In this talk, Dr. Rita Renee challenges the status quo of DEI initiatives by advocating for a shift from checkbox diversity to true belonging, merit, and excellence. Her message is a bold call to prioritize qualifications, value diverse thought, and create spaces where everyone can rise on the strength of their contribution. Dr. Rita Renee is an international speaker, healthcare leader, and empowerment strategist who helps women “come off mute” by embracing their authentic voices with courage and clarity. She is the founder of Ultimate PowerHouse Coach. 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 a world where relentless marketing has turned our closets into battlegrounds for trends and superficial ideals, our mental health often pays the price. In this talk, marriage and family therapist Dr. Georgia Sewell explores how we can reclaim fashion as a tool for healing and identity, rather than a source of anxiety. Drawing on her research in fashion psychology and narrative inquiry, she demonstrates how reimagining our wardrobe choices as acts of self-care can empower us. Rather than being manipulated by seasonal trends, we can transform each outfit into a statement of authenticity, a personal manifesto that reflects our journey toward mental and emotional wellness. Imagine swapping out the stress of chasing fleeting trends for the joy of curating a wardrobe that celebrates your unique identity. Georgia Sewell is a licensed marriage and family therapist, writer and researcher exploring the intersection of identity, relationships, and appearance. Through her private practice and podcast, she works with individuals and couples to navigate self-expression, self-worth, and intimacy. Georgia’s background in fashion psychology informs her unique lens on how what we wear both reflects and shapes our inner world. She is currently completing advanced training in Internal Family Systems and developing a non-fiction book on clothing, connection and Self. Her TEDx talk invites us to reconsider fashion as more than aesthetic- seeing it instead as a language of identity within relationships. 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 your greatest strengths are hidden inside the messiest parts of your story? In this deeply personal talk, Erika Aquino reveals how owning every chapter — including struggle, labels, and uncertainty — can uncover surprising inner strengths. Through the lens of a childhood board game and hard-won insights, this talk invites us to reclaim our narrative and discover the power to live a life without limits. Over 20 years of executive leadership experience, a Master's in Communication, an MBA, and a lifelong love for words, Erika Aquino is a force to be reckoned with.Erika's background from a developing country, combined with her extensive travels, equips her with a unique global perspective. She offers fresh, grounded insights into solving the world's biggest challenges while seamlessly combining useful frameworks and data into spot-on, customized content that delivers actionable insights.As an angel investor, Erika has invested in over 15 ventures. Her portfolio spans key hubs including the Philippines, Singapore, Miami, Austin, Los Angeles, Germany, and the UK. She has a special affinity for women and minority-owned projects with high growth potential in the fields of wellness, agriculture, education, sustainability, and the future of workspaces. 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 your senses of taste, smell, and enjoyment of life are taken away by the very air you breathe? Growing up in Delhi, Ravi Kaushik had to deal with this harsh reality when his senses were taken away by chronic sinus problems brought on by air pollution. Instead of giving up, he turned his hardship into a calling, becoming an entrepreneur and aerosol scientist dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to clean air. Ravi explains the hidden science of air purification, his mistakes and successes, and how his team created a ground-breaking technology that transforms regular air conditioners into clean air systems in this stirring speech. His journey demonstrates how personal loss can lead to solutions that transform the way the world functions. It is a tale of tenacity, empathy, and inventiveness. Ravi Kaushik is the co-founder and CEO of Airth, a pioneering Indian startup that transforms ordinary air conditioners into advanced air purifiers. An alumnus of NIT Kurukshetra and IIT Bombay, specializing in environmental and aerosol engineering, Ravi was inspired by his mother’s struggle with asthma and India’s escalating air pollution crisis. His innovative, water-based purification technology offers an affordable and sustainable solution for clean indoor air. Featured on Shark Tank India (2025), Ravi and Airth gained national recognition for their mission to make healthy air accessible to all. 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 keeps a company alive when a crisis hits: grit, luck, or something else entirely? Marge reveals that survival follows a different formula than most leaders are taught, and exposes the hidden anchors that can keep organizations steady when everything else is breaking apart. Marjorie Aviso is the CEO and President of Telework PH, a homegrown business process offshoring company that grew from 1 to 1,200 employees in just six years. Under her leadership, the company was recognized as one of the Philippines' Growth Champions 2024 by The Philippine Daily Inquirer and Statista ranked 7th nationwide.She is the Co-Founder of Salig AI and SaligPay, platforms that equip Filipino businesses with AI-driven systems, a financial platform to receive payments, and a clear framework to scale. Beyond business, Marjorie serves as a Resource Trainer for the Department of Information and Communications Technology,Her life story was featured in the advocacy film When the World Met Miss Probinsyana, highlighting her commitment to women's empowerment and mental health. She carries a bold vision: to create 5,000 high-paying jobs for Filipinos by 2030, so families no longer have to be separated by overseas work. 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 makes someone truly unstoppable? In this raw and courageous talk, Amanda Marino shares how building self-esteem through tiny acts, radical honesty, and the willingness to sit with pain became the foundation for healing, growth, and unshakable self-belief. This talk is a roadmap for anyone ready to stop running, start listening, and rise into the life they were meant to live. Amanda believes in the power of authenticity to transform lives. As a certified coach, wellness expert, and interventionist, she has spent her career helping people understand that vulnerability isn't a weakness, it's a superpower. You may have seen Amanda on TV, where she has had the honor of sharing her insights on healing through vulnerability and the transformative power of living truthfully. But television appearances are just one small part of her mission. 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