We’ve explored a lot over the last week. And it’s becoming clear to me that as the world changes, so do we. I never thought that I’d be writing for the TED Conference in Vancouver, Canada, but here I am. Are you where you expected to be? Maybe so, but I bet the path there wasn’t a straight line. 

As we wrap up TED2025, we’re going to take a look at how purpose evolves — and how to maximize your impact.

Finding your purpose and catalyzing impact are two very large tasks — but nothing is static. Luckily, we have some tips from three TED community members to help you navigate what’s now and what’s next.

3 Tips to help you find your purpose

1. Reflect on your story

“Stories help us find our purpose because every story is a store of data,” said Vika Victoria, a communications coach and master storyteller. 

She described stories as “an emotional snapshot of who you are in that exact moment of time.” You might tell the same story differently after a few months, or a year, because the related emotions have evolved. Recognizing this shift can help you understand what’s best for you in the present moment. 

Don’t know where to start? Take 5 minutes to take Adobe’s “creative type” quiz to learn more about your strengths and maximize your creative potential. 

2. Stay curious, embrace change

Purpose doesn’t arrive like a lightning bolt — it usually reveals itself slowly, shaped by the questions we ask and the environments we step into. At TED, transformation often starts not with answers, but with curiosity.

That’s what happened for Idris Brewster, an artist and creative technologist who shared how being at TED2025 has pushed him to think differently:

“I’ve been surrounded by such great, challenging ideas and people that have really forced me to rethink, reframe and imagine new ways to do my work moving forward. I’m leaving a different person than I came — and that’s really exciting.”

Change isn't just inevitable — it’s inspiring. When we open ourselves up to new ways of thinking, we unlock new paths forward.

That was the case for Lopé Gutiérrez-Ruiz, an artist, designer and curator. Throughout his early career as a journalist and publisher, he was working alongside the visual world. “I always was working next to designers, literally sitting at my desk next to them, looking at the work that they did, asking questions.” Feeding this curiosity led him to make the leap to art director, designer and eventually a partner at In-House brand and strategy agency.

3 tips to help you catalyze impact

1. Stories are stronger than statistics

“If you want somebody to understand the impact of your project, don't give them a statistic … Tell them a story of transformation,” said Vika. 

And don’t make yourself the hero in that story, she added. Center the person you're speaking to — your client, your patient, your boss, whoever it might be — and make them see their own hero’s journey, their role in achieving your great mission. 

“I'll never be the smartest person in the room,” said Vika, “but I can tell the best story. And that will build trust, and that will lead to a big deal.”

2. Pursue opportunity and urgency

As a design firm, Lopé and his team have the unique ability to make complex messages beautiful and more easily understood. They decided to dedicate their efforts towards partnering with those addressing the effects of climate change, an area with clear need. 

“Communication in the field of climate change is still stuck in this idea that facts, numbers, engineering-driven language is going to drive adoption, when in reality, we need to be able to understand the emotions,” said Lopé. (Stories, not statistics — remember?)

Of course there’s a lot of global issues that could use rebranding, but Lopé’s team settled on climate change because of the urgency of the matter. They knew they could make a difference, and they knew a difference was needed — now. 

3. Use your unique story to drive action

In a fast-moving world, it’s easy to forget what first lit the spark. But according to Mir Harris, creative strategist and longtime TED attendee, focusing in on what makes your story unique can help you move forward with clarity:

“There’s something we often forget when it comes to our personal story — the purpose that we infuse into our work, or that leads us to the work we’re meant to do in our lifetime. Hearing how others launched their nonprofit, their work or their project — it’s inspiring. It reminds us to look in the mirror and reflect on what we’re truly meant to do in this life.”

If these — or any of the other tips we’ve shared this week — have inspired you to dive deeper into your own journey of self-discovery and explore who the future you can be, please consider joining us for TEDNext in Atlanta, Georgia on November 9 - 11, 2025.

“TEDNext is a new conference that's targeting the next wave of impact makers who haven't been able to come to TED,” said James Wynn, a Founding Donor of the first TEDNext conference last year. “It was playful and experimental,” he recalled. “Within a couple hours, I think the TED vibe grew. It was great to see.”

Well, that’s all from me. It’s been an enlightening week — and I truly enjoyed spending it with all of you. Thank you for being such a special part of my very first in-real-life TED Conference.

Renae Reints | Editorial Producer, TED

P.S. It’s not too late to tune into the TED2025 talks with TED Live. Watch the full conference on demand — plus our final talks streamed live from Vancouver. Hear from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, global soul Pico Iyer, climate justice activist Xiye Bastida and more!