What shapes us as we grow up? Is it strict expectations, gentle guidance, or something else entirely? In this talk, Nick shares a thoughtful, funny, and deeply personal look at how we can take what we’re given, and turn it into something uniquely our own. Nick is a curious, driven high school student with a passion for engineering, cars, and understanding how things, and people, work. Known for his humor and quiet determination, Nick blends discipline with exploration in everything he does. His fresh perspective challenges us to think beyond the rules we’re handed and inspires us to own the story we’re writing for ourselves. 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

Is your activism actually making change, or just making a post? We currently live in an hyperconnected world where sharing a hashtag or posting an infographic on a social media platform can feel like activism, but does it actually help? Too often, these gestures are more about optics than actual, genuine impact. In this talk, Zhenrui Gu explores the reasons why individuals and corporations choose performative activism by giving examples from corporate Pride campaigns to Blackout Tuesday, citing movements like Blackout Tuesday, and reveal why awareness without action can stall real progress. Learn the psychology behind virtue signaling, the hidden harm of algorithm-driven advocacy, and discover how we can move beyond performance to create activism that is authentic, collective, and transformative. Because real change doesn’t happen when we perform it; it only happens when we live it. Zhenrui Gu is currently a junior at Hamilton High School whose main interests are in medicine, art, and community service. In school, she is heavily involved in Biology Olympiad, Imprints of Honor, and Speech and Debate, where she competes in Informative Speaking and Original Oratory, and serves as co-captain of Public Address. Outside of school, Zhenrui loves volunteering. Last year, started her own nonprofit, ArtMind, where she collaborates with support groups and senior living centers to use art to help improve the cognitive abilities of senior citizens in her community. In the future, she wants to pursue a career in medicine, especially as a neurologist. 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

Water is one of our most vital yet least understood resources—especially in technologically advanced nations like Germany. This talk opens the black box of water consumption, revealing how hidden patterns in usage impact climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure planning. By leveraging data and technology, we can decode our water habits, challenge assumptions, and design smarter systems for a changing world. Understanding water isn’t just about conservation—it’s about transformation. Is the co-founder and CEO of hydrop systems, a greentech startup based in Stuttgart that launched in 2025. hydrop systems is on a mission to make water consumption transparent and understandable for everyone, helping to foster greater awareness of this precious and limited resource. Together with her co-founders, Moritz Emberger and Raimund Koop, Katrin is driving the digitization of water meters to bring sustainability into everyday life for every person.Her journey began with a deep passion for environmental issues, which she initially explored through studies in literature and video journalism. Realizing she wanted to be an active force for change, she shifted her focus and pursued an engineering degree in renewable energy. It was during this time that she recognized how overlooked the topic of water is in Germany and decided to do something about it. This ultimately inspired the founding of hydrop systems. 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 a world where visibility shapes opportunity, this talk explores how women in business can challenge conventions and lead with boldness. Rooted in the principles of the Charter for Compassion, it reveals how daring pitches are not just career moves—they’re acts of self-conduct, resilience, and redefinition in the face of bias and exposure. Driven by one of life's rare constants: change – and the curiosity that fuels it. Since 2016, she has been giving pitch trainings for participants of the SpinLab accelerator program, helping founders discover their unique style of presenting their ideas. Ina thrives on learning from the diverse approaches innovators take toward growth and disruption.With a background as a spokesperson for publicly listed companies, Ina excels in crafting compelling storylines that resonate. Her corporate experience is complemented by her role as leadership coach for entrepreneurs, a founder of numbers&words, and a business angel. These diverse experiences give her a multifaceted perspective on leadership and growth, which she is excited to share with you.Ina’s message? Embrace the unknown, step onto the stage, and ask for what you need. After all, growth often begins by making that bold request. 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

“Empowering youth to lead, not just follow.” What if we taught leadership before algebra, and value creation alongside vocabulary? This talk explores how entrepreneurial thinking—curiosity, resilience, and initiative—can reshape early education and empower youth to become architects of their own futures. By integrating entrepreneurship into learning, we move beyond rote instruction toward a model that cultivates purpose, adaptability, and real-world impact. With over 20 years of experience at the intersection of academia and practice, I am a passionate contributor in the fields of strategy and entrepreneurship. I love working with entrepreneurs, may it be in my classroom, through Incubators and Accelerators or within my own portfolio of Startup investments.As the Porsche AG Chair of Strategic Management and Digital Entrepreneurship at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, I aim to inspire and empower individuals and organizations to pursue their goals and aspirations. I believe in the power of reflective decision making, and I strive to bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the academic and entrepreneurial ecosystem. For my contributions to the ecosystem I was named one of the 20 most influential Entrepreneurship Professors in Germany. 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

"Life is a Prototype" invites us to reimagine existence not as a fixed blueprint, but as a dynamic, iterative process of learning, testing, and evolving. In this TEDxHHL talk, we explore how embracing uncertainty, failure, and experimentation—core principles of design thinking—can unlock creativity, resilience, and purpose. Just like in prototyping, life thrives when we dare to build, break, and rebuild. This talk challenges us to shift from perfectionism to progress, and to see every moment as a draft toward something extraordinary." An award-winning coach, speaker, author, and host of the Change_Liscious: Turning Mess into Sweet Success podcast, Hedi blends over 15 years of experience with Fortune 500 companies, NGOs, and startups to guide individuals and teams through the chaos of transformation. As the founder of the 3Cs of Change and one of Germany’s first Design Thinking coaches, she helps people unlock clarity, heal subconscious blocks, and take bold, innovative actions.Having faced burnout and emerged stronger, Hedi’s mission is to help others thrive amidst change. Through her transformative programs and proven frameworks, she empowers leaders to turn overwhelming challenges into growth opportunities, enabling them to lead with purpose, passion, and impact.Named one of the "Most Influential Leaders" by BRAINZ Magazine, Hedi is committed to shaping a world where work-life innovation drives meaningful success and personal fulfillment. 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