In this powerful and thought-provoking talk, educator and Ignite Academy founder Danny Cao challenges the outdated mindsets driving much of today’s education system. Drawing on years of teaching experience and stories from students at top institutions like Tsinghua and Columbia, Danny reveals a painful truth: when education is reduced to rigid goals, rankings, and resume-padding, creativity dies.With wit and conviction, he explores why many classrooms discourage curiosity, why teachers fear questions, and how labels like “gifted” and “ordinary” damage children’s confidence and potential. He shares his belief that every child has their own version of genius, and that innovation cannot flourish in a system that rewards only conformity and performance.From critiques of how competitions are misused to reflections on the real purpose of learning, Danny invites us to reimagine education as a space not for comparison, but for discovery — one where asking questions matters more than having all the answers. Danny Cao Founder & CEO, Ignite Academy | Columbia University | Forbes Global Young LeaderDanny Cao is a visionary educator and the founder of Ignite Academy, where he brings Ivy League thinking into Chinese classrooms through engaging, logic-driven math instruction. A graduate of Columbia University, Danny has taught over 10,000 students from middle school to graduate level, combining humor, deep logic, and elite pedagogy to transform how students understand mathematics.With 8 years of teaching experience and a background as a Columbia University lecturer in math and statistics, Danny is especially skilled at both nurturing top performers and helping struggling students catch up. His students have gone on to win top national and international math competitions, and gain admission to leading institutions including MIT, Oxford, Cambridge, Wharton, and China’s 985 universities.Danny was ranked #1 in Jiangsu TV’s “The Brain” national selection, a top 7 finalist in the Brain King Gala, and a recurring guest on Tencent Video’s “Battle to the Peak 3” and “Young Round Fish Island”. He also serves as a visiting lecturer at Peking University's Boya Education Think Tank and was selected as a 2023 China Education Role Model, Forbes Global Young Leader, and Asia-Pacific Emerging Leader (APEA).Through his acclaimed series “Zhuiguang Classroom” and 50+ public lectures, Danny is reshaping math education in China—one mind at a time. 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

At 20, Rocky Liang asked for a 100,000 RMB monthly salary — on national television — in front of business icon Dong Mingzhu. That bold moment sparked a viral wave, changed his life trajectory, and became the catalyst for an extraordinary personal transformation.In this humorous and heartfelt talk, Rocky shares how a regular international student turned a leap of faith into national fame, a self-made media career, and eventually, a return to the workplace with new clarity. From surviving online scrutiny to building a personal brand with over 500K followers, Rocky reflects on the cost of comparison, the myth of being “ready,” and the freedom of taking ownership of your story — even when the script doesn’t exist yet.Through three chapters — stepping up, starting over, and showing up — Rocky encourages us to stop living as background characters in our own lives. Whether you’re navigating career confusion, social media pressures, or just figuring yourself out, this talk is a reminder that the most powerful role you can play… is yourself. * Content Creator with 500K follower * Reality Show Guest on Mango TV * Strategy Consultant * Northwestern Medill Alum 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

What if our obsession with winning is the very thing holding us back? In this deeply personal and thought-provoking talk, Harvard graduate William Feng shares his journey from being an overlooked "average" student to redefining success beyond rankings and résumés. Through childhood struggles with body image, academic pressure, and relentless comparison, he exposes the hidden cost of the zero-sum mindset — the belief that someone else’s gain is your loss.Drawing from experiences working with foster children in the U.S. and high-achieving students across cultures, Junyi challenges the narrative that life is a competition. He invites us to reimagine failure not as defeat, but as a doorway to empathy, collaboration, and shared growth. This is a story about redefining value, embracing vulnerability, and unlocking a future where success is not about beating others — but about lifting others with you. Northwestern & Harvard alumnus | Education Entrepreneur | Storyteller & Advocate for Win-Win GrowthChenjunyi (William) Feng is an education innovator and storyteller who bridges policy, performance, and purpose. Graduated from Harvard University studying Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship, William was one of the youngest student in his cohort and served as Vice President of the Harvard Graduate Consulting Club.With a dual degree in Economics and Radio/TV/Film from Northwestern University, and offers from top programs including Kellogg School of Management, University of Chicago, and NYU Stern, William brings a rare cross-disciplinary perspective to education. He has empowered over 100+ foster children in Kansas City through grassroots educational outreach and helped 200+ students achieve top TOEFL and ACT scores, with 30+ admitted to Top 30 universities across the U.S.As COO of a leading education consulting firm in Shanghai, William designs customized education pathways for students from underprivileged backgrounds to celebrity families. He is also the founder of TEDxSinanRd, where he curates cross-disciplinary dialogues on the future of education.Beyond academics, William is a seasoned debater, comedy lover, and former contestant on China’s hit shows The Brain. Featured in China Youth Daily, he combines wit and warmth to connect with audiences on both sides of the Pacific. 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

Despite being more linked than ever, loneliness is a global epidemic. This talk explores history, personal stories, and the power of vulnerability in reclaiming shared humanity particularly through art. This speech explores the theme of interconnectedness from both macrocosmic and microcosmic perspectives, highlighting how emotional and physical separation has fragmented the human experience. It emphasizes the importance of reconnection through shared human truths, meaningful connections, and the pursuit of authentic expression, particularly through art. 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

Exploring AI-generated videos and images that can make anyone appear to say or do things they never did—unlocking creative potential but also posing serious risks of misinformation, fraud, and reputational harm. Simi is a 9th grade IGCSE student at the International School of Hyderabad. In her free time she enjoys watching movies, coding and playing sports. Simi highlights the increasing danger posed by AI-generated deepfakes, which alter sound and video to provide false information. She skillfully emphasizes the risks these represent to individual safety, disinformation, and public confidence, calling for greater knowledge, legislation, and technology advancements to address this new security issue. 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

After spending 15 years chasing validation in a materialistic bubble, one visit to an orphanage changed everything—leading to a profound journey of self-discovery. Siri Katikaneni is an IBDP year 1 student studying Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science at the Higher Level. When she’s not at school with her friends, she’s probably on call with them all day, ordering food, or crying over a math problem. With a love for public speaking and having meaningful conversations, she's grateful for the opportunity to take the stage and speak on the importance of keeping the conversation going, hoping it’s one the audience will carry forward. 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