What happens when rule-bending becomes identity-shaping? In this reflective and culturally grounded TEDx talk, Dr. Cristina González Alcalá shares how moving from conformity to creation, and from sobrevivir to VIVIR, reshaped how she understands success, identity, and belonging. Drawing inspiration from artists who bent rules and lived unapologetically themselves, through her VIVIR framework, she invites us to reconsider what it means to live fully when the rules we inherited were never meant to hold us. Dr. Cristina González Alcalá (she/her) is a Mexican-born changemaker, equity architect, and narrative shifter who is redefining what leadership looks like—from boardrooms to the heart of the community. With roots in community and a mindset wired for systems change, Cristina blends data, heart, and lived experience to build a more just and connected world.She currently serves as Director of Community Investment at Akron Community Foundation, where she leads the Foundation’s quarterly grantmaking and contributes to the strategic direction of a nearly $6 million portfolio focused on equity and regional impact. She’s also President of the Board of Trustees at the Akron Civic Theatre and a Senior Lecturer at The University of Akron.Cristina holds a Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Public Affairs, a Master of Public Administration, and a Master of Arts in Communication—all from The University of Akron. A proud Triple Zip and graduate of Leadership Akron Class 40 "Forty Flair" and Torchbearers 2016, she’s known for bringing unlikely people together and sparking conversations that shift how power, possibility, and purpose are understood. She’s equally at home designing funding strategies, mentoring future leaders, or co-creating solutions with nonprofits and neighbors.And just to keep things spicy—Cristina is also the founder of Not Yo’ Daddy’s Mexican Hot Sauce, a family-inspired small business that honors her roots, her culture, and her unapologetic flavor.Her work is guided by cultural humility, joy, and the belief that transformation begins when we ask better questions and create space for others to rise with us. Whether in philanthropy, academics, the arts, or entrepreneurship, Cristina leads with strategy, soul, and a little bit of heat. 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