The Art of Becoming You: Behind the Scenes with TEDxESCPLondon 2025 Team

Going beyond the event, we spoke with Anita Athary, a student in the MSc in Digital Transformation Management & Leadership, who was the driving force behind this year’s TEDx event in London. Originally the head speaker curator at the TEDxESCPLondon Student Society, who organised the event, Anita unexpectedly stepped into the role of the society's president when the team faced serious last-minute challenges. In her own words, what followed next was one of the most meaningful experiences of her time at ESCP.

Tell me about yourself and your roles at the TEDxESCPLondon student society

My name is Anita, and I’m a Master’s student at ESCP - I recently moved from the London campus to Paris. I joined the TEDxESCPLondon team as the head speaker curator, focused on finding powerful stories and helping speakers shape their talks.

However, close to the event deadline, we ran into serious complications, and cancelling the event was on the table. I felt a strong responsibility to the speakers and the vision we’d built, so I stepped up to lead and did everything I could to keep it alive and make it work. It soon became one of the most challenging but meaningful experiences I’ve had at ESCP.

What inspired you and the team to choose ‘The Art of Becoming You’ as this year’s theme?

We were drawn to the idea that becoming yourself is not something that happens overnight - it's a process, often messy and nonlinear, but also beautiful and deeply personal. “The Art of Becoming You” felt like a theme that could resonate across many different walks of life. It gave our speakers the freedom to explore identity, growth, change, and vulnerability - all in their own unique way.

Was there a specific talk that sparked a new perspective for you or left a lasting impression?

I honestly can’t pinpoint just one - each talk had its own kind of magic. All speakers showed vulnerability in personal and distinct ways, and you could feel that in the room. Even among the audience, there wasn’t one “favourite” that stood out - everyone connected with different talks in their own way. That, to me, was the beauty of it.

From confronting fear and overcoming trauma to navigating start-up challenges, embracing unconventional thinking, finding balance, and cultivating a clear voice in a noisy world, each speaker brought something inspiring, honest, and deeply human to the stage. There wasn’t one moment - it was the cumulative effect of hearing different people from different backgrounds, all echoing the same deeper message: becoming yourself is an act of courage.

TEDx events are about sparking conversation - what were some of the most interesting discussions you had after the event?

I’ll never forget a conversation with a woman who had absolutely no connection to ESCP or TEDx. She just happened to see the event online and thought it looked interesting. She even went to our original (cancelled) venue by mistake but still made her way to the actual location. After the event, she approached me and asked, “When is the next one?” I told her I’d be moving to Paris soon, and she smiled and said, “Well, I’d travel to Paris for something like this.” That moment meant so much - it reminded me that passion, quality work, and authenticity do reach people, even those you never expected.

How did attendees and your fellow society members react to the event? Were there any particularly memorable pieces of feedback?

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. People kept telling us how special the energy in the room felt. The speakers especially loved the venue - it created such an intimate and meaningful atmosphere, and they felt truly supported. There was a real sense that something important had happened, even if it was hard to describe in words.

Why do you think events like TEDxESCPLondon are valuable for students? How do they contribute to the overall student experience at ESCP?

TEDx gives students a chance to connect beyond academic pressure - to engage with real stories and share something deeply human. It also gives student organisers the opportunity to work on something purpose-driven from start to finish. For me, it became a way of learning by doing - of finding my voice, building something meaningful, and growing through the challenges that came along.

What is your biggest takeaway from this event?

Even when everything seems to be going wrong, if you truly believe in something and commit to making it happen, there’s always a way.

How has organising or attending this event influenced your own journey of ‘becoming’ yourself?

This experience reminded me never to let someone else’s limiting beliefs define what I’m capable of. Taking on a role I wasn’t initially meant for and making it work showed me that I can trust in my abilities, even when things feel uncertain. It was a real moment for me: not allowing doubt (my own or others) to shake my sense of purpose.

What message would you like to share with your team and future TEDxESCP London organisers?

To the team - thank you for all your work leading up to the event and for trusting me to lead when things got uncertain. That trust meant a lot, and I hope it showed that I was committed to doing everything I could to make it work. It wasn’t always easy, but having you around, believing and willing to support the project made a big difference.

To future organisers - things won’t always go according to plan, and that’s okay. What matters is your willingness to adapt, stay focused, and keep moving forward. If you’re passionate about the event and intentional with your choices, it’ll come together - often in ways more meaningful than you expected.

This year's event was a testament to resilience, leadership, and the impact of shared human stories. From last-minute hurdles to standing ovations, the event reflected the very theme it was set out to explore: that becoming yourself is a process of growth, courage, and conviction.

For Anita and the diverse TEDxESCPLondon team, made up of students from five different ESCP programmes, it was also a reminder that purpose-driven projects, especially those built with passion, can create lasting impact. As ESCP London Campus looks ahead to the next event edition, their journey will be a strong example of what’s possible when students from different backgrounds collaborate and take bold ownership of their ideas.

To learn more about the TEDxESCPLondon Society, please visit this page.