What if your greatest strengths are hidden inside the messiest parts of your story? In this deeply personal talk, Erika Aquino reveals how owning every chapter — including struggle, labels, and uncertainty — can uncover surprising inner strengths. Through the lens of a childhood board game and hard-won insights, this talk invites us to reclaim our narrative and discover the power to live a life without limits. Over 20 years of executive leadership experience, a Master's in Communication, an MBA, and a lifelong love for words, Erika Aquino is a force to be reckoned with.Erika's background from a developing country, combined with her extensive travels, equips her with a unique global perspective. She offers fresh, grounded insights into solving the world's biggest challenges while seamlessly combining useful frameworks and data into spot-on, customized content that delivers actionable insights.As an angel investor, Erika has invested in over 15 ventures. Her portfolio spans key hubs including the Philippines, Singapore, Miami, Austin, Los Angeles, Germany, and the UK. She has a special affinity for women and minority-owned projects with high growth potential in the fields of wellness, agriculture, education, sustainability, and the future of workspaces. 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 your senses of taste, smell, and enjoyment of life are taken away by the very air you breathe? Growing up in Delhi, Ravi Kaushik had to deal with this harsh reality when his senses were taken away by chronic sinus problems brought on by air pollution. Instead of giving up, he turned his hardship into a calling, becoming an entrepreneur and aerosol scientist dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to clean air. Ravi explains the hidden science of air purification, his mistakes and successes, and how his team created a ground-breaking technology that transforms regular air conditioners into clean air systems in this stirring speech. His journey demonstrates how personal loss can lead to solutions that transform the way the world functions. It is a tale of tenacity, empathy, and inventiveness. Ravi Kaushik is the co-founder and CEO of Airth, a pioneering Indian startup that transforms ordinary air conditioners into advanced air purifiers. An alumnus of NIT Kurukshetra and IIT Bombay, specializing in environmental and aerosol engineering, Ravi was inspired by his mother’s struggle with asthma and India’s escalating air pollution crisis. His innovative, water-based purification technology offers an affordable and sustainable solution for clean indoor air. Featured on Shark Tank India (2025), Ravi and Airth gained national recognition for their mission to make healthy air accessible to all. 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 keeps a company alive when a crisis hits: grit, luck, or something else entirely? Marge reveals that survival follows a different formula than most leaders are taught, and exposes the hidden anchors that can keep organizations steady when everything else is breaking apart. Marjorie Aviso is the CEO and President of Telework PH, a homegrown business process offshoring company that grew from 1 to 1,200 employees in just six years. Under her leadership, the company was recognized as one of the Philippines' Growth Champions 2024 by The Philippine Daily Inquirer and Statista ranked 7th nationwide.She is the Co-Founder of Salig AI and SaligPay, platforms that equip Filipino businesses with AI-driven systems, a financial platform to receive payments, and a clear framework to scale. Beyond business, Marjorie serves as a Resource Trainer for the Department of Information and Communications Technology,Her life story was featured in the advocacy film When the World Met Miss Probinsyana, highlighting her commitment to women's empowerment and mental health. She carries a bold vision: to create 5,000 high-paying jobs for Filipinos by 2030, so families no longer have to be separated by overseas work. 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 makes someone truly unstoppable? In this raw and courageous talk, Amanda Marino shares how building self-esteem through tiny acts, radical honesty, and the willingness to sit with pain became the foundation for healing, growth, and unshakable self-belief. This talk is a roadmap for anyone ready to stop running, start listening, and rise into the life they were meant to live. Amanda believes in the power of authenticity to transform lives. As a certified coach, wellness expert, and interventionist, she has spent her career helping people understand that vulnerability isn't a weakness, it's a superpower. You may have seen Amanda on TV, where she has had the honor of sharing her insights on healing through vulnerability and the transformative power of living truthfully. But television appearances are just one small part of her mission. 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

Mário Quirino nos lembra que a natureza sobrevive porque sabe colaborar — e que nós, como pessoas, não somos diferentes. A partir da riqueza dos biomas brasileiros e de experiências pessoais, ele mostra que a verdadeira conexão nasce quando aprendemos a nos perdoar, a valorizar nossos dons e a abraçar nossas imperfeições. Mais do que networking, colaboração é sobrevivência. Sua fala é um convite a resgatar a criança interior, cultivar relações genuínas e transformar a forma como nos conectamos com o mundo e com nós mesmos. É Especialista em Desenvolvimento Humano, Pós-Graduado em Liderança pela Franklin Covey e em Neurociência e Produtividade pela PUC. Já treinou mais de 15.000 pessoas e impactou mais de 100.000 por meio de suas palestras. É referência em liderança, desenvolvimento humano e alta performance. 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

Quem nunca acordou com a sensação de estar preso em uma vida ou carreira que já não faz sentido? Sonia Regina Guimarães chama esse estado de “tortura emocional profissional” — a dor de querer mudar, mas não conseguir. Em sua fala, ela mostra que, na nova economia, transição de carreira não é fraqueza, é necessidade. Entre medos, boletos e pressões sociais, Sonia nos lembra que a verdadeira liberdade surge quando escolhemos nos reinventar. Sua mensagem é um convite inspirador para transformar incertezas em coragem e reencontrar propósito no trabalho e na vida. Conselheira de administração e estrategista em desenvolvimento humano, liderança e planejamento organizacional, com mais de 30 anos de vivência dedicada à transformação de pessoas e negócios. Ao longo dessa jornada, treinou milhares de líderes, muitos dos quais hoje ocupam posições estratégicas no Brasil e no exterior. 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