TEDxNapoca Street Youth

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Alex Hada

  Scientific researcher and food content creator

  Alex Hada is a scientific researcher and food content creator who loves to travel the world in pursuit of unforgettable culinary experiences. Drawing from his own journey, he explores why natural talent only takes us so far, sharing a deeply personal perspective on how relentless perseverance and hard work are the true ingredients for shaping who we become.

• Ciprian Lupu

  Rally Driver

  Ciprian Lupu is the first and only Romanian rally driver who competes in a wheelchair at both national and international level. He actively participates in the Romanian National Rally Championship as well as the European Rally Championship, challenging perceptions and redefining the limits of performance in motorsport. A title holder in the Guinness World Records and National Champion in the Rookie Category of the Romanian National Rally Championship, Ciprian's journey is a powerful testament to resilience, innovation, and determination. Through courage and relentless ambition, he transforms adversity into speed, inspiring audiences to rethink what is possible when passion meets purpose.

• Daniel Andronache

  University lecturer and education researcher

  Daniel Andronache is a university lecturer and education researcher whose work explores how students and young people shape their identity and sense of purpose in a world defined by pressure and constant comparison. He will examine one of the most persistent questions in a young person's life "What do you want to become?" offering a fresh perspective on growing up and making meaningful life choices.

• Gabriela Groza

  Lawyer and psychologist

  Gabriela-Ligia Groza is a lawyer with over 15 years of experience and a psychologist specialized in clinical psychology and judicial expertise. She teaches at Babes-Bolyai University and researches the connection between psychology and justice, including the causes of criminal reoffending. Her work brings together law and psychology to better understand human behavior and how we can build a more responsible society.

• Georgiana Oltean

  psychotherapist and sports psychologist

  Georgiana Oltean is an MD with a background in psychiatry, psychotherapy, and sports psychology. She works as a mental trainer with elite athletes in motorsports and tennis-high-pressure environments where the margin for error is close to zero. Her role is to guide athletes toward unlocking their full potential. Not a witch, nor a magician (though she is sometimes mistaken for one)

• Ioan Nistor

  Chief Economist and Professor of Finance

  loan Alin Nistor is Chief Economist at Banca Transilvania and Professor of Finance at Babes-Bolyai University, where he also served as Dean for 8 years. With international teaching experience and expertise in corporate finance, banking, and behavioral finance, he connects academic insight with real-world impact. His background includes an MBA (University of Hull), ESG certification (CFA Institute), and leadership training at the Aspen Institute.

• Ioana Ginghină

  Theatre and film actress

  loana Ginghină is a Romanian theatre and film actress, well known for her roles in popular TV series and productions. With a career spanning more than two decades, she has become a recognizable and beloved figure in Romanian entertainment. Beyond the stage and screen, loana encourages creativity, education, and self-confidence, inspiring young people to follow their passions and express themselves authentically.

• Irina Mateieș

  Family medicine specialist and dietitian

  Dr. Irina Mateies is a family medicine specialist and dietitian focused on oncology nutrition. Since 2014, she's been helping cancer patients make sense of food during treatment turning "What can I eat?" into confident, science-backed choices. Her path wasn't linear: from practicing family medicine across Romania to discovering her passion for clinical nutrition in Cluj. Now, she's on a mission to bust nutrition myths, simplify the science, and show that food can be a powerful ally-even in the toughest moments.

• Mălina Todoran

  PhD Researcher in Shakespearean Studies

  Mălina is a PhD researcher in Shakespearean Studies at Babes-Bolyai University, focusing on botanical references in Shakespeare and Elizabethan texts. She teaches university courses in grammar and vocabulary and runs a monthly book club that brings readers together to explore literature through discussion. Passionate about free speech and the transformative power of the written word, Mălina believes literature can broaden perspectives, inspire curiosity, and spark lasting change.

• Melania Leșe

  PhD candidate in Political Science, university lecturer and Executive Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy

  Melania Lese is a PhD candidate in Political Science at Babes-Bolyai University, where she also studied Law and Political Science. Since 2019, she has been the Executive Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy, leading research projects across national and European levels. Her work connects education, energy poverty, and civil society with policy-making, human rights, and data ethics. Beyond research, Melania teaches in Political Science and Communication, bridging academia and real-world impact. Her approach is deeply interdisciplinary driven by one central question: how can we build fairer, more resilient societies?

• Sânziana Tarța

  Actress and acting coach

  Sânziana Tarta discovered her love for the stage early on, her artistic journey began in kindergarten, when she landed the lead role in a modern adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood. That moment sparked a lifelong passion for performing. At just 8 years old, she started competitive ballroom dancing, going on to compete both nationally and internationally. For two years, she was part of Romania's National Team. Her path continued through studies in Fashion, Acting, and performance, and since 2014 she has been a dedicated actress at the National Theatre in Cluj-Napoca. She has performed in over 50 productions and, for more than a decade, has been inspiring teenagers through acting workshops at prestigious festivals and within the Studiourile Buftea Academy. Starting in 2025, she is also shaping the next generation of artists as a lecturer at the Faculty of Theatre and Film at UBB.

• Teodora Modoi

  Visual artist and painter

  Teo Modoi creates paintings where unresolved histories and poetic reconstructions meet. Her works don't just ask to be seen they invite you to step in, reflect, and confront your own inner imagery, where memory and desire intersect. For Teo, painting is a philosophical act where absence takes shape and thought becomes matter. Like Nicolas Poussin, her canvas becomes a space for thinking.