Archive for category: TEDxDelftWomen 2015

“The world is on fire and I am pissed off!” says Simone Filippini. “Every day on television I see the consequences of bad leadership.” Now, Filipinni argues, it is time for world leaders to be accountable for their actions.

As Chief Executive Officer of Dutch development organization Cordaid and a former Consul General for the Netherlands, Filippini has plenty of experience in international relations. But what Filipinni has seen in her work and continues to see in the media does not sit well with her. Particularly when it comes to development aid, too little is being done to alleviate difficult situations and to improve the outlook of millions of people in the developing world.

“Fifteen years ago, an important paper, the Millennium Development Goals, was written. Not one goal has been reached,” Filippini claims. As a matter of fact, over a quarter of all nations remain fragile or laden with conflict. More importantly, $1.8 trillion has been spent on military capabilities compared to only $140 billion on development aid.

“What do the politicians do?” Filipinni asks. “They put out fires with paperwork, putting together resolutions.” According to the her, a new agenda will be signed by the US in September with the aim to achieve zero percent poverty by 2030. Given the fact that the main players in the UN are also the largest producers of arms, Filippini doubts these new goals will be reached.

“There is a lack of true leadership, of competence and accountability,” Filipinni says. The citizens of the world are being disempowered and there is little reason to believe the people in charge will make good on their promises. Nevertheless, Filipinni believes that by banding together, people can make a difference in putting an end to conflicts and fighting poverty. “We have to empower ourselves and demand change, all seven billion of us, as a team. World leaders, we are watching you.”

“When I was a student, I got caught taking the bus without a valid pass,” shares Dr. Wioletta Ruszel. “I did not have much money, so I tried to convince the driver by saying that I miscalculated the last valid day because I was bad at math. And it worked.”

Mathematics, according to the TU Delft Assistant Professor of Applied Probability, has a beauty and universality to it that is under-appreciated. “When I was eight, we moved from Poland to Berlin. I was in second grade with kids speaking a different language, but when the teacher wrote a sum on the blackboard I understood it and I could solve it,” she explains. Ruszel went on to study Electrical Engineering but then realized that she had a greater appreciation for the formulas in that field. She then shifted to Mathematics and Psychology to study the foundation of nature and mankind.

Oftentimes, people will say they are bad at math and that they find it difficult. It is even socially acceptable to say so. However, Ruszel claims that it follows a set of structural rules. As with grammar, these rules allow the brain to learn a new language and math is one of these languages.

In reality, mathematics is used more often than people might realise. “When you calculate how much petrol the car needs to get to work, you solve a linear equation. Every time you determine the shortest path to the shops, you solve an optimisation equation,” Ruszel explains. “Chips are shaped as hyperbolic paraboloid.” Essentially, their shape has been designed using mathematics in order to pack as many as possible in a pack without breaking.

“Mathematics is universal, beautiful, objective,” Ruszel argues. “It will remain the same one hundred years from now. There is no escape. Everyone can and is doing it.”

Indeed, no other discipline is as multifaceted as math. People tend to think of complex equations when thinking of mathematics, but by breaking them up into smaller problems, they become easier to comprehend and to solve. Ruszel believes that math is a great way to learn more about the world and to enjoy its beauty. “Go into the world, and discover mathematics.”

“Twenty years ago, I was a student of psychology,” shares Dr. Sheetal Shah. “We were learning through a case of a woman with a physical disability and we were quick to label and quick to diagnose.” Then the woman walked in and told her story. At that moment, the case went from paper to people.

Shah, a Professor of Psychology at Webster University Leiden, believes that the paradigm of teaching has shifted over the past couple of decades. “In my classroom, I have noticed students had difficulties with the transition from paper to people,” she says. When discussing the topic of modern day slavery, her students asked her whether slaves actually still exist. “The students cannot empathise with them,” she claims. Shah’s solution to this hurdle was to take her students outside the classroom to work on a project on modern-day slavery.

In July 2011, Shah launched the Bijlmer Project, a research and intervention-based initiative focusing on the psychosocial needs of victims of human trafficking within the Amsterdam Bijlmer area. The project made the her students realise how people could have led completely different lives and experiences. Through their field research, Shah’s students became more aware of slavery taking place in the present.

Although the study focuses specifically on victims of human trafficking who are forced to work in the sex industry, modern-day slavery can be found in other industries as well. It may be unintentional, but common goods may have been produced by people working as modern-day slaves. “Where do the beans come from that are used to make chocolate or the materials for batteries in smart phones?” Shah asks. “We are all contributing to slavery in some way.” Thanks to their research experience in the field and their personal contact with victims, Shah’s students have become more aware of their slavery footprint.

According to Shah, even people who have finished their studies can also start relating more to this issue, to move from paper to people. By thinking about the entire production chain of goods –including the mines and plantations where people work under difficult circumstances– awareness can increase. “If we question where it comes from, we will force people to give us an answer,” Shah concludes. She hopes that when people become more aware of modern-day slavery, they will start thinking not only about getting a good deal on a product, but also about making a fair deal. “Because people care when they know.”

“My husband and I have six kids, four are his and three of them are mine.” Expecting confusion, Cathelijne Janssen starts with a personal example of how numbers can be better understood when placed in a model. In the case of her family situation, three children are placed on the left, two on the right and her youngest daughter in the middle. A model provides the context wherein numbers can be understood.

As founder of Cateau Communications, Janssen helps companies and government organizations approach the concept of accountability through responsibility. According to Janssen, the key to being a successful company is accountability, which she describes as “taking responsibility, acting responsible and feeling responsible about the results”. Simply put, it’s “doing the right things, and doing them right!”

Nevertheless, being accountable doesn’t lead to enthusiasm. In fact, we need a accountability model that is appealing. In her APPEAL accountability model, Janssen focuses on six particular aspects: Authenticity, Professionalism, Passion, Empathy, Acceptance and Leadership. In all of them, the human factor is added because numbers alone can be misleading and therefore need to be put in proper context.

Accountability is not about how much, but about the why, how and what: “Why do costumers find us interesting? How do we contribute to our goals? and What do we do to reach them?” By asking these critical questions, quality can be measured from the perspective of consumers.  In order to be successful, Janssen says that we need to “stop counting and act appealing”.

Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus said that to understand what results a project aimed at marginalized people should deliver we need new yardsticks. New yardsticks to understand not just the economic returns on investment, but also the social returns. That is the tenet entrepreneur Namita Krul lives by.

The founder of New Yardsticks, an organization aiming at transforming the way the charitable projects are looked at, Krul believes in the amalgamation of business with charity. Non-profit organizations, she says, while motivated towards the welfare of a community, also want to see reasonable gain as a result of their effort.

Understanding the needs of the beneficiaries will help achieve those efforts in a streamlined manner. “I happened to visit an orphanage which had 200 children,” she recalls. After a close dialogue with the management team of the orphanage, Krul realized that while food, shelter and education are of primary importance, in organizations such as these it is important to look deeper and find solutions to how things work. “There is a substantial necessity to make strategic choices and focus more on the interdependency of value creation, product development and distribution channels to evolve a network and management which supports everything under its shelter.”

As a role model her team worked with the women in a shelter and trained them to make toys. This eventually led to them sewing products with industrial machines. So, a pilot project that was given its due analysis made its advent towards a massively scaled venture.

“While charity-based, the business model made the women look beyond their realm and plan their own future. This brings a smile to my face,” she says. Her aim is to plan ahead and yet ensure that no one is exploited. “Ultimately, there is no margin for risks  or errors when it concerns marginalized people. When you donate funds, you definitely want to improve the livelihood and help them do better.”

 

“For many generations we have wondered if we are alone,” says Dr Daphne Stam. Earth is home to a large variety of lifeforms, from primitive organisms to human beings. Rather than having telescopes point outwards, Stam argues that the best way to find life is by taking a selfie of Earth.

Stam is an Associate Professor of Planetary Sciences at the TU Delft Faculty of Aerospace Engineering. What she finds particularly interesting is the atmosphere of planets, both in our solar system and beyond, and observing that in order to detect life. Venus was thought to support life, but the planet is subject to extreme gas house effects, not even fruit flies could survive there. Mars was also considered a planet suitable for life, but due to low temperatures life on the surface is unlikely.

“There are billions of stars with planets of different compositions orbiting them. “But it is difficult to take good pictures of them.” When Voyager 1 was 6 billion kilometers away from Earth, it took a picture of the planet. On the photo Earth is but a small blue dot. “How would you know whether there is life on a planet with images of planets even further away?” she asks. Snapshots are not sufficient. Stam argues that observations over time measuring changes of colors, brightness and the specific directions of light waves bouncing off planets will help understand if a planet has the capability to support life.

In order to know what to look for Stam wants to apply this approach to Earth. “We’re building an instrument that can measure these small wave direction and color changes to make these types of observations of Earth.” The intention is to place it on the moon, where it can operate autonomously and can clearly see all of Earth as well as its rotation. This will help identify what to look for when observing other planets. “I look forward to the day we will be able to observe ourselves from the moon with our instrument.”

 

TEDxDelftWomen would not take place if it were not for the support of our outstanding sponsors. They share the spirit of TED’s mission of “ideas worth spreading”.

Fox-IT is one of the sponsors for TEDxDelftWomen 2015. We’d like to introduce this organization to you, and thank them for their support and contribution. We asked Ronald Prins and Sarah Brown to share some insights:

1) What is your company’s name, and what do you do?

Fox-IT’s mission is to make technical and innovative solutions that ensure a more secure society, through the development of advanced cybersecurity and cyberdefense services and solutions for our clients around the world. We have 200+ security experts with deep industry experience dedicated to maintaining the security and integrity of governments, enterprises, critical infrastructure, banking systems – in short, society as a whole. Founded in 1999, Fox-IT is headquartered in Delft, The Netherlands and works with trusted partners in more than 20 countries.

2) What is your company’s mission/vision?

Making technical and innovative contributions for a more secure society.

3) Why did you choose to sponsor TEDxDelftWomen?

Fox-IT is all about innovation, great ideas, and bringing people and these solutions together. We are excited to sponsor an event which shares these values. Going forward, companies are working hard to attract great talent and ideas, many of which stem from females. We want to listen to this source of innovation and encourage it. By sponsoring TEDxDelftWomen we are championing an effort to bring out great ideas and members of our community.

4) What do you see in common between your company and TEDxDelftWomen?

Fox-IT is a company full of talented staff with big ideas. We run regular tech talks in our company to share ideas and collaborate across our company. TEDxDelftWomen will be a similar opportunity to bring big diverse ideas and talent from the community together for a improved society.

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Interested in being a sponsor of TEDxDelftWomen 2015?

We engage the local community by inviting people and companies to contribute whatever skills, goods or funds they are able to share. It is our belief that the TEDx concept is such an inspiration to so many people because its partners contribute whichever they are good at.  If you feel you or your company can relate to TEDxDelftWomen don’t hesitate to contact us.

Oisin Zandee wants to reach out to those who need to hear her message. It’s a message of hope, about being capable of surviving with dignity and respect. As a young woman, Zandee has found empowerment through her music, which helped her process negative experiences.

In 2014, Zandee made huge an impact on television when she sang about her uncle’s attempted suicide. At the tender age of 17, Zandee performed live to a national audience on the Dutch television show De best singer/songwriter van Nederland. Described as a unique blend of folk, soul and indie, Zandee songs are a reflection of her life experiences.

Since a lot of girls of her age are struggling with negative self-esteem, Zandee wants them to know that they are good enough and that they should always stand up for themselves. The singer believes that showing vulnerability is not a weakness, but a strength. “I think accepting who you are is the key to self-empowerment and no one should try to be someone they’re not. Life is too short for that!” she says.

At the upcoming TEDxDelftWomen event, Zandee will share her message of hope and survival to a worldwide audience. As a result the singer feels honored to be invited to perform, especially since it’s a women’s event, and she’s all about empowering women.

TEDxDelftWomen would not take place if it were not for the support of our outstanding sponsors. They share the spirit of TED’s mission of “ideas worth spreading”.

Mars Netherlands is one of the sponsors for TEDxDelftWomen 2015. We’d like to introduce this organization to you, and thank them for their support and contribution. We asked Marissa Roodenburg from Mars Netherlands to share some insights:

1) What is your company’s name, and what do you do?

Zairah Khan sees great value in investing in women. As both a development sociologist and social psychologist, Khan identifies, nurtures and holds a strong conviction in their abilities. “My goal is to support women that have the potential to [collectively] achieve scale and connect them to global supply chains,” Khan says.

As founder and CEO of VIVEinvest, Khan initiates funds specifically geared towards investing in women entrepreneurs in developing markets. In October 2014, she launched Bridge the Gap, a global event meant to inspire others to make the same investment. “This event brings together field leaders and diverse types of investors from the public and private sector,” Khan elaborates. Moreover it aims to raise awareness of the global funding gap for female entrepreneurs, which is estimated between $290 to 360 billion.

At the upcoming TEDxDelftWomen event, Khan expounds on her idea of investing in women by meticulously examining social issues and how to address them. “I always saw room for improvement, that things could be worked upon,” she explains. One of her goals is to establish a centre for work creation, fostering gender equality through equal opportunities.

That being said, Khan is eagerly awaiting her time with the TEDxDelftWomen audience. “This is a new experience for me,” Khan admits. Drawing parallel with this year’s theme of authenticity, Khan believes in creating a comfortable place for work and to actively facilitate the personal growth of others.

 

TEDxDelftWomen would not take place if it were not for the support of our outstanding sponsors. They share the spirit of TED’s mission of “ideas worth spreading”.

The Rietveld Theater is one of the sponsors for TEDxDelftWomen 2015. We’d like to introduce this organization to you, and thank them for their support and contribution. We asked Maarten Freriks from Rietveld Theater to share some insights

1) What is the name of your company and what do you do?
The Rietveld Theater is a do-it-yourself theater in the center of Delft. Completely run by volunteers, we provide a stage to upcoming artists, amateur performers and also renowned performers, that prefer the small stage. The Rietveld Theater is being run by Stichting Theaternetwerk Delft that is also responsible for the Theaterfestival Delft Fringe, a yearly event, where around 150 performing groups are staged on about a 100 locations in the city center of Delft. Music, theater, comedy, street theater, and other disciplines are all part of the performances.

2) What is the company’s mission/vision?
The aim of Stichting Theaternetwerk Delft is to provide a stage to amateur and upcoming artists, so that they can develop themselves and increase the size of their audience.

3) Why did you choose to sponsor TEDxDelftWomen?
We relate very much to the purpose of giving a platform to women to spread good ideas and hence, we chose to sponsor it.

4) What do you see in common between your company and TEDxDelftWomen?
Both TEDxDelftWomen and Rietveld Theater are into giving a stage to good ideas and performances. So we welcome the participants and organisation of TEDxDelftWomen wholeheartedly.

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Interested in being a sponsor of TEDxDelftWomen 2015?

We engage the local community by inviting people and companies to contribute whatever skills, goods or funds they are able to share. It is our belief that the TEDx concept is such an inspiration to so many people because its partners contribute whichever they are good at.  If you feel you or your company can relate to TEDxDelftWomen don’t hesitate to contact us.

TEDxDelftWomen is all about ideas worth spreading. As with any TED gathering, this year’s inaugural women’s event features more than just an impressive line-up of speakers and performers. In order to further explore the theme of authenticity, a number of workshops will be conducted during the event.

 

Speak up!
Voice projection workshop by Nancy Mayer
Break 1

If you have an idea worth spreading, you need a strong voice to share it. TEDx speakers get to use a microphone, but you will not always have a microphone when you want to share an idea. If you can project your voice, you can be heard anywhere you go. During this workshop, Mayer is going to teach you a few fun and useful exercises to help you control your breathing, learn to speak louder, and, most importantly, say what you think with conviction.

Words that create your identity – NOW FULL
Communication workshop by Anne Parker
Break 2

The words we use can empower or disempower how we and others see us. When we move into new situations e.g. a new job or relocate abroad, we can feel like we lose our identity and become ‘the new person’ or ‘the partner of xxx’. In this workshop you will learn how you can move into unknown situations or introduce yourself to new people and use keywords to create your identity and bring your authenticity to any situation.

Image awareness
Workshop by Karin van Passen
Break 3

When you speak, you communicate not only with words but also with your appearance. Therefore it is important that your message is being well received without distractions. This image awareness workshop  discusses how the first impression is formed, how to communicate with various garments and the psychological significance of color. With various exercises you become aware of what you perceive unconsciously.

Women in Parliament: Power and Politics
Workshop by Public Affairs Academie
Break 3

How do women improve politics and policy? What are the specific challenges women face? The purpose of the workshop is to provide insight into the effect of female participation in politics and to explore the effect that women have on politics itself. Together with Myrthe Hilkens, former MP for the PvdA in the Dutch parliament, we will talk about the necessity of women in politics. Politics need women to bring the proper balance and perspective to the table.

 

Workshop Registration:

If you are interested in participating in any of the workshops, sign up here and specify which workshop you plan to attend. Please be sure to include your name, or we will not be able to ensure your attendance.

“Experience has showed that the human factor is important if you really want to create an impact,” says Cathelijne Janssen. She finds that people are more focused towards facts and figures, rather than understanding the significance of accountability.

As founder of Cateau Communications, Janssen helps companies and government organizations to approach the concept of accountability through responsibility. “We all know there are organizations -as well as people- who promise you one thing, but act very differently,” she explains, “And yet, they deliver reports showing a great performance.” According to Janssen, organizations that are not transparent and honest in what they do cannot be called accountable.

At the upcoming TedxDelftWomen event, Janssen will address the concept of accountability models and how they contribute to professional and personal improvement. Her talk will explore why she is keen on incorporating the human factor without relying only on data and figures. When asked about speaking at the TEDxDelftWomen event, she shared that she herself was inspired by many TED talks and feels honored to be a part of the TEDx family. “It is a great opportunity to spread our ideas and I hope my talk will inspire others.”

Janssen has quite an interesting opinion about this year’s theme of authenticity. She defines it as one of the human factors that create added value to one’s goal and gives meaning to accountability. Janssen believes that trustworthiness and reliability are essential for a company to be socially accountable. “Accountability is doing the right things and doing them right.”

 

TEDxDelftWomen would not take place if it were not for the support of our outstanding sponsors. They share the spirit of TED’s mission of “ideas worth spreading”.

Image & Styling is one of the sponsors for the first TEDxDelftWomen 2015. We’d like to introduce this organization to you, and thank them for their support and contribution. We asked Karin van Paassen from Image & Styling to share some insights:

1. What is the name of your company, and what do you do?

Image & Styling trains self-conscious men and women in their outward appearances and image awareness. Karin van Paassen directs her result-oriented training programs to government, businesses and multi-national corporations in the Netherlands and abroad.

2. What is the company’s mission/vision? 

Image & Styling wants professionals to learn about the impact of presentation. Whether you are a freelancer or working for a multi-national, you’re always meeting others. Being aware of who you are and how you appear can be used for creating the image that will help reach your goals.

3. Why did you choose to sponsor TEDxDelftWomen? 

Image & Styling is no sponsor in the traditional sense. At the event Karin van Paassen will be giving a workshop that will make you realize how your appearance combined with the right clothing can work for you. To stress the importance of how you look, Karin quotes Carla Mathis, a pioneer in personal styling: “The eye can be fooled, but it never wants to be confused.”

4. What do you see in common between your company and TEDxDelftWomen? 

When you have an idea worth spreading it is important that the message is clear. Image & Styling shows how clothing can support the communication by minimizing distractions.

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Interested in being a sponsor of TEDxDelftWomen 2015?

We engage the local community by inviting people and companies to contribute whatever skills, goods or funds they are able to share. It is our belief that the TEDx concept is such an inspiration to so many people because its partners contribute whichever they are good at.  If you feel you or your company can relate to TEDxDelftWomen don’t hesitate to contact us.

“It is time to step up to the plate and let our voices be heard,” says Simone Filippini. “Women make up for 52{95388bbb2e9df0f2b3d26445fc24fe82185b1b567dbb094bc3a45074083d0a2b} of the world population and they shouldn’t let others dictate their lives.” Indeed, Filippini finds it important that women claim their position in the public space, which is where their empowerment lies.

As the president of Dutch development aid organization Cordaid and having served as a diplomat for 25 years, Filippini is confronted with the many hardships people face all over the world. “The world is on fire!” she exclaims. There is determination in her voice when she says that she’s fed up with it. Despite the world’s insurmountable problems, Filippini believes that we all have a responsibility to change it for the better. And we can, everyone of us.

At the upcoming TEDxDelftWomen event, Filippini will enlighten us on how to take that responsibility as individuals. To be one of the speakers at this inaugural women’s event is an honour for her and she is excited to take part in it. As a fan of TED and its many talks, Filippini hopes she can live up to the audience’s expectations.

When asked about this year’s theme, Filippini defines authenticity as being true to yourself by stepping up and acting on your beliefs with sincerity and integrity, to face whatever hardship there is in front of you with your chin up, instead of backing down just because that is more comfortable. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” she says. “Fight the battle by taking action. That is my personal drive.”

 

TEDxDelftWomen would not take place if it were not for the support of our outstanding sponsors. They share the spirit of TED’s mission of “Ideas worth spreading.”

IKEA Delft is one of the sponsors of TEDxDelftWomen 2015. We’d like to introduce this organization to you, and thank them for their support and contribution. We asked Leonie Donker and Jolanda van den Ende from IKEA Delft to share some insights:

1) What is your company’s name, and what do you do?

IKEA Delft is a home furnishing company which sells everything to make your house a home under one roof.

2) What is the company’s mission/vision?

The overall social ambition of IKEA’s vision is to create a better everyday life for people. We strive to achieve this by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishings at prices so low that it allows as many people as possible to be able to afford them.

3) Why did you choose to sponsor TEDxDelftWomen?

Women can be the most important catalyst for change in their children’s lives. They often spend much of their own income on nutrition and shelter for their children, so that they may enjoy better health and are more likely to stay in school. By empowering women, through education, skills training, improved healthcare, or providing a loan to set up small businesses, we can improve children’s health, education, and future opportunities. By supporting TEDxDelftWomen, IKEA Delft wants to contribute on a local level to the empowerment of women and girls.

IKEA has set up a foundation to help achieve this goal.

4) What do you see in common between your company and TEDxDelftWomen?

TEDxDelftWomen is about the power of women and girls to be creators and change-makers. IKEA believes that by empowering women and girls we can improve the lives of children now and for the future.

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Interested in being a sponsor of TEDxDelftWomen 2015?

We engage the local community by inviting people and companies to contribute whatever skills, goods or funds they are able to share. It is our belief that the TEDx concept is such an inspiration to so many people because its partners contribute whichever they are good at. If you feel you or your company can relate to TEDxDelftWomen do not hesitate to contact us.

TEDxDelftWomen would not take place if it were not for the support of our outstanding sponsors. They share the spirit of TED’s mission of “ideas worth spreading”.

Talbott International Presentations is one of the sponsors for TEDxDelftWomen 2015. We’d like to introduce this organization to you, and thank them for their support and contribution. We asked Jonathan Talbott from Talbott International Presentations to share some insights:

1) What is the name of your company and what do you do? 

Talbott International Presentations (TIP) helps people with the content, form and delivery of their most important presentations. Presentations are one of the most stressful things in business, often occurring at important transitional moments. I bring the stress under control, saving time, energy and money -as well as reputations.

2) What is the company’s mission/vision?

My goal with TIP is to make the world more interesting, one presentation at a time.

3) Why did you choose to sponsor TEDxDelftWomen?

I have close connections with TEDxDelft, having sponsored the coaching for -among other events- all the salons this year. TED talks present a wonderful challenge to the speakers and the coaches, and I was ripe to take on that challenge. I will have coached 9 of the speakers, as well as the host.

4) What do you see in common between your company and TEDxDelftWomen?

I am interested in making sure that if someone has an idea worth spreading, that it gets spread. Besides being interesting people themselves, the speakers at TEDxDelftWomen all have extraordinary ideas worth spreading. I am honored to be able to help them out.

 

Interested in being a sponsor of TEDxDelftWomen 2015?

We engage the local community by inviting people and companies to contribute whatever skills, goods or funds they are able to share. It is our belief that the TEDx concept is such an inspiration to so many people because its partners contribute whichever they are good at.  If you feel you or your company can relate to TEDxDelftWomen don’t hesitate to contact us.

Authenticity is a dangerous word believes Dorothy Grandia. One of the speakers at TEDxDelftWomen 2015, Grandia takes on the event’s theme with skepticism. A faculty member at the Erasmus Centre for Women and Organisations (ECWO), of the Rotterdam School of Management/Erasmus University, she helps women at mid-management levels in businesses and public organisations achieve more leadership influence and rank by improving their leadership communication style. “There is a lot of research that shows that women deal with the risk and doubts that arise in leadership roles differently than men,” she said.

This is the question her talk explores; how feeling the need to be ‘authentic’ can be a disadvantage for women when it comes to leadership. “I am all for authenticity, but part of the way it’s perceived by women in the business world is making the concept ‘authenticity’ an obstacle to developing women’s full leadership potential. For too many of the women I work with, ‘authenticity’ implies that a woman should not adapt her communication style to what’s called for in different leadership situations. When leadership calls for decisiveness in the face of doubt or ambiguity, women are less likely to project confidence in their tone of voice and body posture – in spite of the risk associated with doubt or ambiguity – than men. That signal of lack of confidence is in turn making women seem less effective as leaders.”

Grandia’s exploration of how leaders behave started early in her career. She started her career working in politics, a communication platform where power and the projection of confidence go hand in hand. She observed the communication methods used by powerful leaders and the key seemed to be that the best of the lot could choose which face to put in front of which audience. “They could stay authentic to themselves and yet show different sides of themselves in different contexts.”

From politics, Grandia moved on to operatic singing – an even more complex communication platform, as actors strive to find something authentic – something of themselves – in the characters they enact. “It was really about being authentic even while being fake.” As she started winding down her involvement with opera, Grandia moved into communication coaching.

Platforms such as TEDx are “critical” she believes. “The monster that is gender inequality is a multi-headed Hydra. Creating awareness of what’s feeding that monster is foundational to creating change. TED is a platform for awareness with a global reach. The people who give, attend, listen to, and share these talks are mavens: the experts and changemakers who in turn will create the change.”

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A previous TED talk that sets the stage for Grandia’s own is Amy Cuddy’s Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are. Cuddy explores how faking confidence can lead to a feeling of genuine confidence and control over a situation. And women who believe too broadly in the principle of authenticity, she says, are less likely to fake it.

“When you start a business, people will ask about a business plan and how you want to achieve your goals.” Non-profit organisations face additional challenges, as their projects impact marginalised people living in difficult conditions. To minimize this, Namita Krul believes it is time charitable organisations start approaching their projects like a business would.

“Take for example the $ 100 laptop project to educate marginalized children, which was a great idea,” explains Krul, founder of New Yardsticks, an organisation which aims to change the way the impact of charitable projects are gauged. “Donating a laptop is great but you also need technical support and knowledge sharing when it comes to maintenance or if a laptop breaks down.” According to Krul, projects often lack effectiveness because, for these solutions, not enough thought is given to the needs and circumstances of marginalized people who are meant to be the beneficiaries.

Krul argues that a charity-based idea with a business-oriented approach would help set realistic targets that can be achieved by spending more time and effort beforehand, evaluating the project’s feasibility. “Approach a project the same way a business would, not with the interest to make money, but to define actually achievable social goals. Business plans that are mission-driven instead of monetary driven.”

Indeed, there is a tendency for organizations to plunge into projects without much consideration for the people actually involved. By using these methods, social enterprise projects become more tailor-made for the target groups they hope to assist. This, according to Krul, ties in is well with the theme of “Authenticity”, which is all about sincerity and intentions. After all, the main point of mission-driven projects is to properly understand the needs of marginalized people.

At the upcoming TEDxDelftWomen event, Krul views the gathering as opportunity to change this particular mindset. “We all want to do good, to eliminate poverty and for people to have basic needs covered. But we do not want there to be wastage,  and we most certainly don’t want to do more harm than good.” By taking the best of both worlds –the generosity of social empowerment and the approach of businesses– Krul is convinced these projects will serve to improve many lives.