Overwhelm hits teens hard. They’re told to “stay positive” or “be logical,” but in such moments, that advice rarely helps. In this TEDx talk, Anjan Kasi Sampath draws from brain science and personal experience to share a new idea: replace “Why is this happening?” with “What is happening?” This subtle shift creates emotional collaboration—where emotion and logic stop competing and start working together. The result? Teens stop spiraling and start responding with clarity and control—in overwhelming moments. Anjan Kasi is a software architect, performance coach for teens, and creator of the VISIONx™ framework, training Gen Z to confidently own their value and stand out—building successful careers from day one. He’s a John Maxwell Certified Speaker, award-winning Toastmaster, and was featured in Business Innovators Magazine for his groundbreaking work on Gen Z. Learn more at www.anjankasispeaks.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

Public speaking fear is tough, accent anxiety makes it tougher. But when you learn to relax your body and anchor that calm feeling, everything changes. This TEDx talk shows how a simple breathing practice slows your heart, resets your nervous system, and helps you remember calm on demand. With practice, you can dramatically improve your speech ability, shift fear into flow, and overcome the fear of accents ,so your ideas come through with clarity and confidence. Practice daily. Anchor calm. Speak your mind. Evgeniy Kharam has mastered the art of staying calm under pressure, both as a father of four and throughout his career. Today, he is a trusted advisor and consultant, guiding organizations through complex cybersecurity challenges while also teaching professionals how to communicate under stress. A second-time immigrant whose English is his third language, Evgeniy knows firsthand the fear and accent anxiety of finding your voice in a new country. His journey from nervous speaker to confident presenter inspired his book The Art of Soft Skills in Technical Sales and the creation of his Fear-to-Flow Communication Model, which uses breathwork to turn anxiety into clarity and confidence. Today, he combines technical expertise with communication coaching, helping people secure technologyand unlock their voice in high-pressure moments. 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

Teens are often in a period of their life where they’re trying to figure out who they are and what they can do. This often brings along a toxic game of comparison where everyone wants to be better than everyone else but insecure to others at the same time. Katherine Ning explains the true sense teens feel behind comparison and how it distorts the sense of self-worth. Teens are more powerful, more capable, stronger than the world makes them think. Seeing themselves as the main character in their lives gives confidence and esteem, building the power to conquer internal struggles. Katherine Ning is a fifteen year old sophomore at Cherry Creek High School. She competes in Cross Examination Debate, FBLA international business, competition math, and commercial dance. Katherine's goal is to challenge her current capabilities to be the best she can, and lift up other teens struggling through the teenage phase of life. 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 your AI outputs feel generic because you've been using AI completely wrong?Entrepreneur Gavin Lira spent hours crafting "perfect" prompts, only to get robotic responses everyone else was getting. Until one desperate experiment changed everything.Here's what nobody tells you: Your competitive advantage comes from something only YOU have access to.Gavin Lira reveals the simple technique that made his AI outputs so authentically "him" that people couldn't tell the difference. (Hint: It has nothing to do with wording your prompts perfectly.)There's one crucial ingredient most people never think to use...Watch to discover why genuine intelligence doesn't start with artificial intelligence at all. Gavin Lira is a young entrepreneur and founder of three ventures at the intersection of AI and business. He launched Review My Tech, a platform dedicated to reviewing AI tools and software; Upgrade My Tech, a consulting and implementation firm that helps businesses integrate and, when necessary, develop custom AI solutions; and Master My Tech, an education-focused initiative that teaches both businesses and individuals how to leverage AI and automation effectively and practically.Featured in Forbes and a previous TEDx and international speaker, Gavin pioneered AI use in business before ChatGPT became mainstream. He helps businesses transform artificial intelligence into “genuine intelligence”—AI that sounds and thinks authentically like you instead of generating generic, robotic responses. In his TEDx Talk, Gavin Lira will share how anyone can move beyond basic AI usage to create outputs that add genuine value. 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

As a child, Minesh Baxi was full of joy and promise, but years later he found himself stuck in lifeless work. Everything changed when an assessment revealed his true strengths and motivations. In this talk, he shows parents how asking their teens two key questions — What are your natural strengths? What truly motivates you? — can help them avoid the same struggle. Backed by research from the Journal of Business and Psychology showing DISC’s impact on productivity, Minesh shares how small insights can shape confident, energized futures. Minesh Baxi is a business coach and author who has reviewed over 10,000 DISC and Motivators assessments for top achievers and employees. With 25+ years of experience helping people discover their strengths, he equips parents and leaders to guide others toward fulfilling, purpose-driven lives. He has published 12 books including Stop Hiring Losers and Network Your Way To $100,000 and Beyond 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

At just 17 years old, Saahil Baxi knows firsthand how fear of rejection can hold us back—from public speaking, making friends, or even asking a simple question. In his talk, Saahil shares how an embarrassing moment in a public speaking class left him avoiding risks for years—until he discovered the power of the “rejection challenge.” By deliberately collecting “no’s,” he learned to transform rejection into resilience, courage, and authentic confidence. Through his personal stories, humor, and practical steps, Saahil reveals how young entrepreneurs—and anyone facing fear—can reframe rejection as an opportunity to grow stronger. His message is simple: confidence doesn’t come from waiting until you feel ready; it comes from stepping up, asking boldly, and realizing that rejection doesn’t break you—it builds you. Saahil Baxi is a 17-year-old entrepreneur, video gamer, and cross country and track runner. Driven by curiosity and courage, he is diving into the worlds of sales, business, and marketing while still in high school. Saahil is passionate about inspiring other young people to believe in their potential and take bold steps toward building their own entrepreneurial journeys. 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