Every TEDxAUBG conference comes to life thanks to the remarkable collaboration of a group of students at the American University in Bulgaria. Since 2011, the club has organised 13 conferences. While the conference day is at the heart of everything, TEDxAUBG is not just a one-day event - it is a collaborative process powered by people with different skills, interests, and roles.
From selecting speakers and designing visuals to securing partnerships and making sure everything comes together smoothly, each department plays a crucial role. In this article, we’re taking you behind the scenes to meet the teams that make TEDxAUBG happen!
Speakers Department
If you have ever wondered how people come to speak on TEDxAUBG - it is thanks to the Speakers Department. They select and shape the ideas that go on stage! From selecting what central themes they would like to be covered on the conference, through inviting potential speakers, and helping polish their speeches!
In practice, this includes:
Researching and contacting potential speakers;
Evaluating speech ideas and offering guidance;
Working one-on-one with speakers on speech content, delivery, and following the TED rules.
Supporting speakers throughout the whole preparation process.
Ensuring everything runs smoothly backstage on the day of the conference!
The effortless work of the Speakers Department makes sure that the ideas are inspiring, well-developed, and effectively communicated to the audience.
This department is ideal for students who are curious about storytelling, research, and critical thinking, as well as those who enjoy working closely with people.
Sponsorship Department
The Sponsorship Department is responsible for building and maintaining the partnerships that make TEDxAUBG possible. By working with external organisations and sponsors, the team helps secure the resources needed to bring the conference to life.
In practice, this includes:
Identifying and reaching out to potential sponsors and partners;
Presenting TEDxAUBG’s mission, values, and vision to external stakeholders;
Maintaining communication and long-term relationships with partners;
Ensuring that sponsorship commitments are fulfilled in a way that benefits both partners and the conference;
Through its work, the Sponsorship Department plays a key role in ensuring the sustainability of the conference and enabling other teams to carry out their work effectively.
This department is well-suited for students interested in communication, negotiation, and relationship-building, as well as those curious about partnerships, business development, and professional collaboration.
Logistics Department
The Logistics Department oversees the organisational aspects of the conference, ensuring that everything runs smoothly before, during, and after the event day.
In practice, this includes:
Overseeing the preparation process in the months leading up to the conference;
Managing the ordering and timely delivery of all materials and merchandise, including researching and securing the most suitable offers;
Planning and coordinating the flow of the event day;
Beyond the conference itself, the Logistics Department also supports the team throughout the academic year by organising team-building activities and coordinating the logistics of smaller TEDxAUBG events.
This department is well-suited for students who are highly organised, detail-oriented, and comfortable working under pressure, particularly those who enjoy planning and problem-solving.
PR department
The PR department makes sure TEDxAUBG gets seen, recognised, and spoken about! Through social media engagement and media partnerships, the team ensures that the conference’s ideas, values, and activities reach beyond the event itself.
In practice, this includes:
Managing TEDxAUBG’s social media platforms;
Coordinating media partnerships with external outlets;
Promoting the conference, speakers, and related initiatives before, during, and after the event;
Creating engaging online campaigns to keep TEDxAUBG connected to the wider public;
The work of the PR Department helps build TEDxAUBG’s public presence and connects the conference with broader communities both on and off campus.
This department is well-suited for students interested in digital communication, content creation, and media relations, particularly those who enjoy storytelling through visual and written formats.
Design Department
The Design Department builds the character of each TEDxAUBG conference. The team ensures that the conference’s ideas and themes are translated into clear, consistent, and recognizable visuals across campus.
In practice, this includes:
Developing the overall visual concept of the conference;
Designing promotional materials for online and offline use;
Creating visuals for social media, presentations, and merchandise;
Collaborating closely with other departments to meet their visual needs
Through its work, the Design Department helps shape how TEDxAUBG is seen and remembered.
This department is well-suited for students interested in graphic design, visual communication, and branding, particularly those who enjoy translating concepts and themes into strong visual narratives.
IT department
The IT Department is responsible for the digital systems that support TEDxAUBG throughout the year and on the conference day itself.
In practice, this includes:
Developing, maintaining, and updating the TEDxAUBG website;
Managing internal technical systems used by the team;
Creating and maintaining digital tools for the conference, such as ticketing or registration systems;
Ensuring that these systems run smoothly before and during the event;
The work of the IT Department improves both the organisers’ and the audience’s experience.
This department is well-suited for students interested in web development, digital systems, and problem-solving.
Along with the more specialised departmental work, TEDxAUBG is also a highly collaborative environment, where ideas are developed as a team, decisions are discussed and voted upon, and plans are made collectively.
Beyond the tasks that bring TEDxAUBG to life stands a team of friends united by a common vision, shared passion, and many collective experiences. While TEDxAUBG is known to the wider public as a successful annual conference, on campus, it is a community of like-minded people who simply love creating meaningful things together.
