Tedtalks Business

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 Aace Foods, a producer and distributor of West African food products. Aace 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.

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.

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.

The longtime PepsiCo CEO is one of the world’s most powerful women and Time’s 100 most influential people. In the first of two rich conversations, she explains why she wrote more than 400 letters about her direct reports… to their parents. Indra and Adam discuss what she’s learned about leadership, finding and being a mentor, championing ideas from below, and making big career decisions. They also explore some of the big questions around the future of work—from embracing flexibility to creating equitable arrangements for women to making family a real priority. This is an episode of WorkLife with Adam Grant, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective. You can find it, as well as the part 2 to this conversation, wherever you're listening to this.

Often it feels like the only thing we can agree on is that we can't agree on anything. World debate champion Julia Dhar offers three techniques to reshape the way we talk to each other so we can take our disagreements somewhere fruitful — over family dinners, during work meetings, and in our national conversations. Plus host Modupe Akinola explains why better arguments might start not with arguments at all, but with better questions. We hope you enjoy this episode from the TED Business archive, and find it helpful in any difficult conversations you have to navigate over the holiday season.

Do you sometimes have your most creative ideas while folding laundry, washing dishes or doing nothing in particular? It's because when your body goes on autopilot, your brain gets busy forming new neural connections that connect ideas and solve problems. Learn to love being bored as Manoush Zomorodi explains the connection between spacing out and creativity. Manoush is the host of NPR's TED Radio Hour and ZigZag, a podcast from the TED Audio Collective. After the talk, Modupe gives suggestions for inspiring more boredom in your daily life.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has gotten more than his fair share of attention from his acting career. But as social media exploded over the past decade, he got addicted like the rest of us -- trying to gain followers and likes only to be left feeling inadequate and less creative. In a refreshingly honest talk, he explores how the attention-driven model of big tech companies impacts our creativity -- and shares a more powerful feeling than getting attention: paying attention. After the talk, Modupe talks about how to find flow when you're surrounded by distractions.

You may be experiencing burnout and not even know it, say authors (and sisters) Emily and Amelia Nagoski. In an introspective and deeply relatable conversation, they detail three telltale signs that stress is getting the best of you -- and share actionable ways to feel safe in your own body when you're burning out. Modupe speaks about burnout with Chris Duffy, the host of How to Be a Better Human, a podcast from the TED Audio Collective.

Today, a trailer from Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi, a new TED Original podcast. ​​Everyone wants to know if they're normal. Is my body normal, is my brain normal, are my feelings normal? When it comes to defining “normal,” data journalist Mona Chalabi isn’t interested in averages: she goes beyond the spreadsheet and digs into the deviations, talking to experts, strangers (even her Mum!) to see the bigger picture. Along the way, she will tackle urgent, random and sometimes deeply personal questions: How long does it take to heal from heartbreak? How many friends should I have? What makes “good” sperm? And does normal even exist? Subscribe to Am I Normal? wherever you're listening to this.

What if your attachment to being a "good" person is holding you back from actually becoming a better person? In this accessible talk, social psychologist Dolly Chugh explains the puzzling psychology of ethical behavior -- like why it's hard to spot your biases and acknowledge mistakes – and shows how the path to becoming better starts with owning your mistakes. After the talk, Modupe and Dolly give examples from their own lives of what it means to break down defenses, and be truly "good-ish."

Companies often target consumers based on gender, but this kind of advertising shortcut doesn't just perpetuate outdated stereotypes -- it's also bad for business, says marketing expert Gaby Barrios. In this clear, actionable talk, she explains why gender-based marketing doesn't drive business nearly as much as you might think -- and shows how companies can find better ways to reach customers and grow their brands. After the talk, Modupe discusses why labeling and categorizing consumers in any way will negatively impact marketing strategy.

It's been 10 years since the death of Steve Jobs. Has Apple peaked after 10 years of Tim Cook's leadership, or is the best yet to come? Harvard Business School professors Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee and Mihir A. Desai debate the prospects for Apple -- and discuss the celebrities changing the way Hollywood does business, including Reese Witherspoon, Rihanna and more. After Hours is another member of the TED Audio Collective. For new episodes every week, follow After Hours wherever you get your podcasts.

Think capitalism is broken? Try cooperativism, says co-op enthusiast and researcher Anu Puusa. She lays out how cooperatives -- businesses owned, operated and controlled by their members -- can both make money and have a positive impact on the environment and local communities. With co-ops, Puusa says, doing good business and doing good at the same time becomes possible. After the talk, Modupe offers suggestions for listeners who are interested in participating in cooperativism.

What's the purpose of a company? In this bold talk, activist and filmmaker Abigail Disney imagines a world where companies have a moral obligation to place their workers above shareholders, calling on Disney (and all corporations) to offer respect, dignity and a living wage to everyone who works for them. After the talk, Modupe offers ideas for CEOS on how they can work collectively to treat workers better.

When TED media communications associate Micah Eames came out as trans at work, he quickly realized he'd need to start having tricky conversations with coworkers. Here's his advice for how you can open up about your identity at work, and what your colleagues can do to help. After the talk, Modupe provides tips on what employers can do to foster more supportive environments for their workers.

The world's most valuable tech companies profit from the personal data you generate. So why aren't you getting paid for it? In this eye-opening talk, entrepreneur and technologist Jennifer Zhu Scott makes the case for private data ownership—which would empower you to donate, destroy or sell your data as you see fit—and shows how this growing movement could put power (and cash) back into the hands of people.

Roughly two billion people worldwide don't have access to banks or financial services like credit, insurance and investment. How do we bridge this divide? Former Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga sits down with TED current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers to discuss how innovative public-private partnerships can help bring everyone into the digital economy -- and why we’re not ready for a totally cashless system.

What's the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today? Exercise! says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki. Get inspired to go to the gym as Suzuki discusses the science of how working out boosts your focus, memory, and mood — which can make you better at your job. After the talk, Modupe explains a clever way to trick yourself into getting more exercise.

Athletes train their bodies to run faster, jump higher, throw farther. So why don't they train their minds, too? Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, the highest paid player in the NFL, shares how “neutral thinking” helps him handle high pressure situations, on and off the field. After the talk, Modupe examines how we can use stress to our advantage.

Trust is the foundation for everything we do. So what do we do when it's broken? Harvard Business School professor Frances Frei gives a crash course on the three essential components of trust, and how to build them — a process she put to use during a stint at Uber. Plus, Modupe explains how to apply those principles of trust with Black colleagues and others in the minority.