Who Told You Who You Are? | Mona Verma | TEDxDIS Riverside Youth

Many people's sense of self is shaped by expectations, labels and assumptions placed on them by others. This TEDx talk by Mona Verma questions how much of our identity is truly our own, looking at inherited narratives and the influence of social conditioning. It also considers the beliefs that limit what we think we can become, with a focus on self-discovery and defining oneself on one's own terms. Mona Verma is an award-winning author, editor, poet and corporate trainer, and an executive presence coach and leadership skills facilitator through DISHA. The talk was given at an independently organized TEDx event in the TED conference format.

• How expectations and labels from others shape self-understanding
• Recognising the influence of social conditioning
• Questioning limiting beliefs about who we can become
• Speaker: Mona Verma, author, editor and corporate trainer

Our understanding of ourselves is often shaped by the expectations, labels, and assumptions imposed on us by others. But how much of our identity is genuinely our own? This talk invites us to question the narratives we have inherited, recognise the influence of social conditioning, and reconsider the beliefs that limit who we think we can become. It is an exploration of self-discovery and the freedom to define ourselves on our own terms. Mona Verma is an award-winning author, editor, poet and corporate trainer whose work spans literature, leadership and communication. An alumna of Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, she also holds a postgraduate certification from Harvard Business School. She has authored several books and contributed to numerous anthologies, while serving as an executive presence coach and leadership skills facilitator through DISHA. She is also associated with House of Harmony, a literary initiative that curates literary events, and has received recognition for her contributions to literature and society. 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