I finally checked off a bucket list item by attending TED 2024 earlier this year. After years of wanting to go, I decided it was time to channel my inner YOLO (you only live once) and take the plunge.
I had a great time throughout the experience. The most unexpected thing was how much I liked the company of the other Tedsters. At all the conferences I attended in my career, I was either selling, or being sold to. Tedsters are at the conference to connect & learn. I never imagined I would have so much fun talking to people I hardly knew. I made connections and I learned.
The content is simply the best I have ever encountered. The conference was superb in every aspect, from the organisation, to the venue, to the food, to the snacks. I give TED 2024 a 5 ⭐ rating.
I want to share here a few talks that made my top 10. They are not all available, so hence the part one, there will be a part deux!
So in no particular order on my top 10, here are the first four available.
Why is US politic is broken, by Andrew Yang. Andrew was a candidate in the Democratic Party presidential primaries in 2020. He exposes the flaws of the system built on poor incentives and proposes a cost effective overhaul inspired by primary elections already working in places like Alaska. In short he advocates for ranked-choice voting, where voters can choose candidates in order of preferences regardless of party, to stem the influence of extreme ideologies plaguing the US system.
How the US is destroying Young People’s Future, by a fav of mine Scott Galloway. ProfG is the reason I decided to go this year! The talks discuss the economic and societal challenges that young people in the United States face. In his typical rapid-fire style, backed by data, ProfG goes to show the odds are stacked against youth. Intergenerational policies are favoring the older voters. Growing income disparity, the increasing costs of education and housing, all key issues he dives in with charts. He then goes into solutions on how to address and hopefully reverse the situation.
The good news you might have missed, by Angus Hervey. With all the doom and gloom going on in the world, it’s easy to be a Debbie downer to all around us. Angus hits us with quite the opposite take of traditional news. He gives us a glimpse of things that are going well and progressing, so we can celebrate them. Inspiring hope, to inspire changes, by sharing examples of achievements in various fields such as climate change, public health, human rights, and science. The bottom line: pay more attention to stories of progress and share them to foster actions.
The secret ingredient of business success, by Pete Stavros. I’m familiar with Company Stock options, and stocks plans, so I was skeptical of this talk. Two things I came away with, 1) who knew a PE guy could have a heart, Peter certainly does. 2)The plans I have been involved in didn’t have the success the example Pete talks about by a mile. He advocates for a business model where employees have a stake in the company. He shares how it has shaped his views on corporate culture, and structure. He provides actionable insights, and he has started a non-profit to promote employee ownership and for a more prosperous corporate environment.
I hope you like them; more are coming soon.