Daniel Zeleny
Personal Insights
Welcome to my personal space where I share my explorations in economics, ethics, and technology through a blend of knowledge and experience.
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About me - my roots and Identity
“From Curiosity to Character”
Ever since I was little, I’ve always asked “why?” Why does vinegar bubble when it meets baking soda, why do toy cars stop when the floor isn’t smooth, why does the price of fruit at the market change so often? That curiosity often got me in trouble for taking apart my toys or running small “experiments” around the house, but it slowly became the foundation of who I am.
Over time, those small questions turned into bigger ones. I wanted to know not just how things worked, but why people made the choices they did, and how systems, whether mechanical, biological, or economic, could be improved. This mindset followed me everywhere: from testing refraction in the physics lab to designing vertical farms for city rooftops, from experimenting with coffee roasting to studying the global supply chains that determine its price.
That same curiosity now fuels everything I do. It drives my scientific research in physics and chemistry, my sustainable design projects, and my ventures in coffee and logistics. Whether I’m analyzing a problem, building something new, or leading a team, curiosity keeps me exploring, learning, and finding connections between ideas that seem worlds apart, because to me, every “why” is just the beginning of a better answer.
Early Exploration (Pre-Grade 9)
My curiosity naturally grew into a love for STEM. I found joy in solving physics problems, designing experiments, and using math to explain how the world works. To me, numbers and formulas were never just abstract; they were tools to make sense of the invisible patterns shaping everything around us. Whether I was calculating the efficiency of a solar panel for a school project or modeling the growth of plants in an urban farm design, I loved translating curiosity into something measurable, testable, and real.
But over time, I realized that curiosity means little without empathy. My first experiences with community service, helping local farmers understand sustainable farming practices, organizing tutoring sessions for underprivileged children, and volunteering in school fundraisers, taught me that every problem has a human side. I began to see that the most meaningful solutions are not just technically correct but socially aware.
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Those moments helped me connect analytical thinking with compassion. They taught me to view data not as numbers on a page but as reflections of real people’s lives. Today, that balance between logic and empathy shapes how I approach everything I do, whether it’s leading a project, researching an idea, or building something new for my community.
Transition into High school (Grade 9–10)
Growing up in a diverse learning environment taught me to listen, question, and understand different perspectives. Surrounded by classmates from dozens of countries, I learned that the same problem could be seen in many different ways depending on culture, background, or experience. That openness to perspective shaped how I began to see the world, not as a collection of separate issues but as an interconnected system where every decision ripples outward.
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When I entered high school, this curiosity started to focus on how systems, especially economic ones, shape people’s daily lives. I began noticing the small but powerful forces behind ordinary things: why prices changed, why certain businesses struggled while others grew, why opportunity never seemed evenly distributed. Watching my family manage a small business made these ideas personal. I saw how unpredictable markets, supply shortages, and shifting customer habits affected not just profits but people’s sense of stability and hope.
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That experience made economics come alive for me. It wasn’t just about numbers or theories; it was about real people making decisions under uncertainty. I started to see how understanding economics could help build systems that are fairer, more efficient, and more sustainable. Over time, I realized that what began as curiosity was becoming purpose, the drive to use what I learn to help families and communities like my own thrive in a changing world.
MAJOR & COFFEE ECONOMICS
Professional Journey and Interests
The Symbol of Coffee
Economics Behind Every Cup
I've always like drinking coffee, but I never thought it could've taught me about economics before I ever studied it. What began as a love for brewing turned into curiosity about where each bean came from and why farmers earned so little compared to café prices. That curiosity led me to start Okela Coffee, sourcing beans from Hmong farmers in SÆ¡n La, Vietnam. I learned directly from producers while managing roasting, packaging, branding, and exports to China. Okela grew into more than a business, combining coffee tourism, coffee workshops, and art made from used grounds.
Through coffee, I discovered that economics is not only about prices or data but about people, connections, and how value is shared.
Research and Academic Inquiry
Deepr Exploration into the Economics Behind the Coffee Industry
My curiosity about coffee grew into a deeper academic interest. I began researching the impact of world coffee price fluctuations and the factors that influence farmers’ decisions to change their production models. Through these studies, I explored how economics connects to development, sustainability, and ethics in business. I learned that numbers can reveal trends, but real understanding comes from seeing how those trends affect lives. Research became my way of bridging theory with the human side of economics.
Technology & Innovation
Bridging Engineering and Economics
My work with coffee led me to explore how technology can make agriculture more sustainable. During an internship, I helped develop a robotic irrigation system for coffee farms, discovering how automation can improve both efficiency and environmental impact. As a lab assistant at Phenikaa University, I contributed to materials science research, studying how material properties influence product performance. These experiences taught me that real progress often happens where disciplines intersect, where economics meets engineering to create smarter and more sustainable solutions.
Looking Forward
What I Want to Brew in the Future
I plan to study Economics or Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE), using data to design policies that promote sustainability, fairness, and long-term growth. I’m deeply interested in how economic models and political choices shape everyday life, and how evidence-based decisions can create more balanced and resilient communities.
Coffee is more than a passion for me. It represents the way I learn and live: patient, curious, and grounded in connection. Every brew is an experiment in precision and creativity, teaching me to slow down and pay attention. Whether I’m analyzing a dataset or refining a recipe, I bring the same focus on understanding and improvement. Coffee also connects people across cultures, reminding me that progress begins with empathy and shared purpose.
SERVICE & HUMANITY
Building for Hope
I led a team that organized hotdog sales, participating in fairs and nother events, haunted houses, and other community events, raising over 200 million VND to build six homes for people experiencing homelessness. Through this project, I learned that empathy is scalable, small acts, when shared, can create lasting impact.
​Youth Tutoring Group
I founded a group of six students to teach Math and English to 20 underprivileged children. Meeting twice a week taught me consistency, patience, and the importance of giving back through education.
​Artistic Expression for Community
I organized a coffee art exhibition using recycled coffee grounds to promote sustainability. Through this project, I saw how art can connect culture, economics, and turning creativity into a form of community engagement.
What Growth Means to Me
I’ve grown from a curious kid who always asked “why” into someone who combines knowledge, technology, and economics to create real value. This journey leads to the next chapter of my story, how curiosity became compassion, and compassion became purpose.
Art Portfolio
Two Worlds in a Cup
Two Worlds in a Cup is a painting that connects two landscapes within a single cup of coffee. The painting depicts Prague's rooftops and Vietnam's lush greenery, symbolizing Czech heritage and Vietnam's coffee-growing roots. The steam rising and dissolving in the sky symbolize memory and belonging, highlighting the artist's experience of holding multiple identities.
BEAN
The painting explores the dual nature of dual heritage, combining the intimate and the infinite through the symbol of a coffee bean. The earthy browns and golden hues reflect the Central Highlands' coffee culture, while the star-filled void symbolizes the universe of possibility within every story within every story.
The Quiet Harvest
The Quiet Harvest is a deeply personal image reflecting the Vietnamese heritage of a woman gathering coffee cherries in the highlands of Vietnam. The scene symbolizes care, sacrifice, and the passing down of identity, binding individuals to a people tied to soil, sun, and tradition. The artist's heritage is characterized by strength, patience, and continuity.
Two Worlds in a Cup
The Weight of Roots is a work that explores the memory of a tree, highlighting its roots and the weight of culture passed down through generations. The tree symbolizes belonging and the rhythms of daily life, while its unseen roots hold the tree together. It acknowledges the importance of both upward and downward growth.
Highland Nights
The artist's work explores layered identities, referencing Vietnamese, Jewish, and Czech heritages. The green fields symbolize Vietnamese heritage, while the night sky reflects Jewish heritage. The contrast between heavens and earth reflects Czech heritage, while stars offer orientation and mystery. The painting serves as an inner map, charting identity constellations across soil and sky.
Hands by the Fire
Hands by the Fire is a Vietnamese artwork depicting hands roasting coffee over coals, reflecting the artist's heritage and the foundation of family and culture. The pan symbolizes the artist's agency to forge his own path, acknowledging respect for the past while allowing the artist to choose where the fire leads.
Between Two Bridges
Between Two Bridges is a painting that depicts a man walking across the Long Biên Bridge in Hanoi, symbolizing history and war scars, and Prague's Charles Bridge, symbolizing European heritage. The bridge symbolizes transition, rooted in hardship and resilience, and cultural rebirth. The man's journey represents a choice, moving away from survival to meaning, creativity, and self-determination, while also carrying the weight of history.
LEADERSHIP & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Robotics
I founded the UNIS Robotics Team and led it to regional competitions.
Secured over $10,000 in sponsorships to fund materials and travel.
Through teamwork, trial, and innovation, I learned that real leadership means turning collective creativity into progress.
Startup Ecosystem
As Vice President at Empacts’ SDG Bootcamp, I collaborated with young founders tackling sustainability challenges and learned how ideas grow into real impact.
As Co-founder of a small marketing startup, I created content and TikTok campaigns for local restaurants, discovering how consumer psychology and storytelling drive business success.
Marketing Startup
I started a small team of students interested in business and marketing, and together we reached out to family-run restaurants to offer free promotional filming. Through creating TikTok ads for them, I learned how consumer psychology and storytelling can help local businesses grow.
Leadership
To me, leadership is not just about guiding others but about creating opportunities for them to lead. I’ve learned that empathy is what turns leadership from authority into collaboration, allowing everyone’s strengths to shine.
