Counting down the final hours of the workweek is a Friday afternoon tradition. And today, you have extra incentive to watch the clock — TEDxWomen kicks off at 6pm in Washington, DC. While one session of the event — “Poverty and Plenty,” hosted by Pat Mitchell of The Paley Center for Media — is taking place tonight, five more sessions of talks will be held tomorrow, December 1, from 8:30am to 8pm. Head to the livestream page to watch TEDxWomen in progress >>

At the same time, more than 150 TEDx events across the globe will webcast the conference, as part of their own unique programs examining the state of women in the world today. Find out where, and when, TEDxWomen events are taking place this weekend >>

To get you in the TEDxWomen spirit, enjoy these seven talks from women innovating all aspects of the way we live — from what we eat, to how we learn, to how we receive healthcare.

Barbara Bush at TEDxBrooklyn
Young people can make an extraordinary impact on the global health crisis. Through the story of an anti-HIV campaign in Malawi, Barbara Bush demonstrates the power that motivated volunteers can have when it comes to solving problems of health equity.

Y el cambio comienza en nuestros niños: Patricia Velásquez at TEDxTepuy
Patricia Velásquez started a school in one of Venezuela’s toughest areas because she believed that the future of every child should be protected and supported. At TEDxTepuy, she calls on all of us to find our own personal cause to fight for. (In Spanish with English subtitles.)

Using innovation in human rights: Mallika Dutt at TEDxGateway
Mallika Dutt fights for human rights not just by advocating for institutional change, but by appealing for societal change as well. At TEDxGateway, she shares clips from her popular films that address issues from violence against women to HIV/AIDS — and that place the responsibility for creating a culture of dignity on every individual.

Soap saves: Renée Botta at TEDxDU-TEDxChange
Despite massive foreign aid, lack of water, food, hygiene, and basic services still persists in the developing world. Through the story of a young African woman who began manufacturing and selling liquid soap in her hometown, Renee Botta explains how the challenges of these communities might be solved through creating self-sustained economies.

En este mundo: Magdalena Goyheneix at TEDxRíodelaPlata-TEDxChange
Instead of being overwhelmed by the devastation wrought by illness in Nigeria, Magdalena Goyheneix found hope. Putting a human face on the shocking health statistics, she reminds us that each life is worth saving. (In Spanish with English subtitles.)

The aftermath of Occupy: Naomi Colvin at TEDxHousesofParliament
Last year, the Occupy Wall Street movement spread like wildfire across the globe. It sparked countless protests and its “We are the 99%” slogan has been canonized into the progressive lexicon. Just as quickly as it gained champions, however, it found critics who dismiss the campaign for its inability to articulate specific demands. Naomi Colvin thinks they miss the point entirely; that the protests were not about rushing into specific negotiations based on conventional principles, but about disrupting the way we reform altogether. In this reflective talk, she lays out a new vision of political identity.

Eat less meat, more bugs: Florence Dunkel at TEDxBozeman
Insects are high in protein and — if prepared well — delicious. According to Florence Dunkel, their low-cost, ecological production could create a stable future with food security.

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Want to hear from more amazing women making big change in the world? Check out this playlist of TEDxTalks from women in science, as well as links to 75 TED Talks from women in science and tech.

This post was written by the TEDx Team.

TEDxWomen is just days away—on November 30 and December 1, the conference will take place in Washington, D.C. While it’s sold out, there are still many opportunities to watch. Over the weekend, webcasts will be streamed during more than 140 TEDxWomen events across the globe — from Abuja, Nigeria, to Warsaw, Poland. Head to the TEDxWomen website for a full list of these events >>

To get you in the spirit, the TEDx blog reached out to TEDxWomen organizers to get their insights on some of the classic TEDxWomen talks of years past. Below, watch the talks and hear organizers’ unique perspectives.

Madeleine Albright: On being a woman and a diplomat
This talk from Madeleine Albright — former UN ambassador, US Secretary of State and feminist hero — is notable for Albright’s frankness, wisdom and pin collection — which includes a snake she started wearing after Saddam Hussein called her “an unparalleled serpent.” In this talk from TEDWomen 2010, Albright stresses that it’s paramount for the progress of the world that women help women.

We asked TEDxWomen organizers: Does this message resonate with you?

“When more women are powerful, visionary and strategic leaders, then communities and organizations are more innovative, productive and successful. And when more women are leaders, we raise the aspirations of women and girls around the world. The bottom line really is that, just as Madeleine did for many people (not just women), shining a light on female leaders of all walks of life and industries means that we become catalysts for the education, development and advancement of courageous leaders everywhere. We hope to contribute the stories of women who lead, with the goal of changing our shared understanding of leadership.” — Nathalie Molina Nino of TEDxBarnardCollegeWomen, which will be held at the women’s college in New York City on December 1

Sheryl Sandberg: Why we have too few women leaders
At TEDWomen in 2010, Facebook’s COO Sheryl Sandberg looked at why a smaller percentage of women than men reach the top of their professions — and offered three powerful pieces of advice to women. She addresses fear, self-doubt, work/life balance, and finding work that’s rewarding even after maternity leave. Overall, she voices her concern over the worldwide lack of women in leadership roles in corporate, political and other social settings, and questions traditional gender roles and perceptions of women leaders.

So we asked TEDxWomen organizers: What advice would you give to women leaders?

“Be authentic. Authenticity is always the key to leadership success.” —Dafna Michaelson Jene of TEDxCrestmoorParkWomen to be held in Denver, Colorado, on December 1

“Create your own girls’ clubs: investment, leadership, philanthropy, mentoring, specific interests. Link with others regionally. Scale out. Find ways to give away what you know to people who value you in original ways. Listen. Know yourself and be you.” —Kat Haber of TEDxHomerWomen, being held in Homer, Alaska, on December 1

Arianna Huffington: How to succeed? Get more sleep
After fainting from exhaustion at her desk — and suffering a broken cheekbone as well as a gash on her eye as a result — Arianna Huffington realized that sleep deprivation is a serious issue. “We women are going to lead the way in this new revolution, this new feminist issue,” she says in this talk from TEDxWomen 2011. “We are literally going to sleep our way to the top.”

So we asked TEDxWomen organizers: What stops you from getting enough sleep?

“Being an individual who has too many hobbies. Work, performances, sports training, volunteer work, club meetings, etc. keep me going non-stop.” —Uyanga Vladimir of TEDxUlaanbaatarWomen, taking place in Mongolia on December 2

“Most often, a snoring husband and evening meetings that leave my mind racing with ideas.” —Carrie Willar of TEDxABQWomen, being held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on December 1

“Spending a great, enjoyable time with my laptop…for midnight brainstorms, reading, chatting, watching videos, sharing ideas, throwing out ideas.” —Deni Simeonova of TEDxMladostWomen, which will take place on Sofia, Bulgaria, on December 1

Tan Le: My immigration story
“How can I speak in 10 minutes about the bonds of women over three generations, about how the astonishing strength of those bonds took hold in the life of a four-year-old girl huddled with her young sister, her mother, and her grandmother for five days and nights in a small boat in the China Sea more than 30 years ago,” begins technologist Tan Le’s gripping talk from TEDxWomen 2011 on her search for identity and the women who helped her find it. In her talk, Tan describes how the strength, leadership, bravery, and resilience of the women in her family helped her to become who she is today. 

We asked TEDxWomen organizers: How have the women in your life helped you develop your sense of self?

“Throughout my life, other women have always made me aware of aspects of myself I didn’t know I had or were different than my own perceptions of myself. A recent example: one of the co-organizers of our event told me she doesn’t think I fit the definition of a ‘Type A’ person, with which I normally identify). It led to some interesting discussions as to why, and it comes down to the fact that deep down I am more collaborative vs. competitive.”—Deb Gerardi Kemper of TEDxShanghaiWomen, taking place in China on December 1

“My mom was essential to my life! She (and my dad) and my grandmom taught me how to treat others, how to be a fair person, to like books, conversations, and treat others equally.” —Ana Goelzer of TEDxLaçadorWomen, being held in Paim Porto Alegre, Brazil on December 1