Innovation starts within us - by knowing ourselves - and it happens with the "we." When we have a strong level of self-awareness, we can empathize with others, embrace resilience, and leverage our stories to make our mark on the world. Saleema is Founder and CEO of Ripple Impact, a business accelerator and community that helps entrepreneurs grow their companies and build their platforms. At the age of 21, Saleema co-founded and launched Brazil’s top-rated language school, and at 22, she co-founded an online translation agency to help companies expand their digital presence globally. She has co-founded seven ventures with three exits. In 2017, she co-led an award-winning study on addressing food insecurity in conflict-affected countries using climate-smart technologies, and is currently conducting research to promote a circular economy. She has co-authored fifteen research studies. Saleema is Adjunct Professor of Social Entrepreneurship at University Startups and teaches Design Thinking and Entrepreneurship at Johns Hopkins University. Saleema holds a BA from McGill University, an MA from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. She speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx