Audacious optimism! | Shanna Adamic | TEDxColumbiana

After a life-altering diagnosis and surgery left her questioning her identity, Shanna Adamic found that change can begin with the language people use in uncertain moments. In this TEDxColumbiana talk, she introduces the idea of "audacious optimism," the notion that choosing hopeful words can move someone forward before proof or confidence exists. She offers it as a practical tool for reshaping how people think, act and move on. Adamic is an executive content leader for Oracle, speaker and author. Her book, Audacious Optimism, covers resilience, hope and courageous action. She has also led content work for the Oracle Health Foundation.

• Personal account of a life-altering diagnosis and surgery
• The concept of "audacious optimism"
• Using language to move forward before certainty exists
• A practical tool for reshaping thinking and action

After a life-altering diagnosis and surgery left her questioning her identity, Shanna Adamic discovered that change doesn't start with belief...it starts with language ignited by the audacity to hope. In this talk, she introduces "audacious optimism" the idea that the words we choose in uncertain moments can move us forward before proof or confidence exists. offering a practical tool to reshape how we think, act and move forward. Shanna Adamic is an executive content leader for Oracle, speaker, and author whose work sits at the intersection of healthcare, storytelling, and hope. As Executive Content and Video Director and anchor of Oracle TV, she brings complex ideas to life through human-centered storytelling across broadcast, stage, and social-first platforms, including AI Minutes, a series focused on AI transformation across industries. Formerly Executive Director of the Oracle Health Foundation, Shanna helped raise $55 million for global pediatric healthcare initiatives. Before her career in healthcare leadership and media, she spent eight seasons as a professional cheerleader with the Kansas City Chiefs and later earned a regional Emmy as a host with 65 Toss Power Trap Productions. After surviving a rare brain tumor that left her partially deaf, she transformed adversity into purpose. Through her book, Audacious Optimism, she inspires audiences with a message of resilience, hope, and courageous action. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx