News – Page 12 – TEDxBucharest

If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody. – Chinese saying

When we are young, we learn that sharing is caring and we build our whole lives based on this value. But is this true? Are we happier when we help others? It seems so. Scientific research on 200.000 people all over the globe proved that nearly a third of the world’s population donates money to charities and, most importantly, experiences joy doing that.

However, when picking your cause, it’s important to follow some steps to make sure that your actions will bring you joy, and this way, your behavior will become a sustainable one. The first step is to always find what’s right for you and what matches your values, because, at the end of the day, giving is about how much love we put into action, not how much money we donate. The second thing you need to consider is giving some of your time to an action or a cause you love – volunteering and actually doing something for those in need will make you see the impact of your giving. We also believe that it’s healthier for your peace of mind to be proactive to a cause and not reactive – so take your time to choose the causes you really want to support.

We live in a world with many problems and even more people in need and the only way of changing that once and for good is not by simply swiping our cards, but finding joy and real happiness into helping others by actively involving ourselves in the causes we believe in.

In case you need a real example of finding the right cause for you, check Elizabeth Dunn’s TED talk.

TEDxBucharest

If face reading would be known by everybody, the world would be a more tolerant place.

Alex Bocunescu

Before you meet Alex Bocunescu on day 1 of the TEDxBucharest Metamorphosis event, discover his answers to our 30/2 questions tirade.

For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

For being alive right now, right in this very moment of human history, when we, as humans, become aware of our place in time and space.

If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

When you know how to read faces you don’t need a crystal ball. Anyone’s face is the expression of their inner self so my face is a tool for constant self-evaluation. Even if consciously we aren’t always aware of what is going on, facial muscles are controlled by our subconscious mind, meaning that a face will never lie to us.

What makes you feel powerful?

I don’t need power, nobody does. Power is for the week. I (we all) need understanding, empathy, peace and tolerance.

Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you tried it?

When I dream for longer periods is just because my goals require a lot of effort. I never abandon dreams, just sometimes I take baby steps into the unknown, and that takes time.

If you could have all the money in the world to invest in your business, how would you spend it? What top priorities would you have?

Teaching others so they can teach others as well. If face reading would be known by everybody the world would be a more tolerant place.

If you had to give away 5 years of your life, which years would you choose? From the past or the future?

For sure from the past because I have already been there and did the best I could. The future, on the other hand, is filled with new possibilities to learn and discover.

What would be the worst “buy one and get another one free” product for sale?

A return ticket from somewhere you don’t want to be anymore.

What is something people do not worry about but they should?

That there is no plan B, that we are all brothers and sisters on this earth and that we should really take good care of our home. The earth will be here for a long time. The question is if we will still be able to enjoy it.

What event was the catalyst for your desire to start growing and metamorphosing?

We grow and change on so many levels and in so different directions. There can’t be any single event that triggered my growth. For instance, everything started for me when I found my father’s snorkel set, and again when I heard for the first time about emotions, and again when I discovered anthropology, and again when my son was born. Everything is a trigger for a different kind of growth.

If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about how you are living you life now? Why?

For sure I would start thinking of the funniest tombstone that ever existed.

What do you think was cool then, when you were a kid, but isn’t cool now?

Like most kids, I thought it was cool to be an adult. Now I try to be a kid as much as I can.

What is the first thing you do when you want to learn a new skill?

I try it with a professional.

Who is that one person that had the most powerful impact on today’s story?

My sister. She is my role model and my hero of all times.

How big is your appetite for risk?

I have the tendency to analyze more now than I used to.

What aspects do you notice first when meeting someone new?

How sincere one expresses their emotions.

TEDxBucharest

A change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one. This is a metamorphosis.
When we chose it as the theme for our 11th event, we had you in mind: our multi-generational community of participative seekers, thinkers, and doers. It’s been more than a decade since we’ve been sharing ideas worth spreading. From 1 to 11, we have changed. Now it’s time for a collective metamorphosis heralding the start of a new decade together.

We took stock of how far we have come while shining a spotlight on new luminaries, able to guide us further on the road to evolution. So there you go, you’ll meet 24 speakers and performers bringing on stage a multitude of topics: contemporary dance, AI and VR, executive coaching, architecture, wellness and leadership, hacking, sustainability, creativity and many more.

Until we meet, we’re excited to share with you the new speakers and performers have joined our line-up!

We also launched day tics and student passes, now available for purchase on tedxbucharest.ro, iabilet.ro and bilete.ro.

Jorge Castellanos
Director of Technology at Rocket Insights
The audio wearables inventor & designer is an insightful leader, passionate about innovative products that can enhance people’s senses beyond the ordinary.

Paul Bulencea
Co-founder and CEO of The College of Extraordinary Experiences
The award-winning author, educator & entrepreneur focuses on producing uncommon experiences that trigger human transformation.

Silent Strike
The creative soul behind the soundtrack of Hackerville
Known for his Silent Strike x Deliric collabs, he is a catalyst for our music scene. The electronic/ film music composer won a Grimme Award & opened for Faithless, Bonobo and many more.

Bandersnatch inspired performance
You have the power to choose how your story goes. You are going to be the one to decide the fate of Cosmina Stratan (Best Actress 2012 at Cannes Film Festival) & Tudor Istodor (theatre performer & winner of 2017 EFP Shooting Star Award).

Alex Dima
Journalist @Romania, te iubesc!
The well-known journalist and activist, always promoting ideas genuinely worth spreading. Alex works on various investigations for a greater good. He started with theology & now brings awareness all around, while continuously striving for a better world.

Charles Michel
Culinary Artist/ Researcher/ Food Philosopher
He’s run a multidisciplinary community of artists creating immersive cultural events in abandoned urban spaces of Bogotá. Charles starred in the Netflix’ food show “The Final Table”, gave 2 TEDx Talks and presentations at Burning Man & The Royal Institution of Science in London.

RECUL
Live Sketch Performance
RECUL is a creative environment, a theatre, a school & a space, focused on performing arts. Experience an exclusive live sketch performance with the cast: Vlad Dragomirescu, Bogdan Unitlă, Adina Maria Sandu, Adriana Bordeanu, Alexandra Băjan, Florin Lungu, Dan Miron, Dan Codreanu.

TEDxBucharest

Confidence might be a hard thing to give or to share with others, but what about confidence in something you already have within you? We’re talking about creativity – and yes, you have it too, you just haven’t unleashed it or enjoyed its full potential!

Why is creativity so important – regardless of what you’re doing for a living and your goals in life? It doesn’t have to be about artsy stuff only or exclusively the kind of creativity we’ve learned about in school. Restraining its meanings to just that seems to have divided the world into “creatives” and “non-creatives,” and too many people – consciously or unconsciously – choose the second bucket. But you have to know that creativity is something we’re born with and it’s also something we should constantly practice!

Creative confidence translates into the natural ability to come up with new ideas and the courage to try them out. And you have to admit that this can prove pretty useful in life, no matter what your daily activities and tasks might be! It can mean organizing your tasks more efficiently, leading your team to better results, technological breakthroughs, fun activities that strengthen your team, better cooperation, cooler ways to close your sales, innovative marketing campaigns that put your company at the top – it can mean anything you need or want.

On November 16 & 17 our oh so diverse line-up of speakers will join forces to awaken your creative confidence, to fire up your synapses, and to help you surface your ideas worth spreading! Are you ready? Get your tickets now!

photography & retouch: Bogdan Mocanu, Oana Bardan - thebucharests.ro

TEDxBucharest

I’d invest in giving possibilities to everyone to make art

Ana Maria Lucaciu

Ana Maria Lucaciu, the internationally acclaimed Romanian choreographer and contemporary dance performer, will be on the stage of TEDxMetamorphosis Sunday, November 17th. Check her answers to our questions in a ‘lucky 13’ interview.

If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

Nothing. It would spoil the whole thing, wouldn’t it?

Who would you like your mobile phone number to belong to in the future?

My nephew.

If you could have all the money in the world to invest in your business, how would you spend it? What top priorities would you have?

That’s so difficult to answer in short. I’d invest in anything science related and education for all, everywhere. With that comes the environment, health, getting rid of poverty and equal rights, you know, the fundamentals. These are all grand and they’d be top priority. Then I’d invest in giving possibilities to everyone to make art. And start a massive universal dance camp.

If you had to give away 5 years of your life, which years would you choose? From the past or the future?

None. I’m greedy. I can’t even conceive of it.

In 30 years, what will you be nostalgic for?

Probably the mobility of my body.

What would be the worst “buy one and get another one free” product for sale?

Guns.

If you could ask a pet one question, what would it be? “Who is a good boy?” does not count here.

Would you rather run wild in the woods, or is this couch really the best thing ever?

What could, under no circumstances, be art?

Nature.

Have you ever mispronounced someone’s name? Tell us about the feeling.

Yes and it feels like butchering an entire personality with it. The second try is even worse because your confidence falters. And the third too. Then you just look for ways to avoid saying the name. It’s a vicious cycle.

What do you think was cool then, when you were a kid, but isn’t cool now?

Collecting gum wrappers. Probably not as cool now, but we were killing it back then.

If you could go back in time, how would you spend your first salary / income?

The same way I did, which I actually don’t precisely remember. I might have bought a CD or two. U2 and the Goldberg Variations.

How would you advertise yourself in only one sentence?

Easy going, but don’t take advantage of it.

Any thoughts about the way our world could end?

I think if we keep going the way we are, we’re getting there. It takes one thumb landing on the wrong button and pouf, gone.

TEDxBucharest

It’s 2019 and we now need technology almost as bad as we need oxygen. We might exaggerate for a greater effect – but you get the point. We’ve integrated all tech things in our day to day activities so much that unconsciously or not – with all the smartphones, smartwatches, smart TVs, smart toothbrushes, smart fridges – our whole life is a smart-life. And this is great…if used wisely!

The advantages of all technological advancements are huge and obvious. Not only talking about our gadgets and cool devices that make our chores and tasks easier or more fun. Especially talking about all the medical breakthroughs, facing and solving the environmental struggles, the law enforcement efficiency – the big players at the table. We’re lucky to be able to witness all of this and to enjoy all the benefits. We’re even luckier that we can actually be part of the technological movement and leave our mark on pieces of it.

But have you ever thought about how all of this has been influencing your core values? Have you – as a human being – changed or you’re just enjoying the benefits of it with no consequences? Are your choices based on the same principles and influenced by the same factors as 5 or 10 years ago? Or even better – are your choices looking like the ones your parents or grandparents made in similar circumstances?

Ethics of technology is a thing and it helps ensure an informed design and use of technologies while exploring the way they co-shape human values and ultimately induce value change. And Olya Kudina – Ethics & Technology Researcher – will join us in November to share her studies and her results on the matter. Are you curious about the effects of technology on your values, your choices, your beliefs? Let’s talk about all of this then at TEDxBucharest Metamorphosis, on 16 & 17 November! Tickets still available!

photography & retouch: Bogdan Mocanu, Oana Bardan - thebucharests.ro

TEDxBucharest

We bet you’ve wondered more than once ‘What should school look like?’ – either when you were a student or as a grown-up in a search for answers and better ways of doing things. Is it really all about teachers talking at students and giving them tests and grades? Or can it be more than that?

In 2012, an Iowa community started an experiment with the sole purpose of finding out how the school system can be improved. During the experiment, 65 adults, including local leaders, were brought to a high school to re-experience student life. All 65 of them went through an entire school day, complete with desks, lectures, textbooks, bells and permission slips to use the bathroom. In the end, they had to share their thoughts and all of them reached the same conclusion – it can be done much better!

We know this, you know this, everybody knows this – our school system is in high need of embracing Metamorphosis and reinventing itself. But how can we be a part of the process and add to it? Catalin Ciupala will join us in November – not to talk at us and grade us – but to share his amazing results as a VR embracing teacher! Because at Saguna College in Brasov – an 1850s building of great historical importance – math is full VR in a high tech laboratory! And this is just the beginning – technology can be sprinkled over all the other school subjects, in an attempt of transforming how these feel, how each subject impacts students, and how it can be applied further on.

Preparing not only our kids but also ourselves for life and not standardized tests is a crucial mission and it can be done! Catalin is one of the many that can prove it. We’d love to hear out your thoughts on the matter – so let’s meet on November 16 & 17 and open our backpacks full of ideas worth spreading! Save your seat!

photography & retouch: Bogdan Mocanu, Oana Bardan - thebucharests.ro

TEDxBucharest

This world has lots of very talented people.

Jorge Castellanos

Jorge Castellanos is the guy to meet if you love music. Check his answers to our 30/2 questions, #JoinMetamorphosis Day 2 and meet the man who masters everything you need to know about the past, present & future of your favorite device to listen to “La Bamba”.

For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

I’m most grateful for having had very loving parents that allowed me to have a life full of opportunities and marvels.

If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

I wouldn’t know what to ask.

What makes you feel powerful?

Love.

Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you tried it?

No, nothing.

Is there anything you wish your parents did not tell you when you were a kid? If so, what?

Nothing.

If you could have all the money in the world to invest in your business, how would you spend it? What top priorities would you have?

Talent. This world has lots of very talented people. The right people under the right environment and with the right resources can do amazing things.

If you had to give away 5 years of your life, which years would you choose? From the past or the future?

Future… the last years of my life.

In 30 years, what will you be nostalgic for?

Probably my daughter.

What would be the worst “buy one and get another one free” product for sale?

Something worthless even if it’s one, as it’d just be double the waste.

What is something people do not worry about but they should?

Other people. We tend to only worry about ourselves and not others.

What could, under no circumstances, be art?

Anything can be presented as art, as pointing out the most mundane and unintentional thing gains a status once noticed and surfaced. That said, there are plenty of things that are not and won’t be until they are named, and hence must remain anonymous in here.

What do you think was cool then, when you were a kid, but isn’t cool now?

Smoking – although this might still be cool for some, it’s seen in a very different way now.

What does your house remind you of?

Nothing in particular.

What scares you the most about the way technology is evolving?

There are many things, the obvious one being our growing dependency and reliance on machines to do everything, but beyond this, I often think of the move from physical objects and communication towards a world where everything lives in a single, nimble, cryptic format.

What old story about yourself are you still believing?

When I was 7, I broke my leg while skiing. I was racing down the slopes when that happens, and my father told me how I did a backflip in the air before falling on my feet again, causing the fracture.

TEDxBucharest

We’re back with even more exciting news and we know you’ll love it! Our amazing speakers’ line-up just got bigger and better.

Take a look at our new entries for TEDxBucharest Metamorphosis event:

Dex Torricke-Barton
Director at Brunswick Group, the leading critical issues advisory firm
Dex speaks about the impact of technology on society so well that he used to be the speechwriter for Mark Zuckerberg, Eric Schmidt, and even Elon Musk’s SpaceX head of communications.

Tijana Tamburic
Storyteller & Co-founder of Female Narratives
Tijana coordinates over 100 female freelancers to tell authentic stories for brands – all under the umbrella of the creative agency Female Narratives. A true storyteller, whose stories come in many different forms!

Refael Bitton
Head of UI/UX, Google Israel
Refael has been crafting mobile strategies, improving mSite performance, and increased user satisfaction for clients all over the Globe. All this while being an innovative and mobile solutions lover Google team member!

TEDxBucharest

Because we already know you’re the open-minded kind, always with smart questions and conversation fueling answers, we would like you to meet our friends from The Vast & The Curious. Be part of the series of talks between Andreea Rosca and successful entrepreneurs, innovators, and pioneers as a new season launches September 24th! 8 live conversations on the stage of @Apollo111 Theater.

First stop: Lucian Butnaru, the owner of SelfPay, a manager, entrepreneur, pilot and photographer with 20 years of experience. Get your Pass, explore the human thinking and experience behind performance and get inspired for the next career metamorphosis!

TEDxBucharest

Newer Posts

Older Posts

News and articles

Helping others makes us feel fulfilled – but how should we do it?

30/2 questions with Alex Bocunescu

The Metamorphosis manifesto and news this autumn at TEDxBucharest

Creative confidence or the breath of fresh air we never knew we needed

The “lucky 13” interview with Ana Maria Lucaciu

Technology advancements and the shift in our values

When the school system needs to embrace Metamorphosis

30/2 questions with Jorge Castellanos

New entries in Metamorphosis line-up

We <3 The Vast&The Curious

Tijana Tamburic: establishing her own #metamorphosis

Women March Together conversations: Ilinca Paun, Madalina Uceanu, Sebastian Armean

Women March Together conversations: Lucia, Mihaela Miroiu, Andreea Georgescu