In this raw and thought-provoking talk, Balram Vishwakarma explores a reality few are willing to confront: that the ability to dream big is, in fact, a privilege. Drawing from his lived experiences in Mumbai and his work as a self-proclaimed "non-academic ethnographer," he brings forth voices from the city’s labor class—people who seldom have the luxury to imagine a future beyond survival. With humor, insight, and deep social observation, Balram uncovers how environment, socioeconomic status, and access to role models directly shape the dreams people dare to have. Through hundreds of grassroots interviews with everyone from food delivery riders to welders and street vendors, he challenges conventional narratives of meritocracy and ambition. Balram also reflects on his own upbringing and the quiet limitations placed on dreams due to a lack of guidance, mentorship, and resources. He urges those in positions of influence—particularly graduates of elite institutions—to help democratize access to opportunity by offering internships, mentorship, and belief to those who come from less privileged backgrounds. Balram has previously worked with digital storytelling platforms like FilterCopy and Pocket Aces. His mission is simple yet powerful: to expand the boundaries of who gets to dream in India. Balram Vishwakarma is a Mumbai-based storyteller with a passion for documenting the lives of India’s urban labor class. His work shines a light on the resilience and quiet ambition of people in unorganized or gig economy jobs—hawkers, app-based workers, and self-employed professionals. Through his stories, Balram hopes to break down the misconceptions and biases surrounding these professions, encouraging empathy, respect, and a deeper understanding of their struggles and dreams. When he’s not telling stories, Balram co-runs a communications organization that helps brands connect meaningfully with their audiences. Whether through his personal projects or professional work, his focus remains on amplifying voices that often go unheard and building narratives that inspire real change. 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 a world that is consistently challenging you to grow, how does someone find their footing. Through personal stories and experiences, Vivek explores the delicate balance between roots—the traditions and connections that shape who we are and wings the courage to explore, innovate, and chase new possibilities. Vivek is part of the India Leadership Team and leads the Markets function. He also leads Clients & Markets programme for the PwC Network’s Asia Pacific & Americas (APA) cluster. In his role, he helps harness the firm's vast capabilities to create tangible and long-lasting impact for our clients and society. Vivek is a resident of Mumbai and been a lifelong PwCer - joined in 1995 as an article trainee. He is a qualified chartered accountant and in his close to three decades of experience has led many assurance, due diligence and advisory engagements for some of the largest domestic and international clients within the banking, asset management, mutual funds, private equity and capital markets segments. He previously led the Financial Services sector for PwC India and the India-West region Assurance practice. Vivek is closely involved in various industry committees and is an active member at industry events and forums. 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

Anila Bansal’s journey is one of dreams, struggles, failures, and ultimate success. As a school student, she was a backbencher, always dancing and participating in co-curricular activities, much to the concern of her parents, who wondered how she would succeed in life. Academics never interested her until she reached 12th grade and realized she needed good scores to secure admission to Delhi University. Determined, she studied hard and performed well, though not well enough for direct admission. However, her passion for dance opened the doors to DU, proving her first major lesson—nothing goes to waste if you are doing something extraordinary that adds value to your career. She joined Gargi College, where she continued dancing and exploring opportunities through various internships. These experiences shaped her mindset, making her realize that she didn’t want to work a conventional job but instead wanted to start something of her own. However, she lacked a concrete business idea. After completing her education, she found herself at home, uncertain about her next steps. One day, her father suggested taking a trip around their city, Faridabad. Though she initially found it pointless, the visit to Mangar, a lesser-known natural and cultural spot, opened her eyes to the hidden gems in her hometown. She realized that many people were unaware of these places, which sparked the idea of starting a business—Town Glow—to showcase and promote her city. Despite having the idea, she lacked business knowledge and struggled with monetization and project planning. Encouraged by her mother, she pursued a Master’s in Entrepreneurship, where she learned essential business strategies and even worked on a project in Greece. However, she was determined to establish something in India. Having studied English Honors, she never imagined working with Hindi, but after discussing with her father and industry professionals, she understood that to make an impact in local news, she needed to embrace Hindi. This challenge led to the birth of Pehchan, a media platform dedicated to recognizing and representing local stories. Initially, she single-handedly managed the business, but she soon realized that a successful venture requires teamwork. She slowly built a team, understanding that leadership is not about doing everything yourself but about empowering others while managing operations from behind the scenes. Through this structured approach, Pehchan gained 10 million followers, leading to the expansion of multiple media channels. Eventually, Pehchan Media & Networks emerged as a recognized platform across major social media outlets, marking the beginning of her journey as a woman entrepreneur in the media industry. Anila’s success fueled her desire to inspire and uplift other women, leading her to actively recruit and empower young women within her company. She firmly believes that having an idea is the foundation—once an idea is formed, half the work is already done. Over time, she realized that while media has the power to create an impact, it doesn’t directly change lives. To bridge this gap, she launched an NGO, expanding her mission from informing people to transforming lives. Today, her entrepreneurial journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of creating opportunities not just for oneself but for others as well. Trailblazing entrepreneur and philanthropist, Anila Bansal embodies the spirit of transformation. A proud alumna of Manav Rachna, she founded Pehchan Faridabad—the city's first digital media house—and Pehchan NGO, championing educational and social upliftment. Her initiatives, from launching the Covid Faridabad resource portal to hosting blood donation and mask drives, reflect her commitment to community well-being. A graduate of DU and the University of Westminster, Anila’s fearless storytelling and philanthropic endeavors continue to inspire and create accountability. 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 heartfelt and humorous talk, Raaghav Belavadi shares a story that spans decades, continents, and class divides—from a young boy in Mysuru who was once slapped for touching a luxury car, to building one of the world's largest luxury mobility brands with a global asset value of over $650 billion. His journey is not just a personal one, but a reflection of the quiet resilience, cultural nuance, and aspirational fire that define modern India. Raaghav takes the audience through his early setbacks, unconventional career path, and eventual success as a self-made entrepreneur. With no pedigree or elite credentials, he broke into the top ranks of companies like Satyam, Wipro, and Infosys, only to later walk away and build his own legacy—without a line of code or venture capital backing. From luxury cars and private jets to experience-first thinking, his talk urges us to reimagine what success really looks like. Amidst the humor and anecdotes, a powerful message emerges: aspirations must always be anchored in values. As he says, choosing values over ambition may slow the journey, but it ensures the destination is truly worth reaching. Raaghav Belavadi, Founder of Hype Luxury, is redefining India’s luxury mobility landscape. A Mechanical Engineering graduate from N.I.E., Mysore, with advanced training from Oxford University, Raaghav transitioned from his role as Group Head at Accenture to establish Hype, a completely bootstrapped venture now valued at over ₹1,000 crores. His strategic brilliance has made Hype a profitable business without venture capital, setting a benchmark for resilience and innovation in the luxury sector. Hype Luxury offers a global fleet that includes 21,000 private jets, 2,800 luxury yachts, and 34,000 high-end cars, culminating in a staggering asset value exceeding $650 billion. He has been creating a premium lifestyle experience that seamlessly blends cutting-edge technology, sustainability, and customer-centric innovation. Beyond mobility, Raaghav has positioned Hype as a lifestyle statement, aligning with the aspirations of a discerning audience and elevating India’s luxury standards to global prominence. 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 powerful TEDx talk, Dr. Sai Kaustuv Dashgupta takes us on an unforgettable journey of resilience, purpose, and transformation. Born in a small corner of India, he shares how he rose above society’s judgment and daily struggles of wheelchair confinement to discover his inner wings. This talk is an invitation to reimagine adversity - not as a limitation, but as a launchpad. With poignant reflections on suffering, strength, and self-belief, Sai encourages viewers to ground themselves in purpose, reminding us that the sky has no limit when roots and wings work together. Dr. Sai Kaustuv Dashgupta, fondly called the “Wheelchair Warrior of India,” is a global changemaker and India’s first disabled Certified Happiness Coach. Despite living with a rare brittle bone disease that left him 90% disabled, Dr. Sai has turned his challenges into a mission to inspire resilience, accessibility, and inclusion. Honored with the National Award for Individual Excellence and featured on the D-30 Disability Impact List, he champions DEI, mental wellness, and disability leadership across 15+ countries. At TEDx IIM Bangalore, Dr. Sai will share how embracing adversity and fostering happiness can create inclusive communities. Through his powerful storytelling and actionable insights, he inspires millions to challenge perceptions and embrace change. Dr. Sai redefines what’s possible through the power of willpower, inspiring others to embrace their potential and build an inclusive, compassionate world. 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 powerful TEDx talk, ethnographic researcher Dr. Najeeb Abdulhamid explores a vital question: How might we leverage AI to empower Africa's workforce for the future? As co-author of AI and the Future of Work in Africa whitepaper, Dr. Najeeb offers a grounded, thought-provoking perspective on the opportunities and risks that generative AI brings to the continent. From transforming agriculture and healthcare to supporting rural entrepreneurs, he envisions a future shaped by AI for Africa, by Africa—but only if we invest in the right skills, infrastructure, and inclusive policies. Najeeb G. Abdulhamid is an ethnographic researcher at Microsoft Research Africa (MSR Africa), based in Nairobi, Kenya. His work is dedicated to understanding how people interact with technology and leveraging these insights to develop actionable design solutions that empower workers.Najeeb earned his PhD in Computer Science from Brunel University(opens in new tab), London, and holds an MSc in Information Systems from the University of Aberdeen(opens in new tab), Scotland, UK. His academic journey has equipped him with a profound understanding of the technological landscape. 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