Tandem Talk Tandem Talk
The Impact of Personal Learning Journeys on Resilience
What inspires a lifelong commitment to learning? In this Tandem Talk, Kriti Thakur and Inge de Waard explore how unconventional learning paths, life’s turning points, and personal setbacks can lead to resilience and professional growth. Drawing from their own diverse careers - from researcher to activist to comedian - they reflect on the personal sparks, mentors, and challenges that shaped their journeys.
Through storytelling and audience interaction, this session invites participants to reflect on their own learning paths and discover the hidden drivers that have guided them through change and into education.
Inge de Waard
Learning Strategist and Connector, EIT InnoEnergy, Belgium
Inge de Waard is the learning strategist at EIT InnoEnergy, she is a longtime researcher, activist, award-winning learning innovator and (e)Learning coordinator. She developed multiple online & hybrid courses, co-designed AI tools, and embedded learning innovations. Inge coaches and co-creates international, blended curricula with engineers and teachers, and explores innovative learning formats. Her expertise is recognized by peers, resulting in additional co-authored papers, invited talks and keynotes in both academic and professional conferences, workshops and seminars. She recently founded the Power Elders initiative to spotlight role models who changed their lives at any age beyond 50. Most of all, she likes to connect with people and share stories.
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Kriti Thakur
Expert - Educational Design & Facilitation, Unternehmertum
Kriti is an entrepreneurship education expert, certified coach and a learning expert with 10+years of experience with Design Thinking, learning design, social entrepreneurship. Kriti is an expert in educational design and facilitation at UnternehmerTUM- Europe's leading start-up based out of Munich, Germany. She considers herself as a polymath, a professional with diverse passions, skills and expertise. Her prior experience ranges from qualifying as a lawyer, working as a pro-bono legal activist to Teach For India and Teach For Vietnam.