3 TEDx Talks That Will Dare You To Pursue Your Dreams

The count down to TEDxEuston 2014 in London begins! Five years in the making, the TED-like annual event is locally organized by a team of African professionals in the spirit of ?ideas worth spreading?, devoted to leveraging the power of ideas to change the world. The events are cross-disciplinary with talks focused on changing attitudes, lives and ultimately the world. With each event comes even more inspiration. Trying to navigate a balance between pursuing your passion and giving back may be a bit tricky and painful, but to help give you that extra boost you may need to pursue that dream, here are some eye-opening TEDx Talks on pursuing your dreams, that all can benefit from.

Jacqueline Nwobu: Reshaping an Industry
Jacqueline Nwobu, the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief at Munaluchi Bridal Magazine is known for many things, but one that sets her apart from the crowd is that she is a disruptor. With a background in medical technology and next to no experience in publishing or in the bridal industry for that matter, Nwobu and her husband (co-founder Chike Nwobu) have been able to launch a brand that has changed the face of the bridal industry in a very short period of time. Nwobu gets excited when she goes to the newsstands and sees their magazines there. ?When people ask us how we did it and why we do it, I always say that it?s not really about what we are doing, it?s about why we are doing it?, she says. ??we do this because it is really important to have those images; images of black women on covers, even if not on the cover, in the pages of a magazine?. What?s not to love about that?

Ikenna Azuike: My wake up call
Funny man Ikenna Azuike is killing it with his show What?s Up Africa, a satirical news and pop culture show about Africa. And while it draws laughs from viewers around the world, Azuike admits to moments when his life had not been as hilarious. The former banking lawyer left what many on the outside might perceive to be the ultimate job, to pursue his show, a move that made him have to start from scratch. ?..as they say, it is better to be at the bottom of the ladder you want to climb instead of halfway up one you don?t?, he says. He couldn?t have said it any better.

Fadekemi Akinfaderin-Agarau: Finding my calling
If there ever was a ?quitter? of the successful variety, Akinfaderin-Agarau is certainly one. ?To be honest with you, I do accept that label ? I am a quitter?? . While she discontinued a prospective career in medicine and left the United States, she ultimately pursued a calling to work in HIV research. Today she is co-founder and Executive Director of Education as a Vaccine (EVA), where she works with her team to build and implement innovative programs to improve the quality of life of vulnerable children and young people in Nigeria.

Image: TEDxEuston

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