Dr. Vee Johnson's speech Dr. Vee Johnson, also known as The EQ Doctor, is on a mission to help people harness the power of emotions and social interaction to drive meaningful change in their lives and organizations. As a transformational strategist and emotional intelligence expert, she works with individuals from all walks of life, including leaders, medical professionals, law enforcement officers, and municipal decision-makers—empowering them and their organizations to reset limiting patterns, realign with their values, and take intentional steps toward growth. An introverted overthinker turned innovator, she blends emotional insight with practical strategy, inviting others to rethink the way they engage with themselves and the world around them. Known for her relatable wisdom and thought-provoking ideas, she inspires people to see change not as a disruption, but as an invitation to lead themselves toward what matters most. 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

Uncertainty isn’t just a feature of markets or weather systems — it’s woven into the very fabric of our lives. In this thought-provoking talk, Dr. Venugopal explores the nature of complex systems and the unpredictability they bring, drawing parallels to the uncertainties we all face personally. With insight and clarity, he offers practical strategies for navigating life’s chaos with resilience and perspective. Because while the future will always be uncertain, how we face it is entirely up to us. Dr. Venugopal is a seasoned business leader and management consultant with over 45 years of experience in corporate India. With a rich career spanning 28 years in senior leadership roles across industries, he has led large-scale transformation initiatives including Business Process Reengineering, ERP implementations, and Total Quality Management. In 2004, he co-founded Krysalis Consultancy, a boutique firm specializing in improving organizational performance through strategic and operational interventions. As MD & CEO, he has advised hundreds of companies, helping leadership teams drive change and achieve sustainable growth. An IIT Kharagpur alumnus with an MBA from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute and a Ph.D. from Anna University, Dr. Venugopal is also a prolific writer and speaker on management. He has authored three books on entrepreneurship, self-leadership, and corporate success, and continues to mentor professionals across sectors through his work in consulting and executive coaching. 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 many systems—schools, workplaces, even families—obedience is often rewarded, while questioning is discouraged. But what happens when following orders causes harm or stifles innovation? This thought-provoking talk explores the concept of intelligent disobedience—the ability to thoughtfully say "no" when it matters most. Drawing from real-world examples and personal insight, the speaker challenges us to rethink how we define discipline, courage, and integrity—and why teaching this skill may be essential for a just and ethical society.Captain Lovely Feranda M is a commercial airline pilot currently flying as Pilot in Command on the Airbus A320 and A321 fleet with IndiGo Airlines. Originally from Kanyakumari district and raised in Chennai, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Applications from Madras Christian College. She began her flying career in the United States, earning her FAA Commercial Pilot License at US Flight Academy in Texas. She returned to India in 2010 to obtain her DGCA license and completed her Airbus A320 type rating at Air India’s training center in Hyderabad. Her professional journey includes flying with Go Airlines as a Junior First Officer, followed by joining IndiGo Airlines in 2015. In 2018, she completed her command training in the UK and has since served as Captain on domestic and international routes. In addition to aviation, she enjoys singing, dancing, and spending time with her family, including her husband—also an airline captain—and their two sons. 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 holds us back often isn’t lack of knowledge — but the weight of assumptions, both our own and those imposed by others. In this insightful talk, the speaker challenges conventional thinking around education, communication, and personal freedom. By exploring the power of unlearning and the art of asking the right questions, this talk offers practical wisdom on navigating judgments, making conscious choices, and living life on your own terms. Rajalakshmi Srinivasan is a seasoned technology leader with over 25 years of experience at Zoho Corporation. As Director of Product Management, she currently heads the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) product line, driving innovation and execution in a competitive tech landscape.Over the years, she has worked across critical domains including database scaling, network monitoring, application performance, and user experience management. Known for her strategic thinking and ability to transform ideas into scalable products, she has played a key role in the evolution of Zoho’s enterprise offerings.Rajalakshmi is also an active public speaker, engaging with academic and professional audiences on topics such as technology leadership, innovation, and women in tech. She holds a degree in Computer Science from the College of Engineering, Guindy (CEG), Chennai, and is widely recognized for her commitment to mentoring and empowering young professionals in the technology space. 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 future didn’t require choosing one worldview over another—but honoring both? In this powerful talk, Dana shares her deeply personal journey of reclaiming Indigenous identity through the concept of Two-Eyed Seeing, a Mi’kmaw teaching that blends Western and Indigenous ways of knowing to create deeper, more holistic understanding.Raised with Norwegian and Cree heritage, Dana recounts how systemic erasure shaped her family history—from her grandmother’s silence about her Cree identity to the intergenerational impacts of Day Schools and Residential Schools. Through stories of family, food, language, and healing, she illuminates how embracing both eyes—both worldviews—can lead to stronger communities, better stewardship of the land, and a more inclusive society. Dana Driedger, a Cree woman from the Canoe Lake Cree First Nation with Norwegian ancestry on her father’s side, shares the wisdom of Two-Eyed Seeing. By weaving together Indigenous and Western worldviews, Dana reveals how this approach can foster healing and deeper understanding across cultures. 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

Harvard Business School professor Karim Lakhani shares groundbreaking research on AI's impact in the workplace through rigorous "clinical trials" at major organizations like BCG and Procter & Gamble. These studies reveal how AI fundamentally transforms work by lowering the cost of expertise—enabling average performers to reach 95th percentile levels and giving individuals access to cross-disciplinary knowledge previously requiring entire teams. The talk presents evidence of AI's evolution from tool to teammate while warning of the widening gap between AI's exponential capabilities and organizations' linear adoption rates. Leaders will learn a practical four-step framework to harness AI's potential while avoiding the pitfalls of misapplication in their strategic decision-making.AI, Business, Creativity, Data Science, Economics, Intelligence, Machine Learning, Management, Social Science, Technology Karim R. Lakhani is the Dorothy & Michael Hintze Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and founding chair of the Digital, Data & Design (D^3) Institute at Harvard. He also leads the Laboratory for Innovation Science at Harvard. An expert on technological innovation and AI strategy, Karim has published over 150 scholarly works and pioneered field experiments in innovation. His research explores how analytics and AI reshape business models, and he co-authored the award-winning book Competing in the Age of AI (2020). He developed Harvard’s MBA required course on Data Science and AI for Leaders and six online courses taken by thousands of executives. Karim advises top firms and startups, serves on the boards of VideaHealth and Cloudflare, and is a co-founder of Aspire Institute. He holds degrees from MIT and McMaster University and previously worked at GE Healthcare and The Boston Consulting Group. 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