Before the TEDx Stage: Capturing Leadership Presence in Cleveland

Cheo during a focused video and photography project in Cleveland in preparation for his TEDxLakeShoreDrive talk and the launch of his new website.

In January, I was in Cleveland filming the Giant Shoulders Founder Pitch Boot Camp at the Midtown Collaboration Center.

The primary focus of the trip was the boot camp itself. Early-stage medtech founders refining their pitch decks. Mentors working through narrative and clarity. A room full of ambition and urgency.

But layered into that two-day event was another opportunity.

Cheo flew in from Chicago.

He was preparing for his upcoming TEDx talk at TEDxLakeShoreDrive and launching a new website at Cheo.net. He needed photography and video that aligned with his energy and reinforced the clarity of his message.

We had a small window. Two days. A live event in motion. And multiple objectives.

Limited Time. Real Environment.

This was not a controlled studio project.

Cheo was in Cleveland specifically so we could create strong visuals around his speaking work. Because the boot camp brought together founders and leaders within the medtech ecosystem, we were able to capture him in conversation with others in the same space. That context mattered.

Rather than stage everything, we leaned into real interaction.

That meant preparation mattered.

The day before, I walked the space inside the Midtown Collaboration Center. I evaluated lighting conditions, potential studio space, background options, and sound challenges. Conference rooms rarely feel cinematic on their own. You have to shape them.

Over the course of the two days, we captured:

• Conversations with medtech founders and leaders

• Candid interactions

• Portraits in multiple areas

• A focused sit-down interview

• A short TEDx preview piece offering a glimpse into his core message

• A silent web presence clip

Cheo changed wardrobe across both days to create visual range and avoid everything feeling compressed into a single moment. Small decisions like that elevate the final body of work.

Leadership in motion. Cheo connecting with peers during a focused video and photography project in Cleveland.

Capturing Energy, Not Just Expertise

Cheo’s message centers on what he calls the Relay Race Methodology™.

In healthcare, handoffs cause nearly 80 percent of preventable patient harm. His thesis is simple but powerful. The system is broken. The people are not. When teams begin to see one another as relay teammates rather than separate operators, outcomes change.

But philosophy alone is not enough.

His personality is a major part of his impact.

He is high-energy. Approachable. Direct. Comfortable in conversation. He connects quickly. That needed to come through in the visuals.

On day one, we focused heavily on b-roll. Interaction. Conversation. Presence in motion. The kind of footage that communicates leadership without forcing it.

During lunch, we stepped aside for portraits in different sections of the building. Window light. Clean walls. Textured backgrounds. Enough variety to support a growing speaking platform.

Turning a Conference Room into a Studio

Day two was more controlled.

We converted a conference room into a small video studio. A well-placed couch created a grounded, conversational setting. Lighting was shaped to keep it clean and intentional without feeling overly produced.

From that setup, we created two distinct deliverables.

The first was a 60 second TEDx promo piece. The goal was not to summarize his talk. It was to create intrigue. Strong framing. Clear delivery. Elevated tone. Something that could live beyond TEDx and support his broader speaking work.

The second was a short, silent web clip. No heavy dialogue. Just presence. Expressions. Interaction. Movement. Sometimes personality communicates more effectively without narration.

Both videos were completed in time for the launch of his website ahead of his TEDx appearance in Chicago.

This TEDx sizzle reel features Cheo, healthcare leadership speaker and creator of the Relay Race Methodology™, filmed during a focused video and photography project in Cleveland, Ohio. Created in preparation for his TEDxLakeShoreDrive talk, the piece offers a glimpse into his core message on transforming patient handoffs and building stronger healthcare teams.

Produced on location at the Midtown Collaboration Center, the film was designed to introduce key ideas from his upcoming talk while capturing his energy, clarity, and leadership presence.

Working Solo, Moving Fast

For this project, I operated as a one-man crew, with support from the Giant Shoulders team.

That meant staying light, adaptable, and deliberate. There are situations where a larger crew is absolutely the right call. In this environment, agility was an advantage.

The goal was never to disrupt the pitch boot camp. It was to move within it.

When you are filming inside a live medtech ecosystem, awareness matters as much as technical skill. You read the room. You anticipate transitions. You capture the moments between moments.

The Medtech Ecosystem Matters

One of the things I appreciate about projects like this is proximity to innovation.

The Founder Pitch Boot Camp brought together medtech leaders, early-stage founders, and advisors working to improve patient outcomes. That environment carries weight. The conversations are real. The stakes are high.

Capturing Cheo within that context added authenticity. He was not performing leadership. He was actively practicing it.

That difference shows up on camera.

This short visual clip captures Cheo’s leadership presence during a focused video and photography project in Cleveland, Ohio. Filmed at the Midtown Collaboration Center, the piece highlights candid interaction, movement, and energy within the medtech ecosystem ahead of his TEDxLakeShoreDrive talk and website launch.

Before the Spotlight

Strong visual narrative helps bridge that gap.

TEDx stages amplify ideas.

But the work that builds authority often happens before the spotlight.

Strong visual narrative helps bridge that gap. It aligns energy with message. It reinforces credibility. It creates consistency across website, speaking engagements, and social platforms.

For Cheo, this project was about momentum. Matching visuals to a new chapter. Positioning his work in healthcare leadership with clarity and confidence.

For me, it was another reminder that thoughtful preparation and intentional storytelling can travel well.

From Rhode Island to Cleveland to Chicago, the goal remains the same.

Translate presence into image.

Translate energy into frame.

Help leaders show up before they ever step on stage.

If you are preparing for a keynote, a TEDx stage, or a new chapter in your leadership work, thoughtful visual narrative matters.