[NGLS's Impact] NGLS-ers shipped @TEDxNitra

Hello NGLS-ers,

let’s start new year with yet another inspiring true story of NGLS-ers, who took responsibility into their hands and organised first TEDx event in Nitra. “Maturant” Michal Molcan (@molky_) with his girlfriend decided to spent their summer 2012 to put together TEDxNitra. Hear out what has Michal and his team learned from this @TEDxNitra experience.

#1 Michal, why did you decide to ship(=to organize) TEDx Nitra?

It all started a couple of months ago, when I took a part on an NGLS conference (yeah, Ivka – you’re one of my first boosts:). There I’ve met Rasto, who is one of the TEDxBratislava founder. We have been talking about TEDx and stuff and he kind of inspired me to organise my own independently organised TEDx event. I know there is a lot of conferences out there – but TEDx is somehow special. We wanted (and still want!) to bring young people experiences from people “in business”. Our goal is not to motivate, but to inspire. I guess we have succeeded with this first event.

#2 How did you build your team and who are co-organizers?

Our team is self-improving. People come, people go. Nowadays we are 4 people in the core team and we have got a few volunteers. Building a team for a non-profit event is not so easy, as it looks like. You could not act as a boss – you have got to find a way, how to communicate with people. It’s all about collaboration an initiative.

#3 What was the most delightful part of the organization process?

When things were going, as they were supposed to. What was really nice about the whole organisation, was the relationships, that were made between organisers. At first we were just people with the same interests, but then we became close friends and I am glad to have such a great people around.

#4 What was the most difficult and surprising moment during preparations?

What was surprising? Well, if you have an hour to starting a whole event and our team realise, that we don’t have any intro video (and no internet in event venue) – which is necessary – it is kind of a surprise. And when in your speaker’s keynote are not working its fonts and everything looks “mashed up” on the screen – you get +100 heartbeats in a minute and a big problem to solve. (you know what I mean).

#5 What are your hopes for possible outcome(s) for participants of TEDx Nitra?

Maybe it looks, that the TEDx is about the people, standing on a stage. Yes, they are the “building stones” of the whole event, but actually the attendees are the most important thing. We gave a platform to stories and ideas of speakers, we gave an event to people to attend and we hope, that everyone took something home from this interaction.

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Thank you Michal for your answers.

Thank you also for being committed not only to one gig, but that you continued with TEDx Nitra Salon event in December and that you are already cooking second TEDx Nitra day full of inspiration.

Rock on.

P.S.: it absolutely fantastic that there were another two NGLS members on TEDxNitra team. That is the way to go, guys.