Lara Stein

Lara Stein
Born
Johannesburg, South Africa
Alma materEmerson College
OccupationsEntrepreneur; executive; strategist
Known forFounder of TEDx; global expansion and systems design in technology, education, and civic innovation

Lara Stein is a South African–American entrepreneur and executive known for founding TEDx, a global platform for innovation and education,[1] and for leading large-scale international expansion across technology, learning, and civic systems.[1] She is the founder of Regenerative Consulting,[1] where she advises financial institutions, philanthropies, cultural organizations, and technology partners on systems design, strategy, and the scaling of regenerative and civic-focused initiatives.[1] Stein has held senior leadership roles at TED, Boma Global, Singularity University, MIT, and Women's March Global.[1]

Life

Stein was born in Johannesburg, South Africa,[1] and later moved to the United States.[1] She studied at Emerson College.[1] She resides in New York City with her 3 children.[1]

Career

Early career in media and technology

Stein began her career at WGBH in Boston, producing educational and children's animated programming.[1] She later held senior management roles at Microsoft’s MSN,[1] Marvel,[1] Nelvana,[1] and the digital agency iXL, where she founded and led the company's New York office.[1] She subsequently served as President of iXL's eTV/Broadband division, overseeing broadband content, digital strategy, and next-generation platform development.[1]

Stein also produced documentary films and consulted for media and technology organizations including Pangea Day, Worldwide Biggies, Moveopolis, and JVP.[1]

TED and TEDx

In 2009, Stein joined TED to develop a licensing program for independently organized TED-style gatherings.[1] She founded the TEDx program, conceptualizing its global structure and overseeing strategy, operations, and governance during its formative years.[1]

Under her leadership, TEDx expanded into a worldwide infrastructure enabling thousands of organizers to convene community-led innovation and education programming.[1] The initiative grew to more than 8,000 TEDx groups in over 130 countries,[1] producing tens of thousands of talks.[1]

Stein also launched:

  • TEDxWomen, focused on women's representation and leadership[1]
  • TEDxYouth, designed for school-age audiences[1]
  • TEDx in a Box, enabling convenings in low-resource communities[1]

As director of the TED Prize, she led its restructuring,[1] expanded the award size,[1] and contributed to operational foundations later used in the development of the Audacious Project.[1]

Global leadership roles

Singularity University

Stein served as Managing Director for Global Expansion at Singularity University, overseeing international summits, chapters, innovation hubs, and partnerships across multiple regions.[1]

Women's March Global

As Executive Director of Women's March Global, Stein developed the movement's international structure and coordinated advocacy and organizing across more than 100 countries.[1]

MIT ReACT

Stein acted as the interim Executive Director of MIT ReACT, an MIT initiative providing global educational pathways and credentialed programs for refugees and displaced learners.[1]

Boma Global

Stein founded and served as CEO of Boma Global, a global leadership and learning network focused on ethics-based leadership, innovation and sustainability education.[1] She continues to serve as a board member and advisor.[1]

Regenerative systems, civic innovation, and climate initiatives

Through Regenerative Consulting, Stein works with funders, cultural institutions, governments, and technology organizations on:[1]

  • regenerative economic and investment models
  • systems design and organizational strategy
  • civic infrastructure and public-interest technology
  • narrative strategy and movement design
  • global platform and expansion architecture

Her clients have included leading philanthropies and family offices (Bedari Collective, MJF); cultural institutions (Qatar Museums Authority); policy-driven and civic organizations (Future US, Stand Together); and innovation and education partners including MIT's Center for Constructive Communication and Cortico.

Stein participated in the XPRIZE Visioneering Braintrust, where her “WALL-E Prize,” focused on circular materials recovery and trash-to-value innovation, was selected for further prize design development.[1]

She also co-conceptualized ReGenDAO, a global community exploring regenerative finance and governance models.[1]

Boards and advisory roles

Stein currently serves on the boards of:

She previously served on the boards of:

  • Lalela[1]
  • The We Are Family Foundation[1]
  • The Lung Cancer Research Foundation[1]

Recognition

Stein has been recognized in several technology and media publications, including the Silicon Alley Reporter “Top 100 Executives,”[1] Alley Cat News “Top Women of Silicon Alley,”[1] and Who’s Who Among Outstanding Female Executives.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar
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