Karys Fan is a middle school student who believes that courage doesn’t always look big; sometimes, it’s just choosing to say something when it feels easier to stay silent. In her talk,10 Seconds to Courage: The Ripple Effect of Speaking Up, she shares how a single moment of regret turned into a mission to build a more inclusive and compassionate school community. Through her story of learning to go from bystander to upstander, Karys explores how small actions can interrupt cycles of harm and create real change. Her reflections remind us that anyone, at any age, can make a difference… and it might take less time than you think. Because sometimes, all it takes is 10 seconds. Karys is a rising 8th grader with a deep passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Deeply empathetic and a seasoned communicator, she believes in the power of personal connection and uplifting others. Karys is an active volunteer, always seeking ways to help her community and spread kindness. With a strong sense of self and a non-conforming spirit, she stands confidently in her values and encourages others to do the same. Karys believes there is kindness in everyone and through compassion and connection, she hopes to inspire positive change in the world around her. 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 the AI revolution is not just another wave of technology—but the start of humanity’s next great state transition?In this thought-provoking TEDxCSTU talk, Natalia Bielczyk, PhD, Computational Neuroscientist and Job Market Anthropologist, explores the striking parallels between the rise of artificial intelligence and the Industrial Revolution. Just as steam engines and mechanical looms once redefined society, AI is now transforming the very fabric of the labor market.Natalia reveals how AI systems learn faster than human brains, why productivity is outpacing exponential growth, and how “simple office jobs” are vanishing at record speed. The labor market, she argues, is not static—it is a gigantic dynamical system. When disrupted, such systems either return to equilibrium or undergo a state transition. Are we heading toward a future with entirely new classes of jobs, or toward Universal Basic Income and Universal Basic Services?Drawing on her research on the dynamics of the job market, Natalia offers a practical framework for navigating this uncertainty: knowledge as power. Parallel to the seven ancient liberal arts, she introduces a modern toolkit—the modern liberal arts for the AI era (that is, statistics, rhetoric, research, psychology, investment, and agency)—that can empower individuals to thrive no matter which scenario eventually plays out for us.This talk is more than a forecast of the future of work. It is a roadmap for staying free, adaptable, and human in the age of AI.Natalia Bielczyk, PhD, is a Computational Neuroscientist, Career Strategist, and founder of Ontology of Value®. She studies the Future of Work and builds tools that help professionals and teams self-navigate and thrive in the AI era.Event: TEDxCSTU Date: May 18th, 2025 Location: California Science & Technology University (CSTU) Website: https://www.cstu.edu?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=tedx2025&utm_term=natalia_bielczykSpeaker: Natalia Bielczyk Learn more about the speaker: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliabielczyk/ Website: https://nataliabielczyk.com Speaker's channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ontologyofvalue/Organizer: Leni Jin, Organizer of TEDxCSTU Behind the scenes of TEDxCSTU: Stories & notes: https://lenijin.com/tedx More about the organizer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenijin/ Organizer's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Leni_JinPlease note: This talk was recorded at TEDxCSTU, an independently organized TEDx event hosted at California Science and Technology University under a license from TED. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent those of TEDxCSTU, the university, or TED.#TEDx #TEDxTalk #FutureOfWork #AI #CareerDevelopment #JobMarket #AIRevolution #WorkInTheAIera #Innovation #ProfessionalGrowth #OntologyOfValue #TEDxCSTU2025 Natalia Bielczyk, PhD is a Career Strategist, Business Developer, and Computational Neuroscientist exploring the Future of Work. In the AI-first labor market, professional development has become "chess 5D,” and so she travels the world studying the rules of the game.She is building Ontology of Value®: an online career incubator helping professionals and teams self-navigate and subvert all expectations in AI era. Natalia and her team build tools and educational programs to help professionals self-navigate and craft their dream careers, as well as help businesses create synergistic, healthy, and happy teams in times of AI.She works as an academic teacher, researcher, advisor, startup mentor, speaker, author, podcaster, and blogger. Even though she chose to work in the open job market, Natalia remains a researcher at heart and believes in the compatibility of science and entrepreneurship. As a bootstrapping solopreneur, she also advocates for independent decision making in business. 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 next difficult conversation didn’t trigger anxiety, but excitement? Whether it’s with yourself or someone else, facing hard truths is still an art that AI hasn’t quite automated yet… or has it? Don’t miss this algorithm-inspired talk to explore a new framework for navigating life’s toughest discussions. Nick Fuentes-Zuluaga is an engineer, data scientist, and entrepreneur who bridges the gap between technology and clinical research. In an industry where millions of dollars and years of work are on the line, he has built a reputation as a trusted expert and technical liaison—skilled at leading complex, difficult conversations with clarity, empathy, and precision. 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

D'vorah's talk reveals how anyone, regardless of technical background, can transform AI from an intimidating tool into their creative superpower for positive change in the world. D'vorah Graeser is an entrepreneur, scientist, and author who has been fearlessly exploring technology since building her first computer at age 16. With a PhD in pharmacology and experience as a programmer on the Human Genome Project, she brings a unique perspective to the intersection of human creativity and technological innovation. As a US Patent Agent, founder of a successful tech company, mother, grandmother, and ultramarathon runner, D'vorah embodies the multifaceted approach to life that she advocates for in technology. 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 dynamic talk, Gary redefines chaos—not as something to fear, but as fuel for growth. Drawing from his New York roots and decades immersed in cultural and digital revolutions, he shows how disruption can become the spark for innovation and transformation. His message is a rallying call to embrace uncertainty and turn unpredictability into progress. Gary J. Nix, known as the brandarchist, is a strategic innovator whose career spans over three decades in branding and digital transformation. 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 the secret to discovering our hidden strengths wasn’t avoiding discomfort, but learning to get comfortable with being uncomfortable? Tanushri is a 12-year-old middle schooler, student of Indian classical music, black belt in Taekwondo, avid reader, and gamer who believes in the power of curiosity, persistence, and gradual growth. In this uplifting and relatable talk, Tanushri shows how everyday moments like speaking up in class, trying something new, or going on an exhilarating amusement park ride can transform us when we shift our mindset from fear to curiosity. By simply trying, and taking baby steps into the unfamiliar, we begin to grow stronger, more confident, and more resilient. She also shares a practical framework of four simple questions that anyone can use to face new challenges: What’s the WORST thing that will happen if I DO it?What’s the WORST thing that will happen if I DON’T do it?What’s the BEST thing that will happen if I DO it?What’s the BEST thing that will happen if I DON’T do it?Through this lens, she invites us to see discomfort not as something to avoid, but as a guide toward hidden capabilities waiting to be unlocked. Her message is clear: when we practice getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, we discover strengths and possibilities we never knew we had. Tanushri Sriram is a thoughtful and confident young speaker who inspires others to step outside their comfort zones. Once a shy student who hesitated in raising her hand in class, Tanushri learned that true growth begins with stepping out of one’s comfort zone. Her TEDx talk shares relatable personal moments of placing herself in unfamiliar situations, facing fears with a mindshift change and her subsequent growth. Guided by the mantra, “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable,” she encourages friends and family to try new experiences, make venturesome choices, and find hidden capabilities within themselves. 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