08/08/2025
What I learned doing a TEDx that went viral: 🎤🔥
Today marks the 4-month anniversary of my TEDx talk… and over 297,000 people have watched it! 🤯🌍
It was chosen as an Editor’s Pick and shared across the world — but it wasn’t luck. It was the result of decisions made long before I stepped on that red dot… and a few in the moment pivots that changed everything.
When I started preparing, I knew I needed a structure that would keep you with me from start to finish — so I built it like a story: the status quo, the research, why you should listen to me, my idea worth spreading, how to apply it, and one clear takeaway you could use right away.
But structure wasn’t enough — I wanted you to feel it. So I treated it as a performance: I used movement, stories, and moments of play to keep you engaged.
I brought in a coach Brian Kenneth Miller who had guided TEDx speakers before, because I didn’t just want to be good… I wanted to be unforgettable.
I chose an outfit that wasn’t just visually striking against the black stage and red dot, but one that carried joyful memories for me.
Before walking on stage, I centered myself with Qigong, shifting into a state of flow so I could show up calm and powerful no matter what happened.
And what happened? I arrived in Florence the morning of the TEDx after three days of back-to-back speaking events… and I was speaking at 11 PM to a tired, thinned-out audience. The lights blinded me, so I couldn’t see faces. My joke — the one that always lands? Silence.
At that moment, I pivoted. I decided to speak to you — the people on the other side of the camera — instead of the room in front of me.
I also learned the value of persistence with details. I worked with the videographer to make sure the zooms matched the most important moments, so the video would flow and hold your attention long after that night.
And when the talk was released, I didn’t just post once. I personally reached out to people from every stage of my life — from preschool to graduate school, from colleagues to conference friends. I texted, DMed, messaged. Because people share what they feel personally connected to.
💡 My biggest takeaway? When the external conditions aren’t ideal, your internal preparation is everything. Draw on your skills, strengths, and mindset. They’ll carry you through every curveball.
If you haven’t watched my TEDx yet, the link’s in comments.
Big thanks to:
TEDxOltrarno
Claudio Pedretti
Francisco Maftuz
Mirela Sula
