How a German Kid Got Famous in China and Lost Everything | Thomas Derksen | TEDxNYU Shanghai

Thomas Derksen explores the journey of turning a lifelong sense of displacement into a source of global influence. Born into a Russian-German family and later finding fame in China, Thomas reflects on how the very cultural differences he once felt ashamed of became the foundation for his success as a creator with over 10 million followers. Despite facing significant personal and professional setbacks, he advocates for a mindset where "everything negative is a positive," viewing disruption as a catalyst for growth rather than a source of defeat. By embracing the discomfort of "not belonging", from performing stand-up comedy in Chinese to rebuilding his career, Thomas encourages others to stop hiding their uniqueness and find the courage to step into spaces where they feel like outsiders. Thomas Derksen is a Shanghai-based German entrepreneur and prominent content creator who has built a platform reaching over 10 million followers across China’s major social media channels. As the co-founder of AsiaBits, he bridges the gap between China and the West by providing global business audiences with deep insights into China’s technology, robotics, and innovation landscapes. Through his podcast and strategic work, Thomas focuses on making China's fast-moving tech ecosystem accessible, engaging with industry leaders to foster cross-cultural understanding in the global business world. 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