Marieke van den Wall Bake

Explorer

A diverse and rich professional background - Trained as a performing artist and teacher in performing arts, I worked for several years on stage and in the classroom, when I continued my education in Cultural Anthropology and Social Development Studies. Having travel in my blood since a little baby, it was inevitable before I started my own traveling - living in Ireland, India, Tanzania and Monaco. My drive? Creating sustainable solutions to world problems (from psychological to poverty to environmental issues).

What drives us - what makes us tick and how can we connect and collaborate in creating benefit and happiness on a personal, community, world and environmental level.

Leave every situation better than you entered it.

Anthropology, Business Strategy & Implementation, Coaching, International Development, Monitoring & Evaluation, Performing Arts, Project Management, Training

So, here I am in the middle of nowhere in Tanzania, leading a for-profit development which encourages a positive triple bottom line effect in rural villages in Tanzania, when my phone rings. On the other end is Nazanine Matin, Licensee and Curator for TEDxIUM, asking if I wanted to be a speaker at their event. I was humbled and speechless (the latter not the best in such a situation!). I knew TED already for many years and couldn't believe that someone wanted me on a TEDx stage. Honored, I accepted. And what an experience it was! Being on a TEDx stage is an amazing experience (especially once I finished it). But I gained so much more than sharing my idea with the world - Not only am I now able to pass on the torch by creating a space for more people to share and inspire, in changing the world into a better place, in my role as co-organizer of TEDxMonteCarlo. I also met such wonderful people and am blessed with beautiful lasting friendships in my pocket due to TED(x).