Charlie Cooper on Turning Passion into Purpose

Following Your Talent: A Conversation with Duke Photographer Charlie Cooper

Most people know their talent long before they have the courage to follow it.

Charlie Cooper — Duke sophomore, award-winning photographer, documentary storyteller, and co-founder of Rising Stars of Africa — is already doing both.

In this episode, Charlie shares how he discovered his gift at 13, how he's choosing his own path instead of the traditional one, and why following your talent matters more than ever.

3 Takeaways:

• Your calling shows up early — pay attention to what energizes you.
• The road less traveled requires blocking out noise and trusting your gift.
• One idea, paired with passion, can impact a community — or your life.

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Charlie Cooper is a sophomore at Duke University studying biology & visual media. He is a passionate photographer and storyteller with a specific focus on wildlife and human related issues. Charlie's wildlife photography has won awards and he's produced 2 short-films about conservation issues in Ghana.

Charlie is also the co-founder of Rising Stars of Africa Basketball, a youth development program in Ghana helping create young leaders through sport. Hiss passions for telling stories and community development have led him on many incredible adventures, and allowed him to meet many incredible people while picking up a variety of skills.

Connect with Jon Dwoskin:

Twitter: @jdwoskin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.dwoskin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejondwoskinexperience/
Website: https://jondwoskin.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondwoskin/
Email: [email protected]
Get Jon's Book: The Think Big Movement: Grow your business big. Very Big!

Connect with Charlie Cooper:
Website: https://www.charliecooperphoto.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-cooper-08aaa7326/