The Importance of Authentic Inclusion in Children’s Media | Akshata Nayak | TEDxMiddlebury

Mon Jun 2, 2025

What if bias isn’t something we’re born with—but something we hand to our children in the form of bedtime stories and picture books? In this deeply personal TEDx talk, Akshata Nayak pulls back the curtain on how children’s media quietly teaches kids who belongs—and who doesn’t. With honesty and hope, she shows how one $25 book for her daughter sparked a movement to change the stories we tell—before they shape the minds of an entire generation. It was simple, really. Akshata Nayak wanted to design a book so her daughter could learn her native language, Konkani. This single idea blossomed into Little Patakha, a minority woman-owned children's brand with a comprehensive portfolio focused on promoting inclusion by highlighting our shared experiences that exist no matter who we are, where we come from or what we look like. Akshata was born and brought up in Bangalore, India. She moved to the US in 2003 and earned two Master of Science degrees, in Biochemistry and Applied Clinical Nutrition. She is a serial entrepreneur with Little Patakha being her third successful business. Over the years, it became obvious to her that women and BIPOC business owners have plenty of ideas but are not always able to launch and grow them. She now plays an active role in empowering these entrepreneurs, especially in her home state of Vermont, to believe and invest in themselves and their ideas. 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

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