There is a dual challenge of meeting increasing global energy demand alongside an urgent need for transition to clean energy sources. Despite major progress in renewables, fossil fuel use has actually increased in recent years. Instead of thinking solely about an energy transition, we might look for "energy addition" opportunities—adding in new sources of breakthrough renewable technologies like nuclear fission, fusion, and geothermal for new demand. What's the catch? The development required to scale these novel cleantech projects to commercial viability requires significant investment. Promising tech in a lab can often hit the dreaded "Valley of Death", the point where increased risk and uncertainty is a major barrier to commercial deployment. Here's where financial engineering comes in, like deploying mega funds and adopting phased development models akin to biotech. These strategies can de-risk and attract the critical investment needed to get us through the Valley of Death and into a much more sustainable future. Andrew W. Lo is the Charles E. and Susan T. Harris Professor, a Professor of Finance, and the Director of the Laboratory for Financial Engineering at the MIT Sloan School of Management.Lo's current research spans four areas: evolutionary models of investor behavior and adaptive markets, artificial intelligence and financial technology, healthcare finance, and impact investing. He has co-founded several asset management and biotech companies, and sits on the boards of several for-profit and non-profit public and private healthcare organizations.Lo holds a BA in economics from Yale University and an AM and PhD in economics from Harvard University. 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 talk, Michael Ruiz explores the traditional path to leadership and the powerful influence of both role models and ineffective leaders. He challenges the notion of simply following in others' footsteps, instead advocating for a leadership style rooted in personal beliefs and values.Drawing inspiration from Miles Davis’ quote, "Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself," Michael emphasizes the importance of developing an authentic leadership voice. He shares practical exercises to accelerate this process, helping leaders refine their approach while staying true to their core principles.Michael J Ruiz currently serves Houston ISD as the Senior Executive Director for Leadership and Strategic Initiatives (LSI). LSI is responsible for developing the capacity of every instructional leader in Houston ISD. In addition to this, LSI also oversees, strategic staffing initiatives as well as pipeline programs for future teachers, campus administrators and executive leaders. Michael brings 6 years of experience in technology sales and marketing and 15 years of in education to this role. During his 9 years as a dual-language teacher in Dallas ISD he was honored to be named the 2015 Dallas ISD Teacher of the Year. After serving as assistant principal and Woodrow Wilson High School and head of school for Geneva Heights IB World School, Michael was named Executive Director of STEM for Dallas ISD. He served in this role until June of 2023 where he left Dallas to move to Houston for his new role. 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 do a surgeon, a hotel manager, a yoga teacher, and a data scientist have in common? For many women, the answer is a career break—and the daunting challenge of returning to meaningful work. In this thought-provoking talk, Neha sheds light on the hidden barriers women face when trying to re-enter the workforce after caregiving breaks, revealing how these obstacles contribute to the alarming drop in female representation at middle management and leadership levels.Challenging the myths around ambition and career gaps, this talk explores how traditional hiring practices overlook highly skilled women simply because they have taken time off. But what if we applied business intelligence—specifically marketing strategies—to solve this problem? Drawing from personal experience and innovative recruitment approaches, Neha shares how simple shifts, like rethinking search keywords and introducing “Returnship Sprints,” can revolutionize how companies attract and retain female talent.This talk is a call to action for future leaders to rethink talent acquisition, prioritize inclusivity, and use creative business strategies to close the gender gap. Because achieving the elusive 50% isn’t just a diversity metric—it’s the key to building stronger, more innovative workplaces for all. Neha is an author and a global learning professional. She has lived in 8 countries and has helped hundreds of women restart their careers. She also enjoys playing improv and saying “yes” to the curve balls life throws at her. 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 makes a truly hospitable experience? Is it training, scripted service, or mystery guests? In this compelling and humorous talk, Laura takes us on a journey from their first job in a fine-dining restaurant—where a toxic culture stifled genuine hospitality—to becoming a leader on a mission to bring real hospitality into every industry. Through personal stories and 20 years of research, Laura reveals a critical truth: hospitality isn't about rules, checklists, or forced smiles—it thrives in a culture where employees feel valued, empowered, and inspired by leadership. While traditional training can provide short-term improvements, it often fails to create lasting change. The secret? Hospitable Leadership. By fostering a culture where employees want to be hospitable rather than have to be, businesses can transform service from scripted transactions into heartfelt interactions. This talk challenges leaders to shift from rigid protocols to a mindset of Embody, Empower, and Embed—the three pillars that turn hospitality from an obligation into an art.Laura de la Mar Speaker, Author, Trainer & Founder of Gastvrijheid in BedrijfTrue hospitality isn’t about service—it’s about genuine personal attention. But how do you ensure employees are intrinsically motivated to be hospitable? Many companies invest in training, protocols, and CX surveys, yet the impact fades quickly. Why? Because without a hospitable culture, hospitality remains superficial.As the author of Hospitable Leadership (2024) and other books, Laura de la Mar helps organizations embed lasting hospitality from within. Combining scientific insights, practical strategies, and powerful storytelling, she inspires leaders to rethink their role. 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

‘I want to be famous!’ was the thought that drove Frerick when he was a teenager, listening to his favourite bands in his room. He embarked on his own journey, with the goal of becoming a rock star with what he had available: a piano and a recorder. In his journey to fame story, he draws parallels to how life unfolds and how one's vision helps navigate it. He describes movement as what life throws at you, as the stones that are placed in your path. Stones such as rejection from people who don't understand you and unforeseen changes in the external environment are just examples of this. In his TEDx talk, Frerick invites everyone to reflect on our own goals and how valuable it is to be single-minded about who we want to be. His vision changed in a moment of reflection during a concert he was playing. With his approach to life, we can learn to enjoy it while it lasts and that adjusting our vision can keep the fire of our passion burning. Frerick den Haan is a pianist and composer from The Hague (NL). Escaping the hectic pace of the day, he creates his own world with his compositions in which chaos is transformed into order, creating an escapade to a certain form of tranquility for the mind. Something many of his listeners can relate to. Den Haan continuously experiments in his music with elements from film music, classical music and pop music, consciously seeking out the melancholy of the piano. 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

Laura de Vries is a changemaker with a proven track record in shaping national and European climate policy. She specialises in navigating complex decision-making processes and driving social change. By connecting government, business and civil society, she turns ambitious ideas into tangible change. The talk is about movement – not only in her personal journey to become a changemaker, but also in breaking through barriers in the way we think and act. Her TEDx Talk has explored that navigating change is about more than just physical transitions – it is about shifting perspectives, overcoming resistance and finding the balance between pushing forward and traction to achieve sustainable impact. Laura de Vries is a changemaker with a track record of shaping national and European climate policy. She specializes in navigating complex decision-making processes and driving societal transitions. By bridging the worlds of government, business, and civil society, she turns ambitious ideas into tangible change.Laura’s work revolves around movement. Not just in her journey towards becoming a changemaker and learning how to navigate that, but in breaking barriers of thought and action.She has worked with policymakers, industry leaders, and grassroots organizations to create momentum for systemic 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