Abishek Ravichandran shares how his defensive style of play and consistent effort helped him reach India’s No. 1 ranking in U21 and win bronze in 2010, while also acing one of the toughest competitive exams in the country. Inspired by the theory of marginal gains, the talk proposes that a loftier goal can be achieved by making many small, incremental improvements across different areas, rather than relying on one or two major changes. In this approach, the speaker focuses on constant, small-scale progress that accumulates over time to create a significant overall transformation, leading to substantial success. Abishek Ravichandran is a former Indian Table Tennis player and Commonwealth Games bronze medalist. His defensive style was a rarity among the offensive players of his generation. He quickly became India’s U21 No. 1, consistently ranking in the national top 5. Key milestones include a South Asian Junior Tournament victory, a memorable win over World No. 12 at the World Championships, and playing a pivotal role in India’s bronze medal win at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. In his early 20s, Abishek pivoted from sports to pursue Chartered Accountancy (CA), declining a high-paying PSU job. After completing his CA and a corporate stint, his passion for the game fueled a brief 2015 comeback, which included competing professionally in Sweden. Today, Abishek merges his athletic and financial expertise to focus on financial management for athletes. His journey highlights the balance between a sporting career and practical decisions, shaped by an enduring love for Table Tennis. 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

From poverty to public service, Lesley Meenaghan has lived a life defined not by circumstance but by courage. She invites us to rethink what it means to come from “the wrong side of the tracks” and to celebrate the power of resilience. Lesley Meenaghan shares her journey of growing up in poverty and rejecting the low expectations that came with it. Her talk challenges the stigma and shame often attached to disadvantaged communities and calls for a shift in how society sees children and adults from these backgrounds. Rather than being defined by limitation, they should be recognised for their resilience and strength. This talk invites us to encourage visibility, embrace different paths, and support those who have “turned left” in life.Lesley spent ten years proudly serving her country in both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force before returning home to continue her public service as a Hampshire police officer. After 23 years in policing, the last 15 as the Town Sergeant, Lesley retired from uniformed service but not from serving her community. Today, she continues her commitment to public service as a councillor, championing safer, stronger, and more connected communities. 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

True success isn’t built overnight, it’s nurtured through values, patience, and consistency passed down across generations. In this heartfelt talk, Vikash Hisariya shares how his father built a business from nothing, guided by the 3Ts - Truth, Trust, and Transformation, and how those principles continue to shape his journey today. It is a reflection on staying grounded while rising, generation after generation. Vikas Hisariya is the Managing Director of Vishal Peripherals, a leading IT hardware and software distributor and solutions provider in South India. Since founding the company in 2001, he has driven its growth through business development, key account management, and customer-focused execution. Known for agility and foresight, Vikas has built strong strategic partnerships and navigated fast-changing market dynamics to deliver value across enterprises and consumers. Under his leadership, Vishal Peripherals has expanded into AI solutions, custom-built PCs, and gaming, earning recognition as the Best Retail Store in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, while contributing to India’s digital growth. 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

This talk examines a piece of art for themes related to climate change, environmental awareness, and global awareness. Maylis Pickering is a student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she is majoring in Art History and minoring in Applied Understanding in Global Education. As a participant in the Education Honors program, she aims to pursue a career in teaching. Motivated by her passion for international education, she wants to investigate how studying art on a global scale can provide valuable insights into various educational systems and their potential improvements. She believes that viewing the world through the lens of art can enhance cultural awareness and enrich learning experiences. 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 a world that glorifies speed, dominance, and instant success, could it be that the strongest people are those who wait, listen, and love without applause?This talk takes you on an emotional journey through science, storytelling, and lived experience to uncover the quiet strength that outlasts storms and heals hearts. Laire Sadewo's words invite you to rethink what it means to be powerful, not through control, but through compassion, not through urgency, but through unwavering patience.In this emotional and heartfelt talk, Laire Sadewo redefines what it means to be strong in a world that glorifies speed, volume, and perfection. From a mother’s calm resilience to a nurse’s unwavering compassion, this talk honors the silent, enduring courage that builds a more human world. Laire Kenzie Swamurti Sadewo, a 14 year old student from Avicenna Cinere Junior High School, exemplifies quiet strength in both character and action. Known for her calm determination and thoughtful approach, Laire embraces challenges not for recognition but from a genuine desire to learn and make a meaningful impact. This mindset earned her the Grand Award and Gold Medal in the field of Technology at the 2025 Indonesian Student Research Competition (ISRC). Her journey is marked by patience, persistence and steady growth. She believes that true strength lies in quiet resilience like showing up, staying committed and moving forward even when progress is unseen. Currently, she is actively developing her skills in public speaking and research competitions, growing steadily while staying true to the values that define her. Laire will be one of the speakers at the TEDxAvicenna Cinere School Main Event on June 22nd, 2025. 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

From particle physicist to AI innovator, John Jiang shares his journey through DOE national labs, NASA, and the global tech industry—pioneering big data, IoT, and AI long before they became buzzwords. Drawing on decades of experience building large-scale systems for government, industry, and enterprise, he reveals how physics-driven thinking can orchestrate AI, cloud, and data into a powerful “technology symphony.” This talk inspires a new generation to bridge science, engineering, and business to shape the future.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=john_jiangSpeaker: John Jiang Learn more about the speaker: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jzyjiang/ Speaker's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnJiang86Organizer: 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 #AIInnovation #BigData #IoT #TechLeadership #PhysicsToAI #FutureOfTech #CloudComputing #DataScience #STEMInspiration #TechSymphony #TEDxCSTU2025 Dr. John Jiang is a pioneer in big data, AI, and digital transformation. As Chief Architect/CTO of Lockheed Martin IT after 9/11, he led anti-terrorism data systems and the virtual border for DHS (2002–2005). He built and led enterprise data practices at BearingPoint (2005–2009), and served as Executive Architect at IBM and Dell (2009–2012), advising Global 500 CIOs/CTOs on cloud and data strategy. At Hitachi America R&D (2012–2015), he drove IT/OT transformation via Industrial Internet. Since 2015, he has consulted as CTO, enterprise architect, and data scientist for Walmart, Boeing, Intel, FAA, Vanguard, and others. Dr. Jiang holds a PhD in particle physics from Stony Brook University and was a postdoc at Stanford SLAC, contributing to the discovery of the top quark. He also worked at Fermilab, NASA Ames, and NSLS. With 25+ years of leadership, he has bridged advanced science and enterprise tech across sectors. 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