Sherly Hephzibah J

Educator/Teacher, Entrepreneur, Musician, Performer, Writer/Editor

I'm an educator, speaker, and storyteller who believes in the power of ideas to create ripples of change. My journey has taken me from classrooms to conference halls, from national television to global conversations. With a background in English education and media, I’ve blended my passion for teaching with my love for communication - whether that's mentoring students through TED-Ed Student Talks or building impactful TEDx events. I currently serve as a TEDx organizer at Velammal Global School, where we are nurturing young minds to think deeply, speak bravely, and dream boldly. I’m also a TED-Ed Educator, helping students develop their unique voices and guiding them through their own Talk journeys. My work spans across sustainability education, storytelling for social change, and empowering youth voices. Every role I take on - whether it's anchoring a live show, hosting a podcast, organizing a TEDx event, or crafting a research paper - carries one thread: to ignite curiosity and turn it into action. I'm deeply committed to amplifying underrepresented voices, building inclusive platforms, and using education to shape a more empathetic, informed, and inspired world.

I’m passionate about building platforms where people - especially students - can express their ideas with clarity and courage. I believe in reimagining education as a space where creativity and critical thinking go hand in hand. I’m deeply invested in integrating the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into teaching and using storytelling to advance empathy and equity. Whether I’m coaching a first-time speaker or leading a climate education assembly, I do it with one purpose: to light the spark of voice, vision, and value in every learner.

The world doesn’t change because we speak louder - it changes because we speak wiser. I believe that storytelling, when done right, can do more than entertain; it can heal, unite, educate, and drive action. In a time when noise overwhelms meaning, the idea I want to spread is this: thoughtful speech is a powerful tool for transformation. When people, especially young people, are given the tools and platforms to express themselves meaningfully, they shape not only their own future but the world's.

Curriculum Design, Educational Leadership, English Language & Literature, Entrepreneur, Event Hosting & Production, Global Citizenship Education, Media & Communication, Public Speaking, Storytelling & Scriptwriting, Sustainability Education, TEDx & TED-Ed Facilitation

My TED journey started humbly - as an online attendee, watching Talks late into the night, scribbling notes, and dreaming about being on that red dot one day. That dream came true when I became a TEDx speaker, sharing ideas close to my heart. But it didn’t stop there. Soon, I became a TED-Ed Educator, mentoring young voices to discover their ideas and helping them turn those ideas into powerful Talks. Now, as a TEDx organizer, I’m honoured to create the very stage I once dreamed of standing on - curating voices from all walks of life and helping others feel what I once felt: that their voice matters. TED has become more than a platform for me - it’s a purpose. A journey of evolving from learner to leader, from echoing ideas to enabling them. And I’m just getting started.

Most people know me as a speaker or educator, but not many know that I’m also a systems thinker. I’m great at building things from scratch - whether it’s a new learning initiative, a themed school event, or a business plan for my gifting startup. I’m also surprisingly good at handling high-pressure live events with calm precision, often finding last-minute solutions without missing a beat. And if there's a deadline looming, I somehow find a creative burst right when it's needed most.