When the pandemic shut down the world, a ten-year-old David discovered that a crisis can also clarify purpose. Through the loss of school, sports, and normal childhood routines, David found his voice through storytelling.What began as a passion for writing became a vehicle for impact—raising funds to provide over 1,000 meals to people facing food insecurity. This talk explores how adversity can awaken purpose, why humility is essential to growth, and how using what you love in the service of others can create real, measurable change—no matter your age. David Olayanju is a 15-year-old high school student and passionate writer focused on using his talents and interests as vessels to create impact in his community and the world. He is the author of Soar, an inspirational children’s book about the benefits of hard work and perseverance on the basketball court. His work has been published in the Saint Elizabeth University Community Quill and has earned him a Silver Key award in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. He is thrilled to be sharing his story on a TEDx stage. 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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- 15:11Everything Will Be Alright | Tobias Forsberg | TEDxJönköping UniversityWhat would you say to yourself on the day everything changed? In this personal and imaginative talk, Tobias Forsberg reflects on the moment a spinal cord injury ended his professional hockey career and the new life that followed. Through the creative idea of calling his younger self, he shares the emotions, doubts and unexpected strength that emerged in the hospital after the accident. Tobias Forsberg is a Swedish public speaker and former professional ice hockey player. In 2018, a serious accident during a game left him with a spinal cord injury and life in a wheelchair. Since then, he has worked as a sports commentator and columnist. He now shares reflections on life after injury and the challenges of redefining identity and purpose. 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
- 10:32The Dangerous Cost of Silencing Women | Kelly Cochran | TEDxRound Rock WomenSit Down, Shut Up: The Hidden Bias Women Face at WorkWhat happens when women are interrupted, dismissed, labeled as “too loud,” or told they are “too much?” Companies lose innovation. Communities lose leadership. The world loses progress.In this powerful TEDx Talk, Kelly Cochran, bestselling author of LOUD: Silence Your Critics & Turn Up the Volume on Your Life, exposes the cultural conditioning that keeps women quiet in meetings, in boardrooms, and in leadership roles.Drawing from her viral “Sit Down, Shut Up” story, gender equity research, and real workplace data, Kelly explains why women are punished for speaking up, why men interrupt women twice as often, and why companies that silence women lose out on creativity, performance, and 50% of their best ideas. Kelly Cochran is a TEDx speaker, bestselling author of LOUD: Silence Your Critics & Turn Up the Volume on Your Life, and a globally recognized voice on women’s leadership, gender equity, and the power of speaking up.A former product leader who was fired for being too outpoken, Kelly transformed her story into a movement that now reaches millions every month. Through Loud Blonde™, her fast-growing platform, she teaches women how to own their voices, build powerful personal brands, and lead with unapologetic confidence.Kelly also partners with corporations and global teams to create inclusive cultures where women feel safe speaking up, and where men are equipped, supported, and encouraged to meet them as equals. Her LOUD Method is used by leaders around the world to improve communication, collaboration, and innovation across gender and cultural lines.Kelly’s work has been featured on stages from Microsoft to GoBundance Women, and her signature message continues to spark conversations in boardrooms, classrooms, and communities worldwide.She is loud, she is direct, and she is here to make sure no woman ever shrinks to fit a room again. 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
