Nicole McLaughlin highlights the beauty and accessibility of upcycling. In the fashion industry and beyond, she shares practical examples of seeing opportunity where others see waste. Take your creative heart and innovative mind to promote sustainability and have fun doing it. Nicole McLaughlin is a multidisciplinary designer. Since 2018, Nicole has explored greater possibilities for sustainability through self-initiated and collaborative efforts. While sustainability is often used as a marketing buzzword because of its PR value, Nicole's accessible, witty, and functional practice serves as a reminder that sustainability is actually an operational philosophy. By transforming discarded miscellanea into objects with new, imaginative, and often unexpected utility, Nicole shows how a circular approach to design and manufacturing can help us reframe waste as an opportunity.Nicole has partnered with companies such as Hermès, Nike, eBay, Gucci, Vans, HBO, Calvin Klein, etc.Her work has been displayed at the Design Museum in London in conjunction with her nomination for the Beazley Design of the Year in 2020. Her works have most recently been shown in the Berman Museum in Pennsylvania, Cornell University (NYC), and the Anchorage Museum in Alaska.In 2022, Nicole was announced as a Forbes 30 under 30 member within art and design.Her work has been featured in publications such as the New York Times, Vogue, Footwear News, GQ, InStyle, Harper’s Bazaar, and more. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

When mathematician and musician Jonathan Middleton began translating weather patterns into musical notes, he discovered an entirely new way to understand and experience data through sound. Through fascinating demonstrations, including an auditory weather forecast, he reveals how musical interpretation of data can uncover patterns and insights that visual analysis might miss. Middleton's unconventional journey at the intersection of music and mathematics proves that following our unique passions, however unusual they may seem, can lead to groundbreaking innovations in how we perceive and analyze the world around us.Jonathan Middleton is professor of Music Theory and Composition at Eastern Washington University. He holds a DMA in music composition from Columbia University and his compositions have been recorded on the ERM and Origin Classical labels. In addition to being a modern-day classically trained composer, he is a published author for a composition textbook called “Essentials for Composers,” and a co-author for four research articles about data-to-music transformation. He designed and launched a Web-based tool for converting data into music called “musicalgorithms” in 2004-05. Since then, has held sonification research residencies at Stanford University (2007-08) and Tampere University in Finland (2015-17).This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Organizational Psychologist and Researcher, Dr. Rafael Chiuzi challenges common ideas about leadership, showing why strategies like “lead by example” and “be fair” often fail. He explores how leadership isn’t about authority or strategies but about building relationships and trust with your team. Through stories and research, this talk redefines leadership as a shared process shaped by connection and alignment.Dr. Rafael Chiuzi is an accomplished organizational psychologist and Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour at the University of Toronto Mississauga, where he equips future leaders with the skills to shape resilient and inclusive workplaces. Over his 20+ years career, Dr. Chiuzi has designed executive education programs that have empowered hundreds of leaders across industries to harness human potential and navigate complex organizational dynamics.This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Society often tells professional women over 50 to step aside as they hit their peak. But what if this is actually the beginning of their most powerful chapter? In this TEDx talk, Heidi Hutchison debunks the myth of midlife decline and introduces Third30, a movement that helps women redefine success, purpose, and possibility in midlife. Through entrepreneurship, reinvention, and leadership, Heidi empowers women to claim their future on their terms.Website: www.third30.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidichutchison/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidi.hutchison7/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidi.hutchison1/ #TEDx #TEDxSpeaker #TEDxSanDiego #WomenInLeadership #MidlifeReinvention #Third30 #AgeismInTheWorkplace #WomenOver50 #WisdomIsPower #CareerReinvention #ThriveAfter50 #RewriteYourStory #EndAgeism #FutureOfWork #OwnYourPower #UnstoppableWomen Heidi Hutchison is a Women's Empowerment Advocate, Entrepreneur, and Executive Coach dedicated to redefining success for professional women in midlife. As the founder of Third30, she leads a movement empowering women over 50 to reclaim their careers, redefine their purpose, and embrace their next chapter with confidence. A former CMO with 25+ years of experience driving revenue growth and brand strategy, Heidi now partners with corporations and professional women to help them navigate career transitions and find their passion, purpose, and joy in their Third30.In her TEDx talk, she shares her personal journey of reinvention and challenges outdated corporate mindsets that sideline experienced women at their peak. Heidi is passionate about breaking barriers, reshaping workplace culture, and proving that midlife is not a decline for professional women—it’s a superpower. Website: www.third30.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/heidichutchison IG: @heidi.hutchison7 Facebook: @heidi.hutchison1 This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In this insightful TEDx talk, Pawan Kumar, IAS officer and Director at the Ministry of Rural Development, takes us on a journey back in time to discover the wisdom of ancient civilizations. Through captivating stories of the Indus Valley's water conservation, the Iron Pillar of Delhi's rust-free design, and mythological lessons from the Mahabharata and Ramayana, he reveals how our ancestors mastered sustainable living, problem-solving, and technological advancements long before modern science. He explains how ancient Indian knowledge in architecture, medicine, and governance can inspire innovative solutions to today's challenges.The talk, titled "Past Forward: Unlocking Ancient Secrets," emphasizes the importance of learning from history to build a better future. Pawan Kumar challenges us to reconnect with this forgotten wisdom, proving that the solutions to modern problems may already exist in the echoes of our past. His message is clear: sometimes, the key to moving forward is hidden in the wisdom of the past. Pawan Kumar of Raghunathpur village, Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, achieved an All India Rank of 239 in the UPSC Civil Services Exam. His parents, who belonged to an economically backward family, were laborers under the MNREGA scheme. He could do well in his studies despite the economic difficulties, studying at Navodaya Vidyalaya and eventually completing his studies from Allahabad University. With hard work and self-preparation, he cracked UPSC on his third attempt. Pawan attributes all his success to the unstinting support from his family. His rise from poverty to IAS officer status is an exemplar of doggedness and hard work. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In an era of rapid technological advancement, Shikha Pachouly's TEDx talk, "Disruption Ethics: Innovate or Preserve?", challenges the notion that progress always equates to betterment. As an Assistant Professor of Computer Engineering and a poet, she brings a unique perspective, blending technical expertise with emotional depth. Through thought-provoking stories and poetic reflections, Pachouly explores the ethical crossroads faced with every major innovation whether to embrace disruptive technologies or preserve human values and connections.She emphasizes the need for "Balance" a mindful approach to technology that advances society without sacrificing emotional depth, cultural values, or human connection. Pachouly urges us to question not just what we can create, but what we should create, advocating for innovations that serve humanity rather than overpower it. Her talk is a call to redefine progress, reminding us that the true measure of disruption is not just its impact on technology, but its effect on humanity. Shikha Pachouly, alias Shikha Awdhesh, is a poet, blogger, and assistant professor at AISSMS College of Engineering in Pune. She has an engineering degree from Madhya Pradesh, an MTech from Sinhgad College, and a PG Diploma from Symbiosis in Pune. She is currently doing a PhD on AI and Machine Learning and takes inspiration from her deceased father, Awdhesh Sharma. She has read on highly acclaimed stages such as Sahitya Aaj Tak, Jashn-e-Adab, and The Kavi Collective by RED FM. She has been seen and heard on television shows such as Waah Bhai Waah and Sau Karod Ka Kavi, as well as Indian and Dubai-based literary festivals. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx