Mischa Oak reflects on his groundbreaking experience of being one of the first gay people married on reality TV and how it sparked his lifelong mission to champion LGBTQ+ inclusion. He highlights the challenges faced by queer individuals, debunks myths about sexuality and gender, and emphasizes the joy and innovation that diversity brings to communities. Mischa draws on global and historical examples to show that embracing difference is natural and essential for progress. With humor and authenticity, he inspires audiences to see inclusion as a way to unlock human potential, amplify excellence, and create a world where everyone’s identity is celebrated as a unique gift. LGBTQ+ Inclusion Trainer, Speaker and StrategistMischa founded LGBTQ Inclusion Training to improve the lives of 2SLGBTQ+ people and support diversity and inclusion within organizations. Mischa believes inclusion amplifies excellence for everyone and that the Queer community offers invaluable life lessons that can enrich humanity.With over 20 years of experience as an educator and 2SLGBTQ+ advocate, Mischa holds a Master of Education in Social Justice Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning. He gained international recognition as part of the first wave of legal same-sex marriages, featured on the reality TV series My Fabulous Gay Wedding. Taking part in the Queer Liberation movement propelled his ongoing advocacy work, including efforts to expand transgender and Queer inclusion in BC schools during his 17 years as a teacher.Today, Mischa advises and trains companies, organizations, governments, and communities on 2SLGBTQ+ well-being, anti-discrimination, and inclusion, helping to foster life-changing progress. Mischa Oak is a Loran Scholar and an alumnus of Queen’s University, the University of Toronto, and Memorial University.#pride #pridemonthThis 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

Every day, you make thousands of decisions. Most are automatic. But a handful, just seven - can shape your entire life. In this powerful TEDx talk, you’ll join a transformative exploration of courage—how it shapes your life, fuels your decisions, and liberates you from regret. Drawing from personal experience and global leadership roles, and inspired by a transformative pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago, former Fortune 500 executive Christopher O.H. Williams unveils seven key choices that define courage and challenges us to embrace a life driven by purpose, rather than fear. Prepare to see your daily choices in a whole new light, and to walk away ready to take the first bold step toward seven that matter. Christopher O.H. Williams is an international keynote speaker, board director, and author who advises leaders and organizations on courageous growth and transformation. A former Fortune 500 executive at adidas, Nike, VF Corporation, and Gap, he is also the first President of African Leadership University and founder of the consulting firm Custament Partners. In his upcoming book, C.O.U.R.A.G.E.: 7 Choices for Living a Life Without Regret (Fall 2025), Christopher offers a bold roadmap for living more authentically. A U.S. citizen based in Europe, Christopher holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics from Morehouse College. For more about Christopher and his work, visit https://www.christopherowilliams.com/ 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

The talk asks how we want to shape our life with intelligent technology by looking 10 years back into the story of hitchBOT, the first Canadian hitchhiking robot, and by discussing different ideas about people’s current relationship to/with AI. The concept of Dialectical Intelligence is suggested to stress that we should think less in categories as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ AI and rather ask how people can create a new kind of understanding together with intelligent machines. Will we all talk like Siri or Alexa one day? And if so, how would this change our values and ideas? Frauke is Chair and Professor in Design Informatics at Edinburgh College of Art, at The University of Edinburgh, and Co-Director of the Institute for Design Informatics. With expertise in human-computer interaction, human-robot interaction, AI, ethics, and digital methods, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the stage. Before moving to Scotland, she was an Associate Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, The Creative School, in Canada, where she held multiple research-related positions, including director of the Centre for Communicating Knowledge and director of The Creative School Audience Lab.Frauke has been involved in numerous international research projects and has received research grants in Canada, Germany, and across the EU. She is also the co-creator of hitchBOT, Canada’s first hitchhiking robot , a project that captured worldwide attention and sparked conversations about robotics, AI, and human-technology interaction. 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

We say we believe in inclusion, but how often do we include disability in that conversation?In this provocative and heartfelt talk, accessibility advocate and DEI practitioner L. Denise Wells invites us to rethink what true inclusion looks like, why it’s not just a moral imperative but a driver of innovation. From elevators to texting, some of the technologies we rely on every day were originally designed for people with disabilities. So why are so many still excluded from the rooms where decisions are made?As the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act approaches, this talk challenges business leaders, educators, and changemakers to stop seeing accommodations as extras—and start recognizing them as launchpads for better design, better workplaces, and a better future for everyone. L. Denise Wells is dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) across industries.A John C. Maxwell-certified speaker and award-winning author, she brings over 25 years of experience as a storyteller, DEIA advisor, and transformational leadership coach, helping individuals and organizations create more inclusive and equitable spaces.Her commitment to empowerment is evident in her acclaimed book, “An Anthology of Sisterhood,” a 2013 NAACP-nominated collection amplifying the voices of 22 dynamic women. With a foreword by the late Ruby Dee, the book has received multiple literary honors and is required reading in ethnic studies at Santa Barbara College.Denise co-benefacts the Ruby Dee Legacy of Sisterhood Scholarship and holds degrees from the University of Georgia and Central Michigan University. 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 talk, Jess Ekstrom reveals the one shift that has helped thousands of her students move from fear of public speaking to standing ovations. She delivers a powerful, funny, and deeply human reminder that great public speakers don’t steal the spotlight—they shine it on others. Jess Ekstrom is a Forbes Top Rated Speaker, 2x 7-figure social entrepreneur, mom and Harper Collins bestselling author of Chasing the Bright Side and Create Your Bright Ideas.Jess is the founder and Chief Creative Officer at Mic Drop Workshop, on a mission to help women speak with confidence and paid keynote spots. 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