gap Between Ideas and Actions
08:28 Strategic Positioning and Finding Allies
11:13 The TEDx Journey: From Singapore to Takeda
14:27 Impact of TEDx on Personal and Professional Growth
16:55 Challenges and Strategies in Organizing TEDx Business Events
27:42 The Importance of Volunteers and Community
