TEDx, a non-profit organisation, recently brought together leading thinkers and entrepreneurs to discuss ideas with the local community. The date, 11/11/11, marked the second TEDx conference since its introduction to the island barely nine months ago. Eight foreign and local speakers delivered inspiring presentations to almost 60 participants, daring them to change the reality through the power of enlightened ideas and challenging projects. An event where, in the words of organiser Deborah Webster, participants “were experiencing the power of ideas” through which the business community, one actually start “shaping the future of the world”.
The theme for the event was “Ever All things W” where all the topics discussed where linked to the letter W. Speakers gave insights on the “Weird and Wonderful ways we conduct our work in the world”, focused on “bringing positive change into society where we live”.
Exuding passion, the TEDx team backed world-changing initiatives. For example, Marco Cremona, a water engineer and Malta’s leading researcher and environmental activist and water, left assistants flabbergasted as he wove the ideas that gave shape to his project: a self-sufficient water system to supply this most needed resource using rainwater. As he said, the increase in world population coupled with a general improvement in the standard of living is having negative consequences on the preservation of limited freshwater resources. For Malta, the country with the least amount of water per capita in the world, the shortage of water could lead to extreme situations in the future if water conservation practices are not enhanced. However, one thing that Malta does have is floods. The rainwater can be treated and made potable, achieving 99 per cent sufficiency, as Mr Cremona proved in his home experiment in Mosta. In his talk he took his audience on a journey of innovation and creativity, two key words that, in his experience, cannot be taught, but come with need, “If there is no need there won’t be innovation either.”
Stephen Chetcuti, who is keen on marketing and technology, became GFI Software’s youngest director at 24. Focusing on leadership and successful teams, Mr Chetcuti spoke about “Double You”, related to developing people’s talent. In his talk, he shared some of the practices he has developed through the years to improve his effectiveness. Among them, Mr Chetcuti suggested “preparing and motivating one’s mind, visualizing where each of us wants go in life”, and also pointed out that when going through a bad patch, one should “give sense to frustration” by “convincing oneself that this is the situation one has to get through to reach one’s targets”. In his case, undoubtedly, “the recipe of career success is being passionate about continually improving the way we do things”
Rebecca Sweetman, founding director of the Paradigm Shift Project, a registered Canadian charity that creates educational documentaries on resources to change worldviews, encouraged participants to be the positive shift they are waiting for. In her talk “What Can I do?”, she offered a different way of looking at the world’s toughest issues, with reference to her activism for social and environmental justice. “Problems inspire people to change the ‘messed up place where they live’,” she pointed out. This is precisely what her projects try to achieve; in fact her documentaries benefit communities across the globe working for a better and more sustainable future. From human rights violation in Indonesia’s palm oil plantations, to street and refugee children in Malaysia, this intrepid maker of documentaries captures through her lenses the amazing solutions to this world’s roughest issues, to show that everybody can do one’s bit.
The line-up of speakers included Justin Tonna, a writer, author and former editor-in-chief who spoke about “The Wonderful world of Words”. Mr Tonna emphasised that words are the key for being successful in personal and professional life since, in his experience, “the more you master words, the more you will control your life”. Brigitte Bauman shed light on the world of Angel Investing, giving hope to a new generation of business initiatives, followed by Deborah Marshall-Warren, a hypnotherapy and consultant trainer who took participants on a quest to find their whole and real self in life.
The event finished with a final talk by organiser Deborah Webster, specialist in leadership and human talent. Turning negative into positive, Ms Webster revealed the key for bringing the world we wish to live in close to our everyday life, putting together fresh and innovative ideas in the business system as the way forward to achieve a better world. The organizer of this Worth-spreading meeting encouraged the business community to not “let ideas waste” and also emphasised the need of “investing in ideas and innovation”. Ms Webster concluded her speech on a note of hope for all potential entrepreneurs: “Be aware of your society’s needs and come up with solutions, be the best that can be.”
Ms Garcia Reche is a Spanish journalist at the Foundation for Human Resources Development.