In this inspiring TEDxMarvila talk, Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon, explores the transformative power of dreams and their role in shaping individuals, communities, and cities. He shares personal stories, historical insights, and a vision for Lisbon, emphasizing that great progress begins with daring to dream. Through engaging storytelling and deep reflections, Moedas highlights how dreams fuel innovation, drive change, and help societies overcome challenges. He encourages us all to dream boldly, act courageously, and never stop believing in the impossible. ✨ What’s your biggest dream? Share in the comments! ? Subscribe for more inspiring TEDxMarvila talks! #TEDxMarvila #CarlosMoedas #DreamBig #Innovation #FutureOfCities #Lisbon #Leadership #Inspiration Carlos Moedas was born in 1970 in Beja, Portugal, and graduated as a civil engineer from Instituto Superior Técnico (Lisbon) in 1993. He was one of the first Erasmus students in Portugal and attended the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in Paris (1993). In 1998, he graduated with a Master in Business Administration from Harvard Business School (1998–2000).
He started his career as a civil engineer working for the French conglomerate Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux in France, where he lived for five years. After his graduation from Harvard, he worked for Goldman Sachs in their Investment Banking division in London. In 2004, he returned to Portugal and became head of Aguirre Newman, where he was also a member of the executive board in Spain. In 2008, he went on to create his own investment management company.
In 2011, he headed the Social Democrat Party's (PSD) economic team and participated in the negotiations for Portugal's 2011 Public Budget. That same year, he was elected a Member of Parliament by the Beja constituency and appointed Under-Secretary of State to the Prime Minister of the XIX Constitutional Government of Portugal, where he was tasked with coordinating and monitoring structural reforms within the adjustment programme.
In 2014, he was nominated by the Portuguese Prime Minister to be the European Commissioner. He became Commissioner responsible for Research, Science, and Innovation, overseeing one of the largest science and innovation projects on the planet, worth 77 billion euros. He designed the proposal for the future Horizon Europe programme, worth 100 billion euros, set to launch in 2021. He is the 5th Portuguese national to hold this position since Portugal became an EU Member State in 1986.
In 2019, he joined the board of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. He is also Vice-President of the Jacques Delors Institute in Paris.
Carlos Moedas has co-authored a series of publications in the field of science and innovation. Among these, one stands out: "Open Innovation: Research, Practices and Policies", published in the California Management Review, co-signed by Henry Chesbrough, who is known for coining the term "Open Innovation".
In 2014, he became the youngest member to be elected to the Portuguese Academy of Engineering. He is an Honorary Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences. In 2016, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Laws by the University of Cork in Ireland, and in 2018, an Honorary Doctorate in Management from ESCP Europe (École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris).
On September 26, 2021, he was elected Mayor of Lisbon. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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