Description:When everyone expected him to wear a suit and climb the corporate ladder, Chef Nayeem Ashraf chose an apron instead. After earning his degree in Business Administration, he decided to chase something far riskier — his true passion: cooking.But it wasn’t easy. People called him “baburchi” — a word often thrown around as an insult in our society. Family, friends, even strangers couldn’t understand why someone would leave a “respectable” path for the heat of a kitchen.Years later, that same baburchi now stands on the TEDx stage, not just as a chef, but as a teacher, mentor, and changemaker — inspiring others to find dignity in doing what they love.In this deeply personal talk, Chef Nayeem shares his journey of turning judgment into motivation, and passion into purpose. He reminds us that success isn’t defined by titles, but by the courage to follow your fire.What You’ll Learn:How cultural expectations shape our idea of “success”Why passion is not a backup plan — it’s the main oneThe hidden dignity in everyday professionsHow owning your label can transform your story#TEDx #TEDxYouth #TEDxBangladesh #ChefNayeemAshraf #Baburchi #PassionOverPrestige #FollowYourDreams #Bangladesh #LeCordonBleu #CulinaryArts #InspiringStories #CareerChange #MotivationalTalk #FoodIsArt Chef Nayeem Ashraf is a trailblazing Bangladeshi chef reshaping the culinary landscape with a bold mix of global technique and local soul. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Malaysia and a former intern at the renowned Nobu Kuala Lumpur, Nayeem brings a world-class standard to every dish he creates and every student he teaches.Defying social norms and cultural expectations, he chose the kitchen as his canvas—transforming his passion into purpose. He is the founder of SHINEE (School of Hospitality Integrated Education Epicenter), an innovative culinary school in Dhaka that equips aspiring chefs with hands-on, industry-standard training rooted in creativity and discipline.Chef Nayeem’s work fuses the flavors of Bangladesh with international flair—bringing together tradition and innovation on every plate. As a mentor, judge, and educator, he empowers the next generation of chefs to dream bigger, cook bolder, and break boundaries—both in the kitchen and in life. 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