In my talk I want to focus on the role that universities can play in helping Gen-Z access and excel in higher education, meet the expectations of industry and develop the capabilities and skills needed to influence the world of tomorrow. It is clear that Gen-Z have a wealth of valuable skills, but they have also grown up in very turbulent times. Recent interactions with employers, discussions with our University Careers Service, and engagement with the academic and practitioner literature have all highlighted that Gen-Z graduates often do not have the skills needed to perform effectively in the workplace. I want to discuss how higher education institutions, individual teachers within those institutions and the Gen-Z students themselves can all contribute to bridging the gap between what we know Gen-Z are capable of and what many employers are currently experiencing. By supporting Gen-Z students to develop the skills and capabilities needed by industry, we can help prepare them for shaping the economies and societies of the future. Dr Suzanne Lampert is an Assistant Professor of Economics and the Global Head of Learning and Teaching for Accountancy, Economics and Finance, at Heriot-Watt University. She has worked at Heriot-Watt for the last five years and is based at the Edinburgh Campus. Suzanne is a Year Coordinator, Course Leader and Personal Tutor for the Graduate Apprenticeship programmes in Business Management; the Global Course Leader for one of the largest taught courses at Heriot-Watt, with over 850 students registered in 2024-25; the Global Course Leader for the MBA course ‘Economics for Business'; and a member of the University Senate. She has recently completed her role as a Programme Redesign Lead for the Edinburgh Business School Learning and Teaching Transformation Project. She has a passion for interactive, creative and practice-oriented education. Suzanne is also a partner in the family business and a qualified tennis coach. 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're learning how to use AI to improve humanity and the beauty we create. When used as a tool to refine, not replace, our creativity, it brightens, deepens, sharpens, enhances. What it cannot be is a substitute for what the human element adds to the equation. James Bullard is a dynamic storyteller, performer, and creator inspiring through his writing, public speaking, and the transformative podcast Radical Joy. Leveraging right-brain thinking and creative problem-solving, he empowers individuals and organizations to reach new heights, exceed goals, set new ones. With a magnetic stage presence, James blends humor, vulnerability, and actionable insights to spark change. A published author, his work resonates with readers seeking clarity, while Radical Joy amplifies voices that ignite curiosity and hope. A champion of bold living, James uses storytelling to cultivate joy and guide others toward their most authentic selves. 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 is the best state of life?In this moving and deeply insightful TEDx talk, Jiumei (Master Peace)—once a celebrated entrepreneur and public figure in China—shares the pivotal turning points that reshaped her understanding of life and success.Having experienced both the heights of worldly acclaim and the solitude of years in retreat, Jiumei reflects on two profound encounters at life’s edge that transformed her inner world. Through personal storytelling, scientific insight, and contemplative practice, she offers a perspective rarely found in boardrooms or textbooks.This talk is more than a reflection—it is a quiet revolution. In the age of AI and constant change, Jiumei redefines success, resilience, and leadership. She invites us to reconsider: in an uncertain future, what does true “flourishing” mean? And perhaps, the “best state of life” she discovered is one of the most vital capacities we can cultivate for the future.Event: TEDxCSTU Date: May 18th, 2025 Location: California Science & Technology University (CSTU) Website: https://www.cstu.edu?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=tedx2025&utm_term=jiumeiSpeaker: Jiumei (Master Peace) Learn more about the speaker: www.linkedin.com/in/master-peace-zen Speaker’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/@learn_zen_from_master_peaceOrganizer: Leni Jin, Organizer of TEDxCSTU Behind the scenes of TEDxCSTU: Stories & notes: https://lenijin.com/tedx More about the organizer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenijin/ Organizer's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Leni_JinPlease note: This talk was recorded at TEDxCSTU, an independently organized TEDx event hosted at California Science and Technology University under a license from TED. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent those of TEDxCSTU, the university, or TED.#TEDx #TEDxTalk #Happiness #Love #WellBeing #PersonalGrowth #Mindfulness #LifeLessons #SelfImprovement #PhilosophyOfLife #Meditation #Compassion #InnerPeace #TEDxCSTU2025 Jiumei (Master Peace) is the founder of the InLight Foundation. For her contributions to humanitarian work and social impact, she received the LABA International Humanitarian Contribution Award (USA). Her journey weaves together entrepreneurial spirit, cross-cultural insight, and decades of contemplative practice.Today, she is dedicated to helping leaders and seekers find strength and serenity in the era of AI and constant change—opening new possibilities for leadership and ways of living. Her work has also been recognized by multiple international organizations. 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

NOTE FROM TED: This talk only represents the speaker’s personal business approach to and understanding of movement, emotional regulation, and the nervous system. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdfWe've spent decades focusing on mindset, but what about bodyset? This talk introduces a revolutionary practice born during the 2020 pandemic that transforms overwhelm into calm and self-doubt into confidence in minutes. You'll discover why 40,000 nerve endings in your hands hold the key to awakening your truth and unlocking the confidence to make aligned decisions so that you can stand powerfully in what you believe. Jen Aks is a Leadership Coach, Author, and Speaker who empowers individuals to lead with authenticity, clarity, and confidence by trusting the body’s wisdom. With over 30 years of experience as a dance educator, Jen brings a deep understanding of how movement, emotion, and self-awareness creates lasting transformation. At the core of Jen’s work is The Power of Gesture®, her signature bodyset practice using hand gestures to process emotion and access inner truth. Jen’s practice blends somatic awareness with kinesthetic and emotional intelligence. Whether working with executives, teams, or individuals at personal crossroads, Jen guides each person toward emotional mastery and body-based wisdom essential for both personal fulfillment and professional success. 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 do a kingfisher, a hazard light and a waffle iron have in common? A creativity technique called Forced Connections, which leads to break through innovations. Brainstorming and coming up with new ideas is easy, we do it every day. Or so we think. The truth is we barely scratch the surface with our ”more of the same ideas”. We fall extremely short with quantity and quality of really good ideas. We miss the mark on really good innovations, because “More of the Same” does not break into big time innovation. Time to shift ideation gears with Dr. Roger Firestien and find out how to use a really simple ideation tool called ‘forced connections’. Not a new technique and certainly not a secret to those who work in the field of creativity, marketing or the business of creating ‘new and different’. However, new to most of us. Game changer. Creativity changer. Innovation changer. Dr. Firestien is an associate professor and senior faculty member at the Center for Applied Imagination at SUNY Buffalo State and President of Innovation Resources, Inc. He is the author of six books, including Leading on the Creative Edge and Why didn’t I think of that? His expert views on creativity have been reported in Fast Company, Forbes, Investor’s Business Daily and The New York Times. When Roger is not traveling, he lives in Buffalo, New York, and regularly works cattle on the SK Hereford Ranch near Medina, New York 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 happens when your body shuts down, and no test or prescription can explain why? For years, I searched for answers in medicine, but the real solution came when I finally listened to the whispers of my own body. This talk reveals how tuning into those subtle signals can transform health, identity, and the way we care for ourselves. www.willowmindhealth.com #TEDxSanDiego #TEDx #Healthy #wellbeing #Listen #transform Dr. Whitney McFadden started her career with deep admiration for her father, a passionate psychiatrist, and her mother, an astronomer who instilled in her a love for science. She delved into molecular and cell biology at University of California Berkeley and later pursued medical education to HHUCSD. Driven by a research passion, she completed psychiatry residency alongside a deep study of neuroscience, studying brain cells. After graduating, she worked at Harvard Medical School in the Department of Genetics with Dr. George Church studying genetics neurosciencr. she began to explore nutrition, hormone health, and treatments in the nervous system. She immersed herself in these fields not only for her personal healing, but also to make a profound impact on those around her. After seeing patients transform their own lives with these innovations, she saw a huge opportunity to share with those committed to living their life healthy, powerfully, and passionately. www.willowmindhealth.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