Speakers

The Architecture of Identity

We begin by zooming out: exploring the systems we live in, the cultures we navigate, and how they shape our identities.

How Capability Maturity Models Helped Me Through Times of Sorrow and Joy

Katalin Balla

Associate Professor & CMMI Lead Appraiser

Katalin Balla introduces the concept of Capability Maturity Models as a lens to better understand human growth and development. Her talk explores how these structured frameworks—often used in AI and systems engineering—can offer surprising insights into our own paths toward personal capability and maturity.

The Job Hunt Nobody Prepares You For: What Over 300 Rejections Taught Me

Phuong Thao Nguyen

Management & Leadership Graduate Student | Supplier Quality & Development Intern

Phuong Thao Nguyen shares a candid look at the emotional and practical challenges of navigating today’s competitive job market. Drawing from her experience applying to over 300 internships, her talk highlights the mindset shifts and strategies that foster resilience, self-awareness, and a sense of purpose beyond simply securing the “perfect position.”

Fluent, But Never Native: The Beauty of Not Belonging

Nigina Latypova

Business and Finance Student and Language Enthusiast

Nigina Latypova explores the emotional and psychological complexity of multilingualism—where fluency goes beyond vocabulary to touch identity, memory, and belonging. Her talk challenges traditional definitions of language mastery, revealing the quiet strength found in navigating life between cultures.

Mind Meets Motion

Next, we dive inward — into the brain, body, and resilience. How do we think, move, and persevere?

The Path of Education: From Lost to Liberated

Abdalkader Jackdar Mohammad

Finance Student

Abdalkader Jackdar Mohammad shares a moving story of how education became a guiding force through conflict, hardship, and displacement. His talk is a testament to the transformative power of knowledge—revealing how learning can offer hope, direction, and resilience even in the darkest of times.

Do Not Disturb

Fruzsina Pataki-Bittó

Human Factors Professional

Fruzsina Pataki-Bittó explores how our attention is fragmented in today’s hyperconnected world—and what we can do to reclaim it. Her talk challenges the multitasking mindset and offers a compelling case for monotasking, urging a shift toward deeper focus and more meaningful, high-quality work.

The Subtle Art of Invisible Work

Olga Kocsi

Artist

Olga Kocsi invites the audience to reconsider the meaning of work by shedding light on the invisible movements that sustain our daily lives. Through motion capture and artistic media like 3D printing and glass installations, she gives form to these often-overlooked gestures—encouraging a deeper appreciation for the quiet, continuous efforts that hold our world together.

Power to the People

Now, it’s about action. Skills, security, and agency — giving people the tools to shape their own paths.

The Price of Always Wanting More

Anisha Shahani

Advertising Expert & Artist

Anisha Shahani delivers a powerful reflection on the hidden costs of relentless ambition and external pressure. Through a personal and thought-provoking narrative, her talk challenges conventional ideas of success and invites the audience to rediscover passion and balance as essential elements of a fulfilling life.

From Backdoors to Your Front Door - a Talk About Security

Anna Györgyi

Electrical Engineering Student

Anna Györgi sheds light on the often-overlooked realities of corporate security, blending real-life stories with critical insights into both cyber and physical protection. Her talk challenges common misconceptions and invites the audience to rethink how safe our systems truly are—encouraging greater awareness in both the digital and physical worlds.

How to Build your Strategy in an AI-World

Tamás Iványi

University Researcher

Tamás Iványi explores practical strategies and techniques for thriving in today’s rapidly evolving workplace. Drawing from his own experience adapting to the rise of AI, he shares how professionals can not only navigate change—but leverage it to excel.

The Future is Now

We close by looking ahead — into the innovations shaping our lives and the communication skills we need to lead it.

How Next-Gen Nuclear Reactors Could Save the Planet

Szabolcs Czifrus

Associate Professor of Nuclear Reactor Physics

Szabolcs Czifrus explores how next-generation nuclear technologies—like Small Modular Reactors and advanced designs such as molten salt and fast reactors—can play a pivotal role in addressing the climate crisis. His talk debunks common myths and makes the case for a bold, innovative energy future driven by safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

Neuroarchitecture: Designing for the Senses and the Unconscious Mind

Ákos Orbán

Architect & Researcher

Ákos Orbán explores the hidden influence of architecture on our emotions, behavior, and well-being. Blending insights from neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy, his talk introduces neuroarchitecture—a powerful approach to designing spaces that not only appeal visually but also resonate deeply with how we think, feel, and live.

Presentific: The Science Behind Sticky Ideas

Alex MacIntosh

Public Speaking Coach

Alex Macintosh helps professionals transform good ideas into unforgettable ones through science-backed storytelling and communication techniques. His talk uncovers why even the best ideas often fail to resonate—and offers practical tools to make them stick and spark real impact.