This is the inspiring journey of an ordinary middle-class girl from Patna who dared to dream big in the city of dreams—Mumbai. With no exceptional grades or privileges, she faced doubts, pressure, and stereotypes, but chose courage over comfort. In this heartfelt talk, the speaker shares how belief, persistence, and self-worth—not just marks—can define your future. A story of hope for every student, dreamer, and underdog who thinks they're ‘too average’ to make it big. A rising star in Indian cinema, known for her compelling performances in films like All India Rank (2023) and Bhakshak (2024). With her dynamic presence and storytelling prowess, Samta brings characters to life, leaving a lasting impact on audiences. Her journey in the film industry reflects a blend of talent, dedication, and an unwavering passion for the arts. 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 a world where leadership is often seen as tough and commanding, true impact comes from leading with empathy, trust, and connection. "Leading Without a Scalpel" explores how you can guide teams, drive change, and inspire excellence without force, fear, or rigid authority. This talk will dive into the essence of friendly leadership — using influence instead of control, offering direction without domination, and creating an environment where people choose to follow because they feel seen, heard, and valued. Expect real-world stories, actionable strategies, and a fresh perspective on how kindness, clarity, and authenticity can make you a leader people naturally rally behind — without ever needing to "cut deep" or exert pressure. the dynamic CEO of Medlinks Hair and Skin chain of Clinics, is a trailblazer in the field of skin and hair care management. A gold medalist in management she combines academic excellence with visionary leadership. At Medlinks, she oversees operations, ensuring exceptional standards in dermatology and trichology services. Under her guidance, the clinic chain has grown into a trusted name for advanced hair and skin treatments, driven by innovation and customer-centric care. Jyoti’s strategic acumen and commitment to excellence have solidified Medlinks’ reputation as a leader in the aesthetic and dermatological healthcare space. 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 grief held your true purpose?Following his mom’s sudden cancer diagnosis, connection expert Stephen Seidel was hit by a perfect storm: personal loss, pandemic isolation, and a deepening men’s mental health crisis.38% of men avoid showing emotion to appear “manly,” with many never crying in front of others, a struggle he knew firsthand.In this raw, vulnerable, and heartfelt talk, Seidel shares how unexpected signs like fries at the bottom of the bag and a recurring cardinal helped turn pain into purpose and inspired the creation of The Journey Deck, a powerful men’s mental health tool.And, to remember ... Love Never Ends. Stephen Seidel is a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and founder of the award-winning Seidel Agency, amplifying artists and Fortune 500 changemakers. As a best-selling author, creator of the Top 10 Apple podcast Wolves Among Us, and men's mental health community GentsJourney.co, he is driven by a mission to do good, give back, and make an impact by owning your story. Seidel is originally from Bucks County, PA, and lives in Lexington, KY as a proud #GirlDad. With a BSIE from Penn State, he remains loyal to cheesesteaks, pretzels, and his Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. 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

Online platforms and the protocols that power them are indispensable to everything we do today. Three decades ago, policymakers laid the groundwork for what was to come—but they didn't get everything right. This talk presents the steps policymakers can take to put everyday people at the center of tech. Olivier Sylvain is a professor of law at Fordham University and a senior policy research fellow at Columbia University’s Knight First Amendment Institute. His research is on information and communications law and policy. His most recent writing, scholarship, commentary, and congressional testimony are on the topics of online intermediary liability, commercial surveillance, and artificial intelligence.Sylvain has been awarded grants from the National Science Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and served as a senior advisor to the chair of the Federal Trade Commission from 2021 to 2023. He currently teaches Legislation and Regulation, Administrative Law, Information Law, U.S. Data Protection Law and Privacy, and information technology-related courses. Before entering academia, Sylvain was a Karpatkin Fellow in the National Legal Office of the American Civil Liberties Union in New York City and a litigation associate at Jenner & Block LLC in Washington, D.C. 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

As AI analyzes data for us and promises quick decisions, how do we define the wisdom that will remain uniquely human? When we look at the neuroscience of human consciousness, the insights of modern psychology, and the research on leadership, they all point to the truth of a 500-year-old tradition. The Jesuit principles of discernment help capture the secrets of human wisdom. Tania Tetlow is the first woman and the first layperson to be named president of Fordham University.Prior to beginning her tenure at Fordham, she was the first woman and first layperson to lead Loyola University New Orleans. Tetlow served as the Felder-Fayard Professor of Law at Tulane University, where she was also senior vice president and a key strategic adviser to President Michael Fitts. As a law professor, her research helped persuade the Department of Justice to reimagine its regulation of constitutional policing. She also directed Tulane’s Domestic Violence Law Clinic, for which she raised millions of dollars in federal grant funds. Before her career in academia, she was an associate at Phelps Dunbar, litigating complex commercial transactions. She also served as an assistant United States attorney, prosecuting cases involving everything from violent crime to fraud. She graduated cum laude from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies and is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, where she earned a Juris Doctor degree and was a Harry S. Truman Fellow. 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

Increasingly, we have to think about climate change resilience not only in terms of mitigation but also in terms of adaptation. Cities present a challenge and a key to both. But thinking about resilience just in terms of our changing climate is not enough. Annika Marlen Hinze, Ph.D., is an associate professor of political science at Fordham University. She served as the director of the Urban Studies program from July 2016 to June 2024. Her research and teaching focus on urban politics, immigration policy, democratic theory, gender equality, and qualitative and mixed methods research. Specifically, Hinze is interested in housing, transportation, and sustainability, as well as social and immigrant justice in cities. Her first book, Turkish Berlin: Integration Policy and Urban Space (University of Minnesota Press, 2013), compares integration policy and lived integration of second-generation Turk-German women in two Berlin neighborhoods. She is also the co-author (with Dennis R. Judd) of the 10th edition of City Politics: The Political Economy of Urban America (Routledge, 2018), as well as the 11th edition of the newly titled City Politics: Cities and Suburbs in 21st Century America (Routledge, 2022), and co-editor (with James M. Smith) of the recently published 8th edition of American Urban Politics in a Global Age (Routledge, 2024). Hinze has been published in journals on topics including immigration, gender equality in academia, urban economic development, and nationalism. She has been a member of the editorial board of Urban Affairs Review since January 2023, and since July 2023, she has been the co-editor of the International Political Science Review, the flagship journal of the International Political Science Association. Hinze was a visiting researcher at the Russell Sage Foundation, where she worked on her book manuscript, A Country Behind A Wall: Immigration Policy, Public Discourse, and the Reality of the Borderlands, during fall 2024.Hinze studied English, North American studies, and modern history at Humboldt University and Free University in Berlin, Germany; holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from the University of Illinois, Chicago; and has done field research in Canada, Germany, Turkey, and the United States. 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