30 October 2010

Can Business Make a Difference? TEDTalks Playlist

Big Business is often blamed for the environmental and social ills that we are faced with today. But these speakers suggest that a business with a conscience can also provide solutions to the world’s biggest problems.

Melinda Gates says foundations and nonprofits can learn important lessons from big business — to turn honorable intentions into widespread impact.

Ray Anderson is a businessman and a recovering “plunderer.” Now that he has seen the light, he says that business and industry should lead the charge in preserving the earth and its peoples by adopting a “take nothing, do no harm” mentality.

Jeff Skoll’s film production company Participant Productions (producers of Waiting for ‘Superman’ has a new take on Hollywood – his films promote best practices and ideas for environmental sustainability and social impact.

John Doerr proclaims that panic is now our appropriate response to a world in jeopardy: companies and individuals together must use this panic, and their overwhelming power to save the world.

We’d love to hear more of your favorite TEDTalks about Big Business. Add your suggestions to the comments below, join the conversation on Facebook, or email contact@ted.com with the subject PLAYLIST: BIG BUSINESS. (Jog your memory with the TEDTalks spreadsheet.)

Curator of this playlist: Rachel Tobias

Posted by Rachel Tobias | Permalink | Comment | Trackback