Before Ava DuVernay became the first Black woman director to win Sundance and get nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, she was a publicist with a little hobby, a big dream, and a lot of patience. Adam talks to Ava about how she turned her side gig of filmmaking into a brilliant career, how her leadership style has evolved over the years, and what studying MLK while making the movie Selma can teach us about what it really takes to inspire. For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/T4G29

Satya Nadella is a modern renaissance man; he’s a cricket enthusiast, poetry lover, oh, and the chairman and CEO of Microsoft with a nearly perfect approval rating on Glassdoor. Satya has led a transformation at Microsoft, up-ending the culture, and rethinking remote and hybrid work. In this episode, Adam talks to Satya about the future of work, leadership, and building cultures of care. For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/T4G28

Jon Batiste has had a record year—he was the most nominated artist at the Grammys, winning five of his ELEVEN nominations across multiple categories, including Album of the Year. When he’s not making musical history, he’s a touring artist, late-night band leader, and Oscar-winning composer. In this episode, Jon talks with Adam about the creative process of making his genre-defying music, his prodigious background as a young musician in New Orleans, the role of focus and variety in building a successful career, and the power of art to make real change. For the full text transcript, visit https://tedtalks.social/3FCKvYj

When Esther Duflo took her first economics class, she hated it. In 2019, she won a Nobel Prize in economics. Esther talks with Adam about her groundbreaking experiments to fight poverty, busts myths about what motivates people, and reveals how to make meaningful progress toward solving daunting problems. Read the text transcript for this episode at go.ted.com/T4G24

Indra Nooyi, the trailblazing former CEO of PepsiCo, shares her insights on effective leadership that prioritizes compassion and profitability. She discusses the importance of adapting brand strategies in a shifting beverage market and critiques current MBA education structures while advocating for mentorship. Nooyi emphasizes the need for a focus on employee well-being, health-driven leadership, and collaborative corporate responsibility. Plus, she reveals her surprising encounter with an intimidating world leader and reflects on the dynamics of modern work culture.

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. Read the text transcript for this episode at go.ted.com/T4G22

At the age of 18, Allyson Felix took home the Olympic silver medal in the 200 meter dash. She was devastated. Where others saw “second-best in the world,” she only saw “not first.” That race lit a fire that would carry her on to become the most decorated track and field athlete in American history. Adam talks with her about achieving excellence, bouncing back from her so-called “failures,” and sustaining motivation to medal in five straight Olympic games. Read the text transcript for this episode at go.ted.com/T4G21

Lin-Manuel Miranda, the mastermind behind Broadway hits like Hamilton and In the Heights, chats with his father, Luis Miranda, a pivotal figure in balancing creativity and productivity. They explore how Lin’s curiosity sparked his iconic creations, tackle the complexities of standing out, and emphasize the significance of deadlines and delegation. They share insights on integrating work and life, the importance of daydreaming, and the evolution of representation in storytelling. Their candid conversation navigates the intersection of art, family, and social change.

Do you pay attention to your attention? John Green is the beloved author of The Fault In Our Stars, and when he started tracking his attention, he realized he was obsessed with evaluating human progress. He decided to start rating everything—from the capacity for human wonder to Canadian geese—on a five-point scale. In this deeply thoughtful conversation with Adam, John shares what he learned from his series of Yelp-style reviews, the gift of a great book, and the unexpected life lessons found in the last lap of Mario Kart. Read the full text transcript at go.ted.com/T4G8

Mellody Hobson, a trailblazing leader in finance, dives into the art of extracting insights from tough feedback. She emphasizes the importance of humility and authenticity in processing criticism, urging listeners to view feedback as a valuable gift. Mellody also reflects on the balance between personal choices and opportunities shaped by background. Her wisdom extends to fostering inclusive environments and the courage to stand up against injustice, inspired by historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr.