In this powerful and deeply personal TED Talk, Harshal Dilwali shares his extraordinary journey from a 17-year-old aspiring engineer to a trailblazing hotelier who built a chain of resorts starting with chopping 50 kilos of onions. With no roadmap, no resources, and relentless challenges from ridicule to recession to a global pandemic Harshal turned every setback into a stepping stone. Through moments of raw vulnerability and bold reinvention, he reveals how grit, responsibility, and unwavering belief can transform not just businesses, but lives. From launching India’s first touchless hotel check-in system during lockdown to building a luxury hospitality empire from scratch, this is not just a story of entrepreneurship it’s a story of resilience, purpose, and starting over. Whether you’re navigating uncertainty or chasing a dream, Harshal’s journey will inspire you to own your path, no matter how unplanned. Because sometimes, greatness isn’t born it’s built, one room, one risk, and one decision at a time. A trailblazing entrepreneur, award-winning hotelier and youth icon revolutionising the hospitality and real estate sectors with technology, innovation, and customer-centric excellence. He's also a 4-time Entrepreneur of the Year, Influencer of the Year (2021) and Best Hotelier of the Year. Harshal has built Clarissa Group into a powerhouse of luxury, experience-driven hospitality and premium real estate development. 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

Why do we tend to give up as soon as we fail? This TEDx talk explores how letting go of expectations can unlock your true potential. Learn why failure is essential, how skills compound over time, and how trusting your journey connects the dots to success. Aditya is a passionate problem-solver who stumbled into entrepreneurship – and fell in love with it! What inspired him to start Freedom Formula is to change how the world perceives talent! His mission is to help service providers and coaches to get high-ticket clients all over the globe. 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 something unforgettable in a world of noise? This talk explores the art of building meaning—beyond marketing, beyond metrics. It’s a reflection on the power of authenticity and purpose in shaping identities that resonate. Through the highs, lows, and the uncertain middle of entrepreneurial pursuit, we uncover how real impact often begins where clarity meets courage. Shubhagata Mittal is a creative entrepreneur, brand consultant, and the founder of Artemedy—a design studio that has worked with over 200 brands to build distinctive identities and market presence. A postgraduate from the London College of Fashion with a degree in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, she blends business insight with a strong design sensibility to craft brands that are both strategic and soulful. She also hosts Shubhagata Talks Biz, where top entrepreneurs share the raw, real version of their success stories. Her own path—from a classroom topper to a design thinker to a startup founder—is shaped by the quiet, in-between moments that often go unnoticed but change everything. 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 happens when life redirects your path in ways you never imagined? This poignant talk traces a journey born from personal trials—where care, resilience, and inquiry intersect. It’s a reflection on how discipline and quiet experimentation can evolve into a deeper understanding of recovery, not through shortcuts or miracles, but through sustained intention and reimagined wisdom. At its heart, this is a story about hope finding new form Dr. S.M. Raju, a former IAS officer and an agricultural science graduate, has dedicated over 40 years to the research and development of herbal medicine. Motivated by personal and family health crises, he pioneered a unique science designed to restore blood circulation in degenerated organs at the capillary and micro-capillary levels. This approach enables cell regeneration and rejuvenation of degenerated organs, offering hope for curing chronic and previously considered incurable diseases, such as chronic kidney disease. His groundbreaking work began with his father, who was on dialysis in 2008 and successfully discontinued it under Dr. Raju's treatment. In 2010, he helped his son overcome acute myeloid leukaemia using an integrated approach, without the treating doctors’ awareness. Dr. Raju himself was cured of rheumatoid arthritis, which he had suffered from since 1973, by 1981. 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

Can a subtle shift in thought change the course of a life? In this compelling talk, we journey through the quiet power of perspective—how small cognitive adjustments, when paired with compassion, can help individuals navigate stress, anxiety, and emotional fatigue. Grounded in psychological insight and lived experience, the talk reframes healing not as a destination, but as an evolving process of reclaiming clarity, purpose, and emotional autonomy. A deeply committed psychologist and psychotherapist with over 14 years of experience in guiding individuals through emotional, psychological, and workplace-related challenges. With a strong foundation in clinical psychology and therapeutic modalities such as CBT, REBT, NLP, and ABA, Sumedha offers compassionate, evidence-based support to those navigating stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout—especially in high-pressure corporate environments. Her unique blend of clinical insight and empathetic practice has made her a trusted mental health professional for clients seeking clarity, resilience, and emotional balance in both personal and professional spheres. 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 most powerful form of storytelling was invisible? This talk explores the quiet force of scent—a sensory language that connects us to memory, identity, and emotion. From shaping brand experiences to deepening human connection, fragrance emerges not just as chemistry, but as a gateway to meaning. Through this journey, we rediscover how something as subtle as smell can profoundly shape how we feel, remember, and belong. With an MBA in Marketing and advanced training in perfumery from Flavors and Fragrance Development center, Kannauj and Forest Reasearch Institute , Dehradun, Pallavi has spent the last decade ransforming India’s olfactory landscape. She helms Olfa Originals—a heritage fragrance house rooted in her grandfather’s legacy—and is also the mind behind The Mad Nose, a modern, irreverent take on luxuryscenting that’s quickly gaining cult status. A graduate of growth accelerators from IIM Bangalore and ISB Mohali, she blends sharp business acumen with deep craft knowledge. Her brands have launched sold-out editions, pioneered immersive scent experiences, and introduced pre-booked luxury perfumes inspired by ancient maturation rituals. 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