TED Business
Business & Finance
About
Whatever your business conundrum, there’s a TED Talk for that — whether you want to learn how to land that promotion, set smart goals, undo injustice at work, or unlock the next big innovation. Every Monday, host Modupe Akinola of Columbia Business School presents the most powerful and surprising ideas that illuminate the business world. After the talk, you'll get a mini-lesson from Modupe on how to apply the ideas in your own life — because business evolves every day, and our ideas about it should, too.Follow Modupe on Instagram at @mnakinola and on LinkedIn at @mnakinola Hosted on Acast. See ac...
Episodes
- How displaced people are driving local economies | Julienne Oyler
Julienne Oyler of Inkomoko discusses how forcibly displaced people are driving local economies. She describes how investing in refugee entrepreneurs can help build businesses, uplift communities, and provide access to financial services. T…
- 4 relationship traps that lead to burnout | Eric Quintane
In this episode, Eric Quintane, an organizational behavior researcher, reveals four hidden relational traps in the workplace that contribute to burnout. He explores how connection shapes resilience, vulnerability, and burnout based on exte…
- What successful negotiators do differently | Kathryn Valentine
In this episode, Kathryn Valentine explores the gender dynamics of workplace negotiations, explaining why women succeed less often despite negotiating as frequently as men. She provides a framework for successful negotiation tactics. Modup…
- Toolkit: Give Better Feedback | from Fixable
This episode introduces the "Toolkit" segment, offering a practical guide to feedback. It covers different types of workplace feedback, common pitfalls, and actionable tips for delivering praise and critique, along with advice for handling…
- How to be a great listener | Maegan Stephens, Nicole Lowenbraun
Maegan Stephens and Nicole Lowenbraun share four ways to listen and a practical framework to improve responses, build trust, and achieve results. They also discuss a tool that helps in understanding group dynamics.
- How to introduce yourself — and get hired | Rebecca Okamoto
Rebecca Okamoto, a communication consultant, discusses five ways to introduce yourself effectively in 20 words or fewer. She focuses on making good first impressions for interviews and conversations. Modupe also offers advice on practicing…
- How to understand money stuff (w/ Matt Levine) | from How to Be a Better Human
Matt Levine, author of Bloomberg’s "Money Stuff" newsletter, joins Chris to discuss common financial questions, including commodity trading, how AI companies make money, and balancing ethics with profit. They also explore how Matt uses com…
- AI is coming for your job. Now what? | Vlad Tenev
In this episode of TED Business, Vlad Tenev explores the impact of AI on the future of work, focusing on the potential disappearance of jobs. Modupe also discusses balancing trepidation with creativity.
- The trap of win-lose thinking (and how to escape it) | John Mackey
In this episode, John Mackey, cofounder of Whole Foods, shares his experience with a major flood and near-bankruptcy and how it reshaped his business. He explains how adopting a "win-win-win" worldview contributed to his success.
- Why are we demolishing homes during a housing crisis? | Olaf Grawert
Olaf Grawert explores the impact of demolishing homes during a housing crisis, highlighting the environmental and social costs. He suggests that valuing existing buildings could provide sustainable and affordable housing solutions.
- 4 hard truths about capitalism and climate | Steve Howard
In this episode of TED Business, Steve Howard explores four realities that explain why businesses often fail in climate action despite their efforts. He also proposes a plan to make green innovation financially compelling. Modupe emphasize…
- The question that saved my company from bankruptcy | Sharon Price John
Sharon Price John, CEO of Build-A-Bear, discusses saving the company from bankruptcy and returning to profitability through a purpose-centered approach. She highlights the importance of emotion and storytelling in business, beyond just dat…
- Be Kind: The Most Overlooked Driver of Success | From Think Fast Talk Smart
This episode from Think Fast, Talk Smart discusses the strategic importance of kindness in business. Host Matt Abrahams and Professor Bonnie Hayden Cheng explore how organizations focused on compassion and trust can achieve stronger perfor…
- The surprisingly simple reason teams fail | Tessa West
Tessa West discusses how communication breakdowns, often due to assumptions and "hidden languages," can lead to team failures, as seen in a 1999 NASA mission. Modupe encourages listeners to seek clarification for empowerment in the workpla…
- How to empower the next generation of pilots | Refilwe Ledwaba
Refilwe Ledwaba, founder of Girls Fly Africa, shares her journey and her work in empowering young women to pursue careers as pilots. She emphasizes the importance of perseverance and tailored instruction in achieving success in aviation.
- The flourishing future of women's sports | Kate Johnson
Kate Johnson, former Olympic rower and Google's Global Marketing Strategy lead for sports and entertainment, explores the growing popularity of women's sports and the challenges of social media algorithms. She discusses what is needed to c…
- Interview: 4 ways to design a disability-friendly future with BJ Miller
In this episode of TED Business, BJ Miller shares his experience with disability and challenges the conventional understanding of "normal." The discussion highlights the importance of expanding our perception of life and belonging, and inc…
- Will climate change make your home uninsurable? | Amy Barnes
Amy Barnes, a climate risk advisor, explains how climate change is affecting the affordability of home insurance and its implications for the global financial system. She emphasizes the importance of investing in resilience to address thes…
- What it’s really like to win the lottery | Matt Pitcher
Financial planner Matt Pitcher shares insights from over a decade of advising lottery winners, discussing how sudden wealth can unbalance life or create profound opportunities. This episode explores the link between money and happiness thr…
- How we got hooked on credit cards | from TED Talks Daily
This episode of TED Business, from TED Talks Daily, features Nidhi Upadhyaya delving into the history of credit cards in the United States, tracing their origins and rise to a $500 billion-a-year industry. The discussion covers how this le…
- What 2025 Taught Us—And Where 2026 Is Taking Us
This TED Business episode features hosts from TED Talks Daily, TED Radio Hour, TED Business, and TED Tech discussing major ideas from 2025 and anticipating trends for 2026, including AI advancements and impactful TED Talks. The conversatio…
- Stephen J. Dubner | from Design Matters
Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning journalist and bestselling author, is the co-creator of Freakonomics. This global franchise aims to reveal the hidden side of everything and challenge established perceptions.
- Why we need to know our lives matter | Jennifer Wallace
Jennifer Wallace discusses the importance of knowing our lives matter, drawing on research into various professions. She highlights how simple acts of acknowledgment can contribute to our sense of purpose. Modupe later shares tips on pract…
- Most countries fail at clean energy. Here’s how mine succeeded | Sebastián Kind
Sebastián Kind, an energy expert, details how Argentina achieved a nearly 40% renewable energy supply in six years. He explains the non-technological breakthrough that enabled this transition and offers a roadmap for other countries to fol…
- What sex, soap and alcohol taught me about making an impact | Myriam Sidibe
Myriam Sidibe, a public health expert, discusses how businesses can achieve social impact and growth simultaneously. She presents a framework for brands to create meaningful impact.
- Tax the rich — and save the planet | from TED Talks Daily
Nobel laureate Esther Duflo, in an episode from TED Talks Daily, discusses using data-driven analysis to address the climate crisis. She calculates the environmental and human cost of greenhouse gases from wealthy nations, advocating for t…
- Tech Solutions (#1): The affordable tech that will revolutionize farming (with Samir Ibrahim and Josephine Waweru)
Samir Ibrahim, CEO of SunCulture, discusses how his company provides affordable solar-powered water pumps to farmers in Kenya to ensure reliable access to water for irrigation. Josephine Waweru, a coffee farmer, shares her experience with…
- A bold idea to rebuild the working class | Molly Hemstreet
Molly Hemstreet, cofounder of the Industrial Commons, presents an approach to rebuild the working class and rural economies. She discusses turning textile waste into yarn and empowering factory workers to become business owners.
- The world's first "nature superpower" | Ilona Szabó de Carvalho
Ilona Szabó de Carvalho explores how Brazil is addressing deforestation by pioneering an economic model that profits from nature protection, with ambitious restoration goals and innovations in forest mapping. She discusses the concept of B…
- Brené Brown on courageous leadership | from ReThinking with Adam Grant
Brené Brown joins Adam Grant to discuss courageous leadership, core values, and vulnerability. They also cover difficult conversations, boundaries, and lessons from FBI hostage negotiators.
- A traditional job isn’t the only path to success | TED Talks Daily
Anuj Tanna discusses the informal economy in Africa, challenging the perception of a "jobless generation" by highlighting the significant economic contributions of young entrepreneurs. He suggests rethinking the narrative around the inform…
- How Texas became America’s biggest producer of wind energy | Speed & Scale
TED Business explores how Texas, a state historically rich in oil and gas, transformed into America's largest producer of wind energy. The episode discusses the approaches that supercharged clean energy development before partisan politics…
- How to get people to do what you want | Barry Sonnenfeld
Barry Sonnenfeld, a film and television director, shares insights from his 40 years in entertainment about influencing people. He provides nine pieces of advice applicable to everyday life.
- Why good people become bad bosses | Jamie Woolf and Christopher Bell
Jamie Woolf and Christopher Bell explore "power blindness" and how authority can warp perspective, offering practical ways to avoid becoming a toxic boss. Modupe shares an additional exercise to help improve leadership skills.
- The most powerful predictor of team success | Rafael Chiuzi
Rafael Chiuzi discusses psychological safety in the workplace, explaining how fear limits productivity and the free exchange of ideas. He shares three steps to build teams that foster curiosity and courage.
- A story of moral imagination and bold entrepreneurship | Sitoyo Lopokoiyit in conversation with Jacqueline Novogratz
In this episode, M-PESA CEO Sitoyo Lopokoiyit and impact investor Jacqueline Novogratz discuss leadership and how M-PESA grew into Africa's largest fintech platform. They explore how trust, innovation, and moral imagination can create oppo…
- Forget hustle culture. Behold the Artist Corporation | Yancey Strickler
Yancey Strickler, cofounder of Kickstarter, proposes an "Artist Corporation" model where artists can collectively build sustainable careers and wealth. He envisions a future where artist-owned collectives, rather than corporate giants, dri…
- Quick Fixes: How to level up, job craft, and manage colleagues you can’t stand | Fixable
In this episode of TED Business, Anne and Frances from Fixable offer solutions to three common workplace dilemmas. They advise listeners on strategies for business growth, navigating career changes, and handling challenging co-workers.
- The trillion dollar paradox | George Zaidan
George Zaidan discusses the financial implications of global warming and the estimated trillion-dollar cost of transitioning to a clean energy economy. He explores what it would take to become a green economy. Modupe also discusses why it…
- Let your ambition light you up, not burn you out | Tarveen Forrester
In this episode, Tarveen Forrester discusses practical strategies for setting boundaries at work and cultivating "sustainable ambition" to achieve goals without experiencing burnout. She oversees workplace culture at Kickstarter.
- The delicious potential of rescuing wasted food | Jasmine Crowe-Houston
Jasmine Crowe-Houston of Goodr discusses how her platform addresses food waste by rerouting surplus food to those in need. She shares her journey from a viral moment to a nationwide effort to combat the food waste problem.
- The future isn't just coded — it's built | Lauren Dunford
In this episode of TED Business, Lauren Dunford explores modern manufacturing and its significance. She discusses how it shapes the world and the opportunities that lie in reinventing this industry.
- How I make vegan food sexy | Pinky Cole
Pinky Cole discusses her entrepreneurial journey with her plant-based burger chain, Slutty Vegan, sharing her experiences in building a vegan food empire. She talks about the authenticity, resilience, and community involved in her business.
- You are the bridge to the next generation | Ndinini Kimesera Sikar
Ndinini Kimesera Sikar explores combining traditional and modern life for future generations, referencing her experience in a Maasai village. Modupe considers the role of AI in future classroom learning.
- The economic opportunity hidden in the climate transition | Marielle Remillard
Marielle Remillard highlights the economic opportunities within the climate transition, despite potential material shortages for building a new energy grid. Modupe emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurship in climate resolution.
- How to change careers and reinvent yourself (w/ Dawn Burrell) | from How to Be a Better Human
In this episode, Dawn Burrell discusses her career transition from Olympic athlete to chef. She shares insights on redefining success, finding fulfillment in new pursuits, and navigating career shifts. The episode also covers building conf…
- A new vision of healthy masculinity | Davonte Green
In this episode of TED Business, Davonte Green discusses a new vision of healthy masculinity, focusing on emotional intelligence and self-control. Modupe then reflects on the importance of acknowledging and processing one's feelings.
- The climate movement needs new stories — here's mine | Fenton Lutunatabua
Fenton Lutunatabua discusses the climate movement, sharing stories from activists in the Pacific fighting for their future. The episode also reflects on narrative leadership and co-creating a new future for communities.
- How to speak up — even when you don’t want to | Sarah Crawford-Bohl
In this episode of TED Business, Sarah Crawford-Bohl presents a compassionate framework for engaging in difficult conversations. She discusses how speaking up can lead to stronger teams and greater impact.
- How industrial fishing sinks communities | Lamin Jassey
Lamin Jassey shares insights on how industrial fishing practices affect communities in The Gambia. He also highlights community efforts to protect their coastal areas and livelihoods.