TEDx Talk: What's the Future If There's No One to Build It?
TEDxRVA | 2014
Theme: re___ (rethink, reimagine, challenge preconceptions)
At 8 years old, I thought I'd missed the era of invention. After watching "Bicentennial Man," I decided I would build service robots that work alongside people. This talk explores my journey from that childhood dream to building technology at Georgia Tech and Microsoft—and asks a critical question: who's going to build the future we all want?
Key Themes:
Scientists and engineers make up only 5% of the U.S. workforce, yet we all want hover boards, self-driving cars, and robotic helpers. To inspire the next generation of builders, we need to cultivate three things: Identity (helping students discover their unique value), Exposure (showing them diverse global problems), and Experience (giving them hands-on learning early, not waiting until college).
I share how these same principles guide product development at Microsoft's Xbox team—and why reimagining STEM education isn't optional. What's the future if there's no one to build it?
