TED Business

TED

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 acast.com/privacy for more information.

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36 episodes
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English

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Friday · 18 min
Growing Your Career: How to ask for more — and get it | Alex Carter
How do you get what you want out of a negotiation? United Nations negotiation trainer Alex Carter says the best methods center on recruitment, not rivalry. Whether you're asking for a raise or resolving a family dispute, she offers five simple tips for a successful discussion — starting with one powerful question. After the talk, Modupe shares tips on starting the conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Friday · 11 min
Growing Your Career: Why the best hire might not have the perfect resume | Regina Hartley
Given the choice between a job candidate with a perfect resume and one who has fought through difficulty, human resources executive Regina Hartley always gives the "Scrapper" a chance. As someone who grew up with adversity, Hartley knows that those who flourish in the darkest of spaces are empowered with the grit to persist in an ever-changing workplace. "Choose the underestimated contender, whose secret weapons are passion and purpose," she says. "Hire the Scrapper." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Friday · 10 min
Growing Your Career: How to speak so that people want to listen | Julian Treasure
Have you ever felt like you're talking, but nobody is listening? Here's Julian Treasure to help. In this useful talk, the sound expert demonstrates the how-to's of powerful speaking -- from some handy vocal exercises to tips on how to speak with empathy. A talk that might help the world sound more beautiful. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Friday · 15 min
Growing Your Career: Why we choke under pressure -- and how to avoid it | Sian Leah Beilock
When the pressure is on, why do we sometimes fail to live up to our potential? Cognitive scientist and Barnard College president Sian Leah Beilock reveals what happens in your brain and body when you choke in stressful situations, sharing psychological tools that can help you perform at your best when it matters most. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Friday · 10 min
Growing Your Career: Let your ambition light you up, not burn you out | Tarveen Forrester
Burnout shouldn’t be the price of success, but setting boundaries at work is easier said than done. Tarveen Forrester, who oversees workplace culture at Kickstarter, shares practical strategies for protecting your time and cultivating “sustainable ambition,” so you can crush your goals — without letting them crush you. After the talk, Modupe urges you to come up with a library of your own "tried and true" phrases that you can use when you’re feeling stretched. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Monday · 16 min
The four steps to hearing hard feedback gracefully | Chris Wheatley
We all have a "thing" — the way we act when we're not at our best that we somehow can't see in ourselves. Leadership expert Chris Wheatley learned about his when his best friend at work called him on it. He shares how hearing that hard truth shattered a lifelong pattern of defensiveness, offering a practical framework for receiving feedback with tact. After, Modupe shares why your siblings might be the best source of feedback. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 14 · 15 min
How to get past the "messy middle" of a big change | Mary Martin
Did progress on your next big project stall out? Transformation expert Mary Martin refers to this moment as the "messy middle" — the frustrating gap between starting and finishing a goal, when you might lose confidence or give up altogether. Offering three ways to find glimmers of progress when the going gets tough, she explores what to do when you feel stuck. After, Modupe shares why you don't need to go through your messy middle alone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 7 · 46 min
Can AI make you a better manager? with Hilary Gridley | from WorkLife with Molly Graham
Managing people is a deeply human line of work—it requires relational skills, judgement, and deep knowledge of the people you work with. But Hilary Gridley believes that when used properly, AI can not only help you become a better manager, but can help your team make more meaningful use of their human skills. Hilary has spent years leading teams at companies like Whoop, and she’s known for her work helping managers use AI to coach people, give feedback, and develop talent more efficiently. In this episode, Hilary makes the case for why AI belongs in management, and offers practical advice for how to help your team use AI in a way that adds value to their work instead of generating meaningless slop. Hilary and Molly also take a closer look at where many organizations have gone wrong in their adoption of AI tools, and the importance of clarity and communication within a team no matter what technology you have at your disposal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 31 · 11 min
The fleeting euphoria of success | Debbie Millman
Over two decades of interviewing countless creative people, Debbie Millman (host of the iconic "Design Matters" podcast) had a realization: the pride and joy of accomplishing something often evaporates almost instantly. She explains how to stop chasing external validation for your achievements and instead live for the act of creation itself. After, Modupe shares how she finds time to celebrate after the end of every project. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 27 · 38 min
Finding Purpose: How to find your purpose (w/ Master Fixer Molly Graham) | from Fixable
What is your true purpose—and how do you find it? This month, Anne and Frances are tackling one of life’s biggest questions in search of answers for Fixers of all ages, from fresh graduates charting their first career moves to seasoned executives craving something more. In this episode, Anne sits down with Molly Graham, a former executive at Facebook and the new host of TED’s WorkLife podcast, to explore what it means to pursue meaningful work and stay open to opportunities you never saw coming. They also answer a question from a new graduate about finding your purpose somewhere between work and life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 27 · 44 min
Finding Purpose: How to give your work meaning (w/ the New York Times Jodi Kantor) | from Fixable
In uncertain times, purposeful work can feel impractical and out of reach. But award-winning investigative reporter Jodi Kantor argues that meaning is both essential and available to all of us. Anne and Frances dive into the lessons from Jodi’s latest book, “How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work,” and explore practical strategies for anyone looking to chart a more purposeful career. The three also discuss two key principles for finding work that matters and challenge the idea that economic stability and purpose are mutually exclusive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 27 · 36 min
Finding Purpose: How to defend your values (w/ Yara Shahidi & Keri Salter) | from Fixable
In a world that won’t stop changing, knowing what matters most can make all the difference. Yara Shahidi and Keri Salter are a mother-daughter duo building a more inclusive and imaginative Hollywood through their production company, 7th Sun Productions. In this episode, Anne sits down with Yara and Keri at the TED Conference in Vancouver to dig into their “highest order” framework for aligning purpose with priorities. They also reflect on how purpose evolves over a lifetime and explore what today’s changemakers can learn from previous generations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 27 · 51 min
Finding Purpose: Why purpose is the answer to uncertainty and anxiety (w/ Arun Gupta) | from Fixable
Work today is a lot less stable than it used to be. Career paths that once seemed predictable are constantly being disrupted and reshaped, leaving many of us feeling unsteady. In this final episode of the Finding Purpose series, Anne and Frances are joined by Arun Gupta, CEO of the NobleReach Foundation, who has spent his career helping people find ways to serve causes bigger than themselves. Arun makes the case for why following your purpose can be a powerful antidote to instability and anxiety, and shares practical ways to discover your own purpose. Anne and Frances also reflect on what they’ve learned from guests throughout the series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 24 · 19 min
A plan to stop AI from automating our decline | Gina Raimondo
The United States is on track to win the AI race — and hollow itself out in the process, says Gina Raimondo, former Governor of Rhode Island and US Secretary of Commerce. In this unflinching look at the threat of AI-induced economic disruption and social unrest, she offers a concrete blueprint to prepare workers for what’s coming next. "AI is a 100-year technology and needs a 100-year response," she says. Is America up to the challenge? After, Modupe talks about why people shouldn't be punished for taking time to find new ways to work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 17 · 17 min
My $60 million science experiment | Mark Rober
Mark Rober spent years trying to land a rover on Mars. Now, the former NASA engineer turned science YouTuber with millions of subscribers is launching a new mission: to teach the next generation of big problem solvers. That's why he's spending 60 million dollars to build a STEM curriculum kids actually want. With squirrel obstacle courses, giant lasers and elephant toothpaste explosions, who wouldn't want to learn from YouTube's top engineer? After, Modupe urges you to imagine your favorite teacher—what qualities of theirs made class engaging and made you feel heard? And how can you bring those qualities and characteristics into your work life? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 10 · 17 min
How to build a career you actually love | Bill Gurley
Passion doesn't drive work — fascination does, says venture capitalist and author Bill Gurley. Drawing on years of research into the lives of high achievers, he shows why obsessive, lifelong learning is the real engine of career excellence. After, Modupe urges you to try something new with a friend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 3 · 46 min
What sitting all day does to your brain and body | Keith Diaz | Your Body on Tech
Can a five-minute walk change how you feel all day? Exercise scientist Keith Diaz shows how your body is built for the kind of movement that modern life has quietly erased — and suggests something refreshingly doable: making time for small doses of movement sprinkled throughout the day, as a way to boost your brain and body. And stick around after his talk for a deep dive conversation with our guest host for the week, author and podcaster Manoush Zomorodi, into the ideas he shared on stage and beyond. This is episode one of a seven-part series airing this week on TED Talks Daily, where Manoush — and the seven speakers she curated for TED2026 — explore how you can live a healthier life in our high-tech era. To hear more from Manoush, listen to TED Radio Hour wherever you get your podcasts. Check out her new book, Body Electric, to learn more about the hidden health costs of the digital age. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 30 · 17 min
Modupe's Top 5 (#1): Why you should talk about your anxiety at work | Adam Whybrew
We can't get rid of anxiety and depression, so we might as well talk about it, says depression truth-teller Adam Whybrew. Sharing his own experience with mental illness, he reveals the surprising benefits of opening up about stress at work — and why being vulnerable creates a safe space for everyone. After the talk, Modupe discusses why we all need to advocate for important causes on an institutional level — and how to start. (This episode originally aired in 2024.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 30 · 18 min
Modupe's Top 5 (#2): How to break through fear and become a leader | Valerie Montgomery Rice
Vigilance. Grit. Resilience. Valerie Montgomery Rice, the president and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine, shares where she learned these key qualities of successful leadership, offering three lessons for anyone who wants to overcome their fears, stand up for what’s right and build opportunity for all. After the talk, Modupe urges us all to tell our own stories. (This episode originally aired in 2024.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 30 · 18 min
Modupe's Top 5 (#3): How to get people to do what you want | Barry Sonnenfeld
As a film and television director, Barry Sonnenfeld had millions of dollars riding on his ability to get his cast and crew to play along — and much of what he learned along the way applies to everyday life. Here, he shares nine bits of wisdom and whimsy gleaned from 40 years in entertainment. So the next time you encounter a screaming bully, you too will know what to do. After the talk, Modupe shares three questions to help you reflect on your message delivery. (This episode originally aired in 2025.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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