Some rules were built to create order.

Others were built to be challenged.

Join up to 1,000 leaders, creators, advocates, and curious minds for an afternoon of bold ideas, powerful storytelling, and meaningful connection exploring what happens when people refuse to accept “the way it’s always been done.”

October 16, 2026 | Touhill Performing Arts Center |

 
 
 
 

Speakers

Meet the speakers and performers taking the stage at Rewrite the Rules.

Shalia Ford

Speaker

Shalia Ford

Lead From Your Brilliance, Not Your Brokenness

Shalia Ford is a leadership strategist who creates brave, affirming spaces where people gain clarity, confidence, and a deeper sense of belonging. Through leadership development, coaching, and facilitation, she empowers others to lead with purpose by embracing their strengths.

Lacy Hubbard

Speaker

Lacy Hubbard

How We Can Eliminate One Cancer

Lacy Hubbard is the Founding President and CEO of the Elekta Foundation, where she is leading global efforts to make cancer prevention and care more accessible. She believes where a person lives should never determine how long or how well they live.

Betty Mertens

Speaker

Betty Mertens

Lifting the Weight of Grief

Betty Mertens is a business leader, speaker, author, and nonprofit founder whose work explores resilience, human behavior, and how people move forward through change, challenge, and loss. She believes grief is not something we overcome, but something we learn to carry differently.

Genera Moore

Speaker

Genera Moore

Alignment is the Gateway to Your Purpose

Genera Moore is an international cultural producer, art curator, and filmmaker who designs immersive experiences at the intersection of sports, culture, and economic transformation. Her work demonstrates how storytelling can strengthen communities while generating measurable economic impact.

Ginger Nicol

Speaker

Ginger Nicol

What Psychedelics Can Teach Us About Healing

Dr. Ginger Nicol is a psychiatrist, clinical trialist, and professor at Washington University School of Medicine whose research is advancing new approaches to mental health care. Her work explores how emerging treatments can help reshape not only patient care, but the healthcare system itself.

Paige Tsai

Speaker

Paige Tsai

The Cost of an Incomplete Story

Paige Tsai is a student, athlete, and podcast host who is passionate about history, education, and asking thoughtful questions about the stories we inherit. She believes the narratives we leave out can shape our understanding just as much as the ones we choose to tell.

Aloha Mischeaux

Performance

Aloha Mischeaux

All Women Should Be Rich!

Aloha Mischeaux is a singer, songwriter, and performer whose powerful voice and joyful spirit inspire audiences to embrace their talents, celebrate their individuality, and pursue their dreams with confidence.

Performing her original songs GO GIRL and RICH.

 
 

TEDxStLouis is committed to creating a more accessible experience for our community. We’re excited to offer ASL interpretation for the October 16th event, and the venue includes mobile accessible seating within the theater.

 

 COMMUNITY SUPPORT

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 IN-KIND SPONSORS

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Collaboration Partners