Sara Minkara, a blind Muslim diplomat, discusses the pervasive misconceptions surrounding disability. She highlights how society often views disabled individuals through the lens of pity or unrealistic inspiration, rather than recognizing their multifaceted identities and contributions. Sara advocates for systemic change, emphasizing the economic and social benefits of inclusivity, not just for disabled people but for everyone. She calls for difficult conversations, shared responsibility, and the sharing of best practices to dismantle societal barriers and achieve genuine inclusion. Ultimately, she urges the audience to work towards a world where the contributions of the disability community are valued and incorporated into all aspects of society. Sara Minkara joins the U.S. Department of State as Special Advisor on International Disability Rights. The senior diplomat for disability rights, Special Advisor Minkara leads the U.S. comprehensive strategy to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities internationally and across our foreign policy.As a Lebanese-American Muslim woman who acquired her disability at the age of 7, Minkara incorporates her personal experience with disability in all of her work. She has dedicated her life to promoting inclusion as a value, and to empowering others to reach their potential.Ms. Minkara developed a unique approach, her In the Dark Methodology, to introduce concepts of adaptive design, leadership, and inclusion, and to address workplace and social challenges.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

Shannon Pearson explores how avoiding conflict often leads to more of it and highlights the importance of understanding what drives disagreements. Shannon shares her journey from conflict avoidance to becoming a mediator, emphasizing that resolving conflict requires courage and humility. Through relatable analogies, like dodgeball, and impactful stories, including a grieving employee’s struggle, the talk reveals that conflict often stems from unspoken vulnerabilities and values. By stepping away from assumptions and listening deeply, we can transform conflict into a tool for connection and understanding. Viewers will learn practical steps to embrace conflict, foster deeper relationships, and create positive change in their personal and professional lives. Workplace Conflict Resolution Specialist & MediatorAs an accomplished mediator, Shannon is committed to helping organizations and individual transform by embracing conflict and navigating the discomfort of tough conversations.Her professional experience began as an investment advisor in the financial industry. She transitioned her focus from economic performance to people performance when noticing that regardless of how robust a process is, people will not perform at their best when they are not engaged and aligned to a shared outcome.Spending years avoiding conflict, Shannon knows firsthand the cost of not resolving recurring issues. Her innovative approach merges interpersonal connectivity with a deep dive into underlying issues, driving enhanced performance and team productivity. This results in a remarkable improvement in interpersonal dynamics and an overall boost in organizational performance, leaving a lasting impact by finding common ground, creating connections, and the foundation for collaborative solutions.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

Educator Dr. Laura Finley shares powerful personal stories and classroom experiences to explore how vulnerability can spark a chain reaction—from mindfulness and empathy to deep human connection and meaningful action. Drawing on decades of teaching, Finley challenges the idea that professionalism means emotional restraint and suggests that showing our true feelings is essential for building a more just, kind, and compassionate world. Laura Finley, Ph.D is a professor of sociology and criminology at Barry University. She is also an adjunct at Southern New Hampshire University, teaching Strategies for Online Learning and Diversity Awareness and Online Learning. Finley is the author, co-author or editor of 40 books as well as more than four dozen peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. She is also a syndicated columnist with Peace Voice and a frequent presenter at local, state, and national conferences. Finley is also an activist for peace, justice, and gender equality. She is involved with a number of movements and is a Board member for The Humanity Project and Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, as well as co-founder and organizer of the College Brides Walk, a dating and domestic violence awareness campaign. In 2022, Finley was named Outstanding Faculty Member at Barry 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 eye-opening TEDx talk, Dr. Renita Rajan, renowned dermatologist, pigment laser expert, and author of “Sunscreens for Skin of Color”, challenges popular myths around sunscreen use—especially for Indian and melanin-rich skin. With clarity, wit, and cutting-edge science, she explains why Indians don’t need sunscreens for cancer prevention—but absolutely do for pigmentation and photoaging. Drawing from over 20 years of dermatological practice and research, Dr. Rajan uncovers the genetic jackpot Indians have inherited through melanin—nature’s full-spectrum sun shield—and the flip side: a high predisposition to stubborn pigmentation. She introduces the emerging science of the “Exposome”—a groundbreaking framework that studies how external and internal exposures throughout life influence health and aging. From discussing how sunscreen formulations are evolving for skin of color to explaining why sleep, diet, and microbes matter more than we think, this talk connects dermatology with longevity, confidence, and future possibilities in personalized health. Whether you're a skincare enthusiast, aspiring doctor, or a curious thinker, this talk will transform how you think about skin, sun, and self-care. Dr. Renita Rajan is a leading dermatologist, researcher, and advocate for evidence-based skincare. She authored the newly released Sunscreens in Skin of Color (Springer Nature)—the only book focusing on UV protection for darker skin types. Heading RENDER Skin and Hair, a prominent laser dermatology clinic, and founding CHOSEN by Dermatology, she champions science-driven, personalized longevity solutions. With over 2.2 lakh followers on Instagram, Dr. Rajan translates advanced research into everyday well-being, particularly on the exposome—how genetic “roots” and environmental “wings” (pollution, UV exposure, lifestyle) shape health. At TEDx IIM Bangalore, she’ll demonstrate how acknowledging our biological roots while shaping our surroundings can yield transformative personal outcomes. Blending scientific rigor and practical insights, Dr. Rajan redefines beauty, health, and sustainability in modern dermatology. 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

Because we as men have been conditioned to associate being "manly" with not showing any signs of vulnerability, we unwittingly attach our experience of "masculinity" to our fight-or-flight survival instinct because survival shuts down ALL feelings of vulnerability. While this primal wiring may well serve our physical survival by shutting down our physical vulnerability, it also shuts down any emotional vulnerability we may be feeling, which then prevents us from deepening our experience of closeness and intimacy with the person we love. Dr. Hanalei Vierra talks about how men can learn to be more emotionally vulnerable in order to strengthen their love relationships, but also how to do this in a way that does not sacrifice their masculinity. http://www.hanaleivierra.com#TEDxspeaker #TEDxTalks #TEDxSanDiego #healthymasculinity #emotionalvulnerability #men #relationships Hanalei Vierra, PhD., MFT is an expert on men’s emotional health. He is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in San Diego, California, where he has specialized for over 30 years in teaching adult men how to become emotionally healthy partners in their intimate relationships…WITHOUT SACRIFICING THEIR MASCULINITY! Hanalei’s down-to-earth approach to 21st century masculinity focuses on helping men access the testicular fortitude necessary to free themselves from the prison of emotional ignorance that defines traditional toxic masculinity. He believes that men have been conditioned to associate “being manly” with hiding behind a “mask of masculinity” to show the world that we are not vulnerable to our very human experiences of fear, pain, anger, sadness, and shame. This keeps men functioning as emotionally immature boys in their adult relationships, and it also disconnects men from their authenticity, personal integrity, and self-respect. www.hanaleivierra.com 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