TEDxTokyo 2016 Speaker Michael Peng

Curiosity and creativity have always been integral in Michael Peng’s life. Growing up, Mike always supplemented his academic studies with activities that enabled him to express his creativity. At UC Berkeley, Mike pursued a degree in Cognitive Science because he was fascinated with the workings of the brain — while also choreographing and dancing for The Movement, a hip hop dance group on campus. The combination of creativity and curiosity came to an intersection in 2006 when Mike joined global design and innovation firm IDEO. At IDEO, Mike helped start-up the NYC office and experimented with new methods in design research and storytelling to stretch the Human Factors practice. In 2011, Mike moved to Japan to cofound the IDEO Tokyo office. Today, he leads a team in Japan to help catalyze change and unlock the country’s creative confidence. Mike believes that the eternal thirst for curiosity should never be quenched — it opens our minds and hearts to feel things we’ve never felt, learn things that can never be taught.