Interview with Astrid Elburg (Management consultant & executive coach Elburg Consultancy). Taken from the book “Breakthrough”, special edition for TEDxAmsterdam 2009.
I seek out people and platforms that energize me, and TEDxAmsterdam is such a place. Getting big thinkers of our society together, is purely about bringing together creative energy from creative minds. Seeing what TED has achieved since 1984, inspires me. It’s in the world’s interest to compile ideas that originate from everywhere and TED is doing exactly that. Initially it is all about the ideas and subsequently people get involved and that’s where the beauty lies. Now boundaries can be replaced, resulting in a breakthrough .
Passionate, creative and brave people inspire me. People who have the strength to get their hands dirty while having the guts to dream. I want to call on people to be more courageous, to be more brave, because only then can you achieve a breakthrough. Befriend your fears, do not let them lead you. Talk to people with different cultural backgrounds and agendas and leave your own opinion at the doorstep. Only then will you be challenged to review your own bias. Stick your neck out, listen to others and hear them. The energy is in you, go out and disperse it and create!
TED wishlist
I want to challenge President Barack Obama to talk at TED about leadership and identity. He would be able to convey it in a way, that it would appeal to everyone in the world.
Tip: Be amongst people who think differently
Credits
Interview by Tessa Stolze
Translation by Ferhaan Kajee
Photography by Ivo van der Bent
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