Apurva Ganoo was a Speaker at TEDxEspoo Youth 2025!What if curiosity and creativity could be the driving forces behind real-world change?In this TEDx Talk, Apurva Ganoo, takes us back 15 years to a coastal fishing village in Chile, ravaged by a devastating earthquake. He presents us with a question that seems simple but reveals the truth about human nature, empathy, and the complexity of problem-solving: Do you prioritize a boiler or a bathtub?Most of us would think that the water heater or boiler, which ensures warmth and access to water, would be the practical choice. However, the residents of these fishing villages made a surprising decision: they chose the bathtub. But it was not for the reasons you might think. For them, the bathtub was not a symbol of luxury or relaxation after a long day - it was a tool for survival. In a region where water was not guaranteed and resources were unreliable, the bathtub served as a reservoir, a key resource to store water for emergencies. Apurva uses this example to empathize how often we overlook the true needs of others because we see the world through our own lens of privilege and comfort.This Talk dives into empathy and curiosity, and how these two qualities are essential for understanding the realities of others. Apurva empathises that entrepreneurs are often seen as problem-solves, but they can be oblivious to the struggles and challenges that don't directly affect them. It is not a natural instinct to empathize with problems outside of our experience, yet he explains that we should make an effort.Curiosity is not about asking questions, it is about understanding perspectives that are different from our own. Apurva further explores the relationship between curiosity and creativity. He encourages us to look beyond what we think creativity should be. Creativity is not just for artists or innovators in the traditional sense, it is a skill we call all development. He compares creativity to a train on a set of rails, suggesting that sometimes we need structure and boundaries to let creativity flow.At the end of Apurva’s Talk he says: “The best innovators are able to think very big and think very small. The biggest innovators are also always questioning things. But you are not questioning things because you don't agree with them.You are questioning them from a point of curiosity and wanting to learn.”This TEDx Talk is a reminder that curiosity, empathy, and action are the driving forces behind innovation.#TEDxEspooYouth #TEDxTalk #TEDxEspooYouth2025 Apurva Ganoo is a permanent (tenured) Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at Aalto University School of Business. His research examines entrepreneurial education from a critical perspective, exploring its connections to the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem and institutions. In his teaching, he contributes to Aalto's new master’s program in Sustainable Entrepreneurship and teaches introductory bachelor’s courses in entrepreneurship. Apurva is actively involved in several EU-funded capacity-building projects, where he has played a key role in securing over €3M in funding and establishing partnerships with universities across Europe, Africa, and Asia. In 2024, Apurva was recognized by the Suomen Liikemies-Yhdistys (The Finnish Businessmen's Association) for his contributions to promoting entrepreneurship at Aalto and beyond. 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