‘All of Us’: Reflections from TED2026

From moments of personal rediscovery to powerful examples of collective impact, below are three reflections from Bezos Scholars Alum, Breanna Wollman, Elizabeth Chung, and Isabel Ohakamma, that capture the spirit of TED2026. Anchored in this year’s theme, “All of Us,” each story highlights how connection, curiosity, and community shape both individual growth and shared progress. Together, their voices offer a glimpse into the BSP alum internship experience.

Saying Yes – Breanna Wollman

Passion is one of my favorite emotions to witness in another person. Human beings shine in a remarkable way when they are deeply inspired by their work. The dedication feels contagious. After my time at TED2026, I have concluded that the purpose of the conference is to ignite that same sense of zeal in attendees. In a world of exhausting work, this week-long event allows everyone to recharge and refocus, sending them back to their communities with fresh ideas and access to an untapped sense of possibility.

Whether the talk was about artificial intelligence, healthcare, or climate change, every speaker articulated their big idea with excitement and precision. Any random person on the street outside the convention center wouldn’t just understand the content, but I genuinely believe that they would start to care about the issue at hand if they did not before. TED is meant for everyone. You don’t have to be an expert. You just have to be willing to listen.

At first, I interpreted the TED 2026 theme of ‘all of us’ as an invitation for unity. There is power in numbers, and division weakens our societal fabric. However, I believe that ‘all of us’ means more than simply bridging fragmentation. There is also a sense of shared responsibility in the process of reconciliation. Let us not only establish a solid foundation to improve our quality of life today. “All of us” means that we must figure out solutions to our climate crisis, to our loneliness epidemic, to our rise in vaccine hesitancy, together, for the sake of a better tomorrow.

As a community-oriented person, I adored psychotherapist Esther Perel’s session about how to be a better villager. “The quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives.” This quote from her workshop prompted me to reflect on how lucky I am to be connected with the Bezos Family Foundation. The opportunity to intern at the TED2026 conference allowed me to establish relationships with the new cohort of fellows, among the TED staff, and with other scholar alumni. With a network of such exceptional people, it is hard not to overflow with gratitude. The Bezos Scholar Program has transformed my life in many indescribable ways, and the experience of participating in alum-focused leadership development programs has been just as transformative.

It isn’t always easy to put other responsibilities on hold. As a current full-time college student, I had to negotiate with my professors for my time off. However, I can’t imagine a world where anyone regrets saying yes to an opportunity like this one. Don’t be afraid to say yes!

Returning to Myself –  Elizabeth Chung

The TED2026 theme “All of Us” has become personal to me in ways I continue to uncover every day. At first, I perceived it as a call to action: people across disciplines, cultures, and experiences working together to create meaningful change. Throughout the week, the theme evolved into something more intimate. “All of Us” also meant all of me — to show up fully to spaces with curiosity, ambition, and a sense of excitement about everyday things.   

At 16 years old, BSP introduced me to the idea that people could dedicate their lives to work that was both personally fulfilling and socially meaningful. Before then, success often felt narrowly defined by achievement, productivity, or external expectations. Society often tells us who we’re allowed to become; algorithms tell us what we like before we even know it, and personal pressures quietly shape us toward versions of ourselves we think we are supposed to be. BSP disrupted that narrative for me. It exposed me to people who were “cool” not because of status, but because they were deeply invested in changing the world in ways that aligned with who they genuinely were.

Working alongside TED Fellows revitalized that lesson in adulthood. Being surrounded by people with a sparkle in their eyes when they spoke about what they create, study, or advocate for reminded me how important attunement is – and how out of attunement I was. I left TED2026 reflecting not only on my professional identity, but also on how disconnected I had been feeling between my professional and personal life. I realized how much of my energy had been focused on who I was “supposed to be” instead of on what genuinely fueled me.

As a mental health professional and social worker, I often speak to others about authenticity, courage, and building meaningful lives. TED challenged me to extend that same courage to myself. The experience encouraged me to take a leap toward happiness in my personal life with the same intentionality I bring to my professional life.

More than anything, TED2026 reminded me that meaningful connections are transformative. Whether through conversations with fellows, collaborative work, or shared moments of curiosity and vulnerability, I was reminded that leadership is not about individual brilliance in isolation. Leadership is about what becomes possible when all of us are supported to show up fully as our authentic selves, and when we create spaces where others feel empowered to do the same.

The Power of Many Perspectives – Isabel Ohakamma

Mosquitoes, vaccines, AI, organ transplants, dance, and queer culture. These are just a few of the areas of focus represented by this year’s class of TED Fellows. Being able to work with such a diverse team of innovators was amazing. Each Fellow brought not only their own expertise, but also their own story, culture, community, and vision for the future. Watching them share their work on a global stage reminded me that leadership does not look one specific way. It can look like a scientist working to prevent disease, an artist using movement to tell stories, a technologist imagining new possibilities, or an advocate creating space for communities that have historically been overlooked.

TED 2026’s theme, “All of Us,” felt especially meaningful because the conference itself reflected the idea that the future is not built by one type of person, one field, or one perspective. It is built through collaboration across disciplines and lived experiences. To me, “all of us” means recognizing that every person has something valuable to contribute. It also means understanding that the problems we face are interconnected, so the solutions must be as well. Public health, technology, art, education, justice, and culture are not separate conversations. They all intertwine to shape how people live, connect, and contribute to the overall advancements of our society.

One of my biggest takeaways from working with the TED Fellows was the importance of remaining curious. So many of the Fellows were experts in fields that I had little background knowledge in, but their passion made their work feel accessible and urgent. They reminded me that learning does not only happen in academia. It happens through conversations, storytelling, observing others, and being willing to ask questions. Also, this experience changed the way I approach leadership. The Fellows showed me that meaningful work often comes from a deep connection to community and uplifting others. Their projects were not just impressive because they were innovative; they were powerful because they were rooted in care and passion to empower communities.

Overall, working with the TED Fellows reminded me that the most meaningful change happens when curiosity and community come together to reimagine solutions. I left this experience with a deeper understanding that “All of Us” is not just a theme, but a call to lead and build a future that includes everyone.