In this thought-provoking talk, Rajendran Dandapani explores what people often call the next big thing. He takes the audience on a journey through ideas that are paradoxical, surprising, and even commonplace, showing how our fascination with what’s coming next can both inspire and mislead us. Ultimately, he challenges us to look beyond the so-called next big thing - because it is in what comes after that the real threats and opportunities truly lie. Rajendran Dandapani is a Business Solutions Evangelist and founding member of Zoho Corporation, where he also leads Zoho Schools of Learning - an alternative to traditional higher education. With a background in Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering from IIT-Madras, which he left to pursue hands-on innovation, Rajendran has over 25 years of experience building technology solutions and mentoring talent. He previously served as Chief Algorithms Officer at Xerago, handling large-scale marketing projects for global clients like Citibank. Back at Zoho since 2004, he heads mobile development and champions unconventional learning. A TEDx speaker and contra-academician, Rajendran is a vocal advocate for reimagining Indian education. A lifelong learner and voracious reader, he shares practical wisdom on his YouTube channel, "Quotidians - Rajendran Dandapani Presents," inspiring others to find purpose beyond the textbook. 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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