Designing better urban landscapes for the future of cities | Michael Zegarelli | TEDxMcGill
What happens when cities are shaped not just by planners but by the people who live in them? This talk explores how urban spaces evolve beyond their original designs through everyday acts of creativity and community. Mount Royal Park’s transformation to the Superblocks of Barcelona highlights the power of adaptive design—an approach that balances structure with spontaneity, inviting cities to grow in resilient, inclusive, and unexpectedly beautiful ways. Michael is an educational keynote speaker who inspires audiences with his insights on mindset, productivity and leadership. Drawing on his experience leading teams and managing complex projects, he focuses on creating frameworks for process optimization. With a background in Mechanical Engineering, Michael has over 15 years of experience in infrastructure advisory and project management, contributing to transformative projects that have shaped cityscapes across Canada. As Vice President, Quebec at Colliers Project Leaders, he continues to explore his passion for building modern cities and is an advocate of forward-thinking approaches to urban development.
Michael is currently dedicated to exploring innovative strategies to build and sustain high-performance teams, focusing on collaboration, adaptability, and shared purpose. His commitment to personal growth mirrors his professional ethos, making him a compelling voice for innovation, resilience, and the future of city planning. 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
More from TED
- 12:54Finding strength through w-w-weakness | Frederic Balussaud | TEDxEDHECBusinessSchoolWhat if your greatest weakness could become the key to your greatest strength? For years, I saw my stuttering as a burden, something that held me back. Today, I want to share how embracing it unlocked hidden abilities that transformed my life and career.Event curated by TedXEDHECBusinessSchool. Filmed and edited by Eliot Grosperrin. Personal Trainer and Holistic Health Coach, Frederic Balussaud is dedicated to helping high-achieving individuals unlock peak performance, both physically and mentally. With a science-backed, results-driven approach, he empowers people to achieve sustainable success without sacrificing their well-being.With elite coaching experience across the globe, Frederic specializes in designing personalized strategies for busy professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders who want to thrive under pressure. Blending physical fitness, mental clarity, and lifestyle optimization, he delivers powerful tools to build resilience, boost energy, and perform at the highest level in life and work. 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
- 15:12Learning to swim against the current | Mich Ongwen | TEDxBentleyUIn a world that constantly tries to define who we are and where we belong, what happens when we push back? This talk shares a personal journey of navigating displacement, rejection, and resistance—from being uprooted across continents to rewriting the rules of fashion and leadership. It’s a call to anyone who’s ever felt out of place, overlooked, or underestimated to see resistance not as a wall, but as a doorway to transformation. Discover the power of adaptability, creativity, and relentless courage to carve your own path—against the current. In a world that constantly tries to define who we are and where we belong, what happens when we push back? This talk shares a personal journey of navigating displacement, rejection, and resistance—from being uprooted across continents to rewriting the rules of fashion and leadership. It’s a call to anyone who’s ever felt out of place, overlooked, or underestimated to see resistance not as a wall, but as a doorway to transformation. Discover the power of adaptability, creativity, and relentless courage to carve your own path—against the curren 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
- 5:31You Should Fail More | Coop Caiozzo | TEDxBentleyUThis is the story of how two college freshmen turned failure into their biggest advantage—by building a dorm-room brand from scratch. It’s a talk about risk, creativity, and why failing early and often might be the smartest thing you do. This is the story of how two college freshmen turned failure into their biggest advantage—by building a dorm-room brand from scratch. It’s a talk about risk, creativity, and why failing early and often might be the smartest thing you do. 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
- 14:42Fostering Emotional Well-Being in the Digital Age | Dr Keerthi Pai | TEDxRaks Pallikkoodam YouthA renowned psychologist, Dr Keerthi Pai, unpacks the emotional and cognitive shifts that define adolescence in today’s digital world. She emphasises the importance of safe spaces, emotional literacy, and strong connections between adults and teens in promoting mental well-being. Dr Keerthi Pai, a distinguished Clinical Psychologist, holds dual MPhil in Student Counselling (JBAS College) and Clinical Psychology (Kasturba Medical College, Manipal), along with a PhD from Madras University. She is a Consultant at Apollo Hospitals, a Mental Health Advisor at Apollo Shine Foundation, and a Partner at Element H Psychological Support Services. As Vice President (South Zone) of the Clinical Psychology Society of India and Joint Secretary of TNACP, she actively advances mental health awareness. Trained in Marine Psychology (Denmark), she assesses and supports seafarers across South East Asia. She specializes in grief therapy, Cluster B personality disorders, and gifted adolescents. A published researcher and columnist, her book Chocolate, Strawberry & Vanilla ranks among Amazon’s top five for teens. She curated Anbu Dhaney Ellam, a theatre play on Borderline Personality Disorder, and led a 600+ participant walkathon against sexual harassment in 2024. 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
- 12:57The Emotional Palette: How Colours Shape Choices | Amirtha Manchari | TEDxRaks Pallikkoodam YouthThis visually engaging talk explores how colours influence mood, memory, and decision-making, revealing the subtle yet powerful ways colours shape our daily experiences. The speaker demonstrates how colours can be intentionally used in spaces such as schools, homes, and hospitals to promote positivity and concentration. Amirtha Manchari is a passionate writer, artist, public speaker, and activist who embraces diverse interests, from literature and science to business and culinary arts. Inspired by Sylvia Plath’s words, she seeks to experience and explore every facet of life. A strong advocate for feminism, she uses public speaking to voice her ideas with impact, striving to make the world a better place. 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
- 8:01Washing away carbon emissions in the laundry | Roger Berry | TEDxBostonHumans have invented millions of chemicals that do many useful jobs. However, the intended beneficial properties can come at a cost to human and planetary health. Learn how implementing a nature-inspired chemical invention called TAML has the potential to save 85 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions and 26 billion gallons of water by changing the way we conduct an everyday task – laundry. TAML catalysts mimic nature’s processes to transform how we use chemicals, dramatically reduce carbon emissions, save precious water resources, and reduce the overall volume of chemicals in use today. Deploying TAML chemistry across multiple industry could save more than 1% of global carbon emissions and can have a radical impact on our planet. At the same time, the resource efficiency and potential cost savings for industry can align incentives to help the solution scale. Roger Berry is the CEO of Sudoc, LLC, a company with a patented, nature-inspired chemistry that makes chemical reactions exponentially more powerful. With more than two decades of experience with investing in and leading companies with a focus on sustainability has prepared Roger for his current role in building a transformative sustainable chemistry company in Sudoc. 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
