Against the Odds
took place on 3 June 2023
The program
Felix Streng: Decisions Pave the Journey
The 100 m Sprint, a seemingly straightforward sport, holds an inexplicable allure that captivates athletes and spectators alike. This simplicity and fascination make it the highlight of prestigious events like the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In this narrative, professional sprinter Felix Streng recounts his journey from a small village in Bavaria, Germany, to becoming a Paralympic gold medalist. He recounts his most pivotal moments on the road and derives learnings which everyone may apply to their own journey. His journey highlights the importance of self-belief, hard work, resilience, and the realization that the pursuit of a dream is as significant as the achievement itself, serving as an inspiration for anyone striving to overcome obstacles and pursue greatness.
Who is Felix Streng?
Felix Streng, a 28-year-old Paralympic track and field star, conquered challenges from birth, born without a right lower leg in 1995. Moving across continents, at 16, he left a tiny Bavarian village for TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen sports school, excelling in both academics and athletics. With 16 medals from Paralympics, World Championships, and European Championships, including the 2021 Paralympic gold in the 100m sprint, Felix’s focus on “Ability” over “Disability” drives his journey. Training alongside elite athletes under coach Steve Fudge in London, he embodies resilience and victory.
Minh Tuan Nguyen: How Racism Shaped me
In 2004, a 12-year-old boy’s journey from Vietnam to Germany marked the beginning of a profound transformation. Arriving in the small town of Ingolstadt, he encountered skepticism and prejudice, facing a school director’s discouraging words: ‘You cannot do it. You are no one.’ The shadow of racism darkened his path, affecting his confidence and sense of belonging. As he navigated a new language, culture, and societal dynamics, the boy’s determination was unwavering. He turned to hard work and resilience, learning to overcome the barriers imposed by others’ perceptions. This boy was Minh Tuan Nguyen. From his journey emerged a message of hope—a call for unity and understanding that transcends borders and divisions. His story, and those like it, remind us of the transformative potential that resides within every individual’s struggle against adversity.”
Who is Minh Tuan Nguyen?
Tuan’s parents made a risky decision in the 1990s to flee Vietnam for Germany in search of a better life for their family. They left him, a two-year-old child, behind in a country still dominated by communism, where food and electricity were scarce. He was raised by his grandparents and didn’t meet his parents and younger brother until he was 10 years old. He moved to Germany to live with them when he was 12 years old. During his youth, he experienced racism and prejudice in all its facets. In 2021, he founded his own IT startup. Tuan is also heavily involved in charitable work. He serves as a board member and advisor for several charities focused on helping underprivileged children and youth.
Jule Deges – Nudging your way to workplace satisfaction
Dive into the intriguing world of behavioral psychology and organizational dynamics in this compelling presentation with Jule Deges. From holding in pee to the concept of Flow, she explores how immersion in tasks impacts productivity. Discover the Negativity Bias and how subtle changes – or “Nudges” – in our environment can shape decisions without compromising choice. Uncover the concept of “Positive Nudging” and its potential to drive strengths-based development and organizational change. This talk encourages a fresh perspective on leveraging psychology for workplace transformation, leaving you inspired to harness the power of nudging for a brighter future.
Who is Jule Deges?
Jule Deges, a behavioral scientist, consultant, and accredited coach, passionately delves into organizational behavior. From her extensive tenure in employee experience, she’s found that despite measuring workforce health, data often goes unheeded. Jule centers her mission on prioritizing individual employee needs to drive organizational change. Her career focuses on aiding transformations by fostering happier, healthier, and more engaged workforces. With an academic background in Positive Psychology and Coaching, Jule pursues a PhD in harnessing behavioral economics for scalable learning and development solutions within organizations. A seasoned moderator and conference speaker, she contributes to journals and published book chapters on Coaching Psychology. Currently, as a Sr Behavioral Scientist, she collaborates with a leading global scale-up on digital coaching.
Jennifer Rigo – Faith in Discomfort
From navigating lockdown in Lisbon to founding a business, the speaker’s story reveals the profound impact of embracing discomfort. Learn how stepping out of your comfort zone can ignite excitement, fuel growth, and empower you to pursue your dreams. With heartfelt anecdotes and relatable moments, the speaker shares her personal evolution – from feeling lost during a lockdown to finding unexpected connections and venturing into uncharted territory.
Who is Jennifer Rigo?
Jennifer Rigo studied business management, and, through many uncomfortable decisions, she ended up as a social media marketing manager at a multinational tech company, and is also currently starting her own business. She grew up in a context of no academic experience and very little „thinking outside the box “. Her goal was to find her passion, which was very much dissociated from her reality at the time. Breaking free from societal expectations, Jennifer uncovered her affinity for nurturing others’ creativity, discarding the conventional mindset. Her journey, marked by challenges, culminated in transforming online marketing for a multinational and aiding artists and professionals in their digital growth.
Tiankai Feng – How human values will need to shape the future of AI
The TEDx talk by Tiankai Feng bridges the gap between creativity and artificial intelligence. After a short demonstration of the power of AI, the speaker delves into the AI’s learning process from massive datasets. Contemplate the historical parallels of skepticism and enthusiasm for transformative technologies, as AI takes center stage. Discover the roles of Creativity, Optimism, and Conscience in shaping AI’s future, with insights into how these human traits complement and guide AI’s evolution. Unveil the symbiotic relationship between humanity and AI, exploring the vital intersection of ethics, innovation, and collective responsibility. This engaging talk urges us to shape a future where AI and human ingenuity harmoniously coexist.
Who is Tiankai Feng?
Tiankai is an enthusiastic data leader by day, a passionate musician by night, and at all times a realistic optimist. He is most excited about the “human side” of data and likes to make all things data more approachable, understandable, and fun. In a world that’s more and more driven by Data and AI, he believes that it’s a shared responsibility among all of us to be more knowledgeable about these topics so we can steer into the right future, together.
Udo Wiegärtner – Chalk Board Stories
From the bustling streets of India to the heart of South Africa, and through unexpected encounters in Salvador de Bahia and Jordan, experience the power of haptical listening. Discover how a simple chalkboard transformed casual conversations into profound exchanges, revealing the extraordinary in ordinary lives. Udo Wiegärtner recounts his memorable encounters on his travels and shares the stories of those who he met. These stories remind us that everyone fights their own battles, and the true treasures are the untold stories that unite us as one. Embrace the art of listening and find inspiration in the unexpected narratives that make us human.
Who is Udo Wiegärtner?
Udo Wiegärtner lives in the Nuremberg region in Germany. He works as an Agile Coach at a Software company. Besides helping teams, organizations, and individuals to learn and grow, he’s passionate about communities and Agile Games.
A big thank you to all our volounteers!
WE THANK OUR PARTNERS FOR 2023!
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