Elaine’s passion for innovation and contributing to social change was sparked at an early age. That passion has led to a ground breaking invention with the power to improve lives around the world. Where do you look for inspiration? What could you do if you only shifted your thinking, slightly? What new, game-changing ideas are just waiting for you to bring them to light? What potential collaborators and mentors are out there, just waiting to meet you? Join us this fall, and be inspired to take action! Learn more…
My name is Elaine Truong and I am CEO of ReVolt, a social entrepreneur, and an engineering student at UCLA. I like to describe myself as someone in the “art of creating experiences,” which motivates me to organize global conferences, hackathons, and networking dinners. I am the Director of Corporate Relations at Millennium Forward Meet, an international conference for social entrepreneurs in Sydney, Australia in March 2015. I began by founding a human rights nonprofit and a socially conscious jewelry company at 14 years old, . Growing up, I quickly developed a fascination for traveling and a desire to connect with the “real world.” Since then, I have been involved in international work that allows me to be more aware of other cultures. I used to intern for fashion firms, and although it was exciting, I wasn’t able to find value in them. Thereafter, I committed myself to meaningful, purposeful work.
How can your voice make a difference in the world?
My most recent development is ReVolt, a dirt-powered battery that charges cell phones in Kenya, which was selected as a Clinton Global Initiative University commitment in 2013 and 2014. Children who use kerosene lamps to study at night have trouble breathing, which is the number one killer in the region. I also learned that off-the-grid Kenyans would have to walk 7-10 miles just to charge their cell phones. When I realized this problem, I partnered up with a scientist at Harvard to develop a dirt-powered battery to charge a cell phone.
Connect with collaborators in your city!
My most life-changing experience is actually quite simple. I was watching Simon Sinek’s TED Talk one day and didn’t realize the power of his message until I applied it in my everyday life. I began questioning everything I did and I went through a period of deep reflection. It took me a while to piece the puzzle together since I was involved in so many organizations and I felt a bit lost. I began thinking about where I saw myself ideally in the long-term, making goals without any setbacks. I think often we factor in potential financial or personal setbacks when making decisions. I realized that this inhibited my potential and narrowed my vision. Once I had a solid idea of how I would like to live my life post-graduation, I began to narrow my focus and put in more effort in activities that furthered my ambitions.
How can the skills you’ll learn from Women Reshaping The World help you narrow your focus?
Throughout the conferences that I attended, the highlight was not the workshops or the celebrity speakers, but the people who I was surrounded by. Clarification of what I truly value has shifted my entire mentality. I became more people oriented, more optimistic, and developed incredible, fulfilling relationships. I now value people and relationships over anything else, whether it means surrounding myself with role models I admire or hosting enjoyable events. Instead of focusing on how networking can further my own ambitions, I prefer to approach others by asking how I can help. It has also allowed me to identify what to focus on – creating valuable experiences for other people to enjoy in the form of hackathons, conferences, and lifestyle improvements. Learn more about Elaine’s work, here…
- See more at: http://womenreshapingtheworld.com/blog/elaines-story#sthash.blPAZnfa.dpuf
