ladies and gentlemen is my great honor and pleasure to be here at TEDx tonight
and pleasure to be here at TEDx tonight
and pleasure to be here at TEDx tonight my name is sue hopper a lumpy I am the
my name is sue hopper a lumpy I am the
my name is sue hopper a lumpy I am the manager of the business incubator at
manager of the business incubator at
manager of the business incubator at Carter University where we have a center
Carter University where we have a center
Carter University where we have a center for entrepreneurship and we serve our
for entrepreneurship and we serve our
for entrepreneurship and we serve our aspiring entrepreneurs and startup
aspiring entrepreneurs and startup
aspiring entrepreneurs and startup companies later on tonight there’s gonna
companies later on tonight there’s gonna
companies later on tonight there’s gonna be one baby of ours called Arvixe and
be one baby of ours called Arvixe and
be one baby of ours called Arvixe and they will be presenting their case
they will be presenting their case
they will be presenting their case before we go any further I would like to
before we go any further I would like to
before we go any further I would like to ask you a question and please raise your
ask you a question and please raise your
ask you a question and please raise your hands how many of you have actually
hands how many of you have actually
hands how many of you have actually lived abroad for more than one year
lived abroad for more than one year
lived abroad for more than one year please raise your hands I see almost 50%
please raise your hands I see almost 50%
please raise your hands I see almost 50% which I’m not surprised here in Qatar B
which I’m not surprised here in Qatar B
which I’m not surprised here in Qatar B is such an international place tonight I
is such an international place tonight I
is such an international place tonight I will talk about the year that changed my
will talk about the year that changed my
will talk about the year that changed my life my personal experiences included
life my personal experiences included
life my personal experiences included some scientific data and how it all has
some scientific data and how it all has
some scientific data and how it all has impacted me first of all I’m from a
impacted me first of all I’m from a
impacted me first of all I’m from a country called Finland which is up in
country called Finland which is up in
country called Finland which is up in the northern part of Europe its very
the northern part of Europe its very
the northern part of Europe its very nature oriented and innovation based
nature oriented and innovation based
nature oriented and innovation based country I definitely enjoyed my
country I definitely enjoyed my
country I definitely enjoyed my childhood growing up in the beautiful
childhood growing up in the beautiful
childhood growing up in the beautiful nature enjoying a warm summer’s and
nature enjoying a warm summer’s and
nature enjoying a warm summer’s and cooler winters I had a ball I had a good
cooler winters I had a ball I had a good
cooler winters I had a ball I had a good time
time
time being with my family my friends playing
being with my family my friends playing
being with my family my friends playing sports Finland is a very safe and secure
sports Finland is a very safe and secure
sports Finland is a very safe and secure place to be brought up in in 1943
place to be brought up in in 1943
place to be brought up in in 1943 psychologist Abraham Maslow made
psychologist Abraham Maslow made
psychologist Abraham Maslow made extensive survey on people’s innate
extensive survey on people’s innate
extensive survey on people’s innate curiosity and motivation and what he
curiosity and motivation and what he
curiosity and motivation and what he found out is that we human beings have a
found out is that we human beings have a
found out is that we human beings have a need to go up in the ladder and called
need to go up in the ladder and called
need to go up in the ladder and called Maslow’s hierarchy so once I er once our
Maslow’s hierarchy so once I er once our
Maslow’s hierarchy so once I er once our basic needs are met we tend to go
basic needs are met we tend to go
basic needs are met we tend to go towards self-actualization by
towards self-actualization by
towards self-actualization by self-actualization
self-actualization
self-actualization States we mean that we can become who we
States we mean that we can become who we
States we mean that we can become who we really are supposed to be and we can
really are supposed to be and we can
really are supposed to be and we can reach whatever is there to be reached
reach whatever is there to be reached
reach whatever is there to be reached for us being a very lucky person I had
for us being a very lucky person I had
for us being a very lucky person I had my basic needs met early on in my life
at this point of time I had a big dream
at this point of time I had a big dream I wanted to become an ambassador and by
I wanted to become an ambassador and by
I wanted to become an ambassador and by him being an ambassador I being a
him being an ambassador I being a
him being an ambassador I being a representative of my country of Finland
representative of my country of Finland
representative of my country of Finland marketing the brand and living abroad
marketing the brand and living abroad
marketing the brand and living abroad and whenever you say something like that
and whenever you say something like that
and whenever you say something like that out loud especially to your bierce
out loud especially to your bierce
out loud especially to your bierce Pearce in Finland it’s an outrageous
Pearce in Finland it’s an outrageous
Pearce in Finland it’s an outrageous statement Finland still of a country of
statement Finland still of a country of
statement Finland still of a country of trying to fit into society so dreaming
trying to fit into society so dreaming
trying to fit into society so dreaming big having huge dreams especially
big having huge dreams especially
big having huge dreams especially stating them out is more of an American
stating them out is more of an American
stating them out is more of an American style than Finnish style and of course
style than Finnish style and of course
style than Finnish style and of course Iraq Iraq Don it whenever I talked about
Iraq Iraq Don it whenever I talked about
Iraq Iraq Don it whenever I talked about it to my peers however even if we’re guy
it to my peers however even if we’re guy
it to my peers however even if we’re guy wrecked on it I did not want to give up
wrecked on it I did not want to give up
wrecked on it I did not want to give up on my dream I kept it I had it and I
on my dream I kept it I had it and I
on my dream I kept it I had it and I kept going at the age of 13 I already
kept going at the age of 13 I already
kept going at the age of 13 I already started travelling on my own to visit my
started travelling on my own to visit my
started travelling on my own to visit my relatives down in Marbella Spain it’s a
relatives down in Marbella Spain it’s a
relatives down in Marbella Spain it’s a beautiful place I also started meeting
beautiful place I also started meeting
beautiful place I also started meeting international people and speak in
international people and speak in
international people and speak in English and at that time I wasn’t really
English and at that time I wasn’t really
English and at that time I wasn’t really that good at it because my country is
that good at it because my country is
that good at it because my country is bilingual but we speak Finnish and
bilingual but we speak Finnish and
bilingual but we speak Finnish and Swedish as our mother tongues then at
Swedish as our mother tongues then at
Swedish as our mother tongues then at the age of 17 I was chosen and had a
the age of 17 I was chosen and had a
the age of 17 I was chosen and had a chance to travel for one year preceding
chance to travel for one year preceding
chance to travel for one year preceding high school through rotary exchange
high school through rotary exchange
high school through rotary exchange program to spend a year in Miami Florida
program to spend a year in Miami Florida
program to spend a year in Miami Florida a beautiful place and I was of course
a beautiful place and I was of course
a beautiful place and I was of course ecstatic about it being able to have the
ecstatic about it being able to have the
ecstatic about it being able to have the heat and yes I actually loved the heat
heat and yes I actually loved the heat
heat and yes I actually loved the heat even here in Doha because I’m from a
even here in Doha because I’m from a
even here in Doha because I’m from a cold place and no social media to
cold place and no social media to
cold place and no social media to distract me from acts
distract me from acts
distract me from acts my social life back then and everything
my social life back then and everything
my social life back then and everything was very different euphoric almost
was very different euphoric almost
was very different euphoric almost however during that year I did go
however during that year I did go
however during that year I did go through severe culture shocks and also
through severe culture shocks and also
through severe culture shocks and also acculturation for example not having my
acculturation for example not having my
acculturation for example not having my parents around me my comfort zone for
parents around me my comfort zone for
parents around me my comfort zone for the first time in life to have a curfew
the first time in life to have a curfew
the first time in life to have a curfew I did not even know what a curfew is
I did not even know what a curfew is
I did not even know what a curfew is living in a place in North America where
living in a place in North America where
living in a place in North America where actually Spanish was more spoken than
actually Spanish was more spoken than
actually Spanish was more spoken than English for the sake that 70% of the
English for the sake that 70% of the
English for the sake that 70% of the population in Miami is actually off
population in Miami is actually off
population in Miami is actually off Latin American American background
Latin American American background
Latin American American background however this year totally changed me
however this year totally changed me
however this year totally changed me even though there was a lot of ups and
even though there was a lot of ups and
even though there was a lot of ups and downs during this year next we could
downs during this year next we could
downs during this year next we could have a look at this graph it’s called
have a look at this graph it’s called
have a look at this graph it’s called cross-cultural communication of foreign
cross-cultural communication of foreign
cross-cultural communication of foreign visitors acculturation curve this moving
visitors acculturation curve this moving
visitors acculturation curve this moving can be a serious process if it’s
can be a serious process if it’s
can be a serious process if it’s unmanaged we can definitely go through
unmanaged we can definitely go through
unmanaged we can definitely go through some very serious psychological stress
some very serious psychological stress
some very serious psychological stress if managed and cherished it can really
if managed and cherished it can really
if managed and cherished it can really enrich our lives mentally emotionally
enrich our lives mentally emotionally
enrich our lives mentally emotionally and also financially oftentimes when we
and also financially oftentimes when we
and also financially oftentimes when we go and live abroad and this is usually
go and live abroad and this is usually
go and live abroad and this is usually one-year period of time in the beginning
one-year period of time in the beginning
one-year period of time in the beginning we go through euphoria we leave our past
we go through euphoria we leave our past
we go through euphoria we leave our past our comfort zone behind and we’re
our comfort zone behind and we’re
our comfort zone behind and we’re ecstatic we’re very happy the next stage
ecstatic we’re very happy the next stage
ecstatic we’re very happy the next stage is called culture shock the reality hits
is called culture shock the reality hits
is called culture shock the reality hits you you actually start digging deeper
you you actually start digging deeper
you you actually start digging deeper into a culture understanding not
into a culture understanding not
into a culture understanding not everything is so perfect and a lot of
everything is so perfect and a lot of
everything is so perfect and a lot of things back home were really really good
things back home were really really good
things back home were really really good then moving on to the face of
then moving on to the face of
then moving on to the face of acculturation and finally usually about
acculturation and finally usually about
acculturation and finally usually about after one year a more stable state and
after one year a more stable state and
after one year a more stable state and the outcome can be we’ve gone native we
the outcome can be we’ve gone native we
the outcome can be we’ve gone native we have become by culturally adapted or
have become by culturally adapted or
have become by culturally adapted or even negative emotions if a person is
even negative emotions if a person is
even negative emotions if a person is bound to experience still very negative
bound to experience still very negative
bound to experience still very negative emotions after one year of time he or
emotions after one year of time he or
emotions after one year of time he or she is bound to go back home or at least
she is bound to go back home or at least
she is bound to go back home or at least leave the
leave the
leave the the place next I want to show you a
the place next I want to show you a
the place next I want to show you a couple of graphs we can have a look at
couple of graphs we can have a look at
couple of graphs we can have a look at GERD Hofstede’s which is a Dutch based
GERD Hofstede’s which is a Dutch based
GERD Hofstede’s which is a Dutch based professor and his value dimension graphs
professor and his value dimension graphs
professor and his value dimension graphs what this study actually tells is first
what this study actually tells is first
what this study actually tells is first of all he studied on over a hundred
of all he studied on over a hundred
of all he studied on over a hundred thousand people world over and he has
thousand people world over and he has
thousand people world over and he has compared different countries and
compared different countries and
compared different countries and cultures and their similarities and
cultures and their similarities and
cultures and their similarities and differences he’s based on value
differences he’s based on value
differences he’s based on value dimensions there’s six major ones but I
dimensions there’s six major ones but I
dimensions there’s six major ones but I want to focus on two of them first power
want to focus on two of them first power
want to focus on two of them first power distance so what do we mean by power
distance so what do we mean by power
distance so what do we mean by power distance we mean the acceptance of less
distance we mean the acceptance of less
distance we mean the acceptance of less fortunate people in society how well
fortunate people in society how well
fortunate people in society how well they accept and expect that there is
they accept and expect that there is
they accept and expect that there is actually an inequality in any in terms
actually an inequality in any in terms
actually an inequality in any in terms of wealth or power and as you can tell
of wealth or power and as you can tell
of wealth or power and as you can tell Finland is very low on this figure which
Finland is very low on this figure which
Finland is very low on this figure which means that Finnish people do not accept
means that Finnish people do not accept
means that Finnish people do not accept on equality we’re very very bad with
on equality we’re very very bad with
on equality we’re very very bad with hierarchy for example we don’t like the
hierarchy for example we don’t like the
hierarchy for example we don’t like the fact that there’s someone above us
fact that there’s someone above us
fact that there’s someone above us everything has to be equal even wealth
everything has to be equal even wealth
everything has to be equal even wealth distribution on the other hand locally
distribution on the other hand locally
distribution on the other hand locally here in the region is very high and the
here in the region is very high and the
here in the region is very high and the reason why I’m actually using the UAE or
reason why I’m actually using the UAE or
reason why I’m actually using the UAE or United Arab Emirates instead of Qatar is
United Arab Emirates instead of Qatar is
United Arab Emirates instead of Qatar is there was no data found on Qatar
there was no data found on Qatar
there was no data found on Qatar unfortunately however we can see that
unfortunately however we can see that
unfortunately however we can see that locally high hierarchy and power
locally high hierarchy and power
locally high hierarchy and power distance is very accepted and expected
distance is very accepted and expected
distance is very accepted and expected the next value dimension I want to tap
the next value dimension I want to tap
the next value dimension I want to tap on is masculinity or femininity and by
on is masculinity or femininity and by
on is masculinity or femininity and by mask evil masculinity when we talk about
mask evil masculinity when we talk about
mask evil masculinity when we talk about we talk about values in society that are
we talk about values in society that are
we talk about values in society that are more masculine assertive we heroic will
more masculine assertive we heroic will
more masculine assertive we heroic will look for financially works as an example
look for financially works as an example
look for financially works as an example and once again Finland is very low that
and once again Finland is very low that
and once again Finland is very low that means that in our society a lot of
means that in our society a lot of
means that in our society a lot of emphasis and also finance is put into
emphasis and also finance is put into
emphasis and also finance is put into nurturing into education
nurturing into education
nurturing into education we’re asked for example in the United
we’re asked for example in the United
we’re asked for example in the United States the figure is much higher and US
States the figure is much higher and US
States the figure is much higher and US is a lot more competition based society
is a lot more competition based society
is a lot more competition based society as a person who’s lived all in all three
as a person who’s lived all in all three
as a person who’s lived all in all three these three societies and gone through
these three societies and gone through
these three societies and gone through culture shocks and Valor dimensions I
culture shocks and Valor dimensions I
culture shocks and Valor dimensions I can pretty much that it has all changed
can pretty much that it has all changed
can pretty much that it has all changed me and hopefully for a better person if
me and hopefully for a better person if
me and hopefully for a better person if it originally for a pretty better
it originally for a pretty better
it originally for a pretty better student mentor and a person and it’s
student mentor and a person and it’s
student mentor and a person and it’s actually enhanced my creative thinking
actually enhanced my creative thinking
actually enhanced my creative thinking and becoming a more entrepreneurial
and becoming a more entrepreneurial
and becoming a more entrepreneurial person the bottom line with this slide
person the bottom line with this slide
person the bottom line with this slide is that the culture shock that I had the
is that the culture shock that I had the
is that the culture shock that I had the first time I moved away from Finland to
first time I moved away from Finland to
first time I moved away from Finland to Miami
Miami
Miami even if cultural these countries are
even if cultural these countries are
even if cultural these countries are closer by was very high because I I did
closer by was very high because I I did
closer by was very high because I I did it for the first time the next time
it for the first time the next time
it for the first time the next time around and the third time that I
around and the third time that I
around and the third time that I actually moved to Qatar there was
actually moved to Qatar there was
actually moved to Qatar there was basically no culture shock even if
basically no culture shock even if
basically no culture shock even if culturally Finland and Qatar are much
culturally Finland and Qatar are much
culturally Finland and Qatar are much further away then there’s another study
further away then there’s another study
further away then there’s another study called cultural borders and mental
called cultural borders and mental
called cultural borders and mental barriers the relationship between living
barriers the relationship between living
barriers the relationship between living abroad and creativity and what this
abroad and creativity and what this
abroad and creativity and what this study found out is that people who’ve
study found out is that people who’ve
study found out is that people who’ve lived abroad are about to be a lot more
lived abroad are about to be a lot more
lived abroad are about to be a lot more creative and innovative and it’s based
creative and innovative and it’s based
creative and innovative and it’s based on the factor that once we leave our
on the factor that once we leave our
on the factor that once we leave our comfort zone we need to be able to adapt
comfort zone we need to be able to adapt
comfort zone we need to be able to adapt simple as that so once you are pushed
simple as that so once you are pushed
simple as that so once you are pushed out of it there’s no way but to learn
out of it there’s no way but to learn
out of it there’s no way but to learn how to swim if you don’t know how to
how to swim if you don’t know how to
how to swim if you don’t know how to swim until then as an example there are
swim until then as an example there are
swim until then as an example there are universities in Switzerland that tap on
universities in Switzerland that tap on
universities in Switzerland that tap on this creativity factor what they do is
this creativity factor what they do is
this creativity factor what they do is they send out some of their teams
they send out some of their teams
they send out some of their teams anywhere in the world they give them a
anywhere in the world they give them a
anywhere in the world they give them a hundred thousand US dollars and let them
hundred thousand US dollars and let them
hundred thousand US dollars and let them just travel just to explore because they
just travel just to explore because they
just travel just to explore because they know that once these teams come back to
know that once these teams come back to
know that once these teams come back to Switzerland they are bound to start up
Switzerland they are bound to start up
Switzerland they are bound to start up innovation based startups
coming back to my own life so after the
coming back to my own life so after the culmination point the great year in
culmination point the great year in
culmination point the great year in Miami I went back to Finland and things
Miami I went back to Finland and things
Miami I went back to Finland and things were naturally comfortable it’s good to
were naturally comfortable it’s good to
were naturally comfortable it’s good to go back home see your family your
go back home see your family your
go back home see your family your friends just to be there but things get
friends just to be there but things get
friends just to be there but things get very routine like often and that’s what
very routine like often and that’s what
very routine like often and that’s what I experienced so I felt like it’s good
I experienced so I felt like it’s good
I experienced so I felt like it’s good to be home however I had it C feet or I
to be home however I had it C feet or I
to be home however I had it C feet or I hired that fire in the belly and I still
hired that fire in the belly and I still
hired that fire in the belly and I still wanted to explore so what I did I
wanted to explore so what I did I
wanted to explore so what I did I applied for a study place in another in
applied for a study place in another in
applied for a study place in another in a neighboring country called Sweden and
a neighboring country called Sweden and
a neighboring country called Sweden and a university called learned I got
a university called learned I got
a university called learned I got accepted and I moved there however no
accepted and I moved there however no
accepted and I moved there however no matter how beautiful the place or being
matter how beautiful the place or being
matter how beautiful the place or being the best university in Scandinavian
the best university in Scandinavian
the best university in Scandinavian countries I did not have the drive for
countries I did not have the drive for
countries I did not have the drive for the sake of there’s no cultural
the sake of there’s no cultural
the sake of there’s no cultural difference whatsoever because Finland
difference whatsoever because Finland
difference whatsoever because Finland and Sweden are culturally so close by it
and Sweden are culturally so close by it
and Sweden are culturally so close by it didn’t it it did not feed my soul nor my
didn’t it it did not feed my soul nor my
didn’t it it did not feed my soul nor my thirst for learning eventually
thirst for learning eventually
thirst for learning eventually eventually I then went back to actually
eventually I then went back to actually
eventually I then went back to actually Miami and I stayed in Miami for another
Miami and I stayed in Miami for another
Miami and I stayed in Miami for another couple years but even if the first time
couple years but even if the first time
couple years but even if the first time it was so precious the second time
it was so precious the second time
it was so precious the second time around was different I had gone through
around was different I had gone through
around was different I had gone through all those culture shocks those tricks
all those culture shocks those tricks
all those culture shocks those tricks already so it did not feed me either
already so it did not feed me either
already so it did not feed me either eventually I went back to Finland and
eventually I went back to Finland and
eventually I went back to Finland and finished my studies in international
finished my studies in international
finished my studies in international business and entrepreneurship then later
business and entrepreneurship then later
business and entrepreneurship then later on in my career I came here to Qatar
on in my career I came here to Qatar
on in my career I came here to Qatar Doha for a conference I met some people
Doha for a conference I met some people
Doha for a conference I met some people and eventually got an offer from Qatar
and eventually got an offer from Qatar
and eventually got an offer from Qatar University I felt like wow this success
University I felt like wow this success
University I felt like wow this success this is definitely exciting that would
this is definitely exciting that would
this is definitely exciting that would be an experience
be an experience
be an experience also my wife received an offer from
also my wife received an offer from
also my wife received an offer from Qatar University as well
Qatar University as well
Qatar University as well we had steady jobs and comfortable lives
we had steady jobs and comfortable lives
we had steady jobs and comfortable lives back in Finland however we decided to
back in Finland however we decided to
back in Finland however we decided to talk to our employers and they
talk to our employers and they
talk to our employers and they encouraged us to take upon the challenge
encouraged us to take upon the challenge
encouraged us to take upon the challenge and back then jump into the unknown
and back then jump into the unknown
and back then jump into the unknown soon it has been four years here and
soon it has been four years here and
soon it has been four years here and Doha has become another home for us then
Doha has become another home for us then
Doha has become another home for us then seven months ago another big dream of
seven months ago another big dream of
seven months ago another big dream of mine came true
mine came true
mine came true my baby girl Karolina or Carolina was
my baby girl Karolina or Carolina was
my baby girl Karolina or Carolina was born here at the Cuban hospital she is
born here at the Cuban hospital she is
born here at the Cuban hospital she is the apple of my eye and already one of
the apple of my eye and already one of
the apple of my eye and already one of those big accomplishments of my life
those big accomplishments of my life
those big accomplishments of my life [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] my message here is through my personal
my message here is through my personal
my message here is through my personal experiences is for you to dream big
experiences is for you to dream big
experiences is for you to dream big don’t ever let anyone tell you that you
don’t ever let anyone tell you that you
don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do something my initial dream was
can’t do something my initial dream was
can’t do something my initial dream was to become an ambassador even if I never
to become an ambassador even if I never
to become an ambassador even if I never became one I feel that that dream that I
became one I feel that that dream that I
became one I feel that that dream that I had made me leave the comfort zone that
had made me leave the comfort zone that
had made me leave the comfort zone that I was in it gave me courage to move
I was in it gave me courage to move
I was in it gave me courage to move forward and eventually I did become an
forward and eventually I did become an
forward and eventually I did become an ambassador even if in the area of
ambassador even if in the area of
ambassador even if in the area of business
business
business thus I feel I become more innovative a
thus I feel I become more innovative a
thus I feel I become more innovative a more creative and more entrepreneurial
more creative and more entrepreneurial
more creative and more entrepreneurial thanks to this whole ride that I’ve
thanks to this whole ride that I’ve
thanks to this whole ride that I’ve taken so I have leveraged the ripple
taken so I have leveraged the ripple
taken so I have leveraged the ripple effects please do go global if you have
effects please do go global if you have
effects please do go global if you have a possibility with your family or
a possibility with your family or
a possibility with your family or without your family for the sake of is
without your family for the sake of is
without your family for the sake of is the starting point of this old track
the starting point of this old track
the starting point of this old track that we talked about being creative
that we talked about being creative
that we talked about being creative being innovative and being
being innovative and being
being innovative and being entrepreneurial through this what you
entrepreneurial through this what you
entrepreneurial through this what you will also be able to understand your
will also be able to understand your
will also be able to understand your yourself better and people around you it
yourself better and people around you it
yourself better and people around you it has been my great privilege to be here
has been my great privilege to be here
has been my great privilege to be here tonight should you have any further
tonight should you have any further
tonight should you have any further questions feel free to contact me thank
questions feel free to contact me thank
questions feel free to contact me thank you very much
you very much
you very much [Applause]
”
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