Interested in working together? Just fill out the form below. Don't like the form? That's ok, just email us. Thank you.
Interested in working together? Just fill out the form below. Don't like the form? That's ok, just email us. Thank you.
Interested in working together? Just fill out the form below. Don't like the form? That's ok, just email us. Thank you.
THE 5TH WORLD LAUREATE FORUM
AND OTHER EVENTS PARTICIPATED
SAM QIAN
We are ready whenever you are. Contact us!
PRECISE
We help you build a better future
SAN FRANCISCO
TEDx China 2022 in Shanghai
Teams of high-school students from across the USA (and sometimes international teams) gathered to put their robots through qualification matches, alliance selections, playoffs, and celebrate the spirit of robotics.
TEDx China 2022 in Shanghai: My Front-Row Seat to the Future
So, the event was TEDx, and it was held in Shanghai in 2022. I can’t speak for the exact main TEDx event (which can be hard to find detailed public records on, since they’re independently organized), but what I experienced was a bustling, high-energy environment filled with the kind of people you usually only read about.
The TEDx conferences in Shanghai, are always a massive hub of international and local talent. They bring together speakers from all walks of life—students, professors, CEOs, and artists—all sharing one big idea in a quick, powerful talk. The energy is electric.
My role wasn't on the main stage giving a talk (though maybe one day!), but as the official representative for my high school. My focus was on the "Innovation Showcase" or networking area, where I got to introduce my school’s tech programs to an international audience. Imagine setting up a mini-booth and having people walk up to you—people who have built companies or published research—and asking you about the robotics club or the AI projects at your school! I showed off some of the cool things my peers and I had created, explaining how we used tech in everyday learning.
Being a high school rep at a TEDx event in one of the world's biggest and most futuristic cities was insane. It confirmed for me that the next big ideas aren't just coming from Silicon Valley or fancy university labs; they're bubbling up everywhere, even in a high school in Shanghai. It really hammered home the idea that having a unique idea and being able to explain it simply is way more valuable than just having good grades.
Beyond the Event: The Long-Term TEDx Upgrade
You might wonder, "So, you spent a day networking, cool. What's the real benefit?" Honestly, the long-term benefits of being at an event like TEDx are huge and stick with you way longer than a certificate or a medal from a typical competition.
First off, it seriously boosts your confidence and public speaking skills. Even though I wasn't on the big red circle, having to talk one-on-one with a steady stream of highly accomplished, very intimidating people about our school’s activities taught me how to articulate my thoughts clearly and quickly. It’s a soft skill you need for everything, from job interviews to just talking to your family! The constant exposure to top-tier communication, like the actual TEDx talks, teaches you how to structure an idea to be impactful and memorable. As one source points out, listening to these talks helps students learn how to structure their speeches and presentations.
Secondly, it totally widens your world view. TEDx events cover such a massive range of topics—from science and tech to art and social justice. I was there for the tech, but I ended up hearing snippets about everything. It forces you to think outside your own bubble. As another source mentions, TEDx talks allow you to learn about different cultures and perspectives, which helps you develop a more global outlook . This helps me a lot now in my writing and my studies, because I can connect seemingly unrelated concepts.
Finally, the biggest gift is the network and the credibility. Having a TEDx event on your personal resume or webpage is like a universal stamp of approval. It shows that you’ve been involved in a high-quality, international platform for innovation. You meet people who become mentors, collaborators, or just good contacts down the road. The event is a launchpad for future success, and as one article notes, being a part of a TEDx event provides "AMAZING credibility for potential future events". It opens doors, simply because people know the quality associated with the TED brand.
The World’s Builders: The Essential Role of Tech Entrepreneurs
This leads straight into the kind of people I was surrounded by: tech entrepreneurs and VCs (Venture Capitalists). Man, these people are the engine of modern life. They’re not just businesspeople; they're modern-day architects.
In a nutshell, tech entrepreneurs are important because they are the world’s problem solvers and innovators.
-
They Drive Innovation: They're the ones who look at an inefficient or annoying process and say, "I can build an app for that," or "I can use AI to fix that." They take technology—like cloud services, AI, or even e-commerce platforms—and use it to create completely new solutions that make life easier, faster, and sometimes even cheaper. For instance, the use of IT is crucial for accelerating product development and driving business innovation.
-
They Create Jobs and New Markets: Think about it: a single great idea can launch a multi-billion dollar company that employs thousands of people. These companies don't just solve problems; they invent whole new industries that never existed before, completely changing the economy. As a result, the venture landscape has undergone significant transformation due to tech innovations, making it easier and more financially efficient to start and scale a business
-
They Break Down Barriers: The beautiful thing about tech is that it doesn’t care where you went to school or who your parents are. An entrepreneur in Shanghai can create an app that serves customers in London. E-commerce platforms, for example, have "democratized online selling," allowing small businesses to compete globally with minimal upfront cost. Tech entrepreneurs are, therefore, global connectors.
In essence, they are the ones who turn abstract tech ideas into real, scalable businesses that affect how everyone lives, works, and communicates. They hold a massive amount of power because they decide what the future looks like—and that's why events like TEDx give them a platform to talk about their "ideas worth spreading."
The Real Takeaways: Lessons from the Masters
Chatting with the TEDx presenters, the tech entrepreneurs, and the VCs was probably the most valuable part of the whole experience. Forget the classroom; this was real-world education.
Here are my top three lessons, told simply:
Lesson 1: The Idea is Only 10%. Timing is Everything.
I always thought the most brilliant, most complicated idea would win. I was wrong. A VC I spoke with (who’s invested in some really big names) mentioned a famous TED Talk by Bill Gross on why startups succeed. Bill Gross analyzed a ton of startups and found that the number one factor for success wasn't the idea or even the team—it was timing.
This completely flipped my perspective. A great idea launched too early (when the tech or the market isn't ready) will fail. A slightly less perfect idea launched at the perfect time can explode. The lesson is: don't just obsess over making your thing perfect; obsess over whether the world is ready to buy what you're selling right now.
Lesson 2: It’s Not About What You Make, But What Problem You Solve.
Every single person on the TEDx stage, from the educators to the clean-tech founders, had this laser focus. They didn't talk about their "product features" or their "service list." They talked about the problem they were fixing.
One presenter didn't talk about a new kind of battery; they talked about giving remote villages access to electricity for the first time.
This taught me the difference between a project and a purpose. If you want to build a successful business or lead a meaningful life, you have to align your efforts with an unmet need in the world. As another source points out, a great TEDx idea needs to address an important unmet need in the world and come from someone with passion. Your value isn't your skill; it’s your solution.
Lesson 3: Leadership is About Feeling Safe, Not Being Bossy.
I expected to hear about aggressive risk-taking and being a "disruptor." Instead, I was inspired by talks on compassionate leadership. I remember one speaker whose message echoed the famous TED Talk by Simon Sinek on "Why good leaders make you feel safe."
The biggest takeaway for me was that the toughest job for a leader isn't making money; it's creating an environment where people feel safe enough to fail, experiment, and be their authentic selves. The best tech entrepreneurs I met had built companies where people wanted to work because they were trusted. They understand that a confident, supported team is one that will be innovative and resilient.
Being at TEDx in Shanghai was definitely a highlight of my high school life. It wasn't about a trophy; it was about getting a cheat sheet to how the modern world works, and I’m taking those lessons with me wherever I go next.