Share Your Scars, Not Your Wounds | Anna Ong | TEDxINSEAD

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We are living through a trust recession. Not a financial one — a human one. In a world of AI-generated content, curated highlight reels, and polished personal brands, nothing feels real anymore. And when nothing feels real, trust collapses. In this talk, Anna Ong argues that the antidote to the trust recession is not better communication strategy. It is radical honesty — specifically, the kind that comes from sharing your scars, not your wounds. Drawing on her journey from painfully shy banker to the founder of Singapore’s largest live storytelling show, Anna makes the case that the stories we are most afraid to tell are the ones that build the deepest trust. And that in the age of AI, showing up as a fully human, imperfect, real person is not a vulnerability. It is your greatest competitive edge. Anna Ong is the founder of WYSH, a leadership communication consultancy, and the creator of What's Your Story Slam, Singapore's largest storytelling show. An INSEAD MBA alumna with 15 years in financial markets, she now coaches senior leaders across Asia and the Middle East on executive presence, narrative, and the art of communicating live — when the stakes are high and there's no script. 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