Can a garden grow more than just vegetables? What if it could grow collaboration, connection and even culture?In this moving and insightful talk, a university gardener-turned-leader shares how an old barn and a few beds of soil transformed into a thriving community one where people formed friendships, built startups, shared values, and healed together. Reflecting on history, student life, and the instinctual human need to co-create, this talk invites us to rethink what makes teams truly work and how gardens might just be the missing piece. Emilio Garcia Padron is a social entrepreneur and community garden advocate, whose journey has intertwined the cultivation of green spaces with the fostering of innovation and team synergy. At 18, he became president of Edible Campus, a society responsible for maintaining an expansive community farm at Lancaster University. Under his leadership, the society grew into the third-largest at the university, receiving the prestigious LUSU Sustainability Award.Through his experiences, Emilio has demonstrated the untapped potential of gardens, proving that they are not just spaces for reflection, but powerful ecosystems for nurturing creativity, collaboration, and sustainable change. His TEDx talk, “Over the Garden Wall: The Importance of Touching Grass,” aims to spread the idea that green spaces are vital for fostering team culture, innovation, and personal growth, offering a fresh perspective on how to make a positive impact in a fast-paced world. 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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- 12:50Museums must give back what they stole — here’s why | Dorota Blumczynska | TEDxWinnipegWhat does it mean to hold stolen history? Museum CEO Dorota delivers a powerful call for accountability and transformation within the cultural sector. Drawing from her experience at the Manitoba Museum, she exposes the legacy of colonialism that still lives in museum vaults—through artifacts taken without consent, displayed without context, and separated from the communities they belong to.With clarity and conviction, Dorota urges institutions to go beyond symbolic gestures: to return sacred objects, share authority with Indigenous communities, and become true allies in truth and reconciliation. This talk invites us to reimagine museums not as neutral spaces, but as platforms for justice, healing, and co-creation. Dorota Blumczynska, CEO of the Manitoba Museum and Vice-President of the Canadian Museums Association, advocates for museums as spaces of truth, reconciliation, and social justice. She shares her vision for transforming museums to foster healing and understanding. 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
- 15:53How Courage, Curiosity, and Compassion Can Redefine Your Life | Monalisa Saxena | TEDxKIS Pune YouthIn this deeply personal and inspiring TEDx talk, Monalisa Saxena—CEO of Pixights Consulting and COO at Merren—narrates three pivotal life stories that exemplify the power of choosing courage over convention. From breaking academic stereotypes in the ’90s to raise a trailblazing career in communications, to embracing her son’s autism diagnosis with strength and belief, Monalisa speaks about navigating life’s toughest turns with empathy and resilience. Her mantra—“assume competence”—has redefined possibilities not only for her son, who now runs marathons and co-authored an award-winning book, but for countless neurodiverse children. Through her lived experience, Monalisa also sheds light on the silent crisis of women dropping out of the workforce and her mission to build workplaces where empathy meets ambition. A talk that blends vulnerability, humor, and insight—this is a celebration of turning setbacks into wows. Monalisa Saxena is the Chief Operating Officer at Merren and CEO at Pixights Consulting, bringing a rare blend of research depth, entrepreneurial drive, and storytelling finesse to the world of consumer insights. A MICA alumnus and passionate semiotician, she combines data with cultural meaning to decode what truly drives people. With years of experience in decoding consumer behavior, Monalisa is a research buff and mindful entrepreneur who believes in leading with empathy and insight. Whether it’s building scalable research tech or crafting brand narratives, her work bridges logic and emotion—making her a compelling voice at the intersection of business, culture, and innovation. 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
