Maria Luisa Santos Miranda

I am Malu, a Public Administration student at Udesc Esag, passionate about my field and driven by the commitment to work for the common good. I have been involved in projects related to social entrepreneurship, communication, and public speaking, and I have also worked as a research assistant, dedicating myself to studying the ethical use of artificial intelligence. I am interested in topics such as sustainable development, innovation, municipal public administration, and culture, and I am always seeking new opportunities for learning. I am also trained in translation and interpretation of Brazilian Sign Language (Libras).

I am passionate about knowledge and everything that allows me to expand my horizons. I believe that learning about new cultures and listening to people's stories are ways to better understand the world and the different perspectives that shape it. Communication fascinates me, as it is through it that we build connections and exchange experiences. I also have a deep passion for the arts—whether music, literature, dance, or poetry—everything that expresses the human potential to create and transform. I enjoy viewing life with optimism, finding beauty in the small details and happiness in the simple things.

My story with TED began in the early years of my adolescence, when I used to listen to the talks while helping my mother take care of our home. I was captivated by the short, inspiring lectures the platform offers, watching hundreds of them. I never imagined that one day I would be part of the organization of a TEDx event, but this year I had the pleasant surprise of being a volunteer in the organization and promotion of TEDxUDESC, an event hosted by the university where I study. It was a wonderful experience! We managed to organize an incredible evening, full of ideas and connections, and it was truly exciting to be part of this project.

People don’t know this, but I’m good at acting. I took a theater workshop, and as a child, I loved pretending to be an actress. In 2019, I fulfilled my childhood dream by bringing the character Hermia from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to life, in a play promoted by the Adolpho Melo Theater Workshop. It was a memorable experience and a special chapter in my life.