As a veteran curator for TEDxUGA 2025, I collaborated with Dr. Reuben Faloughi to craft a talk that reframed “people pleasing” as a societal disease and advocated for intentional selfishness as a path to reclaiming one’s sense of self. Addressing the cultural glorification of selflessness—particularly its impact on young professionals and marginalized voices—we aimed to challenge the stigma around selfishness and present it as a form of self-respect. I helped shape the narrative by combining Dr. Reuben’s personal stories and psychological insights into a compelling, emotionally resonant talk supported by minimalist visual design and thoughtful audience engagement strategies. We used tools like Google Docs, Slides, Canva, and Slack to streamline collaboration and maintain the speaker’s authentic voice throughout the process. The final talk received enthusiastic audience feedback for its relatability, emotional depth, and paradigm-shifting message, sparking important conversations around emotional authenticity and the cost of performative kindness.
