Core Message - The speech emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and purpose in professional life, particularly in the face of career setbacks [1][5][6] - It advocates for transforming personal pain into empowerment and extending that empowerment to others [10][11] - The speaker encourages the audience to define their work as a service to others, focusing on engaging, enlightening, and empowering those around them [13][14] Networking and Connection - The speech highlights the distinction between knowing people and having a genuine connection with them, emphasizing that referrals come from the latter [9] - It suggests that building strong connections is crucial for professional success and impact [8][9] Personal Growth and Resilience - The speech acknowledges the inevitability of disappointments and challenges in life and career [12][13] - It stresses the importance of pausing, reflecting, and identifying the next right move during difficult times [13] - The speaker shares a personal experience of job loss and uses it to illustrate the journey of self-discovery and finding one's voice [1][2][3][4][5][12]

[Music] Good evening everyone and I would say that this long intro would have given you that the CV should be short. Don't list down everything when you're going for a job or when any infoses or any IT company comes to pick you up. A lot of this becomes irrelevant like in my intro.A lot of the things by the time you were hearing it would have become boring and monotonous. But coming to the topic, coming to the theme that was given to us today, go beyond. Today at TEDex AKG, the theme is go beyond.What do yo ...

Social Enterprise & Innovation - The social enterprise's journey began from humble beginnings to speaking at the UN headquarters, highlighting a significant transformation [1] - The core innovation, "Bungru" (meaning "big straw" in Gujarati), is a cylindrical structure used to filter excess rainwater into the soil, enabling farmers to grow crops in both monsoon and dry seasons [13] - The technology transforms lives by enabling farmers to move from zero crops to at least two crops per year [14] - One Bungru unit can store between 400,000 liters to 40 million liters of water [15] - The enterprise has scaled to over 5,500 units across 12 states in India and countries like Vietnam, Ghana, Bangladesh, and Rwanda [15] - These units collectively store approximately 22 billion liters (2.2% billion liters) of water annually [15] Women's Empowerment & Community Impact - The enterprise empowers rural women farmers by upgrading their social status and providing them with a dignified life [7] - Women are trained in technological aspects and maintenance of the Bungru units, becoming "women climate leaders" who train other farmers [18][19] - Joint ownership of Bungru units by women farmers has increased their economic activities and household decision-making power [17][19] - The UNFCC recognized that the most important impact of the technology is that women have transitioned from farm laborers to self-employed farmers, earning respect and dignity in their villages [20][21]

Core Message - The power of revising and retelling personal stories to empower oneself and inspire others, emphasizing that it's never too late to do so [2] - Encouragement to examine and retell difficult stories from a place of gratitude and fulfillment [34] - Recognizing the potential of everyday people, like the speaker's mother, who may appear ordinary but are significant to others [33] Speaker's Mother's Story - The speaker's mother's early life in Afghanistan involved facing restrictions and societal expectations, finding solace and recognition in school [4][5][6] - The mother's journey involved leaving school due to marriage, experiencing war, and eventually immigrating to the United States [7][8][9] - The mother worked at a hot dog stand in the US to support her family, a job the speaker was initially embarrassed by but later recognized as a source of opportunity [11][12][24] - Despite hardships, the mother prioritized her children's education, setting high standards and instilling good character [19][20] Personal Transformation - The speaker's realization that she had been telling herself the wrong story, focusing on lack instead of the blessings and opportunities they had [25] - The speaker's recognition of her mother's resilience, courage, and efforts to provide a better life for her children [26][27][28]

Personal Transformation & Empowerment - The speech emphasizes a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, moving from a state of being "dismissed" to achieving "fierce independence" [4][18] - It highlights the importance of inner transformation and finding one's "ikigai" (reason for being) through quiet rebellion and listening to inner whispers [3][20] - The speaker's personal narrative showcases resilience, overcoming mediocrity, and embracing motherhood as a transformative experience [5][6] Women's Empowerment & Mobility - The speech addresses the underrepresentation of women drivers in India, with only 2% of women driving, reflecting limitations in freedom, safety, employment, and autonomy [12] - It points out that lack of mobility is a key barrier to employment in developing countries, according to a 2021 survey by the International Transport Forum [12] - The speaker's work as a driving coach focuses on empowering women by addressing their fears and anxieties related to driving, offering a supportive and empathetic learning environment [14][15] Life Lessons & Metaphors - Driving is presented as a metaphor for life, with lessons on handling mistakes, changing lanes, and restarting after setbacks [17] - The speech encourages taking the first step ("Niklo") and not overthinking, emphasizing action and self-belief [21] - It promotes the idea of going alone if necessary ("Ekla Cholo Re"), even if progress is slow, and finding one's purpose through action [19][20]

Imagine [Music] a world where every girl growing up knows deep inside her soul that her voice matters. a world where her dreams aren't silenced by poverty, dimmed by tradition, or dismissed by stereotypes, but rather amplified by opportunity, nurtured by education, and fueled by unshakable confidence. Right now, more girls are sitting in classrooms. They're building companies. They're leading revolutions. They're reshaping the future. They're reshaping the future in science, in politics, art, and technology ...

Artistic Expression & Empowerment - The arts, including dance, music, and performance, serve as a means of resistance, empowerment, and claiming space, particularly for those marginalized by societal norms [4][25][26] - Embodiment through dance and voice allows for articulation and expression when verbal communication is challenging [3][4] - Creative work connects individuals to community, cultural identity, ancestral memory, and a sense of belonging [14] - Art is not optional but essential for life and hope, especially within immigrant communities [20] Identity & Multiplicity - Embracing contradiction, complexity, and cultural identity as a source of strength is crucial, particularly for Latina artists navigating resistance and acceptance [15][16] - Individuals are meant to be multifaceted, defying societal pressures to fit into a single category or role [6][20][27] - Overcoming self-doubt and adversity through art leads to personal power and the ability to empower others [25][26] Career & Community - Building art with community and chosen family is more fulfilling than industry accolades [23] - Home is defined as an artistic family, shared creation, and community, rather than a physical place [24] - Balancing art, advocacy, and academia allows for standing tall and shattering limiting molds [24]

Core Message - The speech emphasizes the importance of finding and amplifying one's authentic voice, referred to as the "voice goddess," to achieve personal and professional fulfillment [3][5][9] - It challenges the societal conditioning that often silences individuals, particularly women, and encourages them to break free from these constraints [7][8][9] - The speech advocates for embracing one's unique story and purpose to create a positive impact on the world [14][15][16] Key Paradigm Shifts - **Listening Inward:** The speech highlights the need to quiet external noise and listen to the inner voice to discover one's truth and purpose [12][13] - **Owning Your Story:** It stresses the importance of embracing one's personal narrative, including both positive and negative experiences, as a source of strength and inspiration for others [14][15] - **Radical Resonance through Purpose:** The speech emphasizes aligning one's energy with their life purpose to amplify their voice and create a lasting impact [16][17] Practical Application - The speech suggests that awakening the "voice goddess" can empower individuals in various roles, such as corporate leaders, artists, and parents, to connect more deeply and authentically [10][11] - It encourages listeners to visualize themselves speaking with confidence and inspiring others, highlighting the transformative potential of their voice [18][19][20] - The speaker shares her personal journey of overcoming self-doubt and finding her voice, serving as an example of the transformative power of embracing one's authentic self [1][2][21][22]

Business Transformation & Strategy - The company transitioned from engineering to entrepreneurship, identifying a need to integrate technology with various sectors like fintech, healthtech, and edtech [1] - Initially focused on supplementary education for high school students (Tawjihi) in Jordan, the company expanded its vision to encompass broader educational partnerships and a pan-Arab presence [2] - The company shifted its focus from academic subjects to empowering students, recognizing the importance of enabling students with knowledge and skills [2] - The company rebranded from "science, knowledge, and empowerment" to "an empowered Arab generation," reflecting its expanded regional focus and emphasis on empowerment [2] Challenges & Failures - The company faced initial product failures due to a mismatch between their vision and user needs, requiring a complete overhaul of their approach [1] - Marketing efforts initially failed to attract users, despite widespread outreach, indicating a disconnect between the company's messaging and the target audience [1] - The company struggled with scaling, with the founder initially handling multiple roles, highlighting the challenges of early-stage startups [1] - The company's initial business case projected 5,000-6,000 students, but the first course only had four students, demonstrating a significant gap between expectations and reality [1] Growth & Success - The company learned from failures, adapting its strategies and communication to better resonate with students and create a more engaging online learning experience [1] - The company achieved breakeven after five to six years, indicating a long and challenging path to financial sustainability [2] - The company leveraged the COVID-19 pandemic to raise awareness of e-learning, although it also faced negative feedback regarding the quality of forced online education [2] - The company has grown from four students to over 30,000 students in 10 years, signifying a substantial increase [2]

Community & Business Impact - Small businesses have a significant impact on communities, fostering personal connections and providing essential services [1][2][3] - The Brownstone, an African-American department store in Harlem, served as a change agent in the community for almost 10 years [4][5] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of empowering women financially and helping them realize the "wealth in the wallet" to drive community change [6][7] - Harlem faces challenges like redlining and lack of access to capital, requiring the community to create its own solutions [7] Women Empowerment & Generational Wealth - African-American women start businesses in record numbers but also face high failure rates due to lack of access to capital, resources, and knowledge [10] - Women in the Black organization trains thousands of women on how to start, run, lead, and build businesses [9][10] - The speaker advocates for creating legacy and generational wealth through entrepreneurship, inspiring future generations [9] Community Responsibility & Action - The speaker urges women to use their purchasing power ("power in their purse") to support and uplift their communities [12][16] - The community is responsible for supporting, cultivating, and moving the community forward [15][16] - The speaker views the community as the "stitches" holding the fabric of Harlem together, emphasizing collective love and responsibility [17][18]