Messy and Masterful Aldo de Pape

In this conversation, Aldo and Michael discuss the importance of happiness in life and how it becomes more apparent when reflecting back on one's life. They explore the idea that everything we do is ultimately in pursuit of happiness, whether consciously or unconsciously. They also discuss the need to be more conscious of our actions and behaviors and how they contribute to our long-term happiness. The conversation touches on the role of mourning and the coexistence of happiness and sadness. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of living a life that encompasses all emotions and finding beauty and meaning in each experience.
 
Keywords: happiness, reflection, life, actions, behaviours, mourning, sadness, beauty, meaning
 
Takeaways
Happiness is the currency of life and becomes more apparent when reflecting back on one's life. Everything we do, consciously or unconsciously, is in pursuit of happiness. Being conscious of our actions and behaviors can contribute to our long-term happiness. Mourning can coexist with happiness and bring beauty and meaning to life.  
Sound Bites
"I want you all to know that I was very happy." "Everything we do, everything we pursue in life, directly or indirectly, consciously or unconsciously, is to make us and other people happier." "We can radically transform our lives for the better, but it won't happen without a kind of conscious effort."  
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In this conversation, Aldo interviews Kian Katanforoosh, CEO of Workera; a platform that measures competencies and provides insights in how people can acquire the right job skills for the future.  

The two discuss the impact of AI on jobs and the future of work, and dive into how important it is to prepare our world for all the changes that are to come. 
They also touch on the role of AI in different fields and the need for both durable and perishable skills. 

Kian shares his personal journey coming from France to the United States, working and growing at Stanford University, and reveals why he is so passionate about Education. 

Check out Workera’s website to find out more about the great work they do: https://workera.ai/

This Episode is made in partnership with:

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Aldo talks to Pelonomi Moiloa, CEO and co-founder of Lelapa AI and discusses the importance of building language models for African languages and the challenges faced in using models built in other places. 

Pelonomi emphasizes the need to make AI accessible for everyone and explains how Lelapa AI is working towards that goal. Pelonomi shares her background and journey, as well as the challenges in growing the company. She also discusses the recognition and achievements of  Lelapa AI as well as the future plans for the company. 

Takeaways
Building language models for African languages is important for providing access to products, services, and information for people in Africa. Using models built in other places often fails to capture the context and nuances of African languages, highlighting the need for locally developed models. Lelapa AI aims to make AI accessible to everyone.  The company is expanding to more African languages and domains, such as education, agriculture, and healthcare.
You can find out more about Pelonomi and the work of Lelapa AI here: https://lelapa.ai/about/the-team/

This Episode is made in partnership with:

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In this first episode of a series of 7, Aldo interviews Dr. Michael Vlerick about his new book, 'Why We Are Not Happier.' 

They discuss the book launch and the reception it received. They explore the concept of happiness versus our genes, highlighting the hyperactive threat detection and negativity bias that can hinder our happiness. They also discuss the role of ambition and the importance of changing our perspective to achieve long-term happiness. The conversation explores the concept of true happiness and how we often look in the wrong places for it. It emphasizes the importance of understanding what truly makes us happy and how we can achieve a deep and lasting happiness that is not dependent on external circumstances. 

The conversation also highlights the need to recognise the patterns and norms that may lead us astray in our pursuit of happiness.

Takeaways
External circumstances have less impact on our long-term happiness than we tend to think. Our genes can influence our happiness, but there are practices and insights that can help us overcome genetic obstacles. We have a tendency to focus on the negative aspects of our lives and get used to improved conditions quickly. Negativity bias leads us to remember negative events more vividly and have a greater psychological impact. Ambition can be a motivator, but it's important to have intrinsic motivations and realistic expectations. Changing our perspective and working on certain practices can lead to long-term happiness. True happiness is not found in external elements but in understanding what truly makes us happy. We are often primed to look in the wrong direction for happiness, influenced by media and societal norms. Negativity bias and hedonic adaptation are common obstacles to happiness, but we can overcome them. The next episode will explore those elements in our environment that hinder our happiness and what we can do about it.

You can find out more about Dr. Michael Vlerick here: https://www.michaelvlerick.com/

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Join us in this round table conversation with education giants: Wendy Kopp, Cindy Mi, and Dr. Shannon May as we explore the potential impact of AI on teaching and learning globally. 
 
Aldo's guests discuss the importance of embracing AI with care and highlight the need for governments and education systems to take a proactive approach in adopting it. The panel also discusses the potential benefits and concerns of AI in education, including issues around equity and quality. 
 
Listen in to this conversation recorded for WISE11 in Doha that emphasizes the integration and collaboration of various stakeholders, including teachers, governments, and Edtech companies, to ensure the safe, responsible and effective use of AI.
 
Takeaways:
Embrace AI with care, considering its potential benefits and concerns. Governments and education systems should take a proactive approach in adopting AI. Integration and collaboration among stakeholders are crucial for the responsible and effective use of AI in education. AI has the potential to empower teachers and improve learning outcomes. Wendy Kopp is the founder of Teach for All: https://teachforall.org/
Cindy Mi is the founder of VIPKid: https://www.vipkid.com/teach
Dr. Shannon May is the founder and CEO of Newglobe: https://newglobe.education
 
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In this episode, Aldo interviews Cath Bishop, an Olympian and former war diplomat. Cath shares her journey from being a non-sporty child to becoming an Olympic rower, training rigorously and competing in three Olympic Games. She discusses the challenges she faced and the pressure to perform, as well as the importance of defining success beyond medals. Kath also talks about her transition to working as a diplomat for the British Foreign Office, where she focused on conflict issues and rebuilding post-war zones. She reflects on the complexities of diplomacy in conflict situations and the lessons she learned from her experiences. In this conversation, Cath Bishop discusses the importance of support and vulnerability in a team, the need to look after each other, the role of coaching and challenging others, redefining success in education, the value of failure, childhood aspirations, and a book recommendation.

Takeaways
Success should be defined beyond medals and awards, focusing on personal growth, meaningful contributions, and lasting value. The pursuit of excellence should be balanced with rest, recovery, and a broader identity beyond one's profession or achievements. The pressure to win and the obsession with medals can lead to feelings of emptiness and a lack of fulfillment. In conflict situations, diplomacy is challenging and often limited by the hostile environment, but it is crucial to work towards political solutions and stability. True happiness comes from contributing to something bigger than oneself and finding purpose in one's actions. Support and vulnerability are crucial in a team environment. Looking after each other is essential for individual and team well-being. Coaching and challenging others can lead to personal growth and improved performance. Redefining success in education involves focusing on broader measures of achievement. Failure is a valuable learning tool and can lead to personal growth and improvement. Childhood aspirations can be diverse and may change over time. Margaret Heffernan's books offer valuable insights into culture and success. Interviewing Olympians who didn't win medals can provide valuable lessons and perspectives. You can find out more about Cath by going to her website: https://cathbishop.com/

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