In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Sheikh Zayed auditorium
Muroor road, Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, Abū Z̧aby, 46492
United Arab Emirates

Ahmed Hashim

Student

Ahmed Hashim is a proactive thinker who’s been born and brought up in Abu Dhabi. Not only is he a social enthusiast with an optimistic outlook, but an aspiring leader in the making who looks out to give back to society. A teenager on the run of setting smiles and achieving milestones, all through a simple yet impactful tool, his voice.

Christopher Abraham

Professor

Prof. Christopher Abraham is has three Post Graduate qualifications in HRM, Business Administration (Marketing), and Labor & Administrative Law and is a PhD Scholar in Positive Psychology. He is a Certified Design Thinker from IDEO/Stanford and has thirty-two years’ experience in management consulting, marketing, and management education in India, Canada, Singapore and the UAE. Currently he is the CEO & Head - Dubai campus and Sr. Vice President (Institutional Development) at the SP Jain School of Global Management. Prof. Abraham has been a visiting Professor at many leading universities and headed the Executive MBA Program at one of Asia’s top business schools. His areas of competence are Strategy, Marketing, Leadership, Innovation, Neuroscience of Decision Making, Future of Education, Science of Happiness and Design Thinking. He has successfully presented in numerous global forums and has also conducted many consulting and executive development assignments for global organizations.

Divyanshi Mohnot

Student

Divyanshi Mohnot was born in Rajasthan and was promptly brought back to Abu Dhabi where her family lived since before her birth, and has lived here since then. With lots of encouragement from her family growing up, she has become and incredibly curious and intuitive. She is someone who always makes sure her voice is heard, even if no one wants to hear it. She's self-confident, assured and wants her words to communicate the passion she feels for the thoughts she conveys.

Fatima Al Suwaidi

Analyst

Fatima Al Suwaidi works as an Analyst in the Technology Department in Masdar’s Clean Energy division. She is responsible for managing research and development projects in collaboration with local and international institutions. She has successfully coordinated almost 30 research and development projects. She was also selected to be part of the Emerging Leaders Programme; a two-year internal youth development program at Masdar. Ms Al Suwaidi led the Secretariat of the Global Clean Water Desalination Alliance (GCWDA), a Masdar-led climate initiative which focuses on reducing carbon dioxide emissions from desalination technologies. She also participated as a public speaker at the GCWDA seminars in the UAE, France, Germany and Brazil. Ms Al Suwaidi represents Masdar in water and energy related stakeholder meetings and events in the UAE and internationally. She feels it is her duty to impress upon young minds the importance of sustainability.

Kalyan Chakravarthy

Creative Director/Producer

Kalyan wears many hats, from being a Theatre Actor, Director, Producer, Photographer, Film Maker, Events specialist, Deejay & Philanthropist. He is known in creative circles for the prestigious projects that he has handled in Events, Media & Film Productions. His short films have won awards and accolades and he continues to make a mark with new productions, which always aim to tell a story and leave an everlasting impression on everyone who has the opportunity to see his work.

Manas Phawde

Student

Coming from the land of Ice and snow and leprechauns, Manas Parag Phawde brings the exotic element in today's event. Born in Ireland, raised in the United Arab Emirates and having Marathi as his native tongue, he has diversity flowing through his very veins. He is a prolific speaker and a charismatic individual who draws inspiration from almost everything around him. With a palate that Gordon Ramsey would be proud of, his culinary instincts are indeed noteworthy. With experience, diverse ethnicity and his keen interest in food, he is sure to entertain with his speech on cooking.

Rishita Vummaneni

Student

Rishita Vummaneni is a 17 year old with big ideas and bigger dreams. She is a voracious reader, a dedicated fandom enthusiast ,an aspiring author and an engaging conversationalist. She loves having her opinion heard and today she plans in doing just that.

Sairam Umakanth

Student

Sairam Umakanth Sairam Umakanth was born in Chennai but has lived in Abu Dhabi for about his whole life. He is a whimsical and enthusiastic campaigner with a distinct charisma. He puts a strong voice on his opinions, being a resourceful and talented debater. From a young age, he has been an avid thinker and takes everything in our world with a hint of interest and curiosity. It was out of this curious character of his that his topic was born…

Sultan Al Hajji

Advisor to the President of Total E&P UAE

Sultan Al Hajji is a recognized expert in the fields of leadership, communication, CSR, organizational development and corporate strategy. Sultan has held high level leadership positions and has brought remarkable credibility and effectiveness to leadership and mentoring. With quality of an acclaimed motivational and leadership speaker he is frequently invited as panelist and moderator in various prestigious forums covering leadership, human resource, corporate social responsibility, strategy, intercultural understanding, technology and innovation. The zeal for community development and refinement has driven Sultan to constantly share his evolving concepts, perceptions and experiences with a broad spectrum of entities. He is on many advisory roles and is a "go to" person in the industry for youth development and social innovations. His untiring efforts in community building, especially the youth, have earned him recognition and rapport with royalty, business as well community leaders.

Vijaya Lakshmi Dangeti

Business planning and Data Analyst

Vijaya Lakshmi comes from a middle class south Indian family. She was brought up here and did her schooling in Dubai entirely. As a student she was interested in Basketball but had even more love towards Indian classical dance, Bharatanatyam. She currently manages the Business Planning and Analytics for a Regional Bank in UAE. She married soon after her degree and moved back to Dubai. Her personal life changed suddenly as she got to know that her son would have challenges growing up. He is a special needs child having cerebral palsy and falls under the autism spectrum. She considers the balance between my professional and personal life to be very important and definitely feels blessed to have a great support system, but what her life journey has taught her is many deep values and experiences which she will share through her talk.