In 2025, I was named one of the UK’s Top 100 Manufacturing Professionals, but just one year earlier, I was pushed out of the industry in which I’d spent a decade building my career.I had to leave engineering to be recognised by it.I spent my time in engineering not just designing systems, but surviving them. Despite commercial success, I was told my DEI work was a distraction and that I was too disruptive. That I didn’t belong.But what if we stopped trying to “fit in” and started redesigning the systems themselves?This talk reframes inclusion as a systems challenge – one that can be tackled using the same tools we apply in engineering: safety, efficiency, productivity, and continuous improvement.Because inclusion shouldn’t be an afterthought, and it shouldn’t be improvised.It should be engineered. Poggy Murray Whitham is a professionally accredited engineer, Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, and multi award-winning DEI professional and researcher. Formerly a senior manager in automation engineering, Poggy was named one of the UK’s Top 100 Manufacturing Professionals – an honour that came only after being forced to leave the industry – alongside being nominated for a National Diversity Award as a positive LGBT role model.Now Programme Manager and part of the leadership team at EqualEngineers, and Co-Chair of InterEngineering, Poggy combines lived experience as a Black, Queer, Disabled, Neurodivergent professional with technical, strategic insight to drive inclusive change across the engineering industry, working with companies across the country and speaking regularly at institutions such as the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Government and Public Policy, and Imperial College London. Poggy is also pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration in DEI in Engineering at Heriot-Watt’s Edinburgh Business School. 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

Who really has the power to change society? In this talk, activist Vito Fiacco shares how so-called “nobodies” — ordinary people often overlooked or dismissed — can rise together to demand dignity, rights, and justice. Drawing from his own journey in Southern Italy, he shows that true revolution begins when communities unite to transform struggle into shared happiness. Vito Fiacco ha 26 anni è uno studente di Giurisprudenza prossimo alla Laurea e Consigliere Comunale di Pomigliano d’Arco. Da quando ha 14 anni è impegnato nell’attivismo politico: è stato rappresentante degli studenti durante gli anni del liceo, membro della consulta provinciale degli studenti di Napoli, membro dell’esecutivo di un sindacato studentesco, candidato a Sindaco della sua città a 24 anni risultando il più giovane candidato sindaco di sempre della sua città e oggi consigliere comunale. 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

Shivansh Gupta’s talk celebrates the transformative power of giving through his journey as founder of The Teen Debater, a not-for-profit that has trained over 10,000 students. With humor and relatability, he reflects on turning childhood “arguing” into a respected skill and community platform. While Shivansh began teaching debate, he soon realized that every student also taught him something: patience, humility, resilience, and empathy. From a shy girl who found her voice to a small-town boy who defeated a well-resourced competitor, Shivansh shares stories that illustrate how knowledge multiplies when shared. Referring to a Sanskrit shloka about education growing through generosity, he reframes giving as an investment that enriches both the giver and recipient. His message is simple yet powerful: success isn’t about winning arguments but growing through them, and true impact lies in listening, learning, and sharing. Shivansh leaves the audience with a hopeful invitation—give something today, and grow in return. Shivansh Gupta is a 17-year-old international debate champion, economics researcher and student changemaker from Gurgaon, India. Shivansh has been crowned Champion or Finalist at top global tournaments, including those hosted by Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge, Georgetown, and Toronto, winning over 50 international awards. He founded The Teen Debater, a Government of India-registered nonprofit that has trained over 10,000 students across 250+ schools, run 300+ hours of free debate sessions, and reached 1 million+ people through social media, podcasts, and resources. Beyond debate, Shivansh is a published researcher in economics with faculty from Oxford, Columbia, and Wesleyan College, and helped develop financial literacy curricula for 40,000+ women in partnership with the Indian government. He also led Team India at South Africa’s Eskom ISF, winning Gold and Best in Engineering for his Parkinson’s innovation, ParkinStep. 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 her TEDx talk on the theme: The Psychology of Success, Sugandha explores how success is less about fixed milestones and more about evolving perceptions shaped by life’s stages. She begins by recalling childhood notions of success—simple joys, crowns, and career dreams—before describing how experiences of motherhood, entrepreneurship, and self-reflection redefined it. She highlights the mental conflicts women often face, juggling societal expectations of excelling at both work and home, while silently questioning their worth. Sugandha reveals how these external “rulers” distort self-perception, leading to anxiety and comparison. Yet, she emphasizes that the true psychology of success lies in recognizing it as fluid—shifting with needs, priorities, and values. Success, she argues, is not applause, crowns, or bank balances but the ability to show up fully in the present chapter of life. Ultimately, success is self-defined, rooted in impact, balance, and self-acceptance. Sugandha Arora is the founder and creative force behind Sugandha Official, a fashion label that believes clothing is a powerful form of self-expression. For her, design is not only about garments, but also about storytelling, empowerment, and celebrating individuality.Beyond the world of fashion, she has been honored by the Vidhan Sabha for her contribution to society, reflecting her commitment to creating impact that extends beyond her craft.Her philosophy is deeply shaped by her belief that success is not a destination marked by accolades, but a journey that continuously evolves with time, resilience, and self-belief. Through her work and her voice, Sugandha continues to inspire others to define success on their own terms and embrace the power of authenticity. 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 TEDx talk, the speaker challenges the pressure to have clear career plans and life answers, arguing that clarity is often overrated. Instead, they highlight the power of consistent curiosity—the habit of asking questions, exploring possibilities, and staying open to learning. Drawing from personal stories and professional experiences, the speaker shows how curiosity leads to deeper insights, stronger growth, and eventually, the clarity we seek. The core message encourages students and professionals alike to embrace uncertainty, keep asking meaningful questions, and trust that clarity will follow curiosity over time. Shipra Bhatt has spent over 18 years shaping brands across India, the Middle East, Turkey, and Eastern Europe; most recently as Marketing Director at KFC, where she built innovation pipelines, accelerated product launches, and led cross-functional teams to deliver growth. Currently, she works as a fractional CMO and consultant, partnering with F&B, QSR, and D2C brands to translate insights into impact. Her journey, however, is not just about boardrooms and campaigns. After turning 40, she chose to step away from corporate life to carve a path on her own terms - balancing ambition with personal growth, and building her voice through writing and thought leadership. Her story is one of curiosity, resilience, and leading with both strategy and heart. 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

Mira Swarup’s heartfelt talk reframes the idea of giving, shifting it from sacrifice to strength. She begins by admitting she once saw giving as a drain—time, energy, and pieces of herself disappearing with each act. But through seva in her Sikh upbringing, leadership volunteering, and her work as a healer, she discovered that giving is not a tank that empties but a river that flows. Rather than depleting her, giving clarified her mind, built courage, and gave her a voice. She shares how research supports this truth: giving without boundaries leads to burnout, but giving with balance—what psychologist Adam Grant calls “otherish giving”—creates resilience, trust, and even joy. Drawing on science, spirituality, and her own journey, Mira redefines giving as a current that nourishes both giver and receiver. Her central lesson—that we thrive not by guarding but by flowing—offers an empowering invitation: to give without keeping score, and in doing so, discover that contribution is not depletion but fulfillment. Mira Swarup is a Communication Coach and Speaker who helps professionals transform presence into influence. Over the past decade, she has designed and led workshops on executive presence, difficult conversations, and business storytelling for leaders across consulting, IT, FMCG, and banking industries. Her work is rooted in a belief she grew up with in her Sikh household, that service (seva) and giving strengthen both individuals and communities. For Mira, giving is not depletion, but a state of flow. Her journey reflects a simple truth. When we give of ourselves: our time, voice, and presence, we create ripples of change far beyond us. That possibility rests in every one of us, if we choose to give. 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