Emmy Award-winning executive Shawn Finnie explores the uncomfortable truth that true success comes from within, sharing his personal journey from living in his car after rejecting a record deal to becoming the first Black EVP at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Shawn Finnie is an award-winning entertainment executive, speaker, and producer with over a decade of experience contributing to the Hollywood landscape. As Executive Vice President at CULTURAL AGENCY, in all areas including: Multicultural, PR, and Awards Strategies, driving impactful campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences. Previously, Finnie served as EVP at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where he managed member relations, global outreach, and Academy Awards processes for over 11,000 filmmakers, artists, and executives. Finnie is also a creative force behind initiatives that spark meaningful dialogue. Recognized by Variety’s New Leaders list and honored with AdColor’s Advocate award, Finnie’s contributions to the entertainment industry go beyond strategy and execution. Driven by a passion for community, culture, and connectivity, Finnie is deeply committed to amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering inclusivity in entertainment. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 15:56Labirentteki Değerli Yalnızlık | Özlem Gürses | TEDxBilkent UGazeteci, yazar ve televizyon sunucusu Özlem Gürses, modern hayatın karmaşası içinde kaybolan bireyselliğin ve yalnızlığın düşündüğümüzden çok daha güçlü bir araç olabileceğini ve bize yeni kapılar açabileceği hakkında konuşuyor. Kendi labirentimizde yol almanın düşündüğümüzden daha çok önemli olduğunu ve kendi labirentimizde kalmaktan korkmamaız gerektiğinden bahsediyor. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx Özlem Gürses was born in Ankara on August 18, 1970. After completing her primary and high school education at TED Ankara College, she entered the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at METU Faculty of Architecture. She moved to Istanbul during her master's degree and entered the media world. Gürses has written many articles and books on literature and culture. She has also given speeches at various conferences and seminars on Turkish literature and culture. Gürses began her media career as a reporter at ATV News Center and later appeared on programs such as "Gece Hattı" and "Kırmızı Koltuk" on Star TV. She worked as an editor and presenter on programs such as "20. Saat", "13 Agency", "Bıldıgın Gibi Değil" and "Burası Haftasonu" on Habertürk TV. She served as assistant news director and on-screen presenter on the "Ana Haber" program on Kanal 1. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 7:38How to overcome procrastination | Shashva Dedhia | TEDxRWA YouthShashva is here, not to talk about the future, but about the first step to reaching it”. Yes, procrastination is an everyday problem, which affects the smallest things like grocery shopping, to the biggest, like submitting your end-of-year exam. Fortunately, according to Shashva, there are some quick and easy techniques, which can make procrastinators seasoned work pros. Because, remember, as Shashva says, the best time to innovate and grow, is now. Shashva Dedhia is a passionate student of Grade 9 at RWA. He enjoys learning and is always looking for opportunities to meet new people. He is a budding photographer, as well as being an avid reader and also working on paper-craft, namely quilling. He values his academics and his extra-curricular, which is why he practices badminton and cricket. His favorite subject areas include math, science, and history. He is quite competitive and likes to succeed at what he does. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
