TED Business
About the podcast
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.
What if businesses were designed to maximize impact — not just profits? Alex Amouyel, president and CEO of Newman's Own Foundation, details the organization’s commitment to donate all of the profits from the food company it owns — and shows what the “100% for purpose” movement can teach us about doing business, philanthropy and capitalism differently. After the talk, Modupe urges you to be wary of "greenwashing" marketing tactics and to look to "impact washing" initiatives by doing research on a company's mission and values.
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Success rarely happens in a straight line, with setbacks all but guaranteed along the way. What's the best way to recover? Leadership coach Amy Shoenthal lays out the four phases of the "setback cycle" and explains how to transform difficult moments into opportunities for reinvention and progress. After, Modupe reflects on Amy's talk and the benefits of facing existential questions -- not for despair but to be awaken to clearer possibilities.
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Can marketing transcend traditional business goals and actually be a force for good? Mastercard CMO Raja Rajamannar shares how purpose-driven initiatives — like “touch cards” for the visually impaired and debit cards that let people choose how their names appear — align profit with purpose and position businesses to create meaningful, positive change. (This conversation was hosted by TED's Whitney Pennington Rodgers.) After the talk, Modupe reflects on how a business can find purpose beyond profit.
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How prevalent is solar power, really? According to researcher Jenny Chase, it's already displacing fossil fuels in key energy markets around the world. She explains the rise of affordable solar power and dives into how her team tracked its rapid installation in unexpected countries, offering a vision of a brighter, more sustainable future. After the talk, Modupe looks to data on kerosene use in developing countries as a viable indicator for a potential shift to solar energy.
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Today, some companies are working hard to prevent consumers from repairing products on their own. In many cases, repair can only be done by the original manufacturer, if at all. With limited repair options available, we end up buying new and throwing more items out. So, how exactly do companies prevent repair? And what can consumers do about it? Aaron Perzanowski investigates. [Directed by Nick Hilditch, narrated by Addison Anderson].
After the talk, Modupe focuses on the term "planned obsolete" and why you should advocate for more transparent repair options.
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This is an episode of Fixable, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective.
Sometimes the only way to win is by finding the courage to lose. This week on Fixable, Anne and Frances want you to “dare to be bad” in order to free up capacity to excel at more important things. They share insight on the power of strategic “no”s, the value of ruthless prioritization, and how Steve Jobs and Apple delivered breakthrough innovation by strategically underperforming. Frances explains why you can’t always trust your own instincts, and Anne reflects on the lessons she learned in her early days of parenting.
What problems are you dealing with at work? Text or call 234-FIXABLE or email fixable@ted.com to be featured on the show.
For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts
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Where do you draw the line between work and life? Writer Simone Stolzoff explores the problem with defining yourself by your job — and shows what it takes to reclaim your time and sense of meaning beyond the office. After the talk, Modupe shares how practicing meditation nourishes her identity outside of work.
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Success in your career looks different for everyone — but no matter your industry, you'll need to take risks. Company and community builder Molly Graham shares three key skills to learn before jumping off the metaphorical cliff, outlining a path off the corporate ladder and into true professional and personal growth. After the talk, Modupe shares her own experience with risk-taking when she left her consulting job to pursue academia. What helped her along the way? The support of a good mentor.
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Why do so many of us get nervous when public speaking? Communication expert Lawrence Bernstein says the key to dealing with the pressure is as simple as having a casual chat. He introduces the "coffee shop test" as a way to help you overcome nerves, connect with your audience and deliver a message that truly resonates. After the talk, Modupe explains a similar approach in academia called the "Grandma test," and how public speaking can be as simple as a conversation with grandma.
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This week, we're revisiting an episode on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) — essential drivers of creativity and profits, yet progress has been slow. It's time for leaders to become "rock stars" of inclusion — and that starts with pushing through discomfort, says veteran broadcaster and diversity leader June Sarpong. "When it comes to diversity and inclusion, we need bold disruptors who are uncomfortable with the status quo, even if the status quo benefits them," Sarpong says. After the talk, Modupe highlights proven strategies that increase representation and inclusion in the workplace.
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