THE TEAM
TEDxMarvila embraces the power of diversity to foster creativity and innovation through its team of dedicated volunteers. We are more than 10 different nationalities and all have different professional backgrounds.
What we do have in common is our passion for enabling dialogues, our belief in the power of human connections and we are all committed to bringing to life a full day of inspirations and ideas worth spreading.
You can already get to know some of us by following our Linked In page.
We asked Anel, organizer and licensee at TEDxMarvila three questions to know her “why” behind TEDxMarvila and what inspires her daily.
I’m proud of how TEDx Marvila is building connections within our community – from our dedicated, diverse team who bring TEDx’s spirit of collaboration to life, to the local supporters and partners who believe in our vision. Seeing Marvila come together to support each other’s ideas and celebrate the area’s evolving identity is incredibly rewarding and reflects the power of community and shared purpose.” Anel Imanbay, TEDxMarvila organiser & licensee.
Anel Imanbay
Tatsiana Mikhalevich
Letitia Joseph
Antonio Tubito
Pauline Foucher
Afonso Magalhães
Elana Gold
Henrique Castro
Joanna Wakuluk
Hala Khouzami
Dahlia Imanbay
Kaiden Semapakdi-Chang
Jessica Fontana
Daniela Pires
Anel Imanbay
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.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anel.imanbay/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anel.imanbay
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anel-imanbay-975266171/
Email: anel@tedxmarvila.com
Dahlia Imanbay
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.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dahlia_imanbay/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dahliaimanbay
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dahlia-imanbay/
Website: https://dahliaimanbay.com/
Email: dahlia@tedxmarvila.com
Letitia Joseph
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.
Antonio Tubito
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.
Pauline Foucher
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.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauline-foucher-marketing/
Afonso Magalhães
Elana Gold
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.
Henrique Castro
Joanna Wakuluk
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.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-wakuluk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspireme_coaching/
Website: https://jwakuluk.wixsite.com/my-site
Tatsiana Mikhalevich
Hala Khouzami
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.
Kaiden Semapakdi-Chang
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.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaiden-semapakdi-chang-56b93b272/
Daniela Pires
Daniela Pires studied marketing in a professional course and, even without attending university, she built her own path in the field. Although she explored different industries along the way, she always knew that marketing was what she truly wanted. Today, she helps businesses build an authentic and impactful online presence.
Passionate about communication and psychology, she believes that understanding people is the key to any successful strategy. Beyond marketing, she volunteers in pediatric oncology, working 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 a TEDx enthusiast, following TED Talks on YouTube. This passion has fueled her curiosity for asking questions, exploring new perspectives, and deepening her understanding of the world.
Jessica Fontana
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.