In his talk Robin suggests that kindness is not a weakness. In fact, it is a leadership strength and we need to introduce ways to measure and reward kindness in the workplace as we would with any other performance metric.Robin is an award-winning learning professional, speaker, and author with over 14 years of expertise in needs assessments, instructional design, and leadership development. He specializes in identifying performance gaps, setting strategic objectives, and crafting impactful learning experiences that drive business performance and maximize results. Currently, the Director of Corporate Training Services at Durham College, Robin focuses on enhancing leadership capabilities through innovative cross-sector training initiatives.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

Ranjit Barthakur believes that economics and ecology aren’t enemies - they’re eternal partners. A social entrepreneur, thinker, and the gentle giant behind the Balipara Foundation, he coined the idea of “Naturenomics™”, merging nature and enterprise to sustain communities and forests alike. He has redefined leadership - not from the boardroom, but from the riverbanks and elephant corridors of the Eastern Himalayas. Join Ranjit Barthakur a visionary who turns compassion into policy at the TEDxRoyal Global University. Ranjit Barthakur, a Social Entrepreneur and business leader with over five decades of experience, has dedicated the past decade to grassroots initiatives in the Eastern Himalayas, spanning environment, community, healthcare, education, and agriculture. A pioneer of the Naturenomics™ philosophy, linking nature and economics, he champions nature-based, community-led conservation and sustainable livelihoods, with ecological neutrality at its core. Through the Balipara Foundation, he has incubated impactful initiatives such as River Journeys & Bungalows of India, Bamboo Civilization, Elephant Country, and The Nursery, fostering the future of forests and indigenous communities across Northeast India. His career also bridges FMCG, telecom, IT, agriculture, tourism, and social ecosystems. Beyond conservation, he serves as Chairperson of Rajasthan Royals (IPL) and Chairperson of Global Investors Summit, Govt. of Assam, continuing to merge business acumen with socio-ecological responsibility. 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

As Indonesia progresses towards its vision of "Indonesia Emas 2045," the role of blue-collar workers remains crucial in driving the nation’s industries and infrastructure. However, rapid advancements in automation and Industry 4.0 are transforming the traditional job landscape, presenting both challenges and opportunities for blue-collar workers. This talk explores how skill development and the integration of automation can empower blue-collar workers, ensuring their relevance and resilience in the workforce of the future. By emphasizing on upskilling, technology adoption, and systemic support, we aim to create an inclusive framework where blue-collar workers not only survive but adapt in this transformative era. Empowering Blue-Collar Workers through Skill Development and Automation 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

To preserve agricultural cultural heritage and address the global food crisis, Li Zhong, the Chinese representative to the World Food Forum, proposed a three-step plan to empower traditional wisdom with digital technology. This plan involves using sensors and AI to digitally archive ancient knowledge, employing data analysis to optimize ecological models, and leveraging blockchain platforms to connect farmers with markets and increase their incomes . Li Zhong particularly emphasized that youth are a key force for change. He urged them to harness technologies like AI and big data to drive innovation, integrate agricultural cultural heritage with modern technology, and provide innovative solutions for achieving sustainable development goals. 为保护农业文化遗产和解决全球粮食危机，世界粮食论坛中国代表李众，提出数字技术赋能传统智慧的三步计划：通过传感器和AI数字化存档古老知识、用数据分析优化生态模式、借助区块链平台连接市场提升农民收益。李众特别强调青年是变革的关键力量，利用AI、大数据等技术推动创新，实现农业文化遗产与现代科技的融合，为实现可持续发展目标提供创新解决方案。 李众，博士，中国农业科学院海外农业研究中心国际合作项目主管，联合国粮农组织世界粮食论坛中国代表，研究方向为企业海外负责任投资研究、海外农业战略研究等。自2018年加入海外农业研究中心以来，主要负责国际合作项目管理和监测评估、援外培训和推广项目等，如国际农发基金南南合作项目，联合国粮农组织绿色农业发展项目，亚洲建设银行农业科技项目等。出版专著《中国农业企业海外负责任投资案例研究》、《世界农业丛书—北非农业》，参编多部“一带一路”国家农业发展国别报告，发表中英文核心期刊6篇。李众持有美国科罗拉多大学和中国农业大学经济学一等荣誉双学士学位、乔治华盛顿大学国际贸易与投资政策硕士学位，以及中央财经大学管理学博士学位。除其母语汉语外，李众持有中英翻译资格证书，掌握韩语（中级），西班牙语（初级）。 Li Zhong, Ph.D., Head of the International Cooperation Programs and Assistant Research Professor at the Center for International Agricultural Research (CIAR) of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), with a research focus on China agricultural enterprise overseas responsible investment and international agricultural cooperation strategy research. He is also the China Representative at the World Food Forum, initiated by Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. Since joining the Center for International Agricultural Research in 2018, he has mainly been responsible for managing and monitoring international cooperation projects, China-Aid training programs, including the South-South Cooperation project of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Green Agriculture Development project of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the Agricultural Technology project of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He has published a monograph titled "Case Studies on Responsible Investment by Chinese Agricultural Enterprises Overseas" and co-authored the "World Agriculture Series – Agriculture in North Africa." and several other books; published five core journal articles in both Chinese and English. Li Zhong holds a dual bachelor's degree with Summa Cum Laude in economics from the University of Colorado and China Agricultural University, master's degree in International Trade and Investment Policy from George Washington University, and Ph.D. in Management from Central University of Finance and Economics in China. In addition to his native Chinese, Li Zhong is certicated Chinese-English Interpreter, with intermediate proficiency in Korean and conversational proficiency in Spanish. 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 ruled by filters and false narratives, this talk calls us to unmute — to think critically, speak authentically, and reclaim our real voices beyond the noise of social media. Sergio Graziano is driven by a lifelong passion for technology and learning. He has supported the scaling of startups and led digital transformation within multinational corporations. Sergio has founded initiatives in the Edtech space to improve the quality of education while supporting market growth across sectors. He has delivered keynotes to live audiences of hundreds of thousands worldwide, using innovation to inspire and create social impact. At the intersection of leadership and technology, he champions the power of ideas to drive meaningful change. 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