Podcasts · Business

TED Business

TED

300 episodes

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.

More about the show

Follow Modupe on Instagram at @mnakinola and on LinkedIn at @mnakinola

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Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. Unlocking Your Power at Work: Kara Swisher on how to get what you want | from Fixable

    · 34 min

    No matter where you fall on the corporate food chain, you have power at work—you just might not know how to use it. In this new series on Unlocking Your Power at Work, Anne and Frances dig into how to discover, build,…

  2. Unlocking Your Power at Work: Why you underestimate your own power with Deborah Gruenfeld

    · 43 min

    In the modern workplace, hierarchy and power differences are often viewed as problems to solve. But Deborah Gruenfeld has a different perspective: hierarchy is not only essential to organizations, but we actually crave…

  3. Unlocking Your Power at Work: How to build your financial power with Mrs. Dow Jones

    · 33 min

    Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy you the freedom to make powerful choices. Haley Sacks, also known as Mrs. Dow Jones, is the host of the podcast Financial Tea and a bestselling author the Wall Street Journal…

  4. Unlocking Your Power at Work: How to empower others with Hubert Joly

    · 37 min

    Throughout the Unlocking Your Power at Work series, Anne and Frances have uncovered practical advice for gaining power, building influence, and unleashing the abilities you already have. But once you make it to the…

  5. Unlocking Your Power at Work: The new rules of power

    · 30 min

    With great power comes great responsibility… and the chance to reflect on what we’ve learned from people who wield it well. In this episode, Anne and Frances look back on their conversations with Kara Swisher, Deborah…

  6. How the wealth gap is reshaping politics | Xochitl Gonzalez

    · 15 min

    Wealth inequality gets talked about as an economic problem. Writer Xochitl Gonzalez makes the case that it's a civic one, too — a slow, quiet threat to democracy. Drawing on her research into the psychology of social…

  7. How do the stock market and the economy work? | Oliver Elfenbaum and Richard M. Coffin

    · 17 min

    How does the stock market work? How do you choose stocks? And what causes an economic recession? In this episode, Modupe shares three TED Ed lessons that answer these questions to help demystify the process and help…

  8. Your job or your sanity? How to not lose both (w/ Guy Winch) | from How to Be a Better Human

    · 43 min

    If we accept that work-life balance is a necessity, then why are stress and burnout still increasing? Guy Winch is a psychologist and was the first guest ever on the How to Be a Better Human podcast. Guy returns to the…

  9. Who controls your city's money? | Trinity Tran

    · 37 min

    What if your city could borrow money from its own bank instead of private lenders? TED Fellow Trinity Tran is leading the push for public banks — which are owned by the people through their local governments — and…

  10. Why countries should measure dreams and ambitions (just like GDP) | Lance Katigbak

    · 13 min

    What do you want to be when you grow up? It's a universal question — and yet at some point, people stop asking you. Drawing on a nationwide survey across the Philippines, consumer researcher Lance Katigbak makes the…

  11. Growing Your Career: How to ask for more — and get it | Alex Carter

    · 18 min

    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…

  12. Growing Your Career: Why the best hire might not have the perfect resume | Regina Hartley

    · 11 min

    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…

  13. Growing Your Career: How to speak so that people want to listen | Julian Treasure

    · 10 min

    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…

  14. Growing Your Career: Why we choke under pressure -- and how to avoid it | Sian Leah Beilock

    · 16 min

    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…

  15. Growing Your Career: Let your ambition light you up, not burn you out | Tarveen Forrester

    · 11 min

    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…

  16. The four steps to hearing hard feedback gracefully | Chris Wheatley

    · 16 min

    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…

  17. How to get past the "messy middle" of a big change | Mary Martin

    · 15 min

    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…

  18. Can AI make you a better manager? with Hilary Gridley | from WorkLife with Molly Graham

    · 47 min

    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…

  19. The fleeting euphoria of success | Debbie Millman

    · 12 min

    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…

  20. Finding Purpose: How to find your purpose (w/ Master Fixer Molly Graham) | from Fixable

    · 38 min

    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…

  21. Finding Purpose: How to give your work meaning (w/ the New York Times Jodi Kantor) | from Fixable

    · 44 min

    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…

  22. Finding Purpose: How to defend your values (w/ Yara Shahidi & Keri Salter) | from Fixable

    · 36 min

    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…

  23. Finding Purpose: Why purpose is the answer to uncertainty and anxiety (w/ Arun Gupta) | from Fixable

    · 52 min

    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…

  24. A plan to stop AI from automating our decline | Gina Raimondo

    · 20 min

    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…

  25. My $60 million science experiment | Mark Rober

    · 17 min

    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.…

  26. How to build a career you actually love | Bill Gurley

    · 17 min

    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…

  27. What sitting all day does to your brain and body | Keith Diaz | Your Body on Tech

    · 47 min

    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:…

  28. Modupe's Top 5 (#1): Why you should talk about your anxiety at work | Adam Whybrew

    · 18 min

    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…

  29. Modupe's Top 5 (#2): How to break through fear and become a leader | Valerie Montgomery Rice

    · 18 min

    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…

  30. Modupe's Top 5 (#3): How to get people to do what you want | Barry Sonnenfeld

    · 18 min

    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…

  31. Modupe's Top 5 (#4): The value of kindness at work | James Rhee

    · 21 min

    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 --…

  32. Modupe's Top 5 (#5): What does "wealth" mean to you? | Aisha Nyandoro

    · 18 min

    For people living in poverty, a guaranteed income can mean finally having the space to dream of a comfortable life. Sharing the stories of single moms who participated in a first-of-its-kind program that offered them…

  33. Why overtourism could ruin your next vacation | Suresh Subudhi

    · 16 min

    When was your last unforgettable trip? Travel industry expert Suresh Subudhi believes joyful moments of connection are the reason we explore the world — but with vacation hotspots overrun and locals pushed to the…

  34. A simple solution to fix workplace miscommunication | Melissa M. Mikus

    · 13 min

    Leadership expert Melissa M. Mikus breaks down why most workplace friction isn't about personality clashes or bad intentions — it's about not knowing how to effectively communicate. Her solution? A small, visible and…

  35. The counterintuitive secret of leadership | Jessica Kriegel

    · 16 min

    Control is an illusion — and the leaders who chase it are holding their teams back. Workplace culture expert Jessica Kriegel explores the tactic that leaders who want to achieve extraordinary results should try…

  36. How to give feedback that lands | Renee St Jacques

    · 16 min

    Most managers give feedback. Few give feedback that actually works. Drawing on her background in psychology and executive coaching, Renee St Jacques breaks down what so many well-intentioned leaders get wrong — and…

  37. Why the smartest person in the room is asking the “dumb” questions with Molly Graham

    · 32 min

    One of our favorite TED talks on TED Business is from company builder Molly Graham. She’s also the new host of WorkLife with Molly Graham, another podcast from TED. Modupe sits down with Molly at TED2026 to talk about…

  38. Why you should stop chasing your “dream job” (w/ Emily the Recruiter) | from Fixable

    · 45 min

    Does your “dream job” really exist? You may know Emily Durham as Emily the Recruiter on social media, where she shares practical, refreshingly honest career advice and coaches people through the biggest professional…

  39. Is inviting everyone to the meeting holding back global cooperation? | Qahir Dhanani

    · 14 min

    International collaboration expert Qahir Dhanani makes the case for rebuilding public trust in broken institutions by embracing small, focused coalitions that can move faster and act bolder — offering a hopeful,…

  40. Why the world is still not built for women | Virginia Santy

    · 17 min

    Design consultant Virginia Santy set out to create an office space built specifically for women, flipping the script on the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways that workplaces and cities still fail them. The results were…

  41. The surprising origins of Southwest Airlines with Jacob Goldstein

    · 26 min

    In this special TED Business episode, Modupe is in conversation with Jacob Goldstein, reporter and co-host of the Business History podcast, to dig into the origin story ofSouthwest Airlines. From debunking the…

  42. The secret to making the right career decisions with Patty Stonesifer | from WorkLife with Molly Graham

    · 39 min

    You might think the biggest, most prestigious job is always the right career move. Patty Stonesifer — founding CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and an early Amazon board member — says that’s exactly the wrong…

  43. 3 things I wish I knew when I was broke | Vivian Tu

    · 27 min

    Finance doesn't have to feel like a foreign language. Wall Street trader-turned-financial educator Vivian Tu helps millions of people make sense of money, breaking down complex concepts into everyday terms you can…

  44. How displaced people are driving local economies | Julienne Oyler

    · 12 min

    The number of forcibly displaced people across the world is on the rise. While aid systems often focus on providing basic necessities like food and shelter, Julienne Oyler and her team at the nonprofit Inkomoko have a…

  45. 4 relationship traps that lead to burnout | Eric Quintane

    · 21 min

    Are your workplace relationships quietly burning you out? Drawing on large-scale research across industries, organizational behavior researcher Eric Quintane reveals four hidden relational traps woven into the fabric…

  46. What successful negotiators do differently | Kathryn Valentine

    · 12 min

    Studies show that women negotiate just as frequently as men — so why do they succeed half as often? With wit and humor, business consultant Kathryn Valentine unpacks the gender expectations of workplace negotiations,…

  47. Toolkit: Give Better Feedback | from Fixable

    · 35 min

    Giving and receiving feedback is an important part of any job or relationship—but it can be tricky to get it right. This season, Anne and Frances are introducing a new segment called Toolkit: a practical guide to…

  48. How to be a great listener | Maegan Stephens, Nicole Lowenbraun

    · 15 min

    Have you ever left a meeting thinking: everyone talked, but nothing was achieved? Chances are that people were listening to each other, just not in the same way. Listening experts Maegan Stephens and Nicole Lowenbraun…

  49. How to introduce yourself — and get hired | Rebecca Okamoto

    · 13 min

    First impressions matter, so how do you make yours count? Communication consultant Rebecca Okamoto outlines five simple ways to introduce yourself in 20 words or fewer, setting up any interview or conversation for…

  50. How to understand money stuff (w/ Matt Levine) | from How to Be a Better Human

    · 39 min

    Matt Levine is the author of Bloomberg’s “Money Stuff” newsletter where he writes about Wall Street and finances. Matt joins Chris to break down common money questions such as what exactly is commodity trading? How do…

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