Nic Laconico believes we should overcome societal pressures tied to the concept of dream jobs. His talk challenges the audience to separate their self-worth from their career and encourages them to redefine success by focusing on dream experiences, relationships, skillsets, and beyond. Nic is the Associate Director for Business Engagement in the Division of Development & Alumni Relations, where he leverages his higher education experiences and industry knowledge to increase philanthropic support for the university community. He earned a Master of Education from the Mary Frances Early College of Education and previously served as Director of New Student Orientation and Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions. 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

This talk covers the specialized hardware that Large Language Models (LLMs) run on, as well as and the current limits of context windows and inference speeds. Then, a selective chunking method is introduced for fast summarization with unlimited file size. Included is a demo which summarizes tens of thousands of pages from the JFK files in seconds, highlighting the power of performant algorithms and the blazing inference speed of Cerebras. Societal implications are discussed to conclude the talk.AI, Algorithm, Big Data, Computers, Engineering, Future, Intelligence, Internet, Machine Learning, Math, Software, Technology, Web Algorithms • Optimization • Parallel Programming • Python (Programming Language) • Artificial Intelligence (AI) 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 talk, Elle Evanter explains the benefits of having a motto, using her own family motto as an example. Elle is a 5th grader at Saint Andrew’s, where she has been attending for four years. Originally from New York, she returns each summer for sleepaway camp. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, shopping, going to the mall, and visiting Disney. While staying motivated has been a challenge, her family motto has helped her push through and gain confidence over the years. Inspired by its impact, she joined TED-Ed to share how her motto has helped her—and how it can help others too. 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 deeply reflective TEDx talk, Asim Hafeez explores a powerful metaphor: the two mountains we all face in life. The first is the mountain of personal ambition — the goals, careers, and dreams we pursue from a young age. But what happens after we reach that peak? Through personal stories and profound insights, Asim challenges us to look beyond achievement and ask: Is there a second, higher mountain — one driven by purpose rather than success?This talk is a call to reexamine what we’re really striving for and to consider that true fulfillment might come not from reaching the top, but from choosing the right mountain to climb. Asim Hafeez is a visionary entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. He is the owner and operator of Empower Energy Solutions, a rapidly growing solar EPC company generating over $100 million in annual revenue and operating in 25 states across the U.S. Through his "Empower the World" initiative, Asim has funded over 4,000 eyesight restoration surgeries, reflecting his belief that true success includes transforming lives beyond the boardroom.An immigrant born in Pakistan who arrived in the U.S. without knowing English, Asim’s journey is a testament to resilience and relentless growth. With over 18 years in commission-only sales, he has built a diversified investment portfolio that includes ownership of over 200 rental doors and equity in more than 80 companies as a general or limited partner. 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 everything you thought you knew about money was an illusion?In this eye-opening TEDx talk, Medhi Mkinsi unpacks the powerful and unsettling truth: money isn’t real — at least, not in the way we think it is. Tracing his journey through the world of cryptocurrency, Medhi explores how digital "magic coins," created from lines of code, came to hold real-world value, and how this phenomenon mirrors the way all money operates. From fiat currencies to Bitcoin, he reveals how value is not intrinsic, but rather a product of shared belief — a psychological construct upheld by trust, habit, and collective agreement.This talk challenges conventional wisdom about wealth, economics, and what we choose to value. Prepare to question the foundations of the global financial system and walk away seeing money not as a fixed reality, but as a story we all agree to believe. Mehdi Mkinsi is a Geneva-based tech entrepreneur and the CEO of 77-bit, a cutting-edge metaverse gaming platform redefining play-to-earn experiences. With a dynamic background that spans roles at Zadig, Ito, Kamoon, and the renowned Büro Ole Scheeren, Mehdi blends creative vision with operational excellence. A graduate of 42 Silicon Valley, he brings a rare combination of skills in logistics, startups, web design, data analysis, and project management. At 77-bit, Mehdi leads the charge in building immersive, hero-based adventure games where players not only play—but earn. Under his leadership, the company has launched a beta experience that makes every hero purchased instantly playable, bridging the gap between digital ownership and real-time gameplay in the metaverse. 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