At the start of summer, we are launching our series of portraits of the members of the association's Board of Directors. This month, we talk to Charles Lannel, the new president of Konstelacio.
The Konstelacio team: Charlotte, Charles, and Aziliz
1. Introduce yourself in a few words.
My name is Charles Lannel. I am a business executive and professional coach. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to live abroad, travel, and work with people from different cultures. This diversity of perspectives, customs, expertise, and traditions has allowed me to see the world from different angles.
2. What dish stands out from your childhood?
It might sound a bit cliché, but I'm going to talk about French fries. My father has always worked in the potato industry and is a big fan of everything you can do with potatoes. Whether it's the traditional steak and fries, chicken and fries, mussels and fries, or mashed potatoes, hash browns... This vegetable, which is used and found almost everywhere, reminds me of Sunday lunches with my family, laughing, talking, and having a good time. It reminds me of sharing, but also of the battle to see who will get the last ones left on the plate...
3. What style or artist from around the world would you recommend we listen to? How did you discover them?
I would advise you to listen to, or rather experience, the Colinde. These are traditional Romanian Christmas carols.
I discovered these songs in 2013 when I came to Romania for Christmas. We were with our family, standing next to the decorated Christmas tree, chatting and toasting with tuica, when we heard the doorbell ring. When we opened the door, we saw three smiling children who began to sing. It was a special, family moment, with everyone singing along. It remains one of my fondest memories.
Photo credit: @centraltransylvania
4. Which story/book/legend has had a lasting impact on you and why?
Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist was a wonderful discovery for me.
This story is about an Andalusian shepherd who travels thousands of miles and encounters several cultures in search of treasure. This book teaches us the importance of pursuing our dreams and listening to our inner child.
5. Why did you join the association, and what are your hopes for Konstelacio going forward?
I joined the association because I am convinced that we have so much to learn from other cultures. In my opinion, diversity is essential for getting to know ourselves better, understanding our own culture better, and being more tolerant of others.
By discovering others, we learn a lot about ourselves. In today's world, I am convinced that Konstelacio's actions are necessary in order to raise awareness of cultural diversity, particularly among young people. I hope that Konstelacio will reach a wider audience and share the wonderful values it promotes.
6. What would you say to someone considering joining the association?
Thank you, merci, multumesc, shukran, gracias...
I would like to thank him for his involvement and for the help he gives to the association. Every volunteer and every donor helps us through their actions to move forward and promote the values of diversity, listening, and humanity.
BONUS QUESTIONS
What value(s) do you want to convey?
For me, the values of listening, sharing, authenticity, and learning are important. We are all different, and it is this difference that makes a group strong. By exchanging and sharing these differences, we can bring other perspectives to the world around us.
A ritual that suits you?
Every evening, whether the day has been good or bad, I write down three positive moments from my day in a little notebook. It helps me realize that even if I've had a terrible day and feel like everything is going wrong, I've still had some positive moments.
positive moments. Sometimes it's very difficult to find these three moments, but I always manage. It could be a ray of sunshine, a coffee, or something trivial. The important thing is to focus on the positive and not just the negative. You'll see that in the long run, it's magical!
A symbol that suits you?
Smiling! For me, a day without smiling is impossible. There's nothing better for spreading good cheer and communicating... Whether we speak the same language or not, smiling is universal and helps smooth relationships even when we don't always understand each other.
Is there a hero you would like to be like?
Nelson Mandela is a source of inspiration to me because, despite difficulties and adversity, he remained steadfast and held fast to his vision in order to unite South Africans and bring together a deeply divided country. He could have given up many times over, turned away from his goal, but he saw the bigger picture and continued to work to end apartheid.