Silence costs more than we realize. In this powerful talk, educator and TEDx speaker Elizabeth Bennett reveals how avoiding hard conversations erodes trust and connection. Elizabeth offers real tools to turn silence into clarity and courage. Elizabeth Bennett, is a TEDx Speaker, a TV Show Host, an Author, a recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, an Education & Mentorship Award Winner and an award-winning retired principal with 35+ years in education. She is a leadership and communication expert who helps organizations foster trust, innovation, and productivity through courageous conversations. Now a consultant, she transforms communication challenges into opportunities for growth, ensuring leaders, teams, and families build meaningful relationships. Currently completing her second book, Courageous Conversations in the Workplace, Elizabeth is dedicated to creating environments where collaboration thrives and every voice is valued. Her mission: to inspire open, honest dialogue that drives lasting impact. "Step into your conversations with courage." 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

For many students, university is the turning point in their lives. But not just any university. Have you ever thought that getting into an Ivy League school would determine your future success? Valerie, a Year 11 student passionate about public speaking, sure has. But she’s here to prove that success is self-made and fueled by so many other factors that aren’t just the ‘Ivy League’ label and college rankings. 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

If you've spent any time online recently, you might have heard a new kind of vocabulary.Skibidi. Sigma. Aura. These phrases seem to have become omnipresent on the internet and in schools, but where did they come from? How did these words come to be, and why do they sound so ridiculous? Kiara, a Year 13 student passionate about linguistics, hopes to give this seemingly senseless language a chance. With ‘brain rot’ being named the Word of the Year, slang and how it’s used has never been more relevant. 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

The race to build the most powerful AI is on, and it's not just happening in Silicon Valley. Valentina is a Year 12 student who’s passionate about computer science. With a keen eye for the world of AI, she breaks down the current market for generative chatbots. But how did Deepseek come to be? How does it compete in the global AI field? 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 if our obsession with being disciplined is actually holding us back? Amy is a Year 12 student who loves to give out completely unwarranted (but distinctly perceptive) advice. From her own observation of other students in KGV, she’s noticed that discipline seems to be a hot buzzword that everyone wants. But where does discipline end and self-torture start? And how can we approach discipline as a mindset instead of a way to limit ourselves? 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 “Digital Nation – Lessons from Estonia,” Andrei Korobeinik explores how Estonia became one of the world’s most digitally advanced societies. From e-governance and online voting to seamless digital identities, he reveals the principles that enabled Estonia to build trust, transparency, and efficiency through technology. Korobeinik shares key lessons on innovation, data security, and citizen empowerment — showing how any nation can use digital tools not just for convenience, but to strengthen democracy and improve quality of life. Andrei Korobeinik is an Estonian tech entrepreneur, computer programmer, and former Member of Parliament. He is best known as the founder of Rate.ee, one of Estonia’s earliest and most influential social networking platforms, which became a cultural phenomenon in the early 2000s.Bridging technology and public service, Korobeinik brought a digital-first mindset to politics during his time in the Estonian Parliament, focusing on innovation policy, e-governance, and the digital economy. His unique perspective as both a developer and policymaker has positioned him as a forward-thinking voice on the role of technology in shaping modern societies.Korobeinik continues to work at the intersection of entrepreneurship and civic engagement, advocating for digital transformation, youth innovation, and open internet values. 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