In a country where even the term “change management” once felt unfamiliar, Kristine Sargsyan set out not only to introduce it, but also to reshape how people think, speak, and lead. From building Armenia’s first change management library to bringing TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design)—a non-profit media organization that shares free, curated talks online through the TEDx program—to Armenia and Diasporan communities, her journey has been defined by one consistent focus: creating spaces where ideas are not simply presented, but deeply lived, turned into wisdom or impact, and shared with peers for public good.
In 2010, Sargsyan first brought the TED philosophy to Armenia by translating/editing the 100 most impactful talks into Armenian, including one by fellow AGBU alumni Alexis Ohanian, who would later become the co-founder of TEDxYerevan with her. Since its inception, around 70 impactful events have been held under the TEDxYerevan license, including flagship conferences. Yet, her most transformative work began as she turned to the youngest generation at a time when no one was ready to hand them a microphone.
“When I received the license, I was more interested to do the TEDx events for kids and youth rather than adults. Throughout my life, my focus has always been kids and youth and in the TEDx format I saw an opportunity not only to teach impactful communication skills, but also to help younger generations understand how their brain works,” notes Sargsyan.
As she recalls, at the time, this was still a largely unfamiliar idea in Armenia. Children were rarely given platforms to express themselves, and their perspectives were seldom treated as meaningful contributions to public discourse. Thus, the first two events were organized for adults due to a lack of interest in funding for kids events.
AGBU Central Office became the first Armenian organization to support this cause along with UNICEF, standing behind one of the first TEDxKids events in Armenia. With a $5,000 grant, Sargsyan organized a five-month intensive training program for 25 teens, half of whom later had the opportunity to deliver impressive speeches on stage. “Giving younger voices a platform is one of the major contributions that TED Talks brought to Armenia,” she notes.
When I received the license, I was more interested to do the tedx events for kids and youth rather than adults. Throughout my life, my focus has always been kids and youth and in the ted format I saw an opportunity.
Over the years, the work with youth expanded through TEDxMentorship programs, in collaboration with TUMO, the American University of Armenia, UWC Dilijan, the Armenian National Agrarian University, and the Armenian State University of Economics, among others.
Sargsyan’s long-standing ambition and vision to bring these events to Diaspora youth became a reality in 2025. A TED-Ed Youth Event was held at the AGBU Innovation Studios in Los Angeles, where eight young Armenians delivered talks, three of which were later featured on the main TED-Ed platform, highlighting the global relevance of their voices.
“At first, they came to the impactful speaking workshops with little enthusiasm, unsure why they were there. But gradually they became engaged, found their voice, and began to enjoy the process. It made me realize that our Diaspora communities need spaces like this too—to unite, reflect, and share their wisdom through a unique model offered by TED-Ed, as an alternative way of celebrating who we are.”
Inspired by this cross-border impact, Sargsyan pushed for another license with TEDx leadership to hold events in Diaspora communities, and, in collaboration with the head of the University of Southern California’s Department of Armenian Studies, Dr. Shushan Karapetian, they founded TEDxLittleArmenia in Los Angeles, California, in 2026. The first event was held this year and, based on the feedback of the Armenian diaspora, proved to be a fantastic gathering with outstanding speakers.
“It’s still a secret, but by the time this is published, people will know. Today we learned that Oscar-winning Sev Ohanian, who was one of the speakers at the event, was selected as an Editor’s Pick—a prestigious designation for exceptional talks chosen by the TED editorial team. This is a huge success for us,” she says, highlighting the quality of Armenian talks and expressing hope for more such events in the future.
TEDxYerevan talks brought a new perspective. Sargsyan recalls that when they just started many speakers would come to present their ideas, but struggled to articulate the deeper insights behind their work—the lessons, failures, and insights that could resonate more widely.
This realization led her to found Think Studio, which is focusing on impactful speaking and leadership development. Later, her experience culminated in writing her book Pilgrimage to the Brain, driven by her curiosity about how the brain works. The book now serves as the main methodology behind Think Studio, exploring themes of freedom of thought and metacognition, while helping learners understand the power and potential of the brain, as well as the challenges people encounter from childhood to old age.
Indeed, her devotion to the public cause has not gone unnoticed over the years. In 2015, she was selected as one of the 28 TED-Ed Innovative Educators from 250,000 educators worldwide. In 2017, she was recognized as one of the 21 remarkable women changing Eastern Europe, and in 2018, TED nominated her for the Skoll World Forum Fellowship, a peer-centered program that brings together community-based leaders and social innovators from over 90 countries to Oxford for an annual Forum.
Today, Sargsyan teaches at the American University of Armenia, while working with leading local and international companies, including Fortune 50 and Fortune 500 firms, and continues to dedicate herself to impactful TED events, with the AGBU Armenia office serving as one of the main venues. Success, however, has not diminished her enthusiasm, but rather intensified it, continuously driving her to offer new ideas directed toward youth and leadership development.
