Thomas Eckschmidt

Former farmer, with an engineering degree and Executive MBA in Finance, Thomas worked in 15 different countries. Thomas had a corporate career for 10 years, migrated to another decade of consulting work before launching himself as a serial entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, Thomas received 12 awards (innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability), filed 4 patents and published 20 books.

As an entrepreneur, Thomas discovered that he was an “unconscious conscious capitalist” and connected with this global movement.

 Thomas has launched the Conscious Capitalism movement in Latin America, he helps chapters all around the world, he has certified over 1,200 consultants in 23 countries and runs the largest network of consultants to accelerate the UPGRADE of leaders and their organizations, to create a more conscious business ecosystem.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 30 years ago, TED has grown to support its mission with multiple initiatives. The two annual TED Conferences invite the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less. Many of these talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sal Khan and Daniel Kahneman.

The annual TED Conference takes place each spring in Vancouver, British Columbia. TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TED Talks are posted daily; TED Translators, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as translations from volunteers worldwide; the educational initiative TED-Ed. TED has established The Audacious Project that takes a collaborative approach to funding ideas with the potential to create change at thrilling scale; TEDx, which supports individuals or groups in hosting local, self- organized TED-style events around the world, and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Follow TED on Twitter at  http://twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at  http://www.facebook.com/TED.