ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — March 2026 — Nine years after delivering her first TEDx talk on transforming education, Tampa Bay educator Christine Laurenzi returned to the TEDx stage with an unusual idea: she brought seven of her own middle school students with her.
With just three weeks to prepare, the students wrote, memorized, and delivered full TED-style talks in front of hundreds of people.
The moment captured what Laurenzi believes students need most: real opportunities to practice leadership and communication in front of real audiences. But she wasn’t done, and she wasn’t stopping with only her students.
Now Laurenzi is launching St. Pete Standout, a youth leadership and communication competition designed to give students the same kind of high-challenge, high-support opportunity.
On April 18, 2026, 100 middle and high school students from across Tampa Bay will gather at the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg for the inaugural event. Laurenzi tapped fellow TEDx speaker Sandra Bean, an award-winning strategist, educator, and founder of the 9,500-member St. Pete Girl Boss business community to help bring the vision to life.
The event comes at a moment when many educators and employers are raising concerns about workforce readiness. A 2025 report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and College Board found that four in five hiring managers believe most high school graduates are not prepared to enter the workforce, citing communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills as the most common gaps. The event reflects Laurenzi’s broader mission through Indi-ED: designing real-world learning opportunities that help students build confidence, leadership skills, and a deeper connection to their own potential.
Throughout the day, students will rotate through fast-paced leadership challenges led by local business leaders, entrepreneurs, and community mentors. Activities include networking simulations, rapid-fire communication exercises, and problem-solving scenarios designed to mirror real professional interactions.
The event culminates in on-stage public speaking and debate finals, where top competitors demonstrate the leadership and communication skills they’ve developed during the day.
“When young people are trusted with real opportunities and real expectations, they rise to the challenge,” Laurenzi said. “St. Pete Standout is about creating those moments where students discover their voice, their confidence, and their ability to lead.”
Students attending St. Pete Standout will participate in:
Skill Sprint Challenges — two-minute professional skill drills designed and delivered by local mentors
Work the Room — networking exercises with professionals
Hot Seats — real-world questions from business leaders
Public Speaking and Debate Finals — on-stage competition for top performers
The inaugural event will serve 100 students ages 11–18 from St. Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater, and Sarasota, with plans to expand the program into an annual initiative impacting hundreds of young people across the region in the coming years.
Laurenzi is the founder of Indi-ED, a nonprofit micro-school focused on helping students develop confidence, communication, and leadership skills through real-world learning experiences. Bean’s work in community leadership and entrepreneurship has been featured in Forbes, ABC News, Fast Company, Bloom TV, WFLA, and the Tampa Bay Times. She is known for building inclusive communities and neurodiverse leadership ecosystems.
Local business leaders, entrepreneurs, and community mentors will serve as judges, coaches, and sponsors, giving students direct exposure to the professional world they will soon enter.
More information about the event, sponsorship opportunities, and student participation can be found at:
