Mercedes Gaztambide is a reporter at CBC Toronto. She graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Journalism and began her media career through a work-study position producing student recruitment content. That role sparked her interest in on-camera storytelling and led to opportunities in both digital and broadcast media.In 2020, she became blogTO’s first TikTok host and producer, helping grow the outlet’s reach with original, youth-focused content. She later joined CBC to host and edit the reboot of Street Cents, a financial literacy show for teens. She has hosted live award shows, co-hosted CBC Marketplace, earned a Webby nomination, won a Kidscreen Award, and worked as a producer at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.Mercedes combines storytelling, education, and authentic connection to inspire the next generation of journalists and creatives. She hopes to empower others to embrace curiosity, take risks, and tell stories that matter. Mercedes Gaztambide is a reporter at CBC Toronto. She graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Journalism and began her media career through a work-study position producing student recruitment content. That role sparked her interest in on-camera storytelling and led to opportunities in both digital and broadcast media.In 2020, she became blogTO’s first TikTok host and producer, helping grow the outlet’s reach with original, youth-focused content. She later joined CBC to host and edit the reboot of Street Cents, a financial literacy show for teens. She has hosted live award shows, co-hosted CBC Marketplace, earned a Webby nomination, won a Kidscreen Award, and worked as a producer at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.Mercedes combines storytelling, education, and authentic connection to inspire the next generation of journalists and creatives. She hopes to empower others to embrace curiosity, take risks, and tell stories that matter. 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 the smallest, most overlooked moments in your life held the key to who you're meant to become? In this talk, Daniyal Haris explores how life’s tiniest “pixels”—the hardships, rejections, and quiet victories—can come together to form a meaningful picture. Drawing from his journey as a filmmaker and student, Daniyal argues that it's not about fitting into someone else’s frame—it's about building your own image, one pixel at a time. This talk is a reminder that no one else defines your potential, and sometimes, the clearest perspective comes from the blurriest beginnings. [Filmmaker - Storyteller]An IBA student with a filmmaker's soul, Daniyal Harris crafts stories that blur the line between memory and magic. His nostalgic style of filmmaking doesn't just tell a story - it transports you into it. 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