TEDx Talks: Leadership

As a beacon of innovation and imagination in a conservative environment, she shares her fascinating experience of being creative in a society that worships the past. Palestinian musician Ruba Shamshoum has lived and breathed the music industry for almost a decade, during which she has been involved in a large range of musical styles and ensembles. She started composing her own material in 2011, writing the song ‘Ya Leil La Trouh’ for Annemarie Jacir’s film ‘When I saw You’. Her new singles generated much critical acclaim and elevated her onto the indie charts in the Middle East. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at

He explains why market forces fail to eliminate inefficient processes and strategies and how, as a result, outdated and plain detrimental practices persist within companies and industries—just like viruses persist in nature. Identifying and eliminating such corporate viruses can enable firms to innovate and create competitive advantage. Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at LBS, Freek Vermeulen writes, consults and speaks across the world on topics such as strategies for growth, strategic innovation and making strategy happen. Using rigorous research to gain insight into how business really works, his work has been recognized by the most reputed academic journals and managerial publications. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at

With a focus on the development of reliable population health metrics and the evaluation of existing measurement instruments, George talks about the power of longitudinal data in understanding how life changes across generations. A population health scientist by trade and Chief Statistician of the Centre for Longitudinal Studies at the University College London, George Ploubidis’ research has centred on uncovering the socio-economic, demographic and structural determinants of population health and the mechanisms that link these over the life-course. He is particularly interested in the joint progress of health and mortality and the use of population surveys to capture macro level trends. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at

On the back of his unorthodox principles, he asks an unorthodox question for someone who is such a champion of innovation: Could fewer entrepreneurs mean greater prosperity? Professor of Marketing and Academic Director of LBS’ very own Deloitte Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Rajesh Chandy’s findings on innovation have been quoted by Forbes magazine as “an unorthodox and bracing set of management principles”. He is widely recognised for his work with aspiring and established entrepreneurs, and the winner of multiple awards for his contributions to marketing theory and thought. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at

In her talk, Sue advocates an inclusive approach to leadership, one which allows us to embrace uncertainty and foster creativity. Twenty years working with organisations as a Learning and Development Specialist gave Sue Cox a deeper perception of the nuances of strong leadership than most. However, her most powerful and illuminating insights came from an entirely unexpected quarter; a three-year sabbatical dancing Tango in Argentina. On her return to the UK, she devised Ballroom2Boardroom workshops, drawing from the complex dynamic of tango to challenge how we lead and follow in business. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at

In his entrancing talk, Daniel gives a glimpse into how hypnosis works and explores the power of the human mind. The discovery that hypnosis is not magic, but a legitimate tool used in psychotherapy and personal development led Daniel Robaczewski to start performing with a group of enthusiasts on the streets of Warsaw at the age of 17. During the journey that followed, he became a certified hypnotist, participated in hundreds of hours of workshops, hypnotised over a thousand people and taught hundreds of his own students, including psychologists, psychiatrists and actors. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at

Hot on the heels of her new book, “Neuroscience for Leadership”, Kitty gives us insight into the power of attention as a key mechanism to change your brain. A professional coach helping leaders achieve sustainable change, Kitty Chisholm developed a passionate interest in how people and organisations learn and change through her work with the Open University. As a founder Director of BoardwalkLeadership, she uses her knowledge of how brains can be changed to support more women into leadership and companies to develop a more diverse leadership pipeline. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at

By sharing her passionate fight to end this taboo, Julia lifts the lid on how social change happens and explores how radical shifts can lead to extraordinary results. Through her time spent volunteering in Ethiopia, Julia Lalla-Maharajh had a first-hand glimpse into the devastating practice of female genital cutting. Deeply affected, Julia founded the Orchid Project, where she worked on the ground in Senegal and The Gambia and witnessed an incredible grassroots movement of communities choosing not to cut their daughters. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at

Backed by his unique experiences, Charles gives a fascinating perspective into conflict and the power of good that can emerge from the unexpected. During his time as a peace monitor in South Africa at the height of Apartheid, Charles Irvine developed a belief that conflict has the potential to be our greatest natural resource. Since relocating to the UK in 1996 to build “Questions of Difference”, a niche consultancy, he has gone on to inspire more than 40,000 people as a strategic business consultant in over 30 countries. He is driven by his passion for creating environments where groups of people do extraordinary things. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at