Hard work, resilience, intention, blessings, grit, and luck are what Monique Ruff-Bell, chief program and strategy officer at TED Conferences, attributes to her success. "If anyone told little girl, teenage, or even 20-year-old Monique what she would eventually get to do, she wouldn't have believed you," she says.  Ruff-Bell is the new chief program and strategy officer for TED. She oversees TED's flagship global events and conferences, TEDx programs and initiatives, global partnership sales, and key marketing verticals for the organization. She plays a vital role in shaping and executing TED's strategic plan, contributing to the advancement of its mission, operational excellence, and overall organizational growth. This new role for TED brings growth areas together under one umbrella. Most know TED for its flagship events like TED, TEDWomen, and TED Countdown, but there were 3,400 other events held last year across 142 countries, bringing together 600,000 attendees in local communities.  Ruff-Bell listens to thousands of TED Talks each year in her role. What would the title of the talk she would give? "How to Smile Through the Pain." Read on at https://meetings.skift.com/monique-ruff-bell-smile-through-the-pain/