UCL applicant Vivian Guo found her 2am application crisis revealed deeper truths: perfection is overrated, critics fear unconventional paths, and university is just the beginning of self-reinvention. Her TEDx talk celebrates the 'beautiful uncertainty' of choosing your own adventure beyond rankings and expectations. As a senior at Huili School Shanghai, I founded and direct the Huili Charity Intangible Cultural Heritage Mountaineer Space and serve as student head coach of the Huili Model United Nations team. I’ve twice won "Best Delegate" at the University of Chicago MUN Asia-Pacific Conference and "Outstanding Delegate" at the University of Oxford’s MUN Asia-Pacific Conference. My leadership includes Head President of CISSMUN 2023, assistant director for WEMUN and Oxford MUN 2024, and Deputy President of SHAMUN 2024. With three years leading our school team, I also represented the charity project department at the 2024 Bo’ao Cultural Forum, earning the title "Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Promotion Ambassador."In this talk, I hope to share lessons on making choices, staying true to ourselves, and responding to doubt during the challenges of application season and life’s crossroads. 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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- 13:51Conscious Leadership and Sustainable Human performance | Neeraj Kumar | TEDxFiesoleWhat does it take to lead consciously in a world facing profound ecological, economic, and human crises? In this inspiring talk, Neeraj Kumar, global automotive executive, sustainability advocate, and mountaineer, shares how leadership rooted in awareness, resilience, and purpose can drive sustainable performance in business and beyond. Drawing from over 18 years of experience across leading global corporations and his mission to climb the Seven Summits, Neeraj explores the powerful intersection between peak physical endurance and conscious executive decision-making. His journey is a call to leaders everywhere: to rise not just in rank, but in responsibility, and to forge organizations where both people and the planet can thrive. Neeraj Kumar is a global executive in the automotive industry, currently Director – Head of Network Development & Performance at Stellantis Middle East Africa. With over 18 years of experience across Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, Mahindra & Mahindra, and GE Europe, he has led strategy, business development, and network transformation across global markets. Neeraj holds a BE from Delhi College of Engineering, an MBA from Kedge Business School, and executive education from Stanford GSB. He is also a mountaineer, speaker, and coach, having summited Imja Tse, Kilimanjaro, Lobuche East, and climbed Aconcagua to 6650m. His mission: to complete the Seven Summits in dedication to sustainability and human resilience. 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
- 10:46How to grow a healthy corporate-garden? | Lucia Franchi | TEDxFiesoleWhat if we treated our organizations like living ecosystems, nurturing them with the same care, patience, and intention as a flourishing garden? In this insightful talk, Leadership Coach Lucia Franchi draws on 25+ years of global corporate experience to explore how leaders can cultivate thriving workplaces through empathy, authenticity, and conscious growth. With vivid metaphors and practical wisdom, Lucia guides us to rethink leadership not as control, but as care, where people are seen, heard, and empowered to bloom. A fresh perspective for anyone ready to grow the kind of company culture where purpose, performance, and people flourish in harmony. Lucia Franchi is a Leadership Coach dedicated to empowering emerging leaders worldwide. With over 25 years of global experience in senior leadership roles across diverse industries, Lucia now coaches individuals and teams, combining empathy with practical strategies to unlock potential, inspire authentic leadership, and 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
