This presentation explores how simple gestures can create powerful and lasting change. The speaker reflects on a moment in her childhood when she received a low grade and felt discouraged, but a teacher's kind and encouraging words gave her the confidence to keep going. Today, she stands as an academic prefect who has set new records. She also shares a memory of her mother quietly paying for someone else's groceries, a small but meaningful act of kindness. Through these personal stories, the talk reminds us that even the smallest acts of support, encouragement, or generosity can leave a lasting mark and inspire others to grow, lead, and do good in return.A true scholar and mentor at heart, Uche Onyema is a 16-year-old student leader dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and the power of shared learning. As the Academic Prefect of Grange School, Uche finds joy in helping others grow, ensuring that learning is not just a personal journey but a collective experience. Her love for debating, where she serves as the Debate Captain, has sharpened her ability to challenge perspectives and engage in thought-provoking discussions.Beyond academics, Uche expresses her creativity through crochet, art, and music, finding solace in the soothing notes of the saxophone. She thrives on building meaningful connections, spreading kindness, and inspiring others. Today, she takes the TEDx stage, ready to ignite new ideas and spark ripples of 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

Ever wondered how mastering communication can shape your career, leadership journey, and everyday confidence? In this inspiring TEDx talk, Prakriti Basyal, CSR & Stakeholder Deputy Manager at Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal and a LeadNext Fellow at The Asia Foundation, shares her remarkable journey — from grassroots advocacy in Nepal to leading conversations in corporate boardrooms and global leadership platforms.Through her personal stories and hard-earned lessons, Prakriti unpacks the transformative power of communication — not just as a skill, but as a tool for social impact, career resilience, and personal growth. She reveals how storytelling helped her navigate cultural shifts, tackle leadership challenges, and build meaningful networks across borders and industries.Whether you’re a student, a young professional, or a corporate leader, this talk will remind you why communication isn’t optional — it’s your greatest superpower. Prakriti Basyal is a dynamic leader at the intersection of corporate responsibility, public policy, and sustainability in Nepal. Currently serving as the Corporate Social Responsibility and Stakeholder Deputy Manager at Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal, she is committed to fostering inclusive, community-centered initiatives that drive both social impact and business value. A LeadNext Fellow with The Asia Foundation, Prakriti represents a new generation of changemakers working across borders to address pressing global challenges through dialogue, leadership, and collaborative action.With a degree in International Relations and Peace Studies, she brings a rich blend of academic insight and on-the-ground experience to her work. Her diverse professional journey has spanned program coordination, civic engagement advocacy, and governance consulting — including spearheading youth-centered initiatives at Daayitwa and co-creating Nepal’s first real-time, public civic data platform, Shaasan. 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 powerful and unflinchingly honest TED Talk, poet and storyteller Rose Kandel unpacks the discomfort women experience in everyday interactions — and why it matters. Drawing from personal stories, cultural insight, and years of advocacy, Rose challenges the notion that harm is only visible when it’s extreme.She makes the case that the unease women feel in certain spaces, especially with men, is not harmless awkwardness — it’s a signal, a symptom of deeper, systemic violence that society refuses to name. This talk goes beyond conversations about privilege, calling for a radical reimagining of how we define safety, boundaries, and consent in both public and private life.A must-watch for anyone seeking to understand gendered power dynamics and the invisible weight women carry every day. Rose Kandel is a poet, storyteller, and public speaker who explores the intersections of culture, gender, and power. With a background in business, economics, and leadership, she brings together data and emotion, policy and personal experience.Rose is a graduate of Kathmandu University School of Management and Bowling Green State University. She spent six years in the States studying, working, and reflecting on the experiences of women, especially those from SouthAsia. That time shaped her voice and perspective, helping her articulate what many women feel but often can’t express.Her work has taken many forms—from national pageants to political discussion boards, from blogging, teaching, and content creation to experiences in management and participation in global conversations on trade and development. Across these spaces, she’s opened up conversations around consent, cultural expectations, and the quiet burdens many women carry. 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

"Garden" is a song about the temporality of life. Its lyrics connect deeply with nature as a reminder to slow down amidst restlessness. Even though tomorrow isn't guaranteed, plant the garden anyway." Freshly planted in the front range, Sara Van Hecke is making a name for herself in Colorado’s musical realm. Enchanted by Chicago’s vibrant music scene as a young singer-songwriter, Sara Van Hecke serenaded crowds in famed concert halls such as The House of Blues, The Bottom Lounge, and The Beat Kitchen. Bustling rooms fell silent carefully listening to her radically honest and personal songwriting. Sara Van Hecke has over 10 years of performing, songwriting and recording experience and draws inspiration from artists like Norah Jones, Brandi Carlile and Maggie Rogers. Sara’s original tunes are grounded yet dreamlike - weaving authentic moments with the curiosities of life. 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

After losing a close childhood friend to suicide, Meena begins with the well-known "Seven Stages of Grief" before exploring an invisible "eighth" stage, living with grief. We miss those we lose because they are special to us. In her talk, Meena explores how it is the ways in which we live in and heal through grief that ultimately makes us a better person. 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 a Portfolio Manager and sports aficionado, Peter has developed a scientific system of “Six Investment Models” that helps both clients and their advisors remove emotion and focus on rational judgment in the investment decision-making process. Raised in Montreal and Boston and now lives in Vancouver, BC, Peter has a B. Comm from Concordia University and pursued continuing education at the University of Oxford’s Christ Church summer residency programs. During his tenure he earned the Certified Financial Planner, and portfolio management (CIM) credentials. He developed a scientific system of “Six Investment Models” that helps both clients and their advisors remove emotion and focus on rational judgment in the investment decision-making process. Peter’s volunteer commitments are centered on sport, and is serving as a governor of Golf Canada, and is a past Director of Finance at the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC). In his own sporting life, Peter founded and played on a curling team that won gold at an international curling tournament in Budapest. Peter is a published author of “HEROISMS 8 Pillars to a Life of Passion, Beauty & Creativity” that is part of Oxford’s Bodleian library collection. 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