Ma Shwe Sin Win (Cynthia): Not good with names: Local name customs in a global village

When Ma Shwe Sin Win (Cynthia) received a LinkedIn request from her father, she ignored it – because she didn’t realize it was from him. Forced into the Western first and last name format, her father’s Burmese name transformed into something she didn’t even recognize. In this playful talk, Ma Shwe Sin Win reflects on naming practices, and thinks about what happens locally when we enforce norms on a global scale. TED@StateStreet was a TED-curated event featuring a diverse group of speakers from across the State Street community. Jointly produced by TED and State Street, the event paved a bold way ahead. About the TED Institute: We know that innovative ideas and fresh approaches to challenging problems can be discovered inside visionary companies around the world. The TED Institute helps surface and share these insights. Every year, TED works with a group of select brands to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas. Learn more at Follow TED Institute on Twitter @TEDPartners Follow more business thinking worth sharing from TED at