An Immigrant in the Orchard : How I Lost an Election | Ibrahim Bashir | TEDxArdenwood Youth
In this candid and insightful talk, Ibrahim Bashir reflects on his narrow loss in the Los Altos City Council race—and why it became one of the most meaningful experiences of his life. Drawing from decades of experience in tech and civic service, he shares what it means to lead, to lose with purpose, and to keep pushing forward even when the finish line feels just out of reach. A powerful reminder that sometimes, the impact of our efforts matters more than the outcome. Ibrahim Bashir has been creating software for nearly 25 years, a journey he started while earning his Master's in Computer Science from the University of Michigan. He currently works on the product team at Applied Intuition, helping customers build intelligent vehicles. Before that, he scaled the flagship product at Amplitude, new businesses at Box, service infrastructure at Twitter, and the Kindle ecosystem at Amazon.Ibrahim has also been an active civic servant over the last decade, operating as a community organizer and serving as a library commissioner. In the most recent election cycle, Ibrahim ran for a seat on the Los Altos City Council. As a naturalized immigrant and minority candidate, he brought a unique perspective to the race; although he ultimately fell short by a margin of 1%, he managed to execute the most sophisticated campaign in the history of the city. 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
More from TED
- 12:50Museums must give back what they stole — here’s why | Dorota Blumczynska | TEDxWinnipegWhat does it mean to hold stolen history? Museum CEO Dorota delivers a powerful call for accountability and transformation within the cultural sector. Drawing from her experience at the Manitoba Museum, she exposes the legacy of colonialism that still lives in museum vaults—through artifacts taken without consent, displayed without context, and separated from the communities they belong to.With clarity and conviction, Dorota urges institutions to go beyond symbolic gestures: to return sacred objects, share authority with Indigenous communities, and become true allies in truth and reconciliation. This talk invites us to reimagine museums not as neutral spaces, but as platforms for justice, healing, and co-creation. Dorota Blumczynska, CEO of the Manitoba Museum and Vice-President of the Canadian Museums Association, advocates for museums as spaces of truth, reconciliation, and social justice. She shares her vision for transforming museums to foster healing and understanding. 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
- 15:53How Courage, Curiosity, and Compassion Can Redefine Your Life | Monalisa Saxena | TEDxKIS Pune YouthIn this deeply personal and inspiring TEDx talk, Monalisa Saxena—CEO of Pixights Consulting and COO at Merren—narrates three pivotal life stories that exemplify the power of choosing courage over convention. From breaking academic stereotypes in the ’90s to raise a trailblazing career in communications, to embracing her son’s autism diagnosis with strength and belief, Monalisa speaks about navigating life’s toughest turns with empathy and resilience. Her mantra—“assume competence”—has redefined possibilities not only for her son, who now runs marathons and co-authored an award-winning book, but for countless neurodiverse children. Through her lived experience, Monalisa also sheds light on the silent crisis of women dropping out of the workforce and her mission to build workplaces where empathy meets ambition. A talk that blends vulnerability, humor, and insight—this is a celebration of turning setbacks into wows. Monalisa Saxena is the Chief Operating Officer at Merren and CEO at Pixights Consulting, bringing a rare blend of research depth, entrepreneurial drive, and storytelling finesse to the world of consumer insights. A MICA alumnus and passionate semiotician, she combines data with cultural meaning to decode what truly drives people. With years of experience in decoding consumer behavior, Monalisa is a research buff and mindful entrepreneur who believes in leading with empathy and insight. Whether it’s building scalable research tech or crafting brand narratives, her work bridges logic and emotion—making her a compelling voice at the intersection of business, culture, and innovation. 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
