Gabriela Gonçalves

Business mentor, Connector, Educator/Teacher, Idea generator, Producer, Social entrepreneur, Startup

I am Gabriela Gonçalves, a dedicated teacher and social impact activist, committed to driving change through socio-environmental impact entrepreneurship and social innovation. I consider myself a change agent with a desire to achieve, and I work in the areas of entrepreneurship, communication, and design. As a faculty member at Unisinos University since 2001, I have taught various subjects in the areas of entrepreneurship, personal and professional development. More recently, I contributed to the restructuring of the university's undergraduate curricula. I currently coordinate this core group of required subjects, known as Transversal Competencies, which includes disciplines focused on Socio-environmental Sustainability and Socio-environmental Impact Entrepreneurship. My academic foundation includes a Master's degree in Social Communication and a PhD in Strategic Design, with a focus on Emotional Design. My commitment to the impact ecosystem extends beyond the classroom: I serve as a representative for the "More Engaged Universities" project, led by ICE (Institute for Corporate Citizenship), a leading organization for disseminating impact businesses in Brazil. Additionally, I have been the licensed organizer, curator, and coach for TEDxUnisinos since 2016, leveraging the platform to amplify powerful ideas. This purpose-driven resolve was further reinforced by my personal battle with breast cancer in 2024, deepening my commitment to using my position as a university professor to create real impact.

I love connecting people and I'm passionate about TED.

Connections, Emotional Design, Events, social entrepreneurship