That’s a wrap! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made TEDxCapilanoU 2025 such a meaningful and memorable evening.

We are incredibly grateful to our speakers—Ashleigh Davies, Kristine Thody, Ramin Shadmehr, Sophia Kara, Zoran Dragelj, and keynote speaker Dianne Whelan—for sharing their personal journeys and powerful perspectives. Each speaker showed us how "Stepping into the Unknown" can unlock creativity, purpose, and deeper connections with ourselves and the world around us.

To our audience, volunteers, organizers, and supporters—your energy and curiosity made the evening unforgettable.

A special thanks to our attendees! Your ticket purchases helped us raise over $2,000 for the CUAA Excellence Award. This fund helps third and fourth-year CapU students who are exceptional in both their studies and community involvement, supporting their transition to graduation and beyond.

Whether you missed the event or want to experience the talks again, the links are available below!

Keynote speaker: Dianne Whelan

Filmmaker, photographer, author and multimedia artist

Dianne Whelan, award-winning filmmaker and author, captures her solo journey on the Trans Canada Trail in 500 Days in the Wild. In her TEDx talk, titled "Stepping into the Unknown," she reveals how embracing challenges in the wild has transformed her creativity and storytelling.

Ramin Shadmehr

Dean, Faculty of Fine & Applied Arts, Capilano University

Dr. Ramin Shadmehr, educator and technology entrepreneur, explores how embracing unpredictability drives creativity and growth in his TEDx talk, "The Beautiful Chaos of the Unknown: Thriving in a World of Variables." He highlights how uncertainty sparks innovation in education, design, and technology.

Ashleigh Davies

Early Childhood Educator, Head Coordinator, Burnaby Continuing Education (ECE program)

Ashleigh Davies, an early childhood educator, challenges the notion that discomfort should be avoided in the classroom. In her TEDx talk, "Embracing Tensions in Education," she explores how leaning into discomfort fosters deeper learning, creativity, and authentic connections for both educators and learners.

Zoran Dragelj

Filmmaker, Videographer, Artist

Zoran Dragelj, an award-winning independent filmmaker, shares how stepping into uncertainty fuels creativity and leads to unexpected success. In his TEDx talk, "Embracing the Unknown," he demonstrates how embracing risk, creative constraints, and perseverance can unlock new opportunities and meaningful achievements in filmmaking.

Kristine Thody

Career, Life, and Leadership Coach

Kristine, a certified life coach with 24 years of global experience, shares her talk, "Shattering the Myth of a Straight Path in Life and Career." She explores how embracing uncertainty can spark growth, innovation, and deeper connections, encouraging us to view the unknown as a transformative opportunity.

Sophia Kara

Capilano University Student & Alumna

CapU student Sophia, a Bachelor of Communication Studies major and Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate graduate, shares her talk, "Redirection, Resilience, and Reinvention: Surviving and Thriving in Times of Change," exploring how self-doubt and impostor syndrome can fuel growth, creativity, and transformation through life’s unexpected changes.