Tedx Klagenfurt

Ein Interview mit Marko Haschej

Ateesha Sethia

Tête-à-tête with Marko Haschej. The 33 year old Austrian entrepreneur who has been actively trying to reshape the intellectual landscape of Carinthia. He always seeks innovative ideas and loves to combine them in order to find creative solutions for complex challenges. Alongside being the curator of TEDxKlagenfurt, he also co-organizes Silicon Valley Inspiration Tours - a program dedicated to inspire and connect Entrepreneurs and StartUps from all over the world with companies in and south of San Francisco. Marko recently co-founded the Austrian online magazine Helden von heute and he is currently working on his next StartUp called Urban Sync. Tell us a bit about your expe- that started in 1984 in Califor- timately the world. It is a fan- rience at AAU. nia. TED stands for Techno- tastic community of like-min- Well, there’s not much to tell. I logy, Entertainment & Design ded people. With that ideas studied Information Manage- and it gathers the world’s gre- can grow, projects get initiated ment & Business Administra- tion. I had a great time there. I think the level of education is high and the offers are pretty good at AAU. Although, I feel like I should have left earlier. It’s always good to get some atest thinkers, change makers, and change can happen. experience abroad and away disruptors, entrepreneurs, You‘re from Carinthia but from home and I think I wai- scientists as well as artist on are now settled in Vienna. So ted a bit too long. a stage. The x in TEDx stands why did you pick Carinthia Anyway, after my internship for “independently organized”, for your project? in San Francisco a lot of things which means we at TEDxKla- Actually, I still lived and wor- changed. Suddenly I knew I genfurt have to apply for a ked in Klagenfurt when we have to start something new license at TED and with that started organizing TEDxKla- and eventually I ended up or- we are allowed to organize a genfurt in 2013. But TEDx ch- ganizing TEDx, I started com- TED like event in our home anged my life in so many ways. panies in Vienna and I work on town. After attending TEDActive in projects all around the world. Whistler in 2014 I decided to TEDx provides a stage to fan- quit my job, I moved to Vienna What exactly is TEDx? How tastic and often unknown and started working on things do you think TEDx makes a ideas. It gathers people who I believe in. One of them is still change? aim to change their lives, their TEDxKlagenfurt. Everything I TEDx is a conference format professional settings and ul- do now is because of TEDx.

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The thing is, Carinthia is my ced and happy to become part Also, a talk is 18 minutes max. home. I grew up in Eberndorf, of this amazing idea and pro- Chris Anderson, the curator of went to school in Klagenfurt ject. TED, is convinced 18 minu- and I spent most of my life in tes are perfect to stay focused the southern part of Austria. What goes into preparing and not lose attention and at I am happy to be able to give such a large scale event? the same time it gives the spe- back and to contribute to the Well, a lot of work and time, aker enough time to present a development of our country. obviously. You need a team sophisticated idea to the audi- with a broad set of skills, high ence. What ignited the spark in you commitment and a greater But you can always watch the to bring TEDx to Klagenfurt goal that drives us. Without talks later online. All the talks in particular? having higher goals for your get recorded and published on The idea was born by a few de- event and for your region YouTube. The event itself is far dicated young people at Slowe- you wouldn’t be able to spend more than just the talks. It is a nischer Wirtschaftsverband. thousands of hours on organi- very unique and inspiring ex- TED’s concept was still unk- zing it on a volunteer basis. perience everyone should have nown and far from popular in at least once in his life. our area. But those guys set the What is unique about this goal to bring inspiration and event? Why is it held in English? new ideas to Klagenfurt. The interesting part of a TEDx Wouldn‘t it reach a lot more is, there are many different to- people if you conducted this The funny thing was, I didn’t pics and speakers on one stage. in German? even want to be part of the It is neither a business confe- Well, we are an international team first. My friends appro- rence nor a tech only event. event. At this year’s event we’ll ached me in April 2013 and The beauty about TEDx is its have speakers from 10 diffe- asked me to join their team. diversity. There will be always rent countries. Also, we are Back then I felt I had already relevant topics and exciting close to the Slovenian and Ita- too many projects, but after talks for every attendee at lian borders. One of the main the first meeting I was convin- TEDx. goals of TEDx is to connect

42 43 people and language shouldn’t Jose. And because I’m always and I’m working on reaching be a barrier. seeking for new challenges I’m them soon. Additionally, I like to challen- already working on some new The more important thing is ge people. I know for some at- ideas and plans. ;) to always pay attention to what tendees it might be harder to Seems like you have a very happens around us, to identify follow the talks in English, but busy schedule. So, what do chances and to make the most only if you challenge yourself you like to do in your off out of everything happening to you can actually grow. time? us. Every challenge and every Well, football was always my negative experience may be an Where do the speakers come big passion. I used to play in opportunity in disguise. from and what areas do they a team for many years and I usually cover? loved it. Because of obvious Haha. Alright, let me rephra- This year we’ll have speakers reasons - my projects & tra- se it then. What advice would from the United States, Cana- vels - I don’t have time for that you give to the Marko from da, India, Germany, Slovenia, anymore. But I try to stay fit 5/10 years ago? Lebanon, the UK, Australia, with running. Funny thing is, There are three key messages Austria of course and more. most of my ideas pop up du- I would like to share based on They all come from different ring outdoor activities, when my own experiences, on what backgrounds. We will have your mind is free. I also take I have learned from my per- experts in the field of astro- my running shoes with me on sonal mentors and some very nomy, sustainability, artificial my travels. And I recently rea- smart people so far. intelligence, entrepreneurship, lized, those shoes have already technology, exponential or- touched ground in countless #1: Everything out there was ganizations etc. But there will countries on four different built by people no smarter be also exciting life stories and continents. than you. So, if you have an artists such as musicians, dan- The second thing, that gives idea, a dream, follow it. Stop cers and comedians. It is a very me a lot of energy, is my fri- trying and start doing it. It’s diverse set of amazing people ends. Whenever I have a mi- going to be hard work. You and you shouldn’t miss it. ;) nute either at home in Carin- have to be patient! Never give thia or at any place else, I love up! And don’t let other people Are there any other projects to hang out and spend some interfere with your dreams. you are working on? time with them. I believe ever- Sure, in Vienna we have a star- ything you experience in life #2: You can’t connect the dots tup called Urban Sync. It is a gains in value if you’re able to looking forward, you can only mobile app for civic participa- share it with your friends connect them looking back- tion in urban planning projects wards. Get rid of your need for and a communication service Where do you see yourself in control. Trust things are going for cities and citizens. I’m also the next 10 years? to work out, trust your gut, a partner and co-host at Sili- I don’t think you can find a and trust your own abilities. con Valley Inspiration Tours, good answer on such ques- which is a program dedicated tions. #3: At the end of your life, to inspire entrepreneurs from First of all, I like the excite- you’ll regret the things you all over the world by meeting ment of discovering my per- didn’t do more than the ones with companies, startups, in- sonal future and the future of you did. Go out there and have vestors etc. in the epicenter of us all. I wouldn’t even want to fun! Do what you love and tech innovation- the area bet- know what’s ahead of us. Ho- love what you do! You only live ween San Francisco and San wever, I do have clear goals once.

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