Spread ideas as far as possible that change the way people think.

We believe that ideas hold immense potential.

Ideas are more than thoughts—they are people’s stories, experiences, lessons, and journeys. We believe these ideas should be shared as widely as possible because you never know how deeply they might resonate with someone. An idea might inspire a new business, give someone the push they need, or simply change the way they see the world.

Our values

1. 01Believe in the power of Ideas

   One idea can spark enormous change: a new company, a new career, a new way of seeing the world. We believe that deeply, and it's the reason behind everything we do.

2. 02Be open to different perspectives

   Great ideas come from fields and people we don't usually hear from. We seek them out, and we judge ideas by their content, not by who holds them.

   In practice

   • Curation looks beyond engineering and business, to artists, doctors, athletes, founders and more.
   • Every main event includes a Purdue student speaker.
   • In meetings, a new member’s idea gets the same hearing as an exec’s.

   We stay viewpoint neutral within TED’s guidelines. We never turn away a speaker because we disagree with them. Being open doesn't mean tolerating falsehoods, hatred, or someone else's intolerance.

3. 03Take pride in all that you do

   People experience everything we make, not just the talks. Every detail reflects on all of us, starting with who we put on stage.

   In practice

   • A poster or a sponsor email deserves the same effort as the main stage.
   • If you’re responsible for something, give it your all, no matter how small the task may seem.

   We want the best speakers for our event. We focus on people with genuine ideas to share and stories to tell, and we look for people who are incredibly talented and accomplished.

4. 04Don't be afraid

   You can question anything and anyone. Who suggested an idea, or the fact that we've done it before, is never on its own a reason to go with it.

   In practice

   • If you think a plan is wrong, say so, even if an exec made it.
   • “We’ve always done it this way” is never a reason by itself.
   • Try the new format, even if it might flop.

5. 05Aim for the stars

   Be bold to the point of being shameless. Start with the biggest possible version of every goal and work from there.

   In practice

   • Speaker lists start with the names everyone says are out of reach.
   • Reach out to anyone. Never rule someone out before you ask.
   • Follow up, then follow up again. Emails are free.

6. 06Have fun

   We're students building a conference together. It should be one of the best parts of your week, not a chore.

   In practice

   • Celebrate every win, from a speaker’s yes to curtain call.
   • Get to know your committee outside of meetings.
   • Enjoy everything you do in the club.

Every talk we put on should be one someone remembers years later.