What is DisruptRVA?

DisruptRVA is the Richmond chapter of Disrupt, an international speaker series challenging conventional thinking about work. By showcasing forward-thinking ideas in a rapid-fire format (5-minute presentations with 20 auto-advancing slides), DisruptRVA inspires professionals to build a better future for work.

History:

DisruptRVA first came to Richmond in 2017 and was held at In Your Ear Studios, then in 2018 at The Frontier Project, and in 2019 at Dominion Payroll. The event was on hiatus due to COVID in 2020-22 (to achieve the spirit and mission of the event, Disrupt requires events to be held in person). DisruptRVA returned in 2023. In 2023 and 2024, the events were held at the VCU School of Business.

DisruptRVA is produced by volunteers who are passionate about DisruptRVA's mission. Roxanne Brown and Ed Cook are the current license holders for the local chapter and the drivers of the event. The partnership with a Richmond area academic institution to produce the event began in 2023 with VCU, with the intent to bring student voices and ideas into the conversation. If momentum continues to grow, DisruptRVA may partner with other Richmond area academic institutions to hold more than one event a year.

All proceeds beyond the cost of the event go to VCU's Institute for Transformative Leadership for student scholarships and development.

DisruptRVA is for anyone who’s curious about what work could be. The call-to-action for the event is for participants to walk away with at least one small thing they’ll try because they’ve been inspired by a speaker or a conversation.