Episodes: Year 2, Season 1
Why Great Leaders Take Humor Seriously — Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas
March 21, 2022
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 story. Based on the course they teach at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, behavioral scientist Jennifer Aaker and corporate strategist Naomi Bagdonas delve into the surprising power of humor: why it’s a secret weapon to build bonds, power, creativity and resilience — and how we can all have more of it.
A Close-to-Home Solution for Accessible Childcare — Chris Bennett
March 14, 2022
Childcare needs a transformation — but rather than investing billions in new buildings and schools, what if we could unlock the potential of people already nearby? Entrepreneur Chris Bennett offers an innovative way to tackle the shortage of childcare worldwide and connect families to safe, affordable and high-quality options in their own communities.
How to Tame Your Wandering Mind — Amishi Jha
March 7, 2022
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. Both external distractions (like stress) and internal ones (like mind-wandering) diminish our attention’s power, Jha says — but some simple techniques can boost it. “Pay attention to your attention,” Jha says.
The Value of Kindness at Work — James Rhee
February 28, 2022
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 shares the value of investing in a culture of compassion at work — and shows why we should all lead with our hearts.
How Gratitude Rewires Your Brain — Christina Costa
February 21, 2022
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 beyond the “fight” narrative of cancer — or any formidable personal journey — to highlight the brain benefits of an empowering alternative to fostering resilience in the face of unexpected challenges: gratitude. After the talk, Modupe shares a few tips for making gratitude a daily practice.
3 Tips for Leaders to Get the Future of Work Right — Debbie Lovich
February 14, 2022
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 cultural shift towards remote work sparked by the pandemic, Lovich gives three essential tips to leaders so employees can keep their autonomy (while remaining productive), companies can let go of rigid bureaucracy and we can all reshape work to better fit our lives. After the talk, Modupe explores the benefits and downsides of attending meetings remotely.
How to Turn Around a City — Irma L. Oguin Jr.
February 7, 2022
Computer skills aren’t what’s stopping people from breaking into the tech industry, says social entrepreneur Irma L. Olguin Jr. More often, the biggest hurdles are things like access to childcare, transportation and financial stability. In this visionary talk, Olguin Jr. introduces the work she’s done to uplift and empower people in her community in Fresno, California — and shows how it can be a model to elevate “underdog” communities across the world. After the talk, Corey Hajim, TED’s business curator, speaks with Irma about her career, how she got started, and what she’s doing next.
Dreams and Details for a Decarbonized Future — Jim Hagemann Snabe
January 31, 2022
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 their journey has on the planet. Leading the effort to decarbonize shipping by 2050, he shares a plan to convert green electricity into green liquid fuel to power vessels in a process called “power-to-X” — and urges global leaders to join the voyage towards an innovative, sustainable and fast-approaching future. After the talk, Corey Hajim, TED’s business curator, talks about how we can accomplish enormous, seemingly impossible goals, by breaking them down and making them manageable.
The Crucial Intersection of Climate and Capital — Nili Gilbert
January 24, 2022
The financial sector often talks of decarbonizing investment portfolios as a way to fight climate change. But portfolios can be “cleaned” without having any real impact on the problem, says investment expert Nili Gilbert. Bringing science to finance, she unpacks how investors can actually help decarbonize the world and ensure the climate transition is just, global and interconnected. After the talk, Corey Hajim, TED’s business curator, discusses how many businesses are boasting climate-beneficial practices, and how you can vet their impact as a consumer.
2022 Trends and Predictions with After Hours
December 22, 2021
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 Harvard Business School professors and hosts of the TED Audio Collective podcast “After Hours” Youngme Moon, Mihir Desai, and Felix Oberholzer-Gee to reflect on this year’s learning opportunities and the conversations they are keeping an eye on for 2022. The trio also talk about how they got into the habit of making end of year predictions, what they’ve been wrong (or surprisingly right) about, and what our obsession with predicting the future says about us. Check out their full 2022 predictions on “After Hours” wherever you’re listening to this.
4 Myths and Misunderstandings About Doing Business in Africa — Nomava Zanazo
December 13, 2021
Business in Africa is booming — but international companies are missing out, says emerging markets expert Nomava Zanazo. Rushing in without knowing their customers, businesses underestimate Africans and make costly assumptions about their diversity, preferences and buying power. Sharing the basics about what companies need to know to succeed on the continent, Zanazo debunks four myths and misunderstandings about Africa and its citizens — and invites businesses from overseas to share in its wealth ... once they’ve done their research. After the talk, Modupe talks with Ndidi Nwuneli, the co-founder of Ace Foods, a distributor of West African food products. Ace Foods is a great example of a company that is following Zanazo’s advice for how American companies can do business well with African consumers.
Where Do Your Online Returns Go? — Aparna Mehta
December 6, 2021
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 all time, until she one day asked herself: Where do all these returned clothes go? In an eye-opening talk, she reveals the unseen world of “free” online returns — which, instead of ending up back on the shelf, are sent to landfills by the billions of pounds each year — and shares a plan to help put an end to this growing environmental catastrophe. After the talk, Modupe talks about businesses that are tackling resale and more sustainable shopping practices.
The Big Myth of Government Deficits — Stephanie Kelton
November 29, 2021
Government deficits have gotten a bad rap, says economist Stephanie Kelton. In this groundbreaking talk, she makes the case to stop looking at government spending as a path towards frightening piles of debt, but rather as a financial contribution to the things that matter — like health care, education, infrastructure and beyond. After the talk, Modupe talks about the scarcity mindset and how they can impede bold action.