See Richard in Action
“My ultimate vision is to empower and connect connectors, and together, we can transform our lives and the lives of others, one connection at a time.”
Richard Lee-Thai delivered his TEDx Talk entitled “How to Find Excuses to Connect” on July 10, 2021 at the TEDxYouth@VictoriaPark event. Having personally struggled with shyness and loneliness, he now regularly speaks to youth, students, and organizations on the importance of connection.
Growing up, we never had classes on social skills. How do you make friends? How do you re-establish your network after moving to a new place? Addressing this lack of education, Richard engages audiences with interactive presentations that leave them feeling more socially confident and equipped with tools to make meaningful connections in their personal and professional lives.
Richard provided a fabulous keynote for our annual UFlourish event series! When we identified “Connection” as a central theme, Richard was the perfect choice, with his knowledge of UCalgary and the post-secondary context. We very much appreciated not only the expertise Richard brought to the table but also his inquisitive and thoughtful interest in our community's unique needs. His talk resonated for our full community – students, staff, faculty and alumni and, in particular, his practical approach prepared folks to take the information that he shared immediately into their daily lives.
Richard is very authentic and passionate about this topic, which was felt by those in this sessions, and made his speaking very engaging. He is very professional and made the booking and planning process seamless, with meticulous organization. We also appreciated Richard’s flexibility when we requested an online session for a typically “in-person” topic. He took on the challenge, with ease, and had a huge amount of participation from audience members on Zoom. We would happily welcome Richard back to UCalgary to share his passion for connection.
Michele Moon | Team Lead - Wellbeing and Worklife, University of Calgary