If you've been enjoying our interviews with past speakers, you'll enjoy this one! Mercy Ngulube is another of our fantastic speakers from last years TEDx event 'Creating Our Future'. Mercy delivered a talk entitled 'Generation Y: Entitled to Change' which you can view below if you missed it.
Before you get stuck into this interview, why not talk 10 minutes to sit down in a coffee shop and have a listen to Mercy's talk from this year, enjoy!
Mercy Ngulube: Generation Y: Entitled to Change
Now that you have discovered Mercy's talk, it's time to understand how Mercy works off the stage with her interesting interview!
GEORGE: What is your favourite TED Talks, or, top three?
MERCY: 'If I should have a daughter..." - Sarah Kay, 'Why domenstic violence victims don't leave' - Leslie Morgan Steiner, 'My son was a Columbine shooter. This is my story' - Sue Klebold'.
G: What made you decide you wanted to become a TEDx speaker?
M: One of my friends messaged and said I’d be great and I loved watching TEDx Talks online and so thought that I might as well try!
G: How did you choose your subject/topic?
M: It's one thing to think doing a TEDx Talk could be fun, but another to think about what you want your message to the world to be. I spent time thinking about the activism I do, how I got to where I am and how that could relate easily to others.
G: How did you find the process of applying and becoming a speaker?
M: Found the process really quick and easy.
G: What would your advice be for those thinking of applying or already in the process?
M: Do it, you never know what could come of it!
G: How did you prepare to deliver your talk?
M: We were paired up with Hetain Patel, who was going to help guide our talks to make them the best they could be. So, I started by thinking about the key messages that contributed to my overall message. Then I began to think about tangible examples and scenarios that would allow me to convey this and doing this allowed me to eventually arrived at a good structure for my talk that I was happy with.
G: What were your concerns and how did you overcome them?
M: I was worried about what it would be like to give a talk without any notes, as it isn't something I had done before. So, I made sure that the week before the talk all practices I did was without notes.
G: How did you feel your talk went / how did you feel after?
M: I thought it went okay! There's a quote I like that says something about there being 3 talks for each talk you give. The one you wanted to do, the one you actually did and the one you wished you did. That sums it up perfectly for me, I'm glad I did it and it was a great experience, I'm happy with the way it went and am glad I took part in the experience.
G: What would your top tips be for those speaking?
M: Relax, take it easy and remember that people are there to listen to you and take something from what you say.
G: If you were ever to speak again, what would your topic possibly be?
M: Ooh, I have absolutely no idea! I think it would be on something totally different to what I did though, I like to change things up.
G: Would you do anything differently?
M: Nothing significantly different.
G: What have you been doing since your last TED talk, what have you achieved?
M: I've been incredibly busy since my TEDx Talk. I've gone on to do more media interviews, been on both BBC Radio Leicester and been featured on BBC News. I've also been shortlisted for a St David Award and an Undergraduate of the Year for Social Impact Award. Participating in TEDxYouth @ BrayfordPool has not only been able to give me greater skills and a boost in my speaking ability but also some really good publicity.
And that's a wrap on another interview! A massive thank you to Mercy Ngulube for taking the time out of her day to provide the answers to this interview and we wish her all the best with her future!
Want to be a speaker at TEDxYouth@BrayfordPool 2018: State of Flux? Applications are now open! Click here to find out more and fill out the application form.
Watch this space for more content and interviews coming soon!