The University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business will host an independently organized TED event, “TEDxUVaWomen,” on Dec. 5. The public is invited to watch a free live screening of the 2013 TEDWomen presentations, which will take place in San Francisco. TEDxUVaWomen will be broadcast in Darden’s classroom 50, beginning at 2 p.m. The event will conclude around 8:30 p.m.

The event will be broken into three sessions: “To Be Is To Do,” from 2 to 3:30 p.m.; “Wisdom Begins with Wonder,” from 5 to 6:30 p.m.; and “To Move the World, First Move Yourself,” from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The TEDWomen 2013 lineup includes Sheryl Sandberg, women’s health expert Dr. Paula Johnson, and many other artists, entrepreneurs and leaders. In years past, TEDWomen has hosted speakers including Hillary Clinton, Arianna Huffington and Madeleine Albright.

Visitors and members of the Darden community will watch December’s women-led TED talks together. Following the viewing, they will engage in themed group discussions covering various topics pertaining to women in business, led by members of Darden’s Graduate Women in Business student club.

TEDxUVaWomen is the culmination of Darden professor Yael Grushka-Cockayne’s vision to help female MBA students realize their leadership potential and understand the current professional leadership landscape for their gender.

Last year, Grushka-Cockayne received The Mead Endowment award, which funds a professor’s “Dream Idea.” As part of the program, U.Va. faculty members develop activities that involve students in their areas of interest and research.

Grushka-Cockayne is concerned about the lack of women in the company C-suites and set out to empower Darden’s women to envision themselves in those roles.

She took a group of students to witness the live TEDxWomen presentations. The experience took the Darden group through a range of emotions as they listened to women like themselves describe their joys and troubles in various aspects of work and life.

“The women who spoke at TEDx all shared their personal stories or struggles and triumphs,” said student Julie Young in an article for Darden’s Cold Call Chronicle, the student-led publication. “I was truly inspired by the women who discussed something they had become extremely passionate about, as they told us how they have used their own talents and resources – no matter how big or small – to make a difference in the world.” 

For information and to register to attend the Dec. 5 event, visit TEDxUVaWomen.