A story of perseverance, lessons, and self-discovery. This talk takes us through the ups and downs of one individual’s journey. It reminds us that our experiences, no matter how difficult, can become the foundation for who we are meant to be. Rakesh Kurapati is the Founder of Fast Tracks Car Care, a venture dedicated to delivering innovative and reliable automotive solutions. With his entrepreneurial vision, he has built a brand that stands for quality, trust, and customer-focused service in the automobile industry. 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

Being best in the world requires three things; arrogance, humility and perseverance. You also need talent and luck, but without the first three, no one will ever know your name. Dr. AnnMaria Rousey De Mars is a small business owner, serial entrepreneur and was the first American to win the world judo championships.She is president of 7 Generation Games, a tech startup she co-founded. Dr. De Mars has a doctorate specializing in Applied Statistics and Psychometrics, was a professor for seven years, then left academia to found a statistical consulting company. She was one of Forbes 40 Women to Watch over 40, an AARP Purpose Prize Fellow and the first woman president of a national judo organization. In 2022, she was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the California State Athletic Commission. She has been the lead developer on 14 games to teach mathematics, authored scientific articles in academic journals on topics ranging from factor analysis to needs of rural educators in schools serving Indigenous students, and wrote a book on matwork techniques for judo and MMA fighters. She has four children and nine grandchildren. 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