How losing my hair revealed my real power | Kat Marenzi | TEDxPacific Avenue
Kat Marenzi wore masks for 20 years ~ the perfectionist mask, the “I’m fine” mask, the social media mask, and when alopecia arrived, the physical one too. She spent those years abandoning herself to avoid being abandoned by others.What if the thing you’ve been most ashamed of is actually the key to your freedom?Then came the moment everything changed. One terrifying night revealed a truth so profound it transformed her life: being unmasked wasn’t her greatest vulnerability ~ it was her greatest superpower.You’ll discover:• How your deepest shame might become your strength• Why authenticity is your most magnetic quality• The moment Kat realized her difference was her gift• The freedom that flows when you stop performing your lifeBecause when you stop performing, what’s left is eternal ~ untouched by shame and fear.So I’ll ask you: what mask are you wearing ~ and what might freedom look like without it?Let this be your permission slip to unmask, magnetize your truth & reclaim your joy. Kat is a Soul Realignment Guide who helps leaders unmask their authentic power. With 2 decades of automotive leadership, from Foreman at General Motors to dealership executive, she bridges worlds others keep apart. Her journey from dealerships to healership wasn’t theoretical ~ she walked away from a lucrative career to follow her authentic calling, later stepping onto the TEDx stage to share her story of unmasking through alopecia. A Purdue graduate with a B.S. in the School of Technology and minors in Mechanical Engineering Technology and Industrial Engineering, she taught welding labs ~ an anomaly in a male-dominated field ~ earning the Leadership and Achievement Award for bringing more women into engineering. (Friends compared her to “Flashdance,” welding by day while being a runner-up for Grand Prix Queen)Through www.TheSpace.Love, she continues her role as a bridge ~ translating between the corporate and the spiritual, guiding leaders toward alignment, authenticity & freedom. 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
More from TED
- 14:13Racing Through Chaos: Lessons from the World’s Toughest Runs | PenBin CHEN | TEDxTheBundFrom the Sahara Desert to Antarctica, from the Amazon rainforest to the Himalayas, Chen Pen Bin has run through some of the harshest environments on Earth. In ultramarathons stretching hundreds of kilometers, he has faced freezing cold, searing heat, oxygen-thin altitudes, swamps, and brutal fatigue. Along the way, he has dealt with tactical missteps, injuries, and even penalties caused by language barriers. Yet, through constant adjustment and steady accumulation of experience, he has learned to turn unpredictable conditions into opportunities—using strategy to navigate the uncontrollable and calm to hold on to victory. For Chen, “victory in the midst of chaos” is not just crossing the finish line—it is the ongoing process of correcting course in the unknown, awakening the body’s instincts, and carrying the power of being seen as a Chinese athlete on the world stage. China’s Pioneer of Extreme Ultramarathons 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
- 12:30The Steady Work Behind Every Breakthrough | JUN CAO | TEDxTheBundCao Jun went from childhood stardom to choosing to slow down, experiencing both the highs of fame and the long quiet stretches in between. In an industry that changes by the minute, he’s faced fewer roles, failed auditions, and skeptical eyes. But in those low seasons, he chose to dig in—treating every small part and every rehearsal as a step toward what’s next. With the guidance of his teachers and years of self-discipline, he’s learned to throw himself fully into a role while staying in control, and to redefine what success and worth really mean. For him, true victory isn’t the moment the world notices you—it’s the work you keep doing when no one’s watching. Actor 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
