Our cities are undergoing unprecedented transformations—sprawling populations, technological advancements, and global migration are reshaping urban life at an extraordinary pace. In this rapidly changing urban landscape, society and culture are not just evolving; they are being reinvented. This talk explores the complex interplay between urbanization and human experience, highlighting three critical dimensions that define our cities today. Mr. Ravi Sreedharan is the Founder and President of the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM), an institution pioneering the creation of a new discipline — Development Management — to transform leadership and management in the social sector. After a distinguished international corporate career spanning over two decades, Ravi transitioned to the development sector. The question that bothered him was why is it that the unprecedented economic prosperity is leaving so many people behind in poverty and the margins. His early work in the social sector across the length and breadth of this country built his realization that development work needs its own principles of management, distinct from those of business and public administration. 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