What does identity mean when you never belong to the majority? From Iraq to Lebanon to the United States, Lahib has always lived as a minority. In this talk, she reflects on her journey across nations and cultures, exploring how identity is questioned, reshaped, and discovered when you’re always on the margins. Lahib Jaddo is an Iraqi-born artist, architect, and educator whose work spans painting, sculpture, and storytelling. Born in Baghdad to a Turkmen family, she spent her formative years in Iraq and Lebanon before immigrating to the U.S., where she earned a Master of Architecture and a Master of Fine Arts from Texas Tech University. Jaddo's art explores themes of memory, displacement, and cultural identity, blending her Middle Eastern heritage with her deep connection to the American landscape. She has exhibited her work nationally and internationally and is the subject of the award-winning documentary Jaddoland. 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 speaker emphasized that while innovation is often celebrated as a defining skill of the 21st century, it is still practiced by only a minority. To truly drive progress and prosperity, innovation must be democratized and made accessible to all. The talk reflected on how creativity remains central to innovation, while AI takes on repetitive tasks, reshaping the role of human imagination. By examining the interplay between the science of AI and the art of innovation, the discussion invited audiences to consider how these forces might converge to shape the future of humanity. Dr. Sudeendra Koushik is a highly experienced professional in technology management, innovation, and consulting with nearly 50 patents at various stages. By consulting and advising organizations to enhance innovation capacity, foster innovators, and cultivate an innovation-driven culture, Dr. Koushik's domain is a unique area linking innovation and innovator skills.Dr. Koushik is a recipient of Karnataka State Innovation Council Award, HCL excellence award for Patents, India Design Mark Award from India Design Council, Sir M Viswesvaraya Engineer Award and other recognitions from IEEE. He served as the chairman for the IEEE Bangalore section, Chair of IEEE Consumer Electronics Society Bangalore and is currently the Chairman of IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society Bangalore. 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

Your quality of leadership and impact doesn’t begin with a title. It begins with a question — and ends with transformation. Senthil Jayaraman is redefining India’s construction industry by bringing dignity, transparency, and purpose to its unorganized labor sector. As Founder & CEO of Maashini Home Designs, India’s first open-source construction platform, he’s uniting architects, engineers, and suppliers into a transparent, tech-driven ecosystem. With a background in engineering, law, and public policy, Senthil combines decades of industry experience with a mission to empower youth to help build a Viksit Bharat by 2047. His work bridges spiritual heritage and systemic reform, challenging exploitative models and advocating purpose-driven leadership. Senthil isn’t just building homes—he’s laying the foundation for a fairer, future-ready India. 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

For years, I was chasing. But was I chasing the right things? In this honest and empowering talk, Jeena Saharan shares her journey of unlearning the need for external approval. She speaks to the universal struggle of understanding our problems, recognizing our true capabilities, and constantly seeking validation for our goals. Through her story, Jeena reveals the liberating insight that "the chase" ends when you realize your greatest ambitions don't require an audience or an explanation. This talk is a declaration of independence for your dreams, reminding you that the only person you need to justify your goals to is yourself. Jeena Saharan is the founder of one of the city’s leading beauty establishments, where elegance meets innovation to create transformative experiences for clients. Her journey goes beyond building a brand, as she is dedicated to fostering a culture of empathy, trust, and growth within her team.Passionate about giving back, Jeena actively engages in social initiatives and community work. A devoted animal lover, she dedicates her time and resources to the welfare of animals, believing in care beyond boundaries.For her colleagues and team, Jeena is more than just a boss — she is a mentor, a problem solver, and a leader who leads with heart. 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 today’s fast-changing world, technology is more than just code—it’s about solving real human and business problems. In this TEDx talk, Gaurav shares insights from over a decade of building scalable, reliable software solutions across industries like Telecom, Medical, and Insurance. Drawing from his experience in full-stack development, cloud adoption, and leading teams, he explores how innovation, adaptability, and best practices can transform the way organizations grow and thrive.But this isn’t just a story of technology—it’s also a story of resilience. When life suddenly threw unexpected challenges his way, Gaurav faced numerous struggles that could have derailed his journey. Yet, instead of giving up, he chose to stand firm, work through the setbacks, and stay committed to his vision. His story is a reminder that the true power of innovation lies not just in skills, but in courage, perseverance, and belief in one’s ideas.This talk is for professionals, entrepreneurs, and curious minds who want to understand how technology can be harnessed to drive progress—and why resilience, continuous learning, and collaboration are at the heart of meaningful innovation. With 12+ years of experience, Gaurav is responsible for implementing client software solutions with the highest degree of quality and consistency. He has substantial experience in solving client problems by developing high-performance, maintainable, and reliable solutions and has got the opportunity to develop solutions for the Telecom, Medical, and Insurance industries. Gaurav is passionate about learning new technologies and implementing solutions for business problems. Outside of work, Gaurav runs a meetup group to be able to share his knowledge with the technology professionals and to learn more from them 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