Krisztina 'Z' Holly (@krisztinaholly) is an MIT-trained engineer, tech entrepreneur, and innovation expert. Z is best known as the creator of the first TEDx, which has since spawned more than 10,000 events globally to date, and the founding executive director of two university innovation centers – the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation and the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation – which helped faculty and students spin out 39 startups from university research. Recently she was tapped by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to be inaugural Entrepreneur-in-Residence for the city, to spark opportunities at the intersection of entrepreneurship, manufacturing, and design. Early in her career, Z was a researcher at the MIT Media Lab, co-founder of computer telephony pioneer Stylus Innovation (acquired by Artisoft), and a key member of several other internet and media startups. Named Champion of Free Enterprise by Forbes in 2010, she is an advisor and consultant to many organizations, inculding the World Economic Forum, the LA River Corp, and TTI/Vanguard.

Z has a bachelors and masters from MIT, and in her spare time she’s the quartermaster for the Black Rock City municipal airport and an avid backcountry/telemark skier, mountain biker, skydiver, shark diver, and authentic food aficionado.