Ever wonder what it really costs to “fit in”? For many neurodivergent people, the price of masking is exhaustion, isolation, and even lost identity. This talk reveals the hidden toll of constantly camouflaging who you are just to belong Jalonni Weaver is a storyteller, speaker, and recruiter who’s spent years challenging hiring myths, championing equity, and building community. With experience in high-volume recruiting for one of the nation’s largest insurance companies, she’s reviewed thousands of resumes, extended hundreds of offers, and helped job seekers land roles they didn’t think were possible.As a neurodiverse Black woman, Jalonni has navigated corporate spaces where she was often the only one in the room. Her lived experience with masking, imposter syndrome, and motherhood fuels her passion for authenticity, mental health, and inclusive hiring.Known online for her unfiltered voice and faith-rooted encouragement, Jalonni reaches over 300,000 people across platforms. Whether uplifting job seekers or calling out performative culture, she speaks for the overlooked, the underestimated, and those still figuring it out—reminding them that their story matters. 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
- 6:52Should you fake laugh at your boss's jokes? | Randall Peterson | TEDxLondonBusinessSchoolLaughter may be the best medicine—but what if it’s forced? In this engaging and research-backed talk, you’ll learn how fake laughter in the office, especially aimed at unfunny bosses, can lead to stress, disengagement, and underperformance. Leaders, take note: the joke may be on you.Dr. Randall S. Peterson is Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Founding Director of the London Business School Leadership Institute. Randall’s award-winning research activities include studies of board dynamics, leading diverse teams, how CEO personality affects top management teams and firm performance, as well as investigating how trust forms in work teams, and the effects of conflict in boards and teams. His research has been featured in major news outlets around the world. Randall’s most recent book is entitled Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand. He has also recently published a landmark report for the FRC entitled Board Diversity and Effectiveness in FTSE 350 Companies, as well as editing a book entitled Leading and Managing People in Dynamic Organizations.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
- 10:46Are you one connection away from a new life? | Quang Do | TEDxĐaKaoMr. Quang Do – Founder of Overseas Vietnamese (OV) at TEDxĐaKao 2025.You've likely heard about the rapidly growing and increasingly influential global Vietnamese community. So, what propelled one individual, drawing from personal experience with connection challenges, to build a colossal network bringing together over 50,000 Vietnamese professionals and entrepreneurs across 100+ cities worldwide?Born and raised in Germany, Mr. Quang Do deeply understands the struggles of connecting the Vietnamese diaspora. From this insight, he laid the foundation for Overseas Vietnamese (OV) – a network that is not only about connection, but also a space fostering individual and collective growth, where every member is encouraged to pursue lifelong learning and actively contribute to Vietnam's development.At TEDxĐaKao 2025: Now Is The Time, Mr. Quang Do will share an inspiring story about personal growth and the extraordinary power of community. Through this, we can forge a robust network, extending Vietnamese intellect and identity across the globe.TEDxĐaKao would like to share our sincere thanks to: VENUE PARTNER: WHITE PALACE HOÀNG VĂN THỤ Gold Sponsors: MUJI VIỆT NAM, COLE HAAN Silver Sponsor: Ticketbox Community Partners: Grab, HAWEE, YBA TSN, HPDF, Overseas Vietnamese Media Partner: YBOX, Business Executive Network Strategic Partner: VIENTITY Agency.#TEDx #TEDx_Official #TEDxĐaKao #TEDxSaigon #IdeasWorthSpreading #IdeaChangeEverything #OverseasVietnamese #NowIsTheTime - Quang Do is the founder of Overseas Vietnamese (OV), a private network for Vietnamese professionals and entrepreneurs worldwide. Born and raised in Germany as the child of Vietnamese immigrants, Quang started OV out of a personal desire to connect with his people and a need for a supportive, professional network. Today, OV has grown into a global community of 600+ members, reaching 50k+ Vietnamese professionals across 100+ cities. Previously at Google, Quang has now made OV his full-time mission: to build a lasting, generational community for both current and future Vietnamese diaspora. The mission is simple: help Vietnamese worldwide thrive by fostering meaningful connections, lifelong learning, and a shared commitment to giving back. A key part of this mission is to bring more Vietnamese (back) to Vietnam – to be part of and contribute to the country’s economic growth story. 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
- 14:56We’ve changed the climate; Can we change ourselves? | David Sauchyn | TEDxReginaWhat do we really mean when we say “unprecedented” weather?In this powerful talk, climate scientist David Sauchyn invites us to look beyond rising temperatures and melting glaciers and into our communities, choices, and responses to the changing climate. He connects historical climate patterns with modern disruptions and challenges us to reframe our understanding of responsibility and resilience. It’s not just the climate that needs to change; it’s us. Dr. Dave Sauchyn is a Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Regina, a Professional Geoscientist, and Director of the Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative.His research interests are variability in prairie hydroclimate over the past millennium and adaptation to minimize the adverse impacts of climate change. Dave has given more than 500 invited talks on these topics. He has led more than 50 research projects investigating climate variability and change in western Canada.Dave also was co-leader of a 5-year interdisciplinary study of climate change and adaptation in Chile, Argentina, Colombia, and the Canadian Prairies. He can trace his prairie roots back to the 1910s when his grandparents arrived from eastern Canada to farm and from Ukraine to mine coal. 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
- 17:32The New Wave: Storytelling Through a Young Lens | Rwitobroto Mukherjee | TEDxIEM Salt LakeRwitobroto Mukherjee speaks about his evolution from theatre to cinema, representing the vibrancy and challenges of a new generation of artists. His talk explores authenticity, experimentation, and the power of youthful storytelling. A promising young actor in Bengali cinema and theatre, Rwitobroto Mukherjee is known for films like Open Tee Bioscope and Generation Ami. Winner of the WBFJA Award for Best Promising Actor, he carries forward a rich artistic legacy while carving his own identity as a versatile performer of the new era. 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
- 9:28From Dreaming to Doing: The Ctrl + Alt + Del Mindset | Sameer Satyarth | TEDxIEM Salt LakeEvery idea needs a reset before it becomes reality. In this talk, I share my journey from small-town dreams to building multi-crore businesses through the power of execution. It’s about shifting from dreaming to doing, and discovering how execution changes everything. Serial Entrepreneur | PR & Marketing Strategist | Director – Fox Wing Media LLP | TEDx Speaker | Recognized as India’s Best PR Professional 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
- 18:14Strings of Innovation:Redefining Indian Classical Music | Debashish Bhattacharya | TEDxIEM Salt LakePandit Debashish Bhattacharya narrates his journey as a slide guitar innovator who brought Indian classical music to global recognition. His talk highlights how innovation and tradition can merge to inspire new generations A Grammy-nominated maestro and inventor of the “Trinity of Guitars” and Pushpa Veena, Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya has performed in 2,000+ concerts worldwide. Recipient of the BBC World Music Award and inducted into the World Music Hall of Fame, he is globally acclaimed for his fusion of heritage and innovation in Indian music. 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
