Bram departs from this melting pot of science, business consulting and social entrepreneurship to playfully explore how we can be better leaders.
If you thought an overflowing inbox was stressful, try keeping up with world news without feeling overwhelmed. Inflation is reaching record highs, the economy is struggling, and trust in politics is lower than the average temperature in Belgium. No wonder we now speak of a "permacrisis" – a crisis that never seems to end. Where we once just had to "hang in there" until the storm passed, it now seems like the storm is the new normal.
The consequences are serious: one in five sick leaves is stress-related. And escaping into the digital world offers little relief. Almost half of young people experience stress due to social media, and one in four feels insecure because of online comparisons. Yet times of crisis demand creativity and resilience from us. But don't worry, there is hope.
The GLOBE study shows that countries like India are less affected by uncertainty avoidance. People there are more flexible, more connected, and less afraid of the future. And perhaps surprisingly, even young people growing up in slums often develop skills that make them stronger than many of us. This is not only supported by research, such as that of Suniya Luthar, but also evident from our own experiences with street children (www.mobileschool.org).
Maybe it’s time to put down our screens and seek inspiration from unexpected sources. Because as young people in Latin America show us: even the toughest circumstances can make you stronger. However, this doesn’t happen automatically. It requires us—as leaders, parents, or young people ourselves—to develop the skills that these young people already possess. Think of flexibility, social support, and the ability to creatively deal with setbacks.
During this keynote, you will learn how to do this by combining science, social work, and entrepreneurship into practical, applicable insights with StreetwiZe.
