TED Business
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.
All Episodes
Networking doesn't have to feel gross | Daniel Hallak
Networking doesn’t always have to feel like a self-serving transaction, says executive coach Daniel Hallak. Highlighting the importance of focusing on giving rather than taking when it comes to making connections, he outlines a mindset shift to help you build better relationships — in a way that doesn't feel gross. After the talk, Modupe highlights the value of extending your support beyond your usual network.
Yes, you can be an entrepreneur too | Saamra Mekuria-Grillo
Who gets to be an entrepreneur? Saamra Mekuria-Grillo says the image we most commonly see — a guy in a hoodie — is a limiting representation of entrepreneurial success. She highlights the importance of young Black people seeing entrepreneurship as a possibility for themselves and explains the key to making the field more inclusive. After the talk, Saamra joins Modupe for a conversation about how she got into this work.
How to empower farmers — and nourish the planet | Agnes Kalibata
Africa's smallholder farmers feed millions of people and uplift economies, yet they often lack the basic resources needed to thrive, says agricultural scientist and policymaker Agnes Kalibata. She outlines how to empower these farmers with better tools, climate resilience strategies and market access — so they can continue to nourish humanity while caring for the planet. After the talk, Modupe paints a picture of what these ideas look like in action.
The power of personalization in the age of AI | Mark Abraham
With all that spam clogging your inbox, a more personalized experience with the brands you interact with would be a refreshing change of pace. Sharing insights from his research into what brands can do to improve the experience of the people they want to reach, personalization pioneer Mark Abraham highlights a key mindset that can help companies boost their growth (and delight their customers) in the era of AI. After the talk, Modupe dives into what this could mean for the rest of your life — on and offline.
Want to get ahead at work? Risk the awkward moments | Henna Pryor
When we avoid feeling awkward, we often miss an opportunity for growth, says workplace performance expert Henna Pryor. She shares tips on embracing discomfort for the sake of self-betterment and shows how pushing past the "cringe chasm" — the gap between how we perceive ourselves and how others see us — can open up chances to get ahead at work and in life. After the talk, Modupe shares wisdom on how to get over the fear of being cringe.