Audience

More than 150 people gathered at the Rietveld Theatre in Delft for the very first TEDxDelftWomen event.

The ideas shared during this year’s event were not only worth spreading but also worth acting upon. Indeed, we’ve all been inspired to invest in women entrepeneurs, to observe ourselves (even from the moon), to evaluate charity projects with a business approach, to help others who are in the same place as us. We have also learned to do the right thing and do them right, to measure success by its impact on everyday life, to minimize our slavery footprint, to be confident, to discover mathematics, liberate femininity in men and keep a watchful eye on world leaders.

As the event comes to a close, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the speakers and performers, whose excellence in their respective fields captured our imagination and sparked interesting conversations. As one of the guest, filled with motivation, exclaimed “It’s the time for women now!”

Moreover this event could not be made possible without the dedicated efforts of the TEDxDelftWomen team and it’s volunteers.

Finally a big THANK YOU to all members of the audience for making this historic event a success!

See you next year at TEDxDelftWomen 2016!

Simone Filipinni live

“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.”

Jens van Tricht live

“I’m a man. I’m a feminist,” says Jens van Tricht. As an idealist, gender equality advocate and pioneer in the field of Men and Masculinity, Van Tricht believes that feminism is good for men.

Twenty-five years ago, Van Tricht was an activist, fighting on the barricades against every kind of injustice you can think of. It was during those days when he lived as a squatter that he got inspired by feminism and criticized the patriarchal system as being the status quo. The many conversations he had with his housemates (four women and one other man) made him realize that more often that not, it’s men who cause problems. And also it’s men who profit most from problems. In the end, feminism inspired him to find ways to help society change.

According to Van Tricht, women had no intention of heading back to their traditional roles after taking over men’s jobs during the Second World War. Women claimed equal rights, claimed and gained a right to education and political decision-making.

However, dominated by the patriarchal system, feminism has also lead to hypermasculinity. “We lost something along the way, a part of femininity that was appealing,” Van Tricht claims. Reminiscing about his activist-days, Van Tricht tells us that he and his friends were not allowed to be emotional with each other. As men, they were not allowed to access their femininity.

As a result, Van Tricht argues that society needs a revalidation of feminine qualities. People need to get connected, be communicative in relation with each other and be caring. “Feminism is good for men, because it liberates the femininity in men.”

Wioletta Ruszel live

“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.”

Dorothy Grandia live

“Have I ever felt authentic?” Dorothy Grandia asks. While on stage, Grandia openly admits to feeling somewhat like a fraud compared to her colleagues, whether they are other speakers, Texas legislators or opera singers. It always takes a while for her to get used to her new role before she can feel authentic.

Working at Erasmus University’s Centre of Excellence, Grandia helps women in mid-management positions become strong leaders by improving the way they communicate. However, she often notices that women no longer feel authentic when they follow her advice on changing their body posture and increasing their voice projection. It is as if they have an “authenticity devil” on their shoulder, making them feel inadequate. This voice is telling them that they are not good enough, which leads to women underestimating themselves or worse, making them appear arrogant.

“Authenticity is great. It’s the degree to which you are true to your values and character despite external pressure,” Grandia says. Yet, it’s no longer positive when authenticity holds you back from projecting more confidence.

According to Grandia, in order to become confident, you have to act confident. If you want a promotion, you have to convince others of your potential by being confident about your potential. “Will you feel authentic? she asks. “Probably not. Who cares? You need to get over it!” Indeed, Grandia wants women to walk with a confident stride and say something unimportant in a confident way, starting today.

Unfortunately, there are many potential women who lack confidence. Grandia believes that we are in a dangerous situation because the world needs more competent leaders and that there are a many competent women who are ready to lead. “We need competent leaders, but [we also need to] follow confident leaders,” she explains.

So the next time you don’t feel confident, Grandia wants you to listen to the “confidence angel” on your other shoulder, shouting, “We need you. You’re competent. You’re ready. You need to lead. So make them want to follow you!”

Sheetal Shah live 2

“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.”

TEDX6431Dalia El Gabry believes that personal success has a profound impact on one’s surroundings. Success, she believes, needs to be shared.

Central Planning and Performance Manager for Shell, her story begins in Egypt. In a conservative environment she was keen to leave behind. “Back in 2001 I saw no opportunity for progress in Egypt,” she said, as she spoke about her myriad life experiences. First she stepped out of her comfort zone and worked with big corporations inside Egypt. Soon she found herself at the start of a career in Norway some time later in countries such as Africa, Qatar and now the Netherlands. This journey, she believes, redefined not only her life, but also those around her. “I always realized that if I do not develop and do not grow, I will only have a negative impact towards people around me.”

Though it wasn’t an easy ride, she says it taught her a lot about differences in culture, technical aspects in her career and dealing with the society, “The legacy is the quality of impact you create in everyone in their everyday lives. Experiencing all the nuances that the journey of life could give us.” From giving birth to making her daughters successful and creating a family to share in success – experiences shaped by us and in turn shape us as well. After all, she says, when you get the best out of everyone, you share in their success too.

 

Cathelijne Janssen Live

“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”.

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“There is one story I would like to share with you, the story of my rope of hope,” Noa Brume says. “If we help, what we get back is help.”

A former educator at Oxford University and currently working as a counsellor and life coach, her story starts with the loss of her first born baby. “One morning I felt like I was suffocating, smothered by my grief.” She decided to post about her feelings on an internet forum, and was overwhelmed with the response of kindness and support she received. “Women pulled my rope and gave me hope. I would be listening to others, telling stories created hope and gave hope.” Brume found that helping others was a huge part of the healing process.

“We can look at the healing process as if it were a building,” Brume explains. The ground floor is the starting point of the healing process, where we have hit rock bottom.” The top floor is the solid recovery point, when one’s been through the process and has come through. Though it is possible for people to move back and forth between floors, having good and bad days, it is possible in the end to reach the top floor. “When you help, it is not necessary to be on the same floor. You can help and inspire others from whichever floor you find yourself on.”

People receive help in return for them offering it because, Brume explains, Newton’s law of action and reaction works for people as it does for objects. “When one object puts force on a second object, it simultaneously has a reaction of equal force upon the first item,” Brume explains. The same goes with people. By offering ropes to others on lower floors, people are being offered help to recover and in turn can give help back to those who had offered it. “We can all help. We should look for our building, for others who are currently in it, and to throw a rope of hope.”

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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.”

 

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“Poor people are getting poorer and average people remain where they are,” says TEDxDelftWomen speaker Zairah Khan. An entrepreneur herself, Khan asserts the importance of investing in women as the key to a more equal world.

Twenty years ago, the UN declared that women constitute 70{95388bbb2e9df0f2b3d26445fc24fe82185b1b567dbb094bc3a45074083d0a2b} of a much larger group of poor people, giving us a hint that quite a few women are at the wrong end of the economic table. “A highly disproportionate distribution of wealth has led to a situation that demands attention towards women,” she said.

As the founder and CEO of VIVEinvest her initiatives are geared towards ensuring that women get an equal platform as entrepreneurs in the market. One such initiative is Bridge the Gap, a global venture aimed at catapulting field leaders and investors from all sectors to collectively foster growth in women entrepreneurs, thereby supporting women that have the capability to collectively attain greater heights. “I believe we need to move beyond the issue of just wealth distribution and actually have a center for wealth creation,” she says.

Talking about how social issues also come into play, Khan pointed out that there’s often very little financing available towards the empowerment of women. Women, in turn, do not exploit their capabilities and potential on social, economic and personal fronts. This reinforced her decision to start an initiative with an emphasis on investing in women. Her idea is to facilitate smooth access of opportunities to women across financial and social strata – from poorer sections of society to those from medium range social cadres. Khan realized the need for empathy in this context and gave the platform a community aspect.  “If we manage to reduce the share of women in poverty, capitalize woman centred entrepreneurship on both the investor side and the entrepreneurship end, we can eradicate poverty,” she said.

 

 

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“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.”

 

20150528_131706It’s the final countdown to the first TEDxDelftWomen event.

In less than 24 hours, a diverse group of individuals with their own unique perspectives will take to the stage to share their ideas.

There is definitely a feel-good vibe in the air at the Rietveld Theater. The speakers are chatting with each other like they’re old friends, meeting after years of being apart. But every now and then, there’s a quick glance at a piece of paper or digital medium as these are last moments of preparation.

“If you use anecdotes, you have to say them correctly,” says Noa Brume. Following the quality of their content is the significance of presence and presentation. As the speakers consult with their coaches and stylists, technicians are checking the lights and sounds, and volunteers are buzzing, busy as bees. Everyone is preparing themselves for a great event.

This year’s line-up of speakers is impressive. All have big ideas worth spreading and their personal take on authenticity. Indeed, there is inspiration on stage, and in the performances and presentations. Whether it’s reducing poverty, fighting for gender equality or demanding accountability, everyone has the ability to contribute to a better world.

“Tomorrow’s going to be fabulous!” says TEDxDelftWomen licensee Molly Quell.

While we’re proud to announce that TEDxDelftWomen 2015 is completely sold-out, those who are unable to attend can stay tuned for videos of the event, which will  be posted on our website in the coming weeks.

Make sure to checkout our program for our full line-up of speakers and practical information for the day itself.

See you tomorrow for the first ever TEDxDelftWomen!

FOX IT Logo

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.

PA Academy logo
 

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 Public Affairs Academy 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  Marielle van Oort, founder of the Public Affairs Academy to share some insights:

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

The Public Affairs Academy is a knowledge platform. We educate professionals in the fields of public affairs, lobby and advocacy. By organizing seminars, workshop, trainings and coaching on all levels, we make the subjects approachable and comprehensible for everyone interested in public affairs, lobbying and advocacy. We help our audience build and then hone their skills and always make sure that everyone can have a seat at the discussion table.

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

It is the mission of the Public Affairs Academy to be the platform for knowledge in the fields of public affairs, lobbying and advocacy. Through our many seminars, workshops, trainings and coaching, we provide knowledge and discussions on current and relevant topics. As experts in the field, we share our knowledge and help others in sharing theirs. The growing network of professionals surrounding the Academy forms a web of knowledge and expertise that we use to help others learn and benefit from.

3) Why did you choose to sponsor TEDxDelftWomen?

The Public Affairs Academy took the opportunity to sponsor TEDxDelftWomen because we believe in building platforms for women to express their expertise and learn from each other. By creating a platform where people can exchange their experiences and help each other learn, we can facilitate their learning and further growth. TEDxDelftWomen brings women together from many different walks of life and allows them to become more than they were.

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

There are many shared values between TEDxDelftWomen and the Public Affairs Academy. We believe both are platforms for the sharing of knowledge and experience and the coming together of professionals committed to furthering their own and other’s issues. This sharing of knowledge and experience happens on many levels and there is openness for people from all walks of life.

Just as TEDxDelftWomen tries to give experts a stage to share with an audience their understanding, the Public Affairs Academy collaborates with experts in the field to bring the most up-to-date and cutting-edge information to our own audience both in the room and over our social media channels.

But we also make sure that our audience has the opportunity to interact and discuss with the experts in order to personalize their learning experience. In that shared belief we feel that TEDx Delft Women and the Public Affairs Academy can both enrich the learning experience of their audiences.

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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 ZandeeOisin 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.

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She who dances with the harp. Maria Palatine’s introductory line on her website sums up a lot about the Belgium-based artist. A harpist, a singer, a dancer, Palatine celebrates nature and life with her music. For her performance at TEDxDelftWomen, Palatine has chosen three songs that symbolise her source of authenticity: nature. “The last song, a Spanish song, is about the wind. It is a symbol of the power inside you,” she said.

Growing up Palatine had, what she calls, an “uncommon upbringing”. She spent the first six years of her life in a little house in the forest. “Aside from my parents, I felt more connected to nature than to human. Even today, nature is an existential experience for me.”

Music is also Palatine’s way of taking a political stand. In 2013 she released a clip called Our hearts are with you about the political prisoners in Burma/Myanmar. “Aung San Suu Kyi has been a big role model in my life and I’ve been following events there very closely,” she said. At the moment she is collaborating with an African dancer on a project that takes a stand on the issue of ‘water’. “It also explores water as symbolic for the different states of human existence. Ice as the coldness, flowing water as tenderness and communication…”

Authenticity for her lies in living as true to oneself as possible. “It’s not easy to be yourself because there is such pressure and competition. But it’s important to be simple and connected and in turn encourage others communicating with you to be the same.”

Palatine has been watching a number of TEDx talks since she was invited to the platform. “It’s really inspiring and I am particularly excited about the theme for this event. Authenticity. I am looking forward to all the talks.”

Mars Nederland

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?

Mars Netherlands has two production sites in this country. In Veghel we have the biggest chocolate factory in the world, where we produce Mars® bars, as well as a variety of other well-known chocolate bars. In Oud-Beijerland we have a hyper modern food processing factory where we produce an assortment of Mediterranean and Asian cuisine inspired sauces.

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

Mars’ five principles of quality, responsibility, mutuality, efficiency and freedom are the foundation of the company’s culture and its approach to business. They unite us across geographies, languages, cultures and generations. These principles are synonymous with Mars and have guided its associates throughout the company’s history. Every day we do our best to put them into action through our work and relationships with our consumers, customers, business partners, communities and each another.

3) Why did you choose to sponsor TEDxDelftWomen?

We have ambitious plans to grow our business and we need the best talents succeed.  One of our targets at Mars is to increase the percentage of Mars managers who are woman to 40 {95388bbb2e9df0f2b3d26445fc24fe82185b1b567dbb094bc3a45074083d0a2b} and that of women in executive positions to 28 {95388bbb2e9df0f2b3d26445fc24fe82185b1b567dbb094bc3a45074083d0a2b}. We must maintain a workplace that is energetic, fun and fulfilling for all associates. Learning and development is essential to help the associates have pride in representing our brands and understanding what is critically important to Mars – running a principle based business.

Those two things are coming together in the TEDxDelftWomen event and therefore a great opportunity to contribute towards.

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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.

Isabelle-Beernaert“The theatre is the most magical place on earth. It enables the choreographer to combine choreography, light and stage design to create a story through dance.”

This Friday choreographer Isabelle Beernaert, a successful figure on the Benelux dance scene, will be gracing the TEDxDelftWomen stage – or rather several of her dancers will – as part of this year’s entertainment program.

Isabelle studied at the Royal Ballet School of Antwerp, and while this gave her a strong foundation in classical dance, many of her performances could be described as modern. Talking about her creative style, however she chooses not to allocate her choreography a label, emphasizing her focus on stories and lived experiences.

She has worked as a choreographer on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ NL/BE, and Ukraine as well as producing a number of successful productions, such as ‘Ne Me Quitte Pas’ and ‘Red, Yellow and Blue’.  She is currently working on her 5th full length production ‘Under My Skin’ which will tour from November and most importantly, she will be presenting a performance at TEDxDelftWomen 2015. Two of her dancers will be performing a duet taken out of a formal production, inspired by the event’s theme; authenticity.

When asked about this year’s theme Isabelle said “Authenticity is the most important thing in my work, it is what I am always expecting from my dancers and my pieces. ‘Authenticity’ is being and accepting what you are; thinking, feeling and sharing it with other people.”

With her distinctive style and approach to choreography, we are really looking forward to experiencing authenticity from Isabelle Beernaert’s perspective at TEDxDelftWomen 2015.

Zairah Khan

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.

Anka Mulder | Photo by Sam Rentmeester

Since April of 2013 Anka Mulder has been the Vice-president for Education and Operations at TU Delft. She has worked all over Europe and is now an important figure at the university, both as a woman in a top administrative position and an agent pushing for the internationalisation and accessibility of education. She has served as the president of the OpenCourseWare Consortium, been the Director of Education and Student Affairs at TU Delft and in 2012 was named one of business’ most creative individuals by Fast Company magazine.

Mulder took some time to answer a few questions about the importance of inspiration, progress and the TEDxDelftWomen 2015 event to both TU Delft, and the wider community.

 

1) People would argue that gender equality exists, would you agree with this?

The position of women has improved, but we have not reached gender equality yet. In academia, for example, that is quite clear. Women are underrepresented in higher positions. That is especially the case in science and engineering. At TU Delft, 26{95388bbb2e9df0f2b3d26445fc24fe82185b1b567dbb094bc3a45074083d0a2b} of our students are women, 28{95388bbb2e9df0f2b3d26445fc24fe82185b1b567dbb094bc3a45074083d0a2b} of our PhD candidates, and only 10{95388bbb2e9df0f2b3d26445fc24fe82185b1b567dbb094bc3a45074083d0a2b} of our associate professors. 9{95388bbb2e9df0f2b3d26445fc24fe82185b1b567dbb094bc3a45074083d0a2b} of our full professors are women. That was 4{95388bbb2e9df0f2b3d26445fc24fe82185b1b567dbb094bc3a45074083d0a2b} 10 years ago. So we are making progress, but slowly.

2) Why do we still need to have women focused events, like TEDxDelftWomen?

I am hoping that gender equality is just a matter of time. In the meantime, extra action is needed to reach that goal earlier. TEDxDelftWomen is a good example. Another example is TU Delft’s “Fellowship” recruitment program for women academics, through which we have attracted talents from around the globe.

3) What do TEDxDelft and TU Delft have in common?

I think we have a shared belief that a world class university is open to all talent, male and female.

4) What are you hoping will come out of TEDxDelftWomen?

I am hoping that we will hear some fantastic new ideas at TedXDelftWomen. But in the end, it is all about inspiration.

rietveld logo groen
 

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.

***

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.

Fin'Amors

If anything can break the space time barrier (besides The Flash) it’s music. Gear up to travel through time at TEDxDelftWomen 2015 with musical ensemble Fin’Amors.

Travel to medieval Europe and the courts of the Renaissance with the Netherlands-based group performing with harp, fiddle and percussion instruments.

Fin’Amor or ‘courtly love’ was a medieval tradition that celebrated nobility, chivalry and inspired some of the best poetry and songs of that era. The ensemble comprises musicians from around the world and they recreate music from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. “Music from this period is actually well archived.  The interesting thing is how a song is interpreted. Unlike today, in the medieval time song notations were just one line and the musicians chose their own harmony and rhythm,” said Ruth Fraser.

Their playlist for the event includes a traditional Scottish folk song called The Rowan Tree, Irish and Cornish songs and, among few others, a French-song called Chanson de Malmariee. They came across Chanson de Malmariee in an anthology of songs by and about women in the Medieval ages. The song is a tongue-and-cheek comeback at a wife-beater. “It’s in medieval French, from around the 1200, a time when women didn’t really have a lot of power. The woman singing says her husband beat her because she took a lover. In turn she says she will take revenge by cuckolding him and continuing to sleep with her lover.”

Having been around for a year and half, the group has been hard at work with their music and performances. “We are very excited about getting a chance to perform on the TEDx platform. Especially because it’s a ‘Women’ event and it’s local.” Three members of the ensemble will be performing at the event, Fraser (voice and harp), Julien Mousseigt (voice and percussion) and May Robertson (voice and fiddle).

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.

TEDxDelftWomen-02
 

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.

logolover

In celebration of the first TEDxDelftWomen event, Dutch online magazine LOVER is hosting a special pre-event luncheon at the Rietveld Theater beginning at 11:30. Founded in 1974, the magazine specializes in feminist journalism, publishing long-reads, facts, events and short articles regarding current issues on feminism and gender.  The luncheon is an opportunity for people to think and talk about feminism and to discuss questions on authenticity and inclusion from different perspectives other than their own.

How To Be A Feminist

Are you a feminist? Yes? No? Maybe? Why? Don’t know?

It doesn’t matter!

How To Be A Feminist is an exciting speed workshop where you will learn How To Be A Feminist in just 40 minutes! Curious?

Join us!

Of course it is not that simple. Does The Feminist even exist? Is there a static definition to apply on whether or not somebody is feminist? And what does inclusion has to do with it?

During this workshop we will talk about questions of authenticity and inclusion in an interactive manner.

Registration

Space is limited and seats are given on a first-come, first-serve basis. 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.

Only 15 slots are available. Registration ends May 28.

Version 2

“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.”

Avenue Logo
 

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”.

Avenue Lifestyle 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 Holly Marder from Avenue Lifestyle to share some insights:

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

My company is called Avenue Lifestyle, and I am an interior design journalist and stylist.

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

As an interior stylist, I assist my clients in creating comfortable, liveable spaces that are a reflection of their own personal style.

3. Why did you choose to sponsor the TEDxDelftWomen Event? 

I enjoy getting involved in local projects and have a great deal of respect for TEDx and its speakers who offer their valuable knowledge and inspiration to the online world.

Holly Marder on authenticity -the theme of upcoming event:

Be authentic from the get-go. It makes what you do that much easier, a whole lot more natural and far more enjoyable than if you’re always trying to be someone else. It can be very overwhelming seeing so much wonderful content being poured out onto the internet, but it’s also important to take a step back and reconnect with what makes you as an individual stand out.

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

I am a self-starter and find my inspiration online -as many of us do these days- and through the talented, driven individuals who I come across in my profession and as a blogger. Like TEDxDelftWomen, I love to support individuality, initiative and the courage to share ideas to a broad audience

***

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.

KVP Styling
 

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.

***

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.

Version 2“Teaching is my passion, says Noa Brume “and now it is training which replaces it. It’s in my blood.” As a counsellor, life coach and  trainer, Brume works with clients in both the private and corporate sectors on personal growth and empowerment. For 17 years, she worked as an educator and taught at Oxford University before pursuing a career in the field of professional counseling. The happiness that comes with empowering people keeps her motivated to progress along her chosen line of work. For Brume, seeing that she has helped someone is a great reward. It’s a feeling that she greatly cherishes.

At the upcoming TEDxDelft Women event, Brume is talking about a concept that she recently heard in a conversation, drawing a connection between Newton’s much-studied Third Law and self-help. The focus of her talk stems from her own personal journey of recovery from the sudden death of her son.

“The idea of self-help can touch and be relevant to everyone who will ever come across it,” Brume says. “Caryn ‘t Hart, the speaker-coach who was allocated to work with me in preparation for this talk, said that this idea can be shared tomorrow with Hilary Clinton and she will be able to connect.”

When asked about this year’s theme, Brume said that being congruent is what authenticity means to her. “That means being true to your own self and to feel connected deeply in,”  she explains. “For me, this is the name of the game and this is what I teach people. Introspection brings your true self and leads you to feel good about yourself.”

Simone Filippini

“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.”

Subatomic
 

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”.

Subatomic 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 Melinda Jacobs and Joanna Ioannidou from Subatomic to share some insights:

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

Subatomic is a creative agency based in Amsterdam. With our expertise in user psychology, we design (and develop) highly tailored digital experiences that help our clients engage their target audiences.

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

We think both inside and outside of the box. If fact, we often question the need for a box in the first place. We swear by the power of user centered design and psychology, and we believe in sharing that knowledge with others.

3. Why did you choose to sponsor TEDxDelftWomen?   

We believe in TEDxDelftWomen’s mission of ‘ideas worth spreading’, and we wanted to be part of it. We take pride in sponsoring an event that will allow women and girls to further inspire and support each other. Not to mention we love the opportunity to make new connections with the awesome people attending and organizing the event!

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

We find that TEDxDelftWomen represents our strong belief in working together with and supporting others. We invest as much time as possible ourselves -as well in sharing stories, ideas and knowledge- as we find it a great way to move forward (both as a company and as a society).

***

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.

Ikea
 

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.

***

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.

Wioletta Ruszel“Mathematics is one of the only truths we have,” says Wioletta Ruszel. Ruszel, an assistant professor of applied probability at TU Delft, will take the stage at TEDxDelftWomen later this month to “change the perception of math.”

She believes that part of the reason why so many people claim to be bad at math is that it is socially acceptable for them to say that they are. “Similar to any other kind of social conditioning, children learn very early to see math as something difficult and resist it. But, our brain is a logical machine, it is made to understand math. If someone wants to learn the violin or a new language, they have to work hard and practise a lot. Put in the hours and only then will they see the result. It’s the same thing with math,” she said.

Incidentally, Ruszel can speak six languages fluently: English, Polish, German, French, Italian and Dutch. “My family is Polish and we lived in Berlin. My husband is Italian, so that’s why I learnt the language. I’ve always been fascinated by French history and studied in France for a while. As for Dutch, I’m here now.”

Somewhere along this journey, Ruszel studied psychology, neurosciences and became acquainted with philosophy. She saw how Plato and Aristotle used logic to get to the truth. She says she also realised that while certain conclusions can be drawn about human behaviour, there is never an absolute truth or formula for human beings. Given her background in neuroscience, her experience with probability and her fascination with the human condition, Ruszel may consider something multidisciplinary along those lines sometime in the future.

For now she’s excited about changing minds via the TEDx platform. “I was very honoured to be contacted. I have many ideas that I’d like to share. It’s just 8 minutes but 2000 years of things to say.”

Some of her favourite talks explore the question of logic and storytelling.

The Story Chooses You: Zarayda Groenhart

A day in the life of things-How listening to things helps us innovate: Elisa Giaccardi

 

TIP

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.

Daphne StamDaphne Stam is planning to take the world’s farthest selfie. As a matter of fact, she’s prepared to take a few. In her quest to discover Earth-like planets and the existence of extraterrestrial life, the planetary scientist aims to use real-time observations of the Earth to identify what exactly we should be looking for. The idea is to study ourselves in order to find others.

Specializing in polarimetry (the study of the polarization of transverse waves such as radio and light), Stam investigates the atmospheres of planets in our solar system and beyond. After receiving her PhD. in Planetary Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Stam was awarded a number of prominent research grants, which allowed her to head planetary research projects in the Netherlands. Currently, she serves as Associate Professor of Planetary Sciences at the TU Delft Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.

According to Stam, the concept behind taking selfies of the Earth originated 25 years ago. Traveling towards the edge of the solar system, the Voyager 1 spacecraft was ordered to take a picture of the Earth. At that distance, 6 billion kilometers away, our planet is reduced to the size of a pale blue dot.

In the coming decade, Stam predicts that sophisticated instruments and telescopes will be designed to make pictures of similar planets. With the help of a computer model she developed with her PhD. student Theodora Karalidi, Stam and her team could identify planets resembling the Earth using a special measurement technique from the miniscule, pale dots on those pictures. To confirm their results, Stam plans to take a picture of the Earth from afar using the very same technique.

At the upcoming TEDxDelftWomen event, the planetary scientist hopes to take the audience to places it has never been before, believing that authenticity is about choosing your own directions. “The pictures of the Earth that we are planning to make support the search for life elsewhere in the universe,” Stam explains. “The outcomes of this search have intrigued people across the Earth for centuries. And real-time pictures of the Earth with ourselves in it will undoubtedly be something special.”

 

Dorothy GrandiaAuthenticity 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.

Sheetal ShahThere was something missing in Dr. Sheetal Shah’s classroom. As Head of Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences and lecturer at Webster University Leiden, Shah wanted her students to engage in what they learned. Having worked at the grassroots level in Asia and Europe, the counseling psychologist sought to provide a valuable opportunity to her students by taking them into the real world to deal with real people.

In July 2011, Shah began working on the Bijlmer Project, a research and intervention-based initiative focusing on the psychosocial needs of victims of human trafficking within the Amsterdam Bijlmer area. While the project has several research objectives, it also gives students the chance to step outdoors and experience the real world for themselves. “[By] dealing with real people, [the students] understand that, at that very moment, someone lives a very different ‘reality’ from their own,” Shah explains. “Understanding the perils of modern day slavery also makes them comprehend how we all have a slavery footprint and are contributing to this multi-billion dollar industry of human trafficking.”

At the upcoming TEDxDelftWomen event, Shah elaborates further on the “classroom outdoors” concept. The counsellor insists that learning outside the typical classroom environment is not only a prerogative of students. “The more aware we are and the more we know how we contribute to a global issue like this contemporary form of slavery, we know we can do something to change that,” she claims

As an educator, Shah compares taking to the TEDxDelftWomen stage to entering a classroom for the first time. “[…] I need to connect with the audience and ensure they take away what is intended for, in terms of the message,” she says. “Only this time, I have less than 15 minutes.” In regard to this year’s theme, Shah had this to say:“Work ethic for me is ‘head and heart aligned’ and that is what authenticity means to me personally and professionally.”

Want to know more about your slavery footprint? Visit SlaveryFootprint.org.

 

Namita Krul“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.

Jens van TrichtMen must contribute to the emancipation of women and this is good for men themselves too. This is the core of what Jens van Tricht calls “Mannenemancipatie” (Men’s Emancipation). As an idealist, gender equality advocate and pioneer in the field of Men and Masculinity, Van Tricht believes in the need to create a better world and works towards generating positive masculinities.

“The oppositional and mutually exclusive concepts we have of masculinity and femininity, to a large extent, co-create the world as it is,” Van Tricht claims. “Although men draw a certain ‘patriarchal dividend’ from their privileged positions, this comes at a cost. Not just for men themselves, but for all of us. We need to help make men more human in order to make men a part of the solution for the problems we encounter, both personally and politically.”

Having obtained his Masters degree in Women’s Studies from the University of Amsterdam, Van Tricht has been involved in a number of different initiatives that focus on the personal growth and development of men. “I have been working on the topic of men and feminism for 25 years, exploring it in very personal ways as well as academically, as a political activist and as a professional trainer and coach,” the idealist shares. “Feminism opened my eyes to the fact that many things that we all want to improve are in fact closely related to the roles we learn to perform as men and women. Feminism made the personal political in a very intimate way.”

At the upcoming TEDxDelftWomen event, Van Tricht justifies the need to transform our ideas about masculinity in order to offer boys and men new roles and perspectives in dealing with the challenges of gender relations in the 21st century. When asked about the personal significance of this year’s theme, the idealist maintains that authenticity is exactly what his talk is all about. “As human beings, we are obstructed in our authenticity by the limiting and destructive concepts of ‘men’ and ‘women’ in relation to ‘masculinity’ and ‘femininity’,” he says. “We spend enormous amounts of time, energy and money on solving a wide range of personal, social and political problems, while absolutely ignoring the huge elephant in the room.”

 

Dalia El Gabry
“Success is about the impact you can make around you,” explains Dalia El Gabry. Rather than looking at what success could mean for the individual, the Shell Central Planning and Performance Manager claims that its influence can reach further and help bring more posititivity to one’s surroundings.

Oftentimes, success is measured by materialistic and personal achievements such as the monthly pay slip or the position occupied in the hierarchy. For El Gabry, success can also be judged in a different way – one that is less self-centered and looks at the impact it has on one’s surroundings like family, friends, and colleagues. This does not necessarily mean having a good career at a large corporation. What matters more is being happy and having awareness of what the key priorities are. As a result, success can have an impact on others as well as on yourself and that happiness could also be considered a form of success which people can strive for within their environment.

Happiness has had a big influence on El Gabry’s career decisions. “If I am not happy with what I am doing, if I do not develop myself, I will have a negative impact on my surroundings,” she says. “So I decided to move out and look for opportunities outside of my comfort zone.” Having grown up in a protective environment in Egypt, she started working for a large corporation before moving abroad to countries such as Norway, South Africa, Qatar and now the Netherlands. It was this journey that made her realize what exactly it is that makes her happy and made her reflect on the respect and values she showed other people.

According to El Gabry, the event’s theme “Authenticity” ties in well with her talk on measuring the impact of success on others. “Authencity is what comes naturally to you, without any artificial input. It helps you to be happy and enjoy your life,” she claims.  “It is all about people, about enjoying what you do and link it to the bigger picture.”