Have you ever been let down by someone who was there to lift you up. My teacher told me that I was fat. I grew up not too far from here and I was learning to write using an ink nib.I was overweight. I didn't have much confidence. didn't really believe in myself, but I was practicing.I was trying my very hardest to make that writing the best it could be. And the teacher asked me to come to the front of the class and he dictated a sentence for me to copy out. And he said, "Do it in your very, very best writin ...

I am nothing. And as I share my idea, I want you to come into nothingness with me. Cuz only there can we discover everything.Eight years ago, I drank vodka for breakfast. I couldn't go a day without drugs or alcohol in my system. As you can imagine, I was quite a handful.At that point, I'd been diagnosed with everything. PTSD from violence, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, you name it, I had the t-shirt. And I really did try everything.medication, therapists, church, quite a lot. But still, I woke up ...

Core Insights - Disney is launching its first-ever "Global Belonging Week" from October 20 to 24, 2025, focusing on themes of belonging and inclusion, while avoiding the terms "diversity," "equity," and "DEI" due to political scrutiny [1][3][4] Event Details - The week will feature voluntary livestream talks aimed at empowering employees and celebrating Disney's rich culture [2][14] - Keynote speakers include high-ranking Disney executives and industry figures, with sessions designed to foster a sense of belonging and connection among employees [19] Shift in DEI Language - There has been a significant decline in the use of DEI-related language across companies, with a 72% year-over-year decrease in 2025, including a 98% drop in the phrase "DEI" [6] - Companies are increasingly opting for terms like "belonging" and "culture," which are perceived as less politically charged [4][5] Employee Sentiment - Some employees perceive Disney's DEI changes as "performative," indicating a disconnect between corporate initiatives and employee experiences [12]

Core Argument - The traditional American dream, which emphasizes individual effort as the primary determinant of wealth, is a myth, particularly for women and marginalized communities [1][11] - Belonging and community are as important as effort in achieving prosperity and wealth [1][5][46] - Systemic exclusion from wealth and opportunity leads to imposter syndrome and hinders the ability of women to sustain their best work [26] Key Pillars for Prosperity - Psychological safety, which is the number one indicator of success in a team or an individual, is crucial for taking risks [22] - Connection, especially economic connectedness (having connections across class lines), is a significant predictor of economic mobility [23][24] - Mentorship is essential for guidance, vision-holding, and providing "cheat codes" to navigate the path to success [24][25] Practical Strategies for Building Belonging - Seek out intentional spaces, particularly female-focused spaces for women, and structured environments for neurodivergent individuals or those with social anxiety [41][42] - Be flexible in finding online or in-person spaces that accommodate time constraints and caregiving responsibilities [42] - Focus on building small, supportive networks of individuals who uplift each other [43] Impact and Examples - The "Girl Boss" community in St Pete demonstrates the transformative impact of intentional community design on women's trajectories and wealth stories [18][34][35] - The Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) in India, representing 2 million women, shows how belonging can lead to economic independence on a global scale, with 300,000 women achieving economic independence [40]

[Applause] I'm 13, standing in front of a panel of judges, clutching a stack of notes. It's my first impromptu debate tournament, and my partner, a volleyball player, looks as nervous as I feel. Our assigned topic, why soccer is better than lacrosse. That might not sound hard unless you're me because I love love love lacrosse. I've played it for years. I know the rules, the plays, and the history. And here I am with 20 minutes to prepare. A volleyball player and a lacrosse player. So qualified to argue for ...

[Music] Bringing people together these days is a feat. Thousands of people coming joyfully together to create a mile long beautiful playful spectacle for themselves and their community is a wonder. Look at our Hilton Head Island Lantern Parade.Now, I've thrown like a hundred parades and I still get misty eyed every single time. I look out at parade lineup and I think I just get chills, you know, and I think, God, people are so wonderful. People are full of the loveliest surprises.God, I just I love people. ...

Good morning. Pasadena was not considered that nice in 1970 when my parents moved here. It was affordable, close to downtown LA, and they felt like it might be a good place to bring up a family.There were three of us then. Uh, and my second brother was born in 1972. I remember that day at age eight as one of the happiest days of my life.We all went to a racially and ethnically public school. We ran around barefoot in the streets, made forts and treasure maps of the Royal Seiko with all the neighborhood kids ...

I want to share something with you guys today. It's not something that came to me all at once. It took me years, years of change, years of tribulations.Here it is. Belonging isn't a place. It's something you carry.Now, how could this be true. Right. Because when people think of belonging, they think of a home. They think of a city. They think of a group of friends.They think of a community. But what if you never stayed in one place long enough to find those things. It's my story.I was 13 years old standing ...

[Music] [Applause] My mom was the first person I'd share big news with. She was my first call before every big decision. And she was there for my first steps, my first heartbreak, my first job. She was my first friend.And when she died, I didn't just lose my person. I lost my anchor, my compass. And with her went something I didn't expect to lose, my sense of safety in the world.A few days before she died, she asked me to sit with her. And I can still see her sweet smile in that moment when she said, "Honey ...

What is identity. Is it about place, language, culture. Are we born into it or do we choose it.What is it about places that we love that makes who we are. My earliest memories are about backyard parties in Baghdad. I was born to a large family in North Iraq.I came into a life that my parents had made. I remember going to the desert in spring to eat dolma, watch the quail run around and the wild flowers. And in the summer when it got so hot, we'd run to the mountains and sit in the cool air and the breezes.T ...