Onde vive a democracia: liderança antes da confiança | Nadia Poluhina | TEDxMinneapolis

Nadia Poluhina conta como ver seu nome na cédula de um conselho escolar local, ao lado de candidatos à presidência, mudou sua visão sobre onde a democracia acontece. Ela afirma que o serviço público não é reservado a outras pessoas e que profissionais com experiência em finanças e instituições complexas podem contribuir para a vida cívica. A palestra usa uma crise orçamentária em um distrito escolar para mostrar o peso das decisões locais.

• Por que a democracia local importa e o serviço público está aberto a pessoas capazes
• Aplicação da experiência financeira a uma crise orçamentária escolar
• Entrar em espaços de decisão sem esperar se sentir totalmente pronto

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