Ananya Yelamanchalli

Entrepreneur, Foodie, Student

I’m a Grade 12 student at P. Obul Reddy Public School and a student leader passionate about creating spaces where young people can exchange ideas, question perspectives and turn conversations into action. Over the years, I’ve been involved in student leadership, event curation, entrepreneurship and community initiatives, experiences that have taught me the value of collaboration and giving people a platform to be heard. As an organiser of TEDxPORPS YOUTH, I’m particularly interested in bringing together diverse voices and creating an experience that goes beyond simply listening to talks and that encourages people to pause, question and look at familiar ideas differently.

I’m passionate about young people, psychology, marketing, entrepreneurship, leadership and creating meaningful platforms for ideas. I love understanding why people think and behave the way they do, exploring new perspectives and turning ideas into projects that can have a real impact. I’m particularly fascinated by consumer behaviour and the intersection of psychology and marketing, understanding what influences people’s choices and using that insight to communicate ideas more meaningfully. I’m especially drawn to work that brings people together, encourages curiosity and creates opportunities for voices that might otherwise go unheard.

Nothing is Something The world is a marathon race, and people are running endlessly to win this never-ending race. But somewhere along the way, they forget their sense of self. You don’t always have to catch up with the race and its runners. As long as you’re not fainting on the way and are still achieving your goals, you can choose your own timeline instead of the one society expects you to follow. It’s your life, and you live only once, so you better live it efficiently rather than effectively. Take a pause. It’s not wrong to prioritise your needs, sit down, relax and, at times, just be the turtle and take it one step at a time. And you’ll still win.

Brand communication, Consumer insights, Creative thinking, Idea development, Networking, Project planning, Strategic thinking, Visual storytelling

My TED story began with my involvement in TEDxPORPS YOUTH, where I got the opportunity to explore what goes into creating a platform for ideas that can make people pause, question and think differently. Being part of the organising team has made me realise how much I enjoy discovering different perspectives, bringing people together and creating spaces where ideas can be heard.

People don’t know I’m good at dancing, sketching, making the most ridiculous reels, bullying my friends into doing the lamest dances, and baking the most flavourful s’mores cookies. I’m also a budding entrepreneur and can never sit idle. I’ll always find myself looking through pictures and videos with my friends like an army man at duty, smiling to myself at how stupidly fun we can get.