COMMUNITY LED, COMMUNITY DRIVEN
Today we talked to Jasmine Takanikos, a brand strategist for Brand Human and Candor Branding. Jasmine is doing a speaker series with SOHO House where she helps people and businesses use their values in creating their brand.
Tune in to hear how she sees inclusivity and social media is changing the way companies brand themselves like never before.
https://www.mixcloud.com/peopleonthegrid/people-on-the-grid-with-jasmine-takanikos/
Traveling is full of ups and downs as you begin to navigate cultural differences, and being in a city that is unfamiliar is bound to be full of surprises. However you tend to forget how these culture shocks can show up in settings you usually find to be familiar.
On the surface, Sonar appeared to me to be like any other music festival: great music, huge crowds, and water being sold for outrageous prices. But even in a concert setting that I thought myself to be a “native” to, I still found myself surprised to see how something so universal as music could be experienced so differently.
This year Sonar celebrated its 25th anniversary. To commemorate this special year, 126,000 people attended the festival, more than ever before in its history its website boasts.
As my friends and I made our way through the night, there were 3 aspects of Sonar that made it unlike any festival I have ever attended.
In the US, a festival crowd is survival of the fittest. Concert goers will arrive when the doors open so they can sit at one stage in order to be front row when their favorite artist comes one. As the night goes, the closer you are to the stage, the less room you have.
This creates problems, especially if you’re claustrophobic or running low on water. That friend who left for the bathroom? Say goodnight to them because there is zero chance they will be able to fight their way back to your spot (if they’re lucky enough to spot you in the sea of people). I have been to festivals where people pass out from heat exhaustion or lack of water and it becomes difficult to get them out of the crowd to get medical attention. What’s more, there’s a general hostility in the crowd as everyone is fighting and pushing for the best view.
I feel this stems from the social media culture that entices everyone to compete on having the best night. “Did you even really go if you didn’t put it on insta?” This mentality says it doesn’t matter what you’re actual experience was, just as long as your pictures will make someone jealous, it was worth it.
It is worth noting that the crowd at Sonar consisted of an even spread of people from different age ranges versus a massive amount of highschool and college age kids we expect at concerts.
Sonar mystified this expectation I had. My friends and I arrive right around 10 PM right when the headliners for the night, Gorillaz, began. The crowd isn’t shoulder to shoulder but spread out and authentically enjoying the music. A large portion of the crowd danced and sang along to the groovy sounds of the Gorillaz. We managed to stand within 20 feet of the stage and had a large bubble of space that we could spread out and dance along with the locals. It was one of the best concert experiences I had.
Influenced by the crowd, the atmostphere of the event was open and friendly. Despite the ever looming threat of having your phone pickpocketed, my friends and I were relaxed and had light plesentries with other attendees. Whether in the enormous line at the bathroom (where one woman shared her private stash of toilet paper with me, a coveted resource at festivals) or waiting in the crowd for the next artist, we danced and chatted with locals and visitors of Barcelona.
Even though I was quite a bit younger than many of the people we met, the exchanges were fun and interesting. Music was the equalizer and made the event universal, even across generations. We were not judged for our youth or belittled by it, and the same experience was had for the veteran concert goers.
At one point (which later I would refere to as a highlight of the night) I was dancing along to the fun beats of GoldLink, this woman was passing through and saw me dancing. She was around her 30s but began dancing with me and we encouraged each other with exclamations and laughter. I have never had any experience like this at a festival in the US. The people at Sonar go for the enjoyment and total experience, including the community that attends the concert.
Let’s face it. Spaniards know how to party. Maybe it’s the mid-day siesta that lets them recharge before the night begins, maybe there’s something in the water, but my friends and I somehow managed to keep up with the locals till 6 AM the next morning. Yes, you read that right. After a full day or work on Friday, we arrived at Sonar at 10 PM and did not leave until 6 AM the next day. Because we had been there so long, my friends and I stumbled out of the venue dazed by the sunlight that was beginning to build as the morning began. Sonar had become reality for that night and coming back to the real world was like having a bucket of ice water thrown on us.
It is important to say that not everyone stays that late or long, however there was still a considerable crowd size when we left.
But to give more credit to the locals, many of them also went to Sonar by Day. Maybe it’s something in the water, maybe it’s all of the drugs the dealers were selling in the crowd.
Reflecting on my experience, the biggest takeaway I have is that it is truely the people that make the concert, not the artists. You can see the same artist but have a completely difference experience each time. The community contributes their spirit to the event, and depending on what they give determines what is given back. Sonar has this spirit because the spectators go for the music, not for their social media. This mindset is something I hope to take back with me and share with others in the US, just as Sonar has done for me.
Today we talked to Lisa Eldridge from Girl About the Globe. Lisa is a digital nomad who specializes in writing about solo female travel. She lives by the motto “maximum adventure, minimum impact” and incorporates conscious traveling habits while going from country to country.
Listen to her tips on how you can make an impact on the local community when traveling.
https://www.mixcloud.com/peopleonthegrid/people-on-the-grid-with-lisa-eldridge-from-girl-about-the-glob/
Today we talked to Andreu Llorca, a visual and performance artist with Art Lover Ground. Andreu is inspired by the phrase “art heals,” which complements both of his careers as an artist and nurse. He talks with us about the inspiration he finds from hands and how they can tell an individual’s story.
Tune in to hear how Andreu finds passion in the world around him.
See Andreu’s art at www.andreullorca.com
Or follow his instagram @mr_llorca
https://www.mixcloud.com/peopleonthegrid/art-lovers-on-the-grid-with-andreu-llorca/
Card games have risen in popularity in recent years. Games like Apples to Apples and Cards Against Humanity are known to bring groups of friends and strangers together with laughter and fun. One card game, however, is doing this while starting insightful conversations to bring peace to conflict areas in the world like Colombia.
Enquiry is a methodology in the form of a card game that uses tailored words in order to evoke deep discussion. With a group as little as two or big as 10, players each have five cards that are used to inspire and create questions. A player that has a card that says “fear” on it would ask a question to the group related to that word and start a discussion.
The card game is designed by Pentagon Wave, a group that is trying to create peace and understanding in conflict zones in Colombia. Because of the civil conflict between paramilitary groups and the Colombian government beginning in 1960s, Pentagon Wave is combatting the divide between the people of Colombia that stems from this strife.
Héléa Khaizourane is a founder of Enquiry. Her doctorate in medical chemistry and her studies related to technology and health helped her developed the methodology to positively impact participants.
Pentagon Wave has already used this game by different groups of all demographics and seen success. The game relies on diverse groups of people from different backgrounds. Players share issues they are facing, and work together using their own personal experiences to help one another overcome these obstacles.
“When we share what we are facing, the walls and the dreams, we realize that it’s not that far from a business man or a sports man or an artist,” she said.
As players share their worldview, they can come together on common ground and understand each other by communicating their own experiences. Enquiry helps players see each others’ perspective by creating a productive dialogue.
The game uses what Pentagon Wave calls “technology without cables”, making it accessible to a wide range of people of different backgrounds. The format of a card game also makes it available to the masses because how little it costs. All one needs is the 50 card pack and they are ready to play.
Steven Pineda is a founder of Enquiry as well. He works with marketing for Pentagon Wave and Enquiry. Pineda said they had to envision a format for the methodology that was effective but accessible.
Pentagon Wave is using this game in Colombia to bridge the divide created by the civil conflict, but is not stopping there. Enquiry has made its way into universities and areas in Europe to combat issues like anxiety and violence.
Today on the podcast we talk to the wonderful ladies behind Fem Music. Mercedes de Jesus is a producer for Akelarre Productions which aims to support and promote female musicians. Julia Vigeas is also on the show and is a musician for the Fem Music event. We talk about sexism in the music industry, confidence, and of course Beyonce.
Tune in to hear how they are promoting women in music.
https://www.mixcloud.com/peopleonthegrid/people-on-the-grid-with-fem-music/
Here at People On The Grid, we are excited for the roundtable discussion we are hosting on September 20th. Not only will we get to hear the importance of purposeful leadership and the tangible impact it has on businesses, but we will be in Cloud Coworking’s beautiful roof top space.
As we get ready for this event, we want to share some information about our speakers so you can get to know them and their work before the event starts. All of our speakers are experienced leaders in their fields and practice purposeful leadership themselves. At our roundtable discussion we will hear them discuss this practice and how they have seen it change work culture.
Mehdi has extensively worked in finance since working with Paris based audit firms Grant Thornton and KPMG in 2001. After his work with these firms, he joined Alstom’s finance department in 2007 working in different leadership roles. In 2013 Mehdi was promoted to CFO of Alstom Wind Offshore and Offshore segments. When General Electric acquired Alstom in 2016, Mehdi continued as a leader in finance and presently works as Growth Strategy & Business Development for GE Renewable Wind EMEA.
Through his work in finance Mehdi has used purposeful leadership as a way to improve the companies he works for. Mehdi uses his financial role as a way to ensure that the company works comprehensively towards its goals. He believes is leading by example from top to bottom. This proactive style aligns all employees to effectively accomplish their goals.
2. Koert Grever, Education for Business Leaders with Purpose at IESE
Koert has a background in business consulting and leadership development. Before working IESE, he worked in business development and consulting for companies like Oracle and CMC. Between his position at IESE and working for CMC, Koert was a freelance consultant for entrepreneurs from 2010 to 2012. He is currently working for IESE and works with business directors and managers to develop their leadership skills.
Koert teaches company leaders the principles of purposeful leadership to improve business performance. He strives to create leaders who make “lasting and positive impacts on their companies.” By teaching this mindset to executives, they are equipped with the skills to recreate this leadership style in their own businesses.
3. Sorin Tomus, expert in Leadership and Change management
Sorin has dedicated his career to leadership development and coaching. He previously worked for Fabory as managing director starting in 2006 where he optimize the company’s business model and work culture through his leadership. He started working as a freelance consultant for business development this past January 2018. In his current position he helps businesses build effective teams that strengthen the identity of a company as well as change management and sales force effectiveness.
Sorin focuses on developing the work culture in companies to make them more proactive and successful. He believes that making businesses more profitable and productive creates an environment that promotes learning and growth for its employees.
4. Arit Balcells Alexander, CEO and Co founder of LALO Experience
Arit began her career in team building and motivation with IESE in 2007. In her position as as Program Manager for the International Department of IESE Business School, Arit developed and managed programs that helped business leaders and teams work on skills that made them more effective in their careers. After her role with IESE she continued working with Viatges World Business Travel as a team-building director. With this position she would create and manage events related to building skills and company culture. She now is the CEO and Co-Founder of LALO Experience where she creates projects for companies to build leadership and morale.
Arit bases the foundation of her business on four pillars: conscious leadership, teams, emotion, and lean management. She helps businesses by creating a positive and united culture that inspires passion and happiness in the workplace. Arit does this by working with the leadership in companies who then create this new work culture in their own businessess.
5. Carlos Piera Serra, founder and CEO for Delivering Happiness Spain
Carlos began his work with purposeful leadership in 2009. He began working with Grupo CMR as a sales associate innovator, where he created projects aimed at improving sales, customer service, and leadership. In 2011 he began collaborating with Delivering Happiness to make the business model that the company use to improve their business. In 2012 he helped launch the business into the Spanish market and became CEO of Delivering Happiness Spain that same year.
Purposeful leadership is the basis of his company. Through his work, Carlos helps businesses create a better work environment for its employees to boost morale and give purpose to their work. He feels that when employees are happy in their career they are more dedicated and perform better.
6. Zsuzsa Csuvár, Director of Customer Care for Typeform.com
Zsuzsa specializes in problem solving. She began working for Typeform.com in 2015 as a Customer Advocate. She then became a Customer Education manager and then was promoted to her current position as Director of Customer Care. She has helped her company declutter and streamline to find the most effective and inclusive solution. Her role requires her to manager her department in a way that brings the most happiness to her customers and colleagues.
Zsuzsa is able to do this by implementing purposeful leadership. Communication and listening are aspects of purposeful leadership she practices herself when working.
Now that your know their background, be sure to see them in-person as they discuss purposeful leadership. This practice is something all of our speakers are passionate about and have dedicated their careers to. You can learn more about purposeful leadership and how it can change your business by coming to our roundtable discussion on September 20th at 7 PM, located in Cloud Coworking’s space.
To RSVP or see more information about the event, click on this Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/433445133733441/
Today on the show we talked to Sorin Tomus, one of our speakers for our upcoming Round Table Discussion on Purposeful Leadership. Sorin has dedicated his career to leadership development and coaching. He embodies the practice of purposeful leadership in his work and helps foster healthy work culture.
Listen to his thoughts on the difference between a good and a great leader.
https://www.mixcloud.com/peopleonthegrid/people-on-the-grid-with-sorin-tomus/
Keeping in theme with our blog post about purposeful leadership, we want to highlight a way that business leaders are tying in consciousness even further into their work. How’s that? By changing the system their company operates in.
Capitalism is an amoral system, meaning that it is devoid of ethics and consciousness. This is to not be confused with the term immoral, meaning to be intentionally harmful. Due to the nature of capitalism, it prioritizes profit and success at whatever cost.
In years past, the nature of this system has left many workers feeling burnt out and purposeless. Retention rates plummet and more and more people are dissatisfied with their career.
However, conscious capitalism is an emerging mindset that hopes to combat this issue. The method doesn’t prioritize profit above all, but considers the lives of those who contribute to the company’s and system’s success. The system aims to use the power of capitalism as a tool to alleviate poverty and improve society.
The Conscious Capitalism Conference is coming July 9th, beginning at 2 PM at IESE Business School to educate people in the business sector how they can adopt ethics that benefit their company and the world around them. The conference hopes to inspire and teach this conscious mindset by hearing from business leaders who practice this system themselves.
In preparation for the event, we asked some of the speakers what drives them to embody conscious capitalism in their own lives. Alexander Böhmcker is CEO of Telemedicine Clinic, a radiology center aimed at one day providing quality care for all people, not just the few that can afford it. For Alexander, conscious capitalism is an important marriage between the system and meeting the needs of those around us.
“It combines the driving forces of capitalism with the human aspect of making business and therefore is a sustainable and enduring form of working together in the future,” he says.
Böhmcker thinks that sustainability is an important aspect company leaders need to strive towards to be more conscious leaders.
Böhmcker highlighting sustainability as an important aspect of conscious capitalism rings true. While many adopt conscious capitalism because of their moral principles, it is important to look at it through a pragmatic lense too. Companies that practice conscious capitalism as well as purposeful leadership inspire and motivate their workers by bringing purpose into their lives.
By inspiring your employees you are able to bring drive and motivation that leads to a more effective company. Companies that practice conscious capitalism have a common goal that is collectively worked towards being achieved. This mutual objective is communicated through all levels of a company so that purpose is given to work.
Lluís Gras will be a speaker at the event and is the owner of ScaleUp Business Coach. Lluís works with entrepreneurs and companies to develop their skills and unlock their potential. He is speaking at the event on how he is using the principles of conscious capitalism to shape his clients’ lives while also learning more from other speakers.
“ I feel I need to learn more about conscious capitalism, to empower me to talk about it,” Lluís said. “We spend a third part of our life working, better to enjoy it, The enterprises should be a place where people develop their talents and have great attitude all together to become better persons.”
You’ve been able to hear a snippet from two of our speakers for the conference, but there is so much more to conscious capitalism than this article holds. If you would like to learn more about it, be sure to attend the conference on July 9th at 2 PM at the IESE Business School.
RSVP and find more information at this link: https://capitalismoconsciente.es/actividades/conferencia-del-capitalismo-consciente-2018/
Today we talked to Angel Garcia, an expert in mentorship and investment. He was a founder and startup mentor for Startupbootcamp and now has co-founded a venture capital fund to help invest in emerging startup companies. He tells us the importance of a mentor for new businesses and what they need to know to be successful
Tune in to hear his advice for being a mentor or starting your own business.
https://www.mixcloud.com/peopleonthegrid/people-on-the-grid-with-angel-garcia/
