What if all your accomplishments were just masks hiding a wounded inner child? In this deeply introspective talk, Punit G unpacks success, identity, and emotional healing - Raw, vulnerable, and powerfully human. From veterinary medicine to global business leadership, Dr. Punit’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. As former CEO of ArthNirmiti and CXO at Choice International Ltd, he has redefined the landscape of business and innovation. An IIM Ahmedabad alumnus, former VP at OYO, and a two-time TEDx speaker, he embodies the spirit of adaptability and success. Dr. Punit’s talk will explore how embracing uncertainty can open doors to unexpected and transformative opportunities. 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 this candid and compelling TEDx talk, marketing trailblazer Rekha Rao, Founder & CEO of OON, unpacks a journey rooted in childlike obsession, challenged by conventional expectations, and shaped by unwavering self-belief. From cutting out ads at age 10 to building the world’s first women-led integrated marketing collective, Rekha’s story is one of courage, creativity, and relentless curiosity. She shares how early dreams often collide with societal norms—and why asking “why not?” instead of just “why” can rewire your life’s trajectory.Rekha’s path wasn’t linear. She faced academic setbacks, career detours, and dismissive mentors. Yet each stumble became a stepping stone. Whether navigating the high-stakes world of advertising, shifting into client-facing roles without prior experience, or pulling off a national campaign derailed by tragedy, Rekha learned to lead through resilience, not rules. Her talk is filled with practical wisdom: start small (even with a scrapbook), embrace redirections, and let your work—not politics—speak for you.At its heart, this talk is a powerful call for young dreamers and professionals alike: You don’t need to fit the mold to make a mark. You just need the audacity to ask: “Why not me?” Rekha Rao is the Founder and CEO of OON—the world’s first women’s collective providing integrated marketing communications solutions. With a powerhouse background in brand storytelling, reputation management, crisis response, and strategic content, she has led award-winning campaigns across global, regional, and local markets. Under her leadership, OON has earned 125+ accolades, becoming a force in shaping narratives that matter. Rekha’s mission goes beyond marketing—she’s creating space for women to lead, collaborate, and redefine the communications landscape with creativity, empathy, and impact. 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

Sameer Dhurde, a science and astronomy communicator at IUCAA and creator of the SciPOP program, brings the cosmos closer to us through storytelling. In this engaging talk, he begins with a dinosaur figurine and a real meteorite fragment, unraveling how a giant asteroid impact wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago—just one of 190 known impact sites on Earth. He takes us through India’s own Lonar Crater and Russia’s 2013 Chelyabinsk event, revealing the lurking threat asteroids pose. But beyond danger, Sameer emphasizes how asteroids are also treasures—remnants of the early solar system that offer insight into our cosmic origins. With humor and clarity, he explains how astronomers around the world are using cutting-edge telescopes and data tracking to monitor and study these space rocks, turning curiosity into planetary defense. His core message is clear: science isn’t just about facts—it’s about wonder, vigilance, and the thrill of discovery. Sameer Dhurde is an award-winning science and astronomy communicator and the driving force behind SciPOP, the popular outreach program at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune. Trained as a radio astronomer with a Master’s in Physics, Sameer has dedicated his career to making science education engaging and accessible. Over the past decade, he has contributed to several national and international advisory groups including ASI, TMT, LIGO-India, ISRO, and the IAU—designing impactful science outreach programs and educational resources. Recipient of the prestigious Zubin Kembhavi Award by the ASI, Sameer travels across India to ignite curiosity among children, support amateur astronomers, and share the wonders of the cosmos with diverse communities. 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

NOTE FROM TED: This talk only represents the speaker’s personal views and understanding of consciousness, divinity, and artificial intelligence, which some viewers may find objectionable. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdfSrinija Srinivasan explores how we can meet superhuman intelligence not with fear or rivalry, but with presence, values, and deep self-awareness. With clarity and curiosity, she invites us to reflect on the human qualities that no machine can replicate, and why nurturing them may be our greatest responsibility in the age of AI. Born in India and raised in Lawrence, Kansas, Srinija Srinivasan has followed a lifelong curiosity about consciousness, wondering from a young age what possibilities can arise from believing divinity is in ourselves and all around us. She studied artificial intelligence at Stanford and then worked at the Cyc Project, a large-scale AI effort to build an immense database of commonsense knowledge.In 1995, she joined Yahoo! as their fifth employee and self-titled Ontological Yahoo, where she continued over 15 years as Vice President, Editor-in-Chief. She simultaneously chaired the board of non-profit SFJAZZ, leading her to co-found Loove, a Brooklyn-based music venture exploring how commerce and technology can be guided by artistic values rather than letting our culture be led by market values.She has recently cofounded Jubilee College, a two-year school in Dunsmuir, CA where students will be equally rooted in physical work, rigorous liberal arts study, and contemplative practice.Srinija is a board member of the On Being Project and a former vice chair of Stanford University's Board of Trustees. She lives in Palo Alto, CA and Brooklyn, NY. 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

What 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

In 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