When Nishat Ruiter attended her first TED Summit two years ago, she immediately felt like she had found an employer with a mission that resonated for her.

She’d been named the top lawyer with New York-based nonprofit organization TED Conferences just months earlier and was thrilled to be involved with the organization known for its 18-minute talks on “ideas worth spreading.” TED has made a name for itself hosting prominent speakers such as Steve Jobs, Bill Clinton, Elizabeth Gilbert and many others over the years.