"Don't Be Me" - the Three Words That Raised Me | Pallavi Verma | TEDxGateway GIS

Описание: Her mother said three words — Don't. Be. Me. — and Pallavi Verma spent years obeying them, running from tradition, from the saree worn at 5am, from every role her mother had carried without being asked. In this spoken word performance, the writer and PenPal founder traces how she slowly realised her mother had not been asking her to escape — she had been clearing the frame so her daughter could paint her own picture. She makes the case that becoming yourself and honouring where you came from are not opposites: you hold your mother's hand and bring her with you. Pallavi Verma is a writer, spoken word artist, and the founder of PenPal, a creative agency that doubles as a modern pen-pal project. With a background in psychology and marketing, Pallavi explores the intersection of human behavior and narrative, helping individuals and brands find their unique voice. Known for her work in amplifying women’s voices through campaigns like #LeadHers and #LeanIn, she blends poetic insight with a sharp, relatable wit. Based in Dubai and Mumbai, Pallavi is on a mission to show that connection is the soul of everything we do—one poem and one dad joke at a time. 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