In this inspiring talk, Li Ying Tay challenges the common advice to “just be yourself,” revealing how it can sometimes hold us back. Once an extremely quiet student and professional, she shares her journey from silence to self-expression, how being “too quiet” cost her a promotion and pushed her to join Toastmasters, where she discovered her voice.Using a balloon as her metaphor, Li Ying shows that, like balloons, we can be reshaped without losing who we are. Growth doesn’t erase our identity, it expands it. Her message is empowering and heartfelt: being yourself isn’t about staying the same; it’s about giving yourself permission to evolve, speak up, and explore the many versions of who you can become. Li Ying is a Data Analyst Lead, Public Speaking Coach, and National Public Speaking Finalist. As a data professional, she is passionate about turning numbers into meaningful stories, believing that data without stories are just numbers. Once known as the quietest person in her circle, she spent much of her early life avoiding the spotlight. Through Toastmasters and her professional journey, she transformed her quiet nature into her greatest strength, becoming a speaker, mentor, and emcee. Today, she empowers others to embrace their authentic voices, proving that introverts don’t need to be loud to make an impact. Li Ying’s journey reflects her belief that sometimes the quietest voices leave the deepest mark. 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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