Donovan O’Leary

Athlete, Brainstormer, Change agent, Entrepreneur, Idea generator, Project manager, Public servant, Social entrepreneur, Student, Writer/Editor

My name is Donovan O'Leary, a learner-driven leader and entrepreneurial student trying to change the world one idea at a time.

changing the k-12 education curriculum to set students up for their lives and the real world instead of solely college.

In my freshman year of high school, I came out of an education curriculum that had prepared me for solving equations and analyzing books but I had no idea how to find invigorating passions and inspiring gifts that would shape my future. I enrolled in Acton, a school focused on encouraging learners to discover instead of teaching, it was there that I was recommended the TEDx talk that changed my outlook on life: How Great Leaders Inspire Action by Simon Sinek. Simon Sinek's explanation of how leaders can change the world with the right motivations and vision helped me realize that becoming a leader is one of my life's purposes. Since then, I have watched many more TEDx talks and even had the opportunity to interview Joe Landolina, speaker of the talk This Gel Can Make You Stop Bleeding Instantly. It is safe to say that TED has changed the way I look at the world, and I one day hope to create my own event that shares even more ideas worth spreading.