TEDxRMIT brings ‘waves of breakthroughs’ to Hanoi

Themed “TRANSITION: Waves of Breakthrough”, the sixth season of TEDxRMIT was inspired by the fact that today’s youth are facing constant changes in society as well as their personal wellbeing.

Growing up in times of countless opportunities and challenges, many young people are experiencing conflicting emotions, from fear and anxiety about an uncertain future, to excitement and anticipation for the next chapter in life. To navigate each change with a positive attitude, they need advice and guidance from those who have come before, as well as empathy and support from the community around them.

It was with that motivation in mind that five speakers – who are all influencers in their respective fields in Vietnam – joined the TEDxRMIT stage in Hanoi earlier this month to share their perspectives.  

After leading an energetic warm-up session with the audience, improvisation coach and Saigon Improv House founder Van Possible presented four valuable lessons gained from improv which have helped her confidently deal with uncertainty in life. They are about listening, being present, teamwork, and trusting your gut.

As for Vietcetera CEO Hao Tran, the seven-year journey of starting a business in Vietnam after leaving the US has given him a new mindset. From a young man who was always trying to prove himself, he now finds more meaning in listening and caring about what’s going on around him.

“Be interested, to be interesting,” he advised.

‘Care’ was also a keyword in the talk delivered by President of MVV Academy Nguyen Thanh Son – a seasoned communications and business expert.

Mr Son said: “The youth have something that people of my generation lack, and that is the ability to explore and make mistakes. That is the only way for society to keep evolving. Growth would be difficult if things were confined to the old mindsets of the preceding generations.

“To face an uncertain world, let's pause and notice the little things that are happening around us. There is no need yet to worry about excelling in leadership, incident management or critical thinking. I believe what you can start doing right now is very simple: Care.”

“Understand yourself, be confident and bravely overcome prejudices from society” was what Thao Nhi Le wanted to convey in her speech at TEDxRMIT.

Last year, when she was about to turn 28, the entrepreneur and content creator decided to fulfill her long-standing dream of participating in the Miss Universe Vietnam contest before exceeding the age limit for applying.

“I realised that if I continued to let myself succumb to stereotypes and kept on living under the fear of being judged, I would miss that chance and regret it for the rest of my life. Instead, by competing, I could be the one to challenge those stereotypes and inspire other people to live their lives to the fullest as they desire,” the Miss Universe Vietnam 2022 First Runner-up said.

Embracing challenges was also the message that journalist and sports commentator Truong Anh Ngoc expressed in his speech titled "Let yourself be shocked".

“I have a catchphrase that you may already know, which is 'Travel while you are young'. But today I am here to say: 'Be open to shocks while you are young'. Shocks can help you learn your position in the much vaster world out there. They can help you cope with difficult times full of changes, and above all, find a guiding light for your life," Mr Ngoc said.

In the spirit of ‘ideas worth spreading’ initiated by the globally renowned TED Talks, TEDx programs are planned and coordinated independently and locally by communities, organisations and individuals around the world.

RMIT Vietnam students have been organising TEDxRMIT events since 2016 in Ho Chi Minh City. This was the first time this program has come to the capital city of Hanoi.

Thanks to innovations in the program format, TEDxRMIT in Hanoi created impact and resonance by attracting a large number of interested participants and selling out tickets after a record-breaking 12 minutes.

• Watch all five talks on YouTube.
• Follow TEDxRMIT on Facebook and Instagram.
• See more event photos.

Story: Ngoc Hoang

Photo credit: UK Motion and TEDxRMIT