Mariana Duarte shares her powerful journey through the pandemic's impact on youth mental health. Discover how simple support webs and genuine connection offer profound healing, proving that empathy can mend the unseen scars left by isolation and fear. Mariana Duarte Rangel is passionate about sharing ideas that inspire reflection, connection, and positive change. With unique experiences and a personal perspective, she joins TEDxYouth to spark conversations and encourage others to see the world in new ways. 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 does it truly mean to lead? In this powerful TEDx talk, global peacebuilder Bawa Jain shares a deeply personal and inspiring message about the essence of responsible leadership—one grounded in courage, humility, and moral clarity.Through vivid storytelling, including his encounters with Nelson Mandela and Rabbi Arthur Schneier, and his own journey from privilege to poverty and back, Bawa challenges us to rise above adversity, confront our choices, and lead with integrity in a fractured world.Whether you’re a CEO, student, activist, or citizen—you’ll walk away asking yourself three transformative questions:Do I make decisions based on the present or the future?Are my choices guided by conviction or convenience?Are my actions constructive or destructive?“Courage without humility is foolishness. Humility without courage is hiding.”If you’re ready to rise and lead with purpose, this talk is your call to action.https://www.thecrl.org Bawa Jain is a trailblazer in global leadership and religious diplomacy, bringing together thought leaders to tackle today’s most urgent challenges—beyond politics, beyond ego. He led the historic Millennium World Peace Summit at the UN and co-founded the Religious Initiative at the World Economic Forum, Davos, redefining how faith and leadership intersect on the world stage. His mission is to ignite a new standard of moral leadership—rooted in integrity, empathy and purpose. Through global campaigns honoring icons like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., Jain continues to champion peace, non-violence, and responsible leadership for a better, more united world. 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

Following the guide of the “Renaissance Man”, my speech aims to take everyone through a journey of exploring the combination of STEM and arts through studies, career, and societal impact, and how we can foster a more understanding and innovative mindset for the future. Amy: Hello everyone, my name is Amy Zhang and I am delighted to be chosen as one of the TEDx speakers for 2025! As a grade 12 student in the SAGE program, I love learning, which is probably evident through my various interests as a competitive pianist, Math Club organizer, writer, figure skater and sprinter. While I plan to study engineering in university, I often find conflicts between pursuing my STEM and arts interests. In a world where STEM salaries are more than double arts and humanities salaries, it's important to maintain the skills of human-centered critical thinking, reasoning, creativity and compassion that come from the arts and humanities. Following the guide of the “Renaissance Man”, my speech aims to take everyone through a journey of exploring the combination of STEM and arts through studies, career, and societal impact, and how we can foster a more understanding and innovative mindset for the future. 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 one of the most heartfelt talks of the event, Nayana Shyam opened up about living with fibromyalgia and the often-overlooked link between chronic illness and mental health. With quiet strength and raw honesty, she shared how therapy played a crucial role in her recovery—highlighting the importance of seeking professional help. Her vulnerability touched the hearts of many, making those who've known the pain of struggling in silence feel deeply seen and understood. The talk served as a powerful reminder—your mental health matters, and that reaching out is one of the bravest things you can do. From a young age, Nayana Shyam harbored a passion for filmmaking. She began her professional journey as a content creator at Pocket Aces Pictures Pvt. Ltd., where she directed the heartwarming, wholesome, and highly relatable Mother’s Day video titled “Fashion Conversations With Mom”, amassing over 40 million views on FilterCopy’s YouTube channel. Her directorial ventures include popular web series such as “Firsts”, and the second seasons of “Adulting” and “Please Find Attached” among other works. From 2020 to 2022, she worked at Netflix as a creative editor before going on to create the web series “Sisterhood” with TVF, all while committing to embroidery full-time during her breaks. 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

When Jashin Lin arrived in the U.S. as an international student, she believed success came from endless online job applications. Rejected and discouraged, a single piece of advice changed everything: network. In this inspiring talk, Jashin shares how cold emails, coffee chats, and human connection helped to land her a dream job at Goldman Sachs, and sparked a mission to empower millions of international students, professionals, and immigrants. Learn how networking is not about asking for favors, it's about building a culture of generosity, mentorship, and opportunity. Jashin Lin is an award-winning founder, educator, and career strategist empowering international students in global job markets. She founded Growbie, the first career platform specializing in networking skills for international students, earning her the Student Founder of the Year title and selection to Harvard Innovation Labs’ Launch Lab X. A lecturer at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, Jashin teaches the core career education course, where she is ranked one of the top instructors for energy, empathy, and expertise. She is also a top content creator on Xiaohongshu and a board member of First Generation Harvard Alumni. 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

Former environmental lawyer Susan Blanchet spent 14 years holding polluters accountable—until government inaction left her disillusioned. A series of personal tragedies, including her father’s death and young Eliza’s battle with toxic air, compelled her to pull up anchor and reinvent her purpose. Today, as founder of Origen Air, she harnesses biotech and nature to purify the air we breathe—cleaning what HEPA can’t. With Super Plants and the Eliza Air Purifier, she’s pioneering sustainable solutions to one of our planet’s deadliest threats: indoor air pollution. Susan invites us to imagine—and build—a world where we breathe easier, and live longer. Susan is a B Corp CEO, Founder, lawyer, and international speaker with a deep commitment to uplifting and empowering women.As a member of Women's Business Enterprise (WBE Canada) and a DEI advocate, she has made significant strides in creating a more equitable and inclusive business landscape.Her tireless efforts have been recognized by the industry, with several accolades to her name, including being named a finalist for WBE Excellence Awards' Top Rising Star, second in TiE Women, top 30 in Canada for Herstory by The 51 and Alberta Innovates, semi-finalist KPMG Tech Titans, WE Empower United Nations SDG Challenge Awardee for NA and Europe, Stevie Awards Women Thought Leader of the Year and UVIC President's Distinguished Alumni Award.Susan's commitment to innovation and excellence has led Origen Air to receive the Natural Products Canada Game Changer Award 2023, Victoria Chamber Innovation Award and Douglas Magazine Ten to Watch Award 2022. 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