Leadership is often associated with charisma and extroversion, but introverts bring powerful strengths to the table. In this talk, the speaker challenges common misconceptions about leadership and highlights the unique qualities that make introverts exceptional leaders. With their deep listening skills, thoughtful decision-making, and ability to foster meaningful connections, introverts can inspire and lead in ways that are often overlooked. Many of history’s most influential leaders, from business to politics, have thrived by embracing their introverted nature. This talk explores how quiet strength, strategic thinking, and a focus on substance over style can be key to effective leadership. Introverts don’t have to change who they are to lead—they just need to harness their natural strengths. Jia Khandagale, a senior at Watchung Hills Regional High School, has grown into her leadership roles through steady involvement and dedication over the past four years. As president of the Economics Club, she helps lead discussions, organize events, and foster collaboration among her peers. She has also been a dedicated member of the cross-country, swim, and track teams for all four years, where she has learned the value of hard work, resilience, and teamwork. As a Peer Leader, Jia enjoys supporting and guiding younger students, and her involvement in WALT (Warrior Athletic Leadership Team) allows her to help build a more inclusive school community. Jia’s high school journey has been one of personal growth, self-discovery, and lessons learned both on and off the field. Looking back, freshman-year Jia would have never believed she’d one day give a TED Talk titled “You Don’t have to Shout to Stand Out”, encouraging others to embrace their potential and step into leadership roles. 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

Modern cities are built around cars, but what if that dependency is doing more harm than good? In this talk, the speaker examines how car-centric design limits personal independence and weakens community connections. Reliance on cars can make people feel trapped—especially those who cannot drive—while walkable, transit-friendly spaces offer greater freedom and accessibility. Additionally, car dependency isolates individuals, reducing daily interactions that naturally occur in more connected urban environments. By rethinking how we design our cities, we can create spaces that foster stronger communities, healthier lifestyles, and true independence. This talk challenges us to imagine a world where mobility means more than just owning a car. Sai Bhavsar is currently a sophomore at Watchung Hills Regional High School. Sai is a member of The Economics and Finance Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Cross Country, and Spring Track. In his free time, he enjoys photography and long distance running with his friends. He is passionate about car independence - the idea that people can live their lives in the suburbs without needing a car. In his talk, Sai explains how using viable alternatives to cars for short trips can improve an individual’s health, happiness, and community. Sai hopes that people will walk away from his talk understanding that there are alternatives to using cars for every little trip. Sai strives to change both the culture and the infrastructure of the world by encouraging alternatives to driving. 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

Mimi Nguyen explores how her background and where she has lived and traveled to has influenced how she thinks and how she works. Mimi Nguyen has transitioned from corporate roles in the banking and insurance industries to the not-for-profit and startups worlds in 2019. Based in Singapore, she co-founded ‘The Matcha Initiative, a community-based organisation that accelerates sustainability transformation within companies, where they organised the first of its kind AlterCOP in November 2024. She is currently the COO of Handprint Tech, enabling companies to capture business value out of their nature-positive actions, by building tools to close the data loop and engage stakeholders in more impactful ways. All through her journey, she's been inspired by the kindness, the courage and the perseverance of the community of change-makers in the region and beyond, and aims to give back whenever she can, giving time, sharing experiences or funding impact projects. She loves wildlife, doing manual stuff - writing, pottery, cooking, growing plants, you name it - books, and a good laugh in good company. 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

How can the wisdom of older generations shape a better world? Drawing from his own experience, growing up in a multi-generational household, Aiden shows how traditions, love, and culture are passed hand to hand, creating a bridge between past and future, highlighting how this exchange of wisdom—whether through family, friends, or mentors—helps us all build a more supportive, connected, and sustainable world. Aiden is 11 years old and passionate about sharing big ideas to inspire connection and change. Born in Australia to immigrant parents from Hong Kong, Aiden grew up in a multi-generational household where his grandparents played a central role in shaping his values and identity. Fluent in both English and Chinese, Aiden balances school, coding, reading, and designing Mario Maker levels while exploring big philosophical questions with his family. His unique upbringing has given him a love for learning and a deep appreciation for collaboration across generations. 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

Local communities are the engine room in the response to the global biodiversity crisis. Their local knowledge, environmental stewardship and their many hands are critical to forging the solutions at scale that produce healthier river systems, woodlands, soils and native species populations, able to withstand the impacts of climate change. In Central Victoria, a region with more species than all of Europe, communities are working together to restore the ecological functionality of the region at scale. This is empowering many to act in a coordinated way to rapidly restore damaged landscapes and build climate resilience. Dr Sophie Bickford is a landscape ecologist and environmental historian, leading the Biolinks Alliance, an organisation unleashing the potential of community-led nature repair and collective impact. She has specialist skills in environmental leadership, conservation planning, community engagement and empowerment to act for nature, scientific knowledge brokering, functional landscape repair, strategic planning, conservation finance and collaborative learning and action networks. 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

Discover the inspiring journey of an engineer, director, entrepreneur, and innovator Mr Shon Saoji through his inspiring talk at TEDxPICT. In this captivating session, Mr. Shon Saoji shares the three most valuable lessons he learned throughout his remarkable journey in the tech world. Trust the process – you don’t know the future. Shon reflects on his college days as an average student, hustling through academics and learning new skills that ultimately paved the way for his success. His journey is one that every student can relate to, proving that perseverance and patience can lead to extraordinary achievements. Whatever you do, just put your heart into it and do your best - Drawing from his corporate experiences, he reveals the secret of achieving workplace mastery by giving your best, staying committed, and constantly improving. Learn, change, and grow - With his experience as an entrepreneur and a corporate professional, Shon emphasizes the importance of adaptability. He highlights how accepting feedback and evolving with time is key to becoming the best version of oneself. Shon Saoji, a PICT alumnus and Director of Engineering at Coursera, has navigated both startups and large-scale tech organizations, gaining deep insights into what drives success in the industry. Having founded two startups and led product development at Coursera, he understands that while technologies evolve, the core principles of success—persistence, adaptability, and resilience—remain unchanged.In his TEDx talk, Shon will break down the universal mindset needed to thrive in tech, regardless of the domain or role. He will share lessons from his own journey, emphasizing how embracing challenges, learning from failures, and trusting the process can shape a fulfilling and impactful career. Through real-world examples, he will illustrate how staying committed to fundamental principles can help individuals navigate the ever-changing landscape of technology and innovation. 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