TED Business

The rigged test of leadership | Sophie Williams

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The glass cliff: an experience of taking on a leadership role only to find that your chances of success have been limited before you've even begun. Eq...

Why are drug prices so high? Investigating the outdated US patent system | Priti Krishtel

04 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Between 2006 and 2016, the number of drug patents granted in the United States doubled -- but not because there was an explosion in invention or innov...

3 steps to getting what you want in a negotiation | Ruchi Sinha

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We negotiate all the time at work -- for raises, promotions, time off -- and we usually go into it like it's a battle. But it's not about dominating, ...

"A seat at the table" isn't the solution for gender equity | Lilly Singh

20 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Women and girls are conditioned to believe success is "a seat at the table." Creator, actress and author Lilly Singh thinks we need to build a better ...

How to escape the cynicism trap | Jamil Zaki

13 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Some days, it's hard to be optimistic. But cynicism -- the idea that people are inherently selfish, greedy and dishonest -- is making humanity lonelie...

Do you really need 8 hours of sleep?

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We all know a good night’s sleep is essential, but for many people, sleeping well (or falling asleep at all) can be difficult and even stressful - a...

The emotions behind your money habits | Robert A. Belle

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Your money habits reveal a lot about you: your hopes, fears, dreams and other deep personal truths you may not even be aware of, says accountant Rober...

How great leaders innovate -- responsibly | Ken Chenault

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In times of uncertainty, leaders have a responsibility to inspire hope. Sharing hard-won wisdom, business leader Ken Chenault talks about what it take...

The Not-So-Great Resignation | WorkLife with Adam Grant

16 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Over the past year, the Great Resignation has been all over the news. Many people are celebrating quitting their jobs… but it’s a decision some wi...

My secret to creating real magic | Christina Tosi

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In an infectiously joyous talk, Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi shares the sugary jolt of her first food memory and behind-the-scenes stories of her b...

You deserve the right to repair your stuff | Gay Gordon-Byrne

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A self-declared "repair geek," Gay Gordon-Byrne is a driving force behind the right-to-repair movement, which aims to empower people to fix their stuf...

Why being respectful to your coworkers is good for business | Christine Porath

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Looking to get ahead in your career? Start by being respectful to your coworkers, says leadership researcher Christine Porath. In this science-backed ...

What makes a job "good"—and the case for investing in people | Warren Valdmanis

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Businesses need to stop cutting labor costs and start investing in people, says social impact investor Warren Valdmanis. In this perspective-shifting ...

Listen now: WorkLife season 5

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

WorkLife with Adam Grant is back for a fifth season! Organizational psychologist Adam Grant knows that you spend a quarter of your life at work–and ...

Got millet? How marketing could improve the lives of African farmers | Zoë Karl-Waithaka

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From "got milk?" to "avocados from Mexico," marketing influences what you eat more than you may realize. But despite the known power of food marketing...

How to provide cooling for everyone -- without warming the planet | Rachel Kyte

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"The way we cool things down is heating the planet even more," says sustainable development expert Rachel Kyte -- and the solutions go well beyond jus...

Why great leaders take humor seriously | Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There's a mistaken belief in today's working world that leaders need to be serious all the time to be taken seriously. The research tells a different ...

A close-to-home solution for accessible childcare | Chris Bennett

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Childcare needs a transformation -- but rather than investing billions in new buildings and schools, what if we could unlock the potential of people a...

How to tame your wandering mind | Amishi Jha

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Amishi Jha studies how we pay attention: the process by which our brain decides what's important out of the constant stream of information it receives...

The value of kindness at work | James Rhee

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kindness can go a long way when it comes to reshaping a business. Having saved a fashion company from the brink of bankruptcy, entrepreneur James Rhee...

How gratitude rewires your brain | Christina Costa

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When a psychologist who studies well-being ends up with a brain tumor, what happens when she puts her own research into practice? Christina Costa goes...

3 tips for leaders to get the future of work right | Debbie Lovich

14 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Work that's dictated by a fixed schedule, place and job description doesn't make sense anymore, says leadership expert Debbie Lovich. In light of the ...

How to turn around a city | Irma L. Oguin Jr.

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Computer skills aren't what's stopping people from breaking into the tech industry, says social entrepreneur Irma L. Olguin Jr. More often, the bigges...

Dreams and details for a decarbonized future | Jim Hagemann Snabe

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As chairman of the world's largest maritime shipping company, Jim Hagemann Snabe thinks a lot about how goods get where they need to go and the impact...

The crucial intersection of climate and capital | Nili Gilbert

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The financial sector often talks of decarbonizing investment portfolios as a way to fight climate change. But portfolios can be "cleaned" without havi...

Encore: How you can shrink the wealth gap. Now. | Kedra Newsom Reeves

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that in the US the average white family has ten times as much wealth as a black family? Ten times. But while we wait for government polic...

Encore: Turn critics into allies | Bob Langert

10 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When an organization is battered by critics, how does it usually respond? “Deny and push back, put out some sort of lame statement,” says Bob Lang...

Encore: The Foundations of Confidence | Brittany Packnett

03 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Confidence. We talk about it all the time. We know it matters. And still, educator and activist Brittany Packnett thinks we underestimate it. "Confide...

Encore: How to find the person who can help you get ahead at work | Carla Harris

27 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You know you need a mentor to advance your career, but have you ever considered who your sponsor is? Carla Harris, vice chairman at Morgan Stanley, ex...

2022 trends and predictions with After Hours

22 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The end of another year is upon us, so it's time to take stock of where we've been and look ahead at where business is going. Today, Modupe talks to H...

4 myths and misunderstandings about doing business in Africa | Nomava Zanazo

13 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Business in Africa is booming -- but international companies are missing out, says emerging markets expert Nomava Zanazo. Rushing in without knowing t...

Where do your online returns go? | Aparna Mehta

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever order clothes online in different sizes and colors, just to try them on and then send back what doesn't work? Aparna Mehta used to do this...

The big myth of government deficits | Stephanie Kelton

29 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Government deficits have gotten a bad rap, says economist Stephanie Kelton. In this groundbreaking talk, she makes the case to stop looking at governm...

Indra Nooyi wants us to reimagine the return to work (part 1)

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The longtime PepsiCo CEO is one of the world’s most powerful women and Time’s 100 most influential people. In the first of two rich conversations,...

How to Disagree Productively and Find Common Ground | Julia Dhar

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Often it feels like the only thing we can agree on is that we can't agree on anything. World debate champion Julia Dhar offers three techniques to res...

How boredom can lead to your most brilliant ideas | Manoush Zamorodi

08 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you sometimes have your most creative ideas while folding laundry, washing dishes or doing nothing in particular? It's because when your body goes ...

How craving attention makes you less creative | Joseph Gordon-Levitt

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has gotten more than his fair share of attention from his acting career. But as social media exploded over the past decade, he go...

The cure for burnout (hint: it isn't self care) | Emily & Amelia Nagosaki

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You may be experiencing burnout and not even know it, say authors (and sisters) Emily and Amelia Nagoski. In an introspective and deeply relatable con...

Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, a trailer from Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi, a new TED Original podcast.​​Everyone wants to know if they're normal. Is my body normal, is...

How to let go of being a "good" person | Dolly Chugh

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if your attachment to being a "good" person is holding you back from actually becoming a better person? In this accessible talk, social psycholog...

Why gender-based marketing is bad for business | Gaby Barrios

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Companies often target consumers based on gender, but this kind of advertising shortcut doesn't just perpetuate outdated stereotypes -- it's also bad ...

Has Apple Peaked? Plus, Celebrities Changing Hollywood

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It's been 10 years since the death of Steve Jobs. Has Apple peaked after 10 years of Tim Cook's leadership, or is the best yet to come? Harvard Busine...

The case for coops | Anu Puusa

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Think capitalism is broken? Try cooperativism, says co-op enthusiast and researcher Anu Puusa. She lays out how cooperatives -- businesses owned, oper...

Dignity isn't a privilege, it's a worker's right | Abigail Disney

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What's the purpose of a company? In this bold talk, activist and filmmaker Abigail Disney imagines a world where companies have a moral obligation to ...

How to come out at work, about anything | Micah Eames

06 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When TED media communications associate Micah Eames came out as trans at work, he quickly realized he'd need to start having tricky conversations with...

Why you should get paid for your data | Jennifer Zhu Scott

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The world's most valuable tech companies profit from the personal data you generate. So why aren't you getting paid for it? In this eye-opening talk, ...

Bonus: Financial Inclusion and Limits of a Cashless System | Ajay Banga

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Roughly two billion people worldwide don't have access to banks or financial services like credit, insurance and investment. How do we bridge this div...

The Brain Boosting Benefits of Exercise | Wendy Suzuki

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What's the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today? Exercise! says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki. Get inspired to go to the gym a...

Encore: Train Yourself to Shine under Stress | Russell Wilson

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Athletes train their bodies to run faster, jump higher, throw farther. So why don't they train their minds, too? Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell ...

Encore: How to Build (And Rebuild) Trust | Frances Frei

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Trust is the foundation for everything we do. So what do we do when it's broken? Harvard Business School professor Frances Frei gives a crash course o...

When Your Job Makes You a Target of Online Hate | Dylan Marron

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Digital creator Dylan Marron has racked up millions of views for projects like "Every Single Word" and "Sitting in Bathrooms With Trans People"—but ...

The Rise of the Ghost Economy | Mary L. Gray

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There is an invisible, on-demand workforce of gig workers who fuel services offered by digital platforms like Google, Amazon, Uber and Microsoft. In t...

The dirty secret of capitalism | Nick Hanauer

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rising inequality and growing political instability are the direct result of decades of bad economic theory, says entrepreneur Nick Hanauer. In a visi...

4 myths about doing business in Africa | Nomava Zanazo

05 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’re taking some time off while we prepare for our next season. In the meantime, this bonus episode amplifies an important call to brands who do bu...

The TED Interview: What it really takes to make change | Jacqueline Novogratz

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’re taking a few weeks off while we prepare the next season. So in the meantime, we’re sharing another episode from the TED Audio Collective tha...

The TED Interview: How to turn grit into a lifelong habit | Angela Duckworth

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’re taking a few weeks off while we prepare the next season. So in the meantime, we’re sharing another episode from the TED Audio Collective tha...

Healthier relationships...at work Pt. 2 | Katie Hood

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We all know relationships are hard to manage. And our work relationships—tangled with power, status and interdependence—are no exception. Last wee...

Zigzag | 6. The Timeline

11 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On the final episode of The ZigZag Project, activist Stacey Abrams explains her short-term strategies for sticking to her long-term goals and Manoush ...

Healthier relationships...at work Pt. 1 | Katie Hood

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Friends, family, and yes, colleagues. We all know relationships are hard to manage, and our work relationships – tangled with power, status and inte...

The case for reverse mentorship | Patrice Gordon

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We typically think of mentoring as the older generation passing down wisdom to the young, but there are benefits to flipping this around. There’s ev...

Zigzag | 5. The Paths

28 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, another episode from ZigZag, hosted by Manoush Zomorodi. This is Step 5 of The ZigZag Project, a six-step process to get you from wanting to ma...

To end poverty, cultivate innovation | Efosa Ojomo

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What turns a developing country into a prosperous one? For years, Efosa Ojomo has been trying to answer this question. And what he has found – throu...

How to futureproof your job | Kevin Roose

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

To futureproof your job against robots and AI, you should learn how to code, brush up on your math skills and crack open an engineering textbook, righ...

Zigzag | Step 4: The Match

14 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, another episode from ZigZag, hosted by Manoush Zomorodi. This is episode 4 of The ZigZag Project, a special season all about how to realign you...

Respect the video game | William Collis

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we encourage kids to play sports? Why does writing “captain of the lacrosse team” mean anything on a résumé? And why don’t we extend th...

The anti-ceo playbook | Hamdi Ulukaya

03 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Profit, money, shareholders: these are the priorities of most companies today. But at what cost? In an appeal to corporate leaders worldwide, Chobani ...

Zigzag | Step 3: The Weird Ideas

30 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, another episode from ZigZag, hosted by Manoush Zomorodi. This is episode 3 of The ZigZag Project, a special season all about how to realign you...

What racism costs everyone | Heather C. McGhee

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If it’s the richest country in the world, why does the American economy fail so much of the American public? Heather C. McGhee is a public policy ex...

Treat employees like adults | Patty McCord

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The pandemic showed HR consultant Patty McCord something she has been espousing for years: workers are adults, with responsibilities and obligations. ...

Zigzag | Step 2: The Vision

16 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, an episode from another show in the TED Audio Collective: ZigZag, hosted by Manoush Zomorodi. This is episode 2 of The ZigZag Project, a specia...

How AI can help us be more human | Kai-Fu Lee

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As technology gets smarter and encroaches on more and more jobs, we have to face a question: how do we differentiate the work that humans should do fr...

Google’s circular economy | Kate Brandt

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

To accomplish environmental change at the scale and pace we need, huge corporations have to make some fundamental changes. How will they do it? In thi...

ZigZag | Step 1: The Pulse

02 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The past year changed us. We’re defining success differently. We’re ready for a reset. So for the next few months, we're sharing something special...

Disruptive startups that actually help local businesses | Amane Dannouni

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

More and more, we buy through online marketplaces: Amazon, Uber, Airbnb — the list goes on. But this convenience and efficiency comes with a hidden ...

This is the side hustle revolution | Nicaila Matthews Okome

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’re seeing more and more full-time work replaced with part-time jobs, contract work, side gigs. “The term side hustle just seems to fit with thi...

The Forgotten Middle | Danielle R. Moss

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You know the "forgotten middle": they're the students, coworkers and regular people who are often overlooked because they're seen as neither exception...

The Long Term Stock Exchange | Michelle Greene

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What do companies get when they go public on a major stock exchange? The opportunity for anyone to invest, giving the company access to a bunch of cas...

The unexpected habits of original thinkers | Adam Grant

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, you heard the latest thinking from Adam Grant, organizational psychologist extraordinaire, about his newest book. This week, we dive into t...

Design Matters: Adam Grant

22 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Some exciting news. Today, TED is launching the TED Audio Collective, a collection of podcasts all about ideas, brought to you in audio. So we’re sh...

How you can shrink the wealth gap. Now. | Kedra Newsome Reeves

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that in the US the average white family has ten times as much wealth as a black family? Ten times. But while we wait for government polic...

Should we cry at work? | Susan David

08 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Feelings are complicated. And even more so at work. We like to believe the ultimate professional is stoic, but what important information do we miss w...

Turn critics into allies | Bob Langert

01 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When an organization is battered by critics, how does it usually respond? “Deny and push back, put out some sort of lame statement,” says Bob Lang...

An introvert’s guide to WFH | Morra Aarons-Mele

25 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You might think working from home is an introvert’s fantasy. “But,” says writer Morra Aarons-Mele, “the truth is, for many introverts remote w...

To make a company change, turn up the heat | Vinay Shandal

18 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do when a company doesn’t act in line with your values? Boycott? Divest? In essence, stop the flow of money? That's the typical advice. ...

The foundations of confidence | Brittany Packnett

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Confidence. We talk about it all the time. We know it matters. And still, educator and activist Brittany Packnett thinks we underestimate it. "Confide...

WorkLife: We don’t have to fight loneliness alone

04 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, an episode from WorkLife with Adam Grant, another TED podcast.Many workplaces have become increasingly lonely, even before the coronavirus pand...

ZigZag: Arlan Hamilton says capitalism is still the great equalizer

28 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"Today we're sharing an episode from another TED podcast: ZigZag, hosted by Manoush Zomorodi. In 2018, Backstage Capital's Arlan Hamilton was on the c...

Beyond performative diversity | Rosalind G. Brewer

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This year we’ve heard a lot of companies step up—or at least, say they’re stepping up—and making diversity a priority. But what does it mean t...

Train yourself to shine under stress | Russell Wilson

14 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Athletes train their bodies to run faster, jump higher, throw farther. So why don't they train their minds, too? Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell ...

How to lead in a crisis | Amy C. Edmondson

07 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How do you lead in times of absolute upheaval, when you can't predict what change could come tomorrow? With humility, transparency, and urgency, says ...

How to understand and disrupt racial bias | Jennifer L. Eberhardt

30 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Our brains create categories to make sense of the world, recognize patterns and make quick decisions. But this ability to categorize also exacts a hea...

How we can actually pay people enough | Paypal CEO Dan Schulman

23 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Capitalism urgently needs an upgrade, says PayPal CEO Dan Schulman, and it starts with paying people enough to actually invest in their futures. He ex...

Confessions of a recovering micromanager | Chieh Huang

16 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"If we know that micromanagement isn't really effective, why do we do it?" asks Boxed.com founder Chieh Huang. In a funny talk packed with wisdom and ...

How to build (and rebuild) trust | Frances Frei

09 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Trust is the foundation for everything we do. So what do we do when it's broken? Harvard Business School professor Frances Frei gives a crash course o...

How to disagree productively and find common ground | Julia Dhar

02 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Often it feels like the only thing we can agree on is that we can't agree on anything. World debate champion Julia Dhar offers three techniques to res...

Why the secret to success is setting the right goals | John Doerr

26 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When promising projects crash and burn, it's not always because of glaring mistakes. Venture capitalist John Doerr reveals it's often because those pr...

How to find the person who can help you get ahead at work | Carla Harris

19 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

You know you need a mentor to advance your career, but have you ever considered who your sponsor is? Carla Harris, vice chairman at Morgan Stanley, ex...

Why the strongest leaders ask for help | Lorna Davis

12 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When confronting huge challenges, sometimes the greatest strength a leader can show is to admit uncertainty. Former Danone North America CEO Lorna Dav...

Coming soon: the new TED Business!

07 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

TED Business is re-launching Oct. 12 in audio with a fresh new sound and a terrific new host, Columbia University's Modupe Akinola. New weekly episode...