For YPO members Aaron Rallo and Leo Olebe, attending TED was already compelling.
The annual conference, set for San Diego in March 2027, is synonymous with big ideas and bringing together innovators, scientists, artists and entrepreneurs from around the world who will challenge your way of thinking.
The addition of YPO adds an additional layer of connectivity. Now in its third year, YPO’s partnership with TED provides members with a unique pathway into one of the world’s most sought-after gatherings — along with an experience designed specifically for YPO leaders.
“I’ve been to TED several times in the past, and the YPO add-on made it the best yet,” says Rallo, CEO of Rallo Holdings.
Olebe, an executive in the technology sector, attended his first YPO TED experience in 2026 and is signed up for 2027.
“I’ve been to some very special conferences and events around the world,” Olebe says. “This is the most community-driven, kind, open and exciting conference I’ve ever been to.”
Cultivating community and connection
TED is renowned for the ideas and conversations it sparks on and off the stage. But YPO’s partnership is an opportunity to experience those ideas alongside a trusted group of peers.
“Having your YPO community with you inside the TED community is supercharged,” says Rallo. “You all come together, then go out and explore TED, and then come back together again with new ideas, new people and new connections.”
Before the conference even begins, YPO attendees are grouped into YPO forums — small, confidential peer groups built on trust and candor — creating immediate connections and trusted relationships that continue throughout the week.
“Using our shared connection and trust through YPO to get into some really deep conversations very quickly, that was magical,” says Rallo. “Your brain is already thinking about things it doesn’t normally get to think about, and then you get to process it with other YPO members.”
Of course, people who are not in the YPO community attend as well. Olebe says he found the curated group of attendees to be an unusually diverse mix of people, all united by curiosity and a desire to improve the world.
“It was a gathering of people from all over the world with different ideas and backgrounds, but with a baseline understanding that humans are good,” Olebe says. “Everybody — from the person making coffee to some of the most accomplished people in the room — was there to learn.”
That openness creates unexpected conversations.
“I spoke with every TED main-stage speaker I wanted to speak with,” he says. “You’re standing in line talking to someone working on education in Kenya, then someone building fighting robots, then someone arguing cases before the Supreme Court.”
Moments that make a difference
Olebe didn’t just have time for conversations; during an Only-in-YPO needs and leads session, he shared a personal goal of serving on a public company board. A connection made during the event helped make that goal a reality — fast.
“Within four weeks, I was voted onto a publicly traded company as an independent director,” he says. “That’s the epitome of YPO.”
The whole experience, Rallo says, led to tremendous personal growth.
“I almost think of TED as a retreat,” he says. “I go there to work on myself, expand my horizons, network and challenge my thinking.”
And challenge it does.
“TED isn’t afraid of controversy,” Rallo says. “They’ll bring in speakers with opposing viewpoints and create productive tension. It forces you to think.”
Olebe agrees.
“You leave with ideas, sure, but more importantly, you leave with people and conversations that stay with you,” he says. “I came away a better businessperson, a better father, a better community member and a better leader because of the people I met in my [YPO] forum.”
While you wait for TED 2027…
YPO members aren’t just attendees. They’ve also helped shape some of TED’s most compelling conversations. Here are a few TED Talks from YPO members worth adding to your watchlist.
Isaac Lidsky: What Reality Are You Creating for Yourself?
After losing his eyesight, Isaac Lidsky discovered that our perceptions often shape reality more than the facts themselves. His powerful talk challenges audiences to question the stories they tell themselves and reclaim ownership of their perspective.
Rajeev Kapoor: 5 Ways Leaders Can Navigate Change
In a world where disruption is constant, Kapoor offers practical leadership strategies for adapting, staying resilient and helping teams thrive amid uncertainty.
Jon Torrens: ADHD and Entrepreneurship
Drawing on research that includes YPO entrepreneurs, Torrens explores the unique relationship between ADHD and entrepreneurial success, offering fresh insights into how differently wired minds can become powerful leadership assets.
Rachel Graham: Living a More Joyful Life
Graham explores the science and practice of joy, sharing lessons leaders can apply to build more meaningful lives and stronger relationships.
Stuart Lacey: Who Owns Your Personal Data?
As technology evolves, questions around privacy become increasingly urgent. Lacey’s talk examines the value of personal data and what individuals should understand about how their information is collected and used.
Reserve Your Spot for TED 2027
YPO@TED returns 28 February – 4 March 2027 with another opportunity to experience world-changing ideas alongside a community of fellow leaders.
Register for YPO@TED 2027 and experience TED through the lens of YPO.
