Jean Balke

Business adviser, Designer, Entrepreneur, Explorer, Global soul, Life mentor, World traveler

I am a communication designer with a MA & photographer, corporate senior manager in marketing & brand communication, and creative director. Over the last 15 years, my career has taken me to New York, London, Berlin, California, Cape Town and finally and unexpectedly to Tyrol, where I learned to love the Alps. Originally working in art, advertising, fashion and accessories, my private life has always been characterized by further development and holistic health aspects. I'm also intensively involved with trend research and the idea of where we're headed: For example, I studied with Prof. Peter Wippermann, founder of Trendbüro Hamburg, and Prof. Dr. Norbert Bolz, media theorist and philosopher, among others. Through many professional and personal travels around the world, unusual experiences such as 11 days of silent meditation in a Buddhist monastery, 3 weeks of working with Indian goldsmiths and gemstone cutters in production in Jaipur in Rajasthan, visits to mines in Namibia with the Ministry of Commerce, and 34 days of walking the Camino de Santiago in the spring, I often see cross-functional opportunities to reinvent brands.

lifelong learning, great design, volunteering, animals and nature.

Why beauty matters: The importance of beauty and aesthetics is undeniable; it is a fundamental part of our existence. It can be found in nature, art, architecture, physics and everyday life, bringing joy, comfort, and inspiration to people. In a time of uncertainty and often doom and gloom, the experience of beauty and aesthetics can be used to create a sense of harmony and balance in our lives. Moreover, a sense of unity and belonging in our communities, which is essential for our wellbeing.

I have developed a rebranding concept for an Alpine tourist destination which was based on events and experience. While working on that I found out that TEDxInnsbruck was looking for a new licencee and since I have watched countless TED talks online and love the concept, I decided to apply and bring an amazing event to life in Innsbruck.