TEDxMarvila values the power of diversity to promote creativity and innovation through its team of dedicated volunteers. We have more than 10 different nationalities, all with distinct professional backgrounds.
What we have in common is our passion for enabling dialogue, the belief in the power of human connections, and the commitment to providing a day full of inspiration and ideas worth sharing.
You can start getting to know some of us by visiting our LinkedIn page.
Anel Imanbay, organizer and licensee of TEDxMarvila.
Lead Organiser, Licensee & Host
Anel Imanbay, writing under the pen name Imani Cortez, is the celebrated author of the US children’s bestseller “Her Name Was Flower.” A graduate in financial economics from the UK, Anel has diversified her career across corporate finance and innovative startups. With over a decade of experience in commercial roles spanning the education, gaming, and beauty industries, she brings a rich expertise to her endeavours. Additionally, Anel has orchestrated numerous charity events in various countries, including Kazakhstan, Portugal, Namibia, and the UK, demonstrating her commitment to global community engagement. Anel hosts the popular podcast “Voices of the World,” which amplifies diverse perspectives and stories. Residing in Marvila, she has chosen to deepen her impact by serving as the lead organizer for TEDxMarvila, driven by a desire to foster a vibrant community of ideas and innovation right in her neighborhood.
Dahlia Imanbay is a tech entrepreneur and the driving force behind an AI-powered digital agency that transforms branding and marketing through automation. With a diverse background that spans leadership roles in Fortune 500 companies, healthcare, and SaaS, Dahlia combines a strategic vision with hands-on expertise to deliver impactful results. Her work bridges industries from eCommerce to education, and her adaptable, globally minded approach has made her a sought-after leader in both B2B and B2C marketing. Fluent in four languages and passionate about innovation, Dahlia is dedicated to harnessing AI to elevate brands in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
Operations Manager
Letitia is the Operations Manager for TEDxMarvila, focused on ensuring seamless event execution.
She specialises in streamlining operations to help teams achieve their goals, drawing on her experience in project management and business process optimisation.
Letitia’s background in corporate operations ensures smooth operations and successful project execution for the event.
Hello! I’m passionate about connecting people, ideas, and experiences, always bridging different worlds. Having lived in Italy, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal, I’ve embraced multicultural environments and speak English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian fluently, with just enough French to make Parisian waiters smile.
When I’m not discovering growth opportunities, you’ll find me exploring hidden corners of cities or diving into meaningful conversations. Whether it’s a new project or a chance to share stories, my goal is always the same: to create connections and create new perspectives.
Head of Marketing Communications
A seasoned marketing expert with 15 years of experience in luxury and lifestyle hospitality. Pauline is originally from France and has worked in Paris, London, and Lisbon, gaining a unique vision on global markets and cultural diversity.
Pauline’s expertise lies in strategic marketing, project management, and creative leadership. An enthusiastic, performance-driven team player, she has led innovative projects including high-profile openings, exclusive partnerships and experiential events for top hotel brands like W Hotels.
Passionate about travels, interior design and food, Pauline is also a skilled coach with 120+ entrepreneurs trained in digital and strategic marketing.
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Elana Gold is a global C-Suite executive with 25+ years of experience driving growth and value creation across industries, including consumer goods, healthcare, beauty, food and beverage, and direct selling. She has led P&Ls from $10M to $7.5B at companies YumBrands, PepsiCo, Novartis, Abbott, and Avon, as well as PE/VC-funded startups. Known for leading turnarounds, revitalizing iconic brands, scaling businesses, and driving digital transformations, Elana excels at building high-performing teams and delivering sustained growth.
A Wharton MBA, she collaborates with boards and startups to secure funding and create impactful growth plans. Elana is also passionate about lecturing at top universities, inspiring future leaders with insights from her global career.
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Joanna’s superpower is creating unforgettable events. With a deep passion for event planning, she has honed her skills over the years by managing international events for various companies. From coordinating alternative jazz bands to overseeing guest management during Euro 2012 in Warsaw, as well as organizing IT conferences, she has successfully led numerous high-impact events. Currently, she works as a Project Manager for global projects.
As a Leadership Coach and founder of the Inspire Me Lisbon community, Joanna dedicates her free time to helping others grow, unlock their full potential, and achieve their dreams.
As a volunteer at TEDx Marvila, she strives to be part of a team that inspires thousands to create a better world.
Nearly 20 years in HR taught me one thing: organizations change when leaders do.
I work with CEOs and executive teams to turn strategy decks into real behaviour, redesign how teams collaborate, and make culture visible in day-to-day decisions.
My background in Finance & HR, a Master’s degree, and PhD research in communication, organizational change and leadership help me translate complex transformations into clear, human-centric actions.
If you are facing growth, restructuring, or a new leadership chapter, I can help you secure company success through trust, align your top team, and turn people strategy into measurable business results.
Go-to-market Director
Hala has 25 years of Marketing and leadership experience acquired across different industries (FMCG, Healthcare) and geographies (Europe, Latin America). A polyglot who has held Marketing director roles both at global and local levels, she understands the challenges and the richness of managing and working with multicultural teams. Both her professional and personal choices have helped her develop a natural ability to adapt to change.
Beyond her strategic Marketing expertise, she brings to TEDxMarvila her pragmatic and hands on approach to Marketing deliverables while using her inquisitive mind and her flexbility to anticipate and help solve issues.
As a Life Long learner, Hala enjoys getting outside her comfort zone and experimenting in new areas that help her learn and grow such as photography, writing or Behavioural science. Hala also believes in the power of building bridges to foster positive human connections and open new perspectives. Those are some of the reasons why she joined TEDxMarvila as a volunteer.
Volunteer
Kaiden is a 16-year-old international student and experienced web and app developer, originally from the U.S. and now based in Lisbon, Portugal. Passionate about AI and human-centered technology, he is the founder of Sync, an upcoming social coordination app designed to make planning and real-world interactions effortless.
With expertise in AI-driven applications, backend architecture, and UX/UI design, he has worked on diverse projects, from AI-powered mental health tools to predictive modeling for urban mobility. His ability to merge behavioral psychology with technology allows him to create engaging, habit-forming digital experiences that solve everyday challenges.
As a globally minded innovator, Kaiden is committed to leveraging AI to enhance social connections, productivity, and well-being. His long-term goal is to push the boundaries of AI and human interaction, making technology a seamless extension of daily life.
Jessica Fontana is an entrepreneur, marketing strategist and advocate for women’s leadership. With a background in digital marketing and branding, she left her corporate career at Meta to build Women Leaders Circle, a movement to close the gender gap by 2034.
Rooted in Sicily and based in Portugal, Jessica empowers women entrepreneurs and executives through mentorship, education and high-impact events.
As a branding and business growth consultant, she helps purpose-driven businesses scale with clarity. She is also part of the TEDx Marvila sponsorship team, fostering bold ideas in Lisbon.
Passionate about leadership, and human potential, Jessica creates spaces where women thrive and lead with confidence.
Guided by the vision “We Elevate LeadHERs,” she is committed to shaping a more inclusive and empowered future.
Daniela Pires studied marketing in a vocational course and, even without attending university, built her career in the field. Despite exploring different sectors throughout her career, she always knew that marketing was what she truly wanted. Today, she helps companies build an authentic and impactful online presence.
Passionate about communication and psychology, she believes that understanding people is the key to any good strategy. In addition to marketing, she dedicates herself to volunteering in pediatric oncology, where she works directly with children to make their hospital experience less frightening. She is also part of TEDx Marvila, contributing to inspiring new ideas and connections.
She has always been an enthusiast of TEDx, following the TED Talks available on YouTube. This passion helped her develop a taste for questioning, exploring new perspectives, and deepening her knowledge of the world.
Experienced Web Developer and Digital Consultant with over 17 years of hands-on experience designing, developing, and maintaining responsive websites, e-commerce platforms, and online campaigns. I specialize in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL, and user-centered design, with a strong foundation in SEO and web performance optimization, combined with project and team management skills over a agile workflow.
JCDecaux is the world’s largest Out-of-Home advertising company, reaching relevant audiences in over 80 countries. JCDecaux owes its distinctiveness to its presence in cities, transport systems and major thoroughfares. We are now one of the most influential media networks on the global level, and one of the most flexible on the local level.
