
hi everyone I would like to start with a question by a show of hands who wants to
question by a show of hands who wants to
question by a show of hands who wants to be a passion year I told a few of you
be a passion year I told a few of you
be a passion year I told a few of you too so thank you for that and it’s
too so thank you for that and it’s
too so thank you for that and it’s actually funny because you don’t even
actually funny because you don’t even
actually funny because you don’t even know what a passion here is well the
know what a passion here is well the
know what a passion here is well the favorite part of my job is working with
favorite part of my job is working with
favorite part of my job is working with with volunteers with passion ears
with volunteers with passion ears
with volunteers with passion ears volunteers driven by passion it is the
volunteers driven by passion it is the
volunteers driven by passion it is the one thing that I really love most
one thing that I really love most
one thing that I really love most because as an event maker I get to
because as an event maker I get to
because as an event maker I get to transform people and work with with
transform people and work with with
transform people and work with with passion and and with creativity and it’s
passion and and with creativity and it’s
passion and and with creativity and it’s not always simple and I after each event
not always simple and I after each event
not always simple and I after each event I get a new gray hair but it’s it’s so
I get a new gray hair but it’s it’s so
I get a new gray hair but it’s it’s so important because they are the ones that
important because they are the ones that
important because they are the ones that bring a spark to your event and you
bring a spark to your event and you
bring a spark to your event and you probably know this one happy wife equals
probably know this one happy wife equals
probably know this one happy wife equals happy life
happy life
happy life or for me it’s a bit different for me
or for me it’s a bit different for me
or for me it’s a bit different for me it’s passionate driven volunteers equals
it’s passionate driven volunteers equals
it’s passionate driven volunteers equals into an unforgettable event for the past
into an unforgettable event for the past
into an unforgettable event for the past three years I have worked with over 200
three years I have worked with over 200
three years I have worked with over 200 volunteers on a daily basis and it’s
volunteers on a daily basis and it’s
volunteers on a daily basis and it’s it’s it’s been it’s been truly amazing
it’s it’s been it’s been truly amazing
it’s it’s been it’s been truly amazing but how do you work with people that
but how do you work with people that
but how do you work with people that work for free well today I would like to
work for free well today I would like to
work for free well today I would like to tell you the story of how I built a
tell you the story of how I built a
tell you the story of how I built a community of passion ears it all started
community of passion ears it all started
community of passion ears it all started very small with a with a simple cup of
very small with a with a simple cup of
very small with a with a simple cup of coffee and I asked my teacher back in
coffee and I asked my teacher back in
coffee and I asked my teacher back in September 2014 Adam Montandon who has
September 2014 Adam Montandon who has
September 2014 Adam Montandon who has also now grown to be my mentor and
also now grown to be my mentor and
also now grown to be my mentor and inspiration if he had a project for me
inspiration if he had a project for me
inspiration if he had a project for me because at that time I was I was waiting
because at that time I was I was waiting
because at that time I was I was waiting for my internship to start my dream
for my internship to start my dream
for my internship to start my dream internship at Tomorrowland which is this
internship at Tomorrowland which is this
internship at Tomorrowland which is this fantastic world’s best dance festival in
fantastic world’s best dance festival in
fantastic world’s best dance festival in Belgium so I was very excited but had a
Belgium so I was very excited but had a
Belgium so I was very excited but had a few months where I had to wait
few months where I had to wait
few months where I had to wait I can’t wait an event manager so I asked
I can’t wait an event manager so I asked
I can’t wait an event manager so I asked Adam do you have you have a project for
Adam do you have you have a project for
Adam do you have you have a project for me that that I can join and if any very
me that that I can join and if any very
me that that I can join and if any very generously opened up his Network to me
generously opened up his Network to me
generously opened up his Network to me and even gave access to his email
and even gave access to his email
and even gave access to his email accounts which I don’t know if he
accounts which I don’t know if he
accounts which I don’t know if he regrets but it allowed me to go through
regrets but it allowed me to go through
regrets but it allowed me to go through his emails to go through his network and
his emails to go through his network and
his emails to go through his network and kind of connect to anybody that I wanted
kind of connect to anybody that I wanted
kind of connect to anybody that I wanted to and it was it was going great and as
to and it was it was going great and as
to and it was it was going great and as a joke I started working with him as his
a joke I started working with him as his
a joke I started working with him as his evil assistant worlds and then at one
evil assistant worlds and then at one
evil assistant worlds and then at one day he asked me Stephanie what’s what’s
day he asked me Stephanie what’s what’s
day he asked me Stephanie what’s what’s your passion what sure what do you burn
your passion what sure what do you burn
your passion what sure what do you burn for and I took that question very
for and I took that question very
for and I took that question very seriously I started reflecting on what
seriously I started reflecting on what
seriously I started reflecting on what what I started in the past projects I
what I started in the past projects I
what I started in the past projects I started in the past and what kind of
started in the past and what kind of
started in the past and what kind of what I was studying and about my my
what I was studying and about my my
what I was studying and about my my future internship and at that time I was
future internship and at that time I was
future internship and at that time I was in a phase in my life where I had a lot
in a phase in my life where I had a lot
in a phase in my life where I had a lot of ideas there was this passion that
of ideas there was this passion that
of ideas there was this passion that wanted to get out of me but I didn’t
wanted to get out of me but I didn’t
wanted to get out of me but I didn’t quite know yet what it was so one day I
quite know yet what it was so one day I
quite know yet what it was so one day I wanted to start an online brainstorming
wanted to start an online brainstorming
wanted to start an online brainstorming tool with my classmates the other day I
tool with my classmates the other day I
tool with my classmates the other day I wanted to open up a food truck and drive
wanted to open up a food truck and drive
wanted to open up a food truck and drive around the United States this might have
around the United States this might have
around the United States this might have occurred after seeing the movie ship and
occurred after seeing the movie ship and
occurred after seeing the movie ship and and then at a moment I wanted to start a
and then at a moment I wanted to start a
and then at a moment I wanted to start a blog why don’t I write about all the
blog why don’t I write about all the
blog why don’t I write about all the ideas that I didn’t get around doing and
ideas that I didn’t get around doing and
ideas that I didn’t get around doing and I wanted to call it Steph his bucket
I wanted to call it Steph his bucket
I wanted to call it Steph his bucket list and my boyfriend still thinks that
list and my boyfriend still thinks that
list and my boyfriend still thinks that that’s the most hilarious thing I never
that’s the most hilarious thing I never
that’s the most hilarious thing I never got around doing so back to the question
got around doing so back to the question
got around doing so back to the question what’s what’s my passion I finally
what’s what’s my passion I finally
what’s what’s my passion I finally realized that it’s all about events but
realized that it’s all about events but
realized that it’s all about events but not just events more events like we’re
not just events more events like we’re
not just events more events like we’re here today where we bring people
here today where we bring people
here today where we bring people together and where you learn something
together and where you learn something
together and where you learn something that you can’t learn in the classroom
that you can’t learn in the classroom
that you can’t learn in the classroom and events that that where people would
and events that that where people would
and events that that where people would come to me
come to me
come to me in a couple of years and they say are
in a couple of years and they say are
in a couple of years and they say are Steffie that event that you organised
Steffie that event that you organised
Steffie that event that you organised five years ago that’s where I started my
five years ago that’s where I started my
five years ago that’s where I started my dream that’s where I got rid of my fears
dream that’s where I got rid of my fears
dream that’s where I got rid of my fears and
and
and doing my passion so Adam and I started
doing my passion so Adam and I started
doing my passion so Adam and I started brainstorming brainstorming on how we
brainstorming brainstorming on how we
brainstorming brainstorming on how we could combine both of our passion Adams
could combine both of our passion Adams
could combine both of our passion Adams passion for for teaching and not just
passion for for teaching and not just
passion for for teaching and not just teaching but crazy teaching and doing
teaching but crazy teaching and doing
teaching but crazy teaching and doing the world’s best teaching and my passion
the world’s best teaching and my passion
the world’s best teaching and my passion for doing events that turn on a spark
for doing events that turn on a spark
for doing events that turn on a spark inside of people and all of a sudden
inside of people and all of a sudden
inside of people and all of a sudden there was a vision for an event why
there was a vision for an event why
there was a vision for an event why don’t we take over an old warehouse an
don’t we take over an old warehouse an
don’t we take over an old warehouse an old warehouse and turn it into a fantasy
old warehouse and turn it into a fantasy
old warehouse and turn it into a fantasy factory where we could invite the most
factory where we could invite the most
factory where we could invite the most inspiring people to us and bring
inspiring people to us and bring
inspiring people to us and bring together other people to learn from
together other people to learn from
together other people to learn from these amazing people and it wouldn’t be
these amazing people and it wouldn’t be
these amazing people and it wouldn’t be a factory that produces normal things it
a factory that produces normal things it
a factory that produces normal things it would be a factory that produces ideas
would be a factory that produces ideas
would be a factory that produces ideas dreams where we could teach and
dreams where we could teach and
dreams where we could teach and celebrate and encourage people on how to
celebrate and encourage people on how to
celebrate and encourage people on how to use your imagination and we would call
use your imagination and we would call
use your imagination and we would call it the factory of imagination so we
it the factory of imagination so we
it the factory of imagination so we started pallet telling people about this
started pallet telling people about this
started pallet telling people about this vision and we shared our we share our
vision and we shared our we share our
vision and we shared our we share our story and with anybody that will listen
story and with anybody that will listen
story and with anybody that will listen to it and we set a date we booked a
to it and we set a date we booked a
to it and we set a date we booked a venue without even having the funding
venue without even having the funding
venue without even having the funding sorted out but just by doing it it all
sorted out but just by doing it it all
sorted out but just by doing it it all started taking shape and then Adam and I
started taking shape and then Adam and I
started taking shape and then Adam and I quickly realized that this vision is way
quickly realized that this vision is way
quickly realized that this vision is way too big for just the two of us so we
too big for just the two of us so we
too big for just the two of us so we thought okay let’s let’s do a call-out
thought okay let’s let’s do a call-out
thought okay let’s let’s do a call-out for volunteers and I remember we made
for volunteers and I remember we made
for volunteers and I remember we made this homemade poster call out for
this homemade poster call out for
this homemade poster call out for volunteers and we spread the message
volunteers and we spread the message
volunteers and we spread the message we’re building a factory who wants to
we’re building a factory who wants to
we’re building a factory who wants to join and on this Friday the 5th of
join and on this Friday the 5th of
join and on this Friday the 5th of December and around 50 students came
December and around 50 students came
December and around 50 students came together in a classroom and Adam and I
together in a classroom and Adam and I
together in a classroom and Adam and I started telling our story and we
started telling our story and we
started telling our story and we recorded the whole thing and then
recorded the whole thing and then
recorded the whole thing and then blasted it out on on social media and
blasted it out on on social media and
blasted it out on on social media and just in it in two days time I was very
just in it in two days time I was very
just in it in two days time I was very surprised that over a hundred and fifty
surprised that over a hundred and fifty
surprised that over a hundred and fifty students had applied to become part of
students had applied to become part of
students had applied to become part of our community of volunteers so that’s
our community of volunteers so that’s
our community of volunteers so that’s when the real magic started to happen
when the real magic started to happen
when the real magic started to happen our passion had become contagious so
our passion had become contagious so
our passion had become contagious so contagious that our university the
contagious that our university the
contagious that our university the little belt Academy decided to give us
little belt Academy decided to give us
little belt Academy decided to give us the funding that we needed to go and
the funding that we needed to go and
the funding that we needed to go and build our factory
build our factory
build our factory so the next four months we worked our
so the next four months we worked our
so the next four months we worked our excuse me for my language asses off by
excuse me for my language asses off by
excuse me for my language asses off by volunteers coming together doing their
volunteers coming together doing their
volunteers coming together doing their ideas doing their dreams and doing their
ideas doing their dreams and doing their
ideas doing their dreams and doing their passions and it’s it has resulted in the
passions and it’s it has resulted in the
passions and it’s it has resulted in the most amazing day it was a one-day event
most amazing day it was a one-day event
most amazing day it was a one-day event where we gathered 500 imagine years to
where we gathered 500 imagine years to
where we gathered 500 imagine years to come and share their dreams and do
come and share their dreams and do
come and share their dreams and do theirs ideas so what can you find inside
theirs ideas so what can you find inside
theirs ideas so what can you find inside our Factory
our Factory
our Factory well imagine all the things that you
well imagine all the things that you
well imagine all the things that you never got around doing maybe because of
never got around doing maybe because of
never got around doing maybe because of fear fear of losing your regular job or
fear fear of losing your regular job or
fear fear of losing your regular job or fear of what me people might say or
fear of what me people might say or
fear of what me people might say or think well at our factory we got rid of
think well at our factory we got rid of
think well at our factory we got rid of the rig the normal rules of reality and
the rig the normal rules of reality and
the rig the normal rules of reality and our Factory you could come and do your
our Factory you could come and do your
our Factory you could come and do your ideas so we invited the most amazing
ideas so we invited the most amazing
ideas so we invited the most amazing people that that inspire us so we have
people that that inspire us so we have
people that that inspire us so we have companies like Google NASA Facebook that
companies like Google NASA Facebook that
companies like Google NASA Facebook that would come to our factory and share
would come to our factory and share
would come to our factory and share their ideas and their stories on
their ideas and their stories on
their ideas and their stories on imagination but how do we do it how do
imagination but how do we do it how do
imagination but how do we do it how do you make volunteers into fashion ears
you make volunteers into fashion ears
you make volunteers into fashion ears rule number one is that I tell my
rule number one is that I tell my
rule number one is that I tell my volunteers or I teach my volunteers that
volunteers or I teach my volunteers that
volunteers or I teach my volunteers that it’s not enough to raise your hands it’s
it’s not enough to raise your hands it’s
it’s not enough to raise your hands it’s not enough to just come up with an idea
not enough to just come up with an idea
not enough to just come up with an idea you also have to go and do it you have
you also have to go and do it you have
you also have to go and do it you have to take the responsibility and go and
to take the responsibility and go and
to take the responsibility and go and make your idea and then the second thing
make your idea and then the second thing
make your idea and then the second thing is I’ve made how I made a community of
is I’ve made how I made a community of
is I’ve made how I made a community of volunteers is through a few guidelines
volunteers is through a few guidelines
volunteers is through a few guidelines that I’ve developed over the years
that I’ve developed over the years
that I’ve developed over the years the first one is instead of telling
the first one is instead of telling
the first one is instead of telling people what to do
people what to do
people what to do I give them my trust my trust that I
I give them my trust my trust that I
I give them my trust my trust that I believe that they will create something
believe that they will create something
believe that they will create something great which they then do the second
great which they then do the second
great which they then do the second thing is that instead of troduce I give
thing is that instead of troduce I give
thing is that instead of troduce I give small suggestions and these leads to it
small suggestions and these leads to it
small suggestions and these leads to it it gets them going just in the right
it gets them going just in the right
it gets them going just in the right direction but keeps enough freedom to
direction but keeps enough freedom to
direction but keeps enough freedom to make their own creations the third thing
make their own creations the third thing
make their own creations the third thing is that from the very beginning I share
is that from the very beginning I share
is that from the very beginning I share my vision even when it’s not even clear
my vision even when it’s not even clear
my vision even when it’s not even clear to me yet and then I asked for my
to me yet and then I asked for my
to me yet and then I asked for my volunteers for their input so it becomes
volunteers for their input so it becomes
volunteers for their input so it becomes our vision the fourth thing is that I
our vision the fourth thing is that I
our vision the fourth thing is that I treat my volunteers as the most
treat my volunteers as the most
treat my volunteers as the most important part of the events which they
important part of the events which they
important part of the events which they are
are
are once you start realizing that and start
once you start realizing that and start
once you start realizing that and start acting on that they will act on it too
acting on that they will act on it too
acting on that they will act on it too the last one is that I’m my complete
the last one is that I’m my complete
the last one is that I’m my complete self with them which what you see it was
self with them which what you see it was
self with them which what you see it was is what you get which creates a bond of
is what you get which creates a bond of
is what you get which creates a bond of trusts a safe environment where we can
trusts a safe environment where we can
trusts a safe environment where we can laugh with stupid questions
laugh with stupid questions
laugh with stupid questions because yes there are stupid questions
because yes there are stupid questions
because yes there are stupid questions and where we can where they can come
and where we can where they can come
and where we can where they can come with creative ideas the most the more
with creative ideas the most the more
with creative ideas the most the more creative the better and then we created
creative the better and then we created
creative the better and then we created something something else we created
something something else we created
something something else we created something even better than a democracy
something even better than a democracy
something even better than a democracy so what was greater than a democracy
so what was greater than a democracy
so what was greater than a democracy especially these times well at a
especially these times well at a
especially these times well at a democracy you come together you have a
democracy you come together you have a
democracy you come together you have a meeting you listen to each one of one of
meeting you listen to each one of one of
meeting you listen to each one of one of the people’s opinion and then it takes
the people’s opinion and then it takes
the people’s opinion and then it takes quite a lot of time and especially in
quite a lot of time and especially in
quite a lot of time and especially in Denmark we love meetings but not a lot
Denmark we love meetings but not a lot
Denmark we love meetings but not a lot of action comes out of it more meetings
of action comes out of it more meetings
of action comes out of it more meetings gets out of it so at our factory we’re
gets out of it so at our factory we’re
gets out of it so at our factory we’re more action orientated
more action orientated
more action orientated so instead of a democracy we created a
so instead of a democracy we created a
so instead of a democracy we created a duoc racine a community based on doing
duoc racine a community based on doing
duoc racine a community based on doing rather than talking and this democracy
rather than talking and this democracy
rather than talking and this democracy and the guidelines and the taking
and the guidelines and the taking
and the guidelines and the taking responsibility of your ideas have
responsibility of your ideas have
responsibility of your ideas have resulted in the most amazing creations
resulted in the most amazing creations
resulted in the most amazing creations inside of the factory from pink cats
inside of the factory from pink cats
inside of the factory from pink cats made out of umbrellas through chai and
made out of umbrellas through chai and
made out of umbrellas through chai and robots made out of cardboard boxes to a
robots made out of cardboard boxes to a
robots made out of cardboard boxes to a trans blurb reader a machine that
trans blurb reader a machine that
trans blurb reader a machine that transfers ideas don’t ask me how it
transfers ideas don’t ask me how it
transfers ideas don’t ask me how it works so these these things that we
works so these these things that we
works so these these things that we created it’s it all was because of our
created it’s it all was because of our
created it’s it all was because of our volunteers or our passion ears and I
volunteers or our passion ears and I
volunteers or our passion ears and I would like to introduce you to two of
would like to introduce you to two of
would like to introduce you to two of our volunteers that have truly
our volunteers that have truly
our volunteers that have truly transformed to passion ears the first
transformed to passion ears the first
transformed to passion ears the first one is born which we call Bo the Builder
one is born which we call Bo the Builder
one is born which we call Bo the Builder he was a concept development design
he was a concept development design
he was a concept development design student at the time and I could see that
student at the time and I could see that
student at the time and I could see that he had a lot of ideas for the
he had a lot of ideas for the
he had a lot of ideas for the decorations and he had very creative
decorations and he had very creative
decorations and he had very creative hands as well so I asked well what do
hands as well so I asked well what do
hands as well so I asked well what do you need from me for you to go and make
you need from me for you to go and make
you need from me for you to go and make your ideas so he gave me a list of
your ideas so he gave me a list of
your ideas so he gave me a list of materials and as I read through it I was
materials and as I read through it I was
materials and as I read through it I was kind of skeptical
kind of skeptical
kind of skeptical but again I had to remind myself okay
but again I had to remind myself okay
but again I had to remind myself okay trust I believe that he will make
trust I believe that he will make
trust I believe that he will make something great so the first two things
something great so the first two things
something great so the first two things on the list was some was normal it was
on the list was some was normal it was
on the list was some was normal it was some wood some paints but then he got
some wood some paints but then he got
some wood some paints but then he got specific Sophie can you get me ten fish
specific Sophie can you get me ten fish
specific Sophie can you get me ten fish tank motors and can you get me a
tank motors and can you get me a
tank motors and can you get me a specific kind of silicon foam and can
specific kind of silicon foam and can
specific kind of silicon foam and can you also get me different kinds of
you also get me different kinds of
you also get me different kinds of liquids with different kinds of colors
liquids with different kinds of colors
liquids with different kinds of colors and then he created this which resulted
and then he created this which resulted
and then he created this which resulted in our centerpiece piece on the stage it
in our centerpiece piece on the stage it
in our centerpiece piece on the stage it was a cupboard that he brought to life
was a cupboard that he brought to life
was a cupboard that he brought to life with smoke coming out of it and the
with smoke coming out of it and the
with smoke coming out of it and the lights changing on the man’s really
lights changing on the man’s really
lights changing on the man’s really fantastic
fantastic
fantastic the second volunteer or passion year
the second volunteer or passion year
the second volunteer or passion year that I would like to introduce you is
that I would like to introduce you is
that I would like to introduce you is Adina Anna Dina was a very talented
Adina Anna Dina was a very talented
Adina Anna Dina was a very talented graphic design student at a time that I
graphic design student at a time that I
graphic design student at a time that I would just have to go to tell about the
would just have to go to tell about the
would just have to go to tell about the vision and she’s would transform it in
vision and she’s would transform it in
vision and she’s would transform it in the most amazing graphic designs and we
the most amazing graphic designs and we
the most amazing graphic designs and we have actually now hired her as our art
have actually now hired her as our art
have actually now hired her as our art director and she now herself has a
director and she now herself has a
director and she now herself has a volunteer trainee that she passes on her
volunteer trainee that she passes on her
volunteer trainee that she passes on her passion and her imagination to thinking
passion and her imagination to thinking
passion and her imagination to thinking back of the beginning of the factory of
back of the beginning of the factory of
back of the beginning of the factory of imagination it all started with a vision
imagination it all started with a vision
imagination it all started with a vision with a story we’re building a factory of
with a story we’re building a factory of
with a story we’re building a factory of imagination who wants to join we didn’t
imagination who wants to join we didn’t
imagination who wants to join we didn’t say we want to build a factory we said
say we want to build a factory we said
say we want to build a factory we said we are building a factory and that in
we are building a factory and that in
we are building a factory and that in itself ignited people’s imagination to
itself ignited people’s imagination to
itself ignited people’s imagination to come and join us which was a very
come and join us which was a very
come and join us which was a very powerful thing today I organized factor
powerful thing today I organized factor
powerful thing today I organized factor of imagination workshops all around the
of imagination workshops all around the
of imagination workshops all around the world in schools in companies as as a
world in schools in companies as as a
world in schools in companies as as a creative booster at the start of an
creative booster at the start of an
creative booster at the start of an event next to our yearly effect or
event next to our yearly effect or
event next to our yearly effect or imagination
imagination
imagination and which is now grown to be the world’s
and which is now grown to be the world’s
and which is now grown to be the world’s largest imagination event so to end with
largest imagination event so to end with
largest imagination event so to end with my dream my dream for the factory of
my dream my dream for the factory of
my dream my dream for the factory of imagination is for people around the
imagination is for people around the
imagination is for people around the world to gather in local factory of
world to gather in local factory of
world to gather in local factory of imaginations where they can Co go and
imaginations where they can Co go and
imaginations where they can Co go and find their own passion and dreams and go
find their own passion and dreams and go
find their own passion and dreams and go and naked and I would like to end with
and naked and I would like to end with
and naked and I would like to end with the same question
the same question
the same question as I started with and I hope I see a few
as I started with and I hope I see a few
as I started with and I hope I see a few more hands now who by a show of hands
more hands now who by a show of hands
more hands now who by a show of hands who wants to be a passion ear thank you
who wants to be a passion ear thank you
who wants to be a passion ear thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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