The last time I was on a stage like this, I was giving an apology. It was January 24th and me and a team of high schoolers were organizing the first TEDex youth event in upstate South Carolina. TEDex 5 Forks Youth.We had been planning for six to seven months with 15 change makers, eight youth speakers, hundreds of emails, hundreds of Zoom meetings, all of it leading up to this moment. I remember waiting backstage excitedly thinking to myself that all of these efforts that we'd been putting in would finally ...

People often think I have it all figured out because I started at such a young age handling my business at the same time as my academic responsibilities as a senior high school student that I look confident, act confident, decisive, and sure of where I'm going. But I'm not. I honestly don't even feel qualified to be on this stage.And I'm guessing some of you have thought that same way about something in your life. Unconfident, not enough, constantly wondering who am I to do this. But this opportunity to be ...

Core Insights - H.B. Fuller has launched a new global platform called Fuller Impact, aimed at aligning philanthropic investments with youth leadership and STEM-focused initiatives to strengthen communities through innovation and collaboration [1][2]. Group 1: Philanthropic Initiatives - Fuller Impact focuses on empowering communities, fostering youth leadership, and supporting STEM education globally, reflecting the company's commitment to social good [2][3]. - The foundation aims to broaden grant-giving and deepen its impact through strategic investments in communities, particularly in STEM education and youth leadership development [3][4]. Group 2: Employee Engagement - The company is enhancing employee volunteerism through initiatives like community affairs councils, service-oriented events, and matching donations, encouraging employees to contribute to local communities [4][5]. - In 2024, H.B. Fuller employees volunteered over 6,600 hours across 21 countries, supporting various initiatives including STEM learning and vocational training [5]. Group 3: Company Overview - H.B. Fuller is the largest pureplay adhesives company globally, with a revenue of $3.6 billion in 2024 and a workforce of 7,500 employees operating in over 140 countries [6].

Every time I walk into the room abroad, whether it's filled with policy makers, young leaders, or just silent eyes waiting to listen, I don't just carry my identity. I carry the heartbeat of a billion dreams stitched into one name, India. To all my fellow young change makers, the audience, the uh the eyes, the minds are the prana.My name is Pavika and for the next few minutes, I believe you all can identify me as before I delve into it, I need to confess something. The first time I was called a youth repres ...

Core Message - The speech emphasizes the importance of youth leadership and the value of experience from older generations, advocating for collaboration and mutual learning [1][7][13] - It encourages young people to lead with confidence and initiative, while urging older generations to guide and support them [17][18][19] - The speech promotes the idea that age should not be a barrier to leadership, but rather a willingness to take action and make a difference [14][15] Key Attributes of Leaders - The speech highlights the ability of young people to see and question things that adults may overlook as a valuable leadership trait [10][11] - It emphasizes the importance of communication, listening to others' opinions, and learning from the experiences of those who came before [12][13] - Initiative, confidence, and a willingness to step forward and make a change are presented as essential qualities of a leader, regardless of age [14][15] Call to Action - The speech encourages listeners to be open to learning from those younger than them and to value their perspectives [8][9] - It urges older generations to provide guidance and support to young leaders, allowing them to experiment and explore [19] - The speech calls on everyone to take initiative and work together to create a better world, regardless of their age or experience [15][20]

Entrepreneurship & Youth Empowerment - The speaker founded Social House Learning (SHL) at age 16, a platform for youth to learn, educate, and earn without waiting to graduate college [1] - SHL organized India's biggest youth summit at SRCC in 2023 and expanded to IIT Delhi in 2024, hosting over 2,000 participants from 8 countries [1][5] - SHL also organized Dubai Global Youth Summit at the University of Birmingham in Dubai [1] - Over 80% of the speaker's team members are teenagers, aged 13 to 19 [8] Gen Z Perspective - Gen Z faces pressure to excel in multiple areas by age 18, including coding, tech, climate activism, and public speaking [1] - Gen Z is "emotionally buffering" and trying to thrive in their own way [1] - The speaker advocates for "JOMO" (joy of missing out) to avoid burnout and prioritize personal well-being [3] Personal Growth & Resilience - The speaker emphasizes that success is defined by personal peace and achieving what one wants, not by external expectations [2] - The speaker highlights the importance of resilience, sharing a story of recovering a venue for an event at IIT Delhi after it was initially cancelled [5][7] - The speaker uses the metaphor of a seed buried in darkness to illustrate that difficult times are a period of growth and preparation for future success [10][11]