Donde vive la democracia: liderazgo antes que confianza | Nadia Poluhina | TEDxMinneapolis

Nadia Poluhina relata cómo ver su nombre en la papeleta de una junta escolar local, junto a candidatos presidenciales, cambió su idea de dónde se vive la democracia. Sostiene que el servicio público no está reservado para otras personas y que quienes tienen experiencia en finanzas o instituciones complejas pueden aportar a la vida cívica. Su charla usa una crisis presupuestaria de un distrito escolar para mostrar lo que está en juego en las decisiones locales.

• Por qué importa la democracia local y el servicio público abierto a personas capaces
• Aplicar la experiencia financiera a una crisis presupuestaria escolar
• Entrar en los espacios de decisión sin esperar sentirse totalmente listo

Seeing her own name for local school board on the same ballot as candidates for president crystallized something Nadia Poluhina had only recently begun to understand: democracy happens much closer to home, and public service is not reserved for “other people.” It is a place where capable people can bring the skills and judgment they already have. Drawing on experience in finance, systems, and complex institutions, Nadia explores what happens when capable people assume public leadership belongs to someone else. When a school-district budget crisis made the stakes of local decision-making impossible to ignore, she realized that professional expertise could also become a form of civic stewardship. In this personal and humorous talk, Nadia argues that leadership is not about waiting until we feel completely ready. It is about recognizing what we can contribute, stepping into rooms where decisions are made, and accepting responsibility when our judgment is needed. Democracy is stronger when capable people stop assuming leadership belongs to someone else. Filmed August 4, 2026, at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. An immigrant, finance and healthcare leader, and newly elected school board member bringing a rare and powerful perspective on civic engagement to our stage. 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