Have you been thinking about how to land your dream job in today’s competitive job market? In this powerful and motivational TEDx Talk, serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist Randall Kaplan shares the game-changing strategy called Extreme Preparation that helped him go from being bullied, unemployed, and overlooked to co-founding a successful venture capital firm and a $12 billion company.Kaplan reveals the five critical steps he developed to prepare so thoroughly and intentionally that allow anyone with any background to achieve incredible results, even without elite credentials, fancy connections, natural charisma, or a track record. He turned a lifetime of rejection and 300 cold letters to CEO’s into life-changing opportunities and job offers, proving that preparation – not talent, skill or luck – is the ultimate equalizer. Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, podcast host, and philanthropist. He is the Co-Founder of Akamai Technologies, Founder & CEO of JUMP Investors, and the creator of Sandee, the world’s largest beach database. Through JUMP, he has invested in 90+ companies, including Google, Seagate, and Lyft, while also leading ventures in real estate, tech, and consumer products.A passionate mentor, he has guided over 500 students and spoken at top universities like Northwestern and USC. His philanthropic efforts have raised over $13M for charity. Whether building businesses, mentoring future leaders, or chasing the perfect wave, Randall embodies the relentless pursuit of excellence. 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

Aicha Manai was a Speaker at TEDxEspoo Youth 2025!Ever been told you just need to “fit in”? What if the real problem is not you - but the system itself?In this TEDx Talk, “Reclaim Your Roots”, we understand the meaning of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Aicha's eyes. It is not about helping people squeeze into spaces that were not built for them. It is about redesigning those spaces from ground up, so everyone truly belongs.In this TEDx Talk, Aicha Manai takes the audience on a journey, drawing from her own upbringing as a multicultural child in Finland. From feeling ashamed to speak her home language in public, to understanding the layers as the child of a Finnish mother and a Tunisian father, this talk uncovers the cost of growing up in spaces that don't reflect your reality.At age 11, everything changed when Aicha moved to Suvela, a diverse neighbourhood where, for the first time, she saw and heard other children who looked like her, spoke like her, and asked the same silent question: Do I belong here?Today, Aicha Manai is working to reshape that story. In her talk Aicha highlights the difference in how refugees have been welcomed based on race and background. From welcoming white refugees with open arms to interrogating colored refugees for owing mobile phones (Please watch the whole Talk to understand why).At the end of Aicha’s talk she says: “Don't hide your identity. Don't hide your names, your culture, your language, your fire.”Join us for a new perspective on what it means to Reclaim Your Roots and build a more inclusive future for all.#TEDxEspooYouth #TEDxTalk #TEDxEspooYouth2025 Aicha Manai is the CEO of Startup Refugees and a sought-after professional speaker and host. With Finnish-Tunisian roots and a trilingual upbringing, Aicha has integrated her rich cultural background into both her personal ethos and professional mission. She advocates for inclusivity, representation and the value of diverse perspectives. Aicha has spoken on global stages and moderated countless conversations on topics ranging from migration to equity in leadership. Aicha leads Startup Refugees, a social innovation that supports refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in building careers and launching businesses. Startup Refugees has become a powerful force for connecting untapped talent with meaningful opportunities and reshaping the narrative around refugees, immigration and integration. 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

Un’indagine sul significato delle maschere nella vita reale e nel contesto carcerario, attraverso il potere trasformativo del teatro. Il talk esplora come l’esperienza teatrale possa educare alla bellezza, favorire la catarsi, stimolare la responsabilità e ricostruire l’identità. Un percorso che diventa ponte tra dentro e fuori, tra individuo e società, contribuendo a superare lo stigma e a ritrovare connessione, relazione e benessere. Professoressa associata di Psicologia sociale presso l’Università LUMSA di Roma, si occupa da anni di comunicazione nei contesti legali, con particolare attenzione alla testimonianza, alla memoria e agli interrogatori giudiziari. Coordina il corso di laurea in Psicologia criminologica e giuridica e svolge attività di ricerca sulla tutela del minore, la devianza, la giustizia riparativa e la violenza di genere. Collabora con istituzioni accademiche, forze dell’ordine e Tribunali, ed è direttrice del Master in Psicologia dell'Esecuzione Penale ed Offender Management. 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

Justina Gimbutiene was a Speaker at TEDxEspoo Youth 2025!In this TEDx Talk, Justina Gimbutiene takes us on a personal journey that is all about the power of saying “yes” to life's opportunities, no matter what they lead. Justina starts her Talk by asking a question: What if I had been born in Monaco, instead of Lithuania? She uses the help of AI to paint this picture. The AI shows her a glamorous life, full of travel, villas, and endless adventures. But then she asks a big question - “Would I be happy?” The answer is more complicated than she expected. The AI tells her that, while living in luxury might bring comfort, real happiness is about more than just money or status.So, she asks another question: What If she had stayed in Lithuania? What if she had grown up in a small town, surrounded by her family and a tight-knit community? The answer, surprisingly, reflects her actual life - one rooted in education, social work, and traveling the world to make a difference. Justina realizes that the life she has been living aligns with her values of connection and helping others.Through the story of her own life, Justina shares how her experiences have shaped her sense of purpose. From volunteering with the Red Cross to travelling through Europe on the Erasmus Plus project, she always said “yes” to new experiences and the people she has met along the way. Each opportunity led her to more meaningful connections and life-changing moments, life working with young people in Finland, supporting refugees in Malaysia, and making a real difference in communities around the world.Justina’s message is simple but powerful: we all have the power to shape our own journey. Whether we are born in a small town or a luxurious villa, the real question is, what will we choose to do with the life we have been given? Will we say “yes” to the people who make us better, to the opportunities that scare us, and to the experiences that will change us forever?At the end of Justina’s Talk she says: “I don't want to disappoint you or to present that we have approximately 73-75 summers if we are lucky. You can count how many of those have already passed, and how many are still remaining to do. Make the best out of them. We unfortunately do not live eternity. So, what if you said yes to the people and to the opportunities, and it doesn't matter if I was born in Lithuania or if I was born in Monaco, the decision is mine, the decision is your what if you say yes.”This TEDx Talk will leave you inspired, ready to say “yes” to more in your own life, and maybe even a little bit more open to the unexpected paths life has in store.#TEDxEspooYouth #TEDxTalk #TEDxEspooYouth2025 Justina is a Lithuanian national living in Finland for 15 years already. She came to Finland to do EVS and thought that she would leave after 12 months, but apparently Finland never thought the same way! Justina has studied social work, did internships in Malaysia and South Africa, worked in child protection services and for the past two years at Espoo International School as a community counselor! Multicultural work has always been big part of her life. 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

Od dvorišta punog mirisa i discipline do kuhinja najluksuznijih jahti, rizorta i korporacija - Todor Vukčević dijeli ličnu i profesionalnu priču o sazrijevanju kroz gastronomiju. Ovo je iskren govor o hrani, radu, greškama, ego tripovima, učenju i ljubavi. O tome kako se ne kuva samo rukama - nego karakterom, radoznalošću i stavom. Todor Vukcevic is a Chef who pushes the boundaries of flavor and storytelling.Todor Vukcevic is a culinary creator with over eight years of experience in Mediterranean cuisine, with a focus on contemporary Italian gastronomy. His professional journey spans prestigious restaurants, luxury hotels, and private yachts, from Montenegro to the Maldives, where he has built teams, crafted authentic menus, and elevated the culinary experience to a fine dining level.In his roles as Sous Chef and Executive Chef, Todor has left a mark through his distinct vision and dedication. His work has been recognized in Vogue Adria, where he was featured as one of the most exciting young chefs from the Balkans.Through his brand Gurmet Tursija, he promotes artisanal fermentation techniques and the authentic flavors of the region. He is actively involved in pop-up events and experimental dinners, and through consulting projects, he nurtures local stories with a global spirit. 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

Ova dirljiva i iskrena ispovest Marije Jordeve vodi nas kroz njenu višegodišnju borbu za roditeljstvo, preispitivanje lične vrednosti i odnosa prema sebi, kroz iskustvo vantelesne oplodnje, gubitka i postporođajnih izazova. Govor o hrabrosti da kažemo NE, ali i da sebi dozvolimo DA. O tome kako se rađaju i deca – i mi sami. Marija Jordeva is a woman whose life story has unfolded across languages, cities, and roles.A journalist, designer, and cultural studies scholar by education, Marija Jordeva is now the Manager of Creative Excellence at "Bambi" - a beloved biscuit manufacturer in the Balkans region. She skillfully bridges the corporate world with artistic sensitivity, while also running "Jordeva Likovnica" - her small studio for watercolor, illustration, and storytelling that evokes sensitivity and vitality.Her debut novel "Natašte" was born from a personal need to express pain, loss, and love – a form of self-therapy turned into a manuscript that opens space for conversations around often-silenced topics. The loss of her father and the birth of her daughter after years of waiting deeply shaped both her writing and her perspective on life.Born in Skopje, raised in Moscow, educated in Ljubljana, Marija eventually dropped anchor halfway between the Vardar and the Triglav - in Belgrade, a city she learned to love. 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