Assume o teu poder. Lidera a tua vida. | Evódia Graça | TEDxAveiro

Summary

This inspiring speech recounts the personal journey of a woman from a small island in Cabo Verde to becoming an influential leader in Africa. Overcoming financial constraints, cultural barriers, and personal doubts, she pursued education abroad, embracing the belief that she is the hero of her own story. Her determination led to her recognition as one of the top young leaders in Africa, and she now empowers women through her program, Empower Me. The message is clear: by taking responsibility for our lives, we can all become the protagonists of our own extraordinary stories.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Evódia's story exemplifies that true leadership begins with taking full ownership of one's life and decisions.
• 📚 Growing up in Cabo Verde, Evódia learned the power of knowledge and how it can transform one's future, despite limited resources.
• 🌱 Overcoming obstacles, Evódia sold mangoes she had grown herself to fund her studies abroad, showing resilience and creativity.
• 💪 Her journey from being a determined student in Portugal to defending her master's thesis with top marks is a testament to her perseverance and ambition.
• 🌍 Evódia was recognized as one of Africa's top young leaders and met Barack Obama, who inspired her with the idea of contributing to her country’s development.
• 💡 Obama’s speech about serving others and focusing on how to give back changed Evódia's perspective and solidified her commitment to empowering women.
• 👩‍🏫 She founded 'Empower Me', a program designed to help women gain confidence, assertiveness, and leadership skills to achieve recognition in their fields.
• 🚀 Through 'Empower Me', Evódia has reached women across the Lusophone world, proving that powerful change can begin from one determined individual.
• 🌱 Evódia's message highlights the importance of personal growth, positioning oneself strategically, and the responsibility of leading one’s own life.
• ✨ Her story underscores that anyone can defy odds and become the hero of their own story if they commit to self-belief and action.

Q & A

What is the core message of the speaker's story?

The core message is about assuming full responsibility for one's life and taking the lead in creating an extraordinary and abundant life, regardless of challenges.

What role did knowledge play in the speaker's upbringing?

Knowledge was seen as power. The speaker’s parents taught her and her sisters that education and knowledge would empower them, despite financial difficulties.

How did the speaker overcome financial barriers to studying abroad?

The speaker sold mangoes from a tree she had planted years earlier, using the proceeds to fund her journey to Portugal to study.

What inspired the speaker to become a leader and advocate for women's empowerment?

The speaker was inspired by her own journey of self-empowerment, the influence of books like Anne Frank's diary, and the desire to help other women step into their power.

How did the speaker view the challenge of studying abroad despite her family’s opposition?

Despite family opposition, the speaker viewed the challenge as an opportunity to take control of her own destiny, often relying on her inner determination and belief that she could succeed.

What impact did Barack Obama’s advice have on the speaker’s life?

Obama's advice to ask not what a country can do for you, but what you can do for your country, profoundly impacted the speaker, inspiring her to return to her home country and work toward empowering women.

What is the Empower Me program and its goal?

The Empower Me program is a leadership initiative designed to help women position themselves confidently and assertively in their fields, with the ultimate goal of making them recognized leaders.

How does the speaker's experience with self-awareness relate to her leadership journey?

Self-awareness played a crucial role in the speaker’s development. The knowledge she gained about herself allowed her to step into leadership roles, first within herself, and later guiding other women to do the same.

What were the three pillars the speaker focused on in her leadership work with women?

The three pillars are personal development, positioning, and leadership—focusing on empowering women to take responsibility for their lives and leadership roles.

How does the speaker encourage others to view challenges and opportunities in life?

The speaker encourages others to see challenges as opportunities to take control of their destiny. She emphasizes that everyone has the ability to be the hero of their own story.