Sir Francis Bacon famously declared that ‘knowledge is power’ and with the world at our fingertips in this digital age, we have the opportunity to become the most powerful generation in history.
One such fountain of knowledge which continues to strengthen our minds are TED Talks. Driven by a mission to deepen our understanding of the world around us, this non-profit organisation regularly posts free discussions from a host of experts.
These thought-provoking sessions are usually under 30 minutes and cover a wide range of issues. Want to learn about how Netflix changed entertainment? TED Talks has a session for that. Want to understand what we can learn from far away galaxies? They’ve got you sorted.
Inspired by their tagline ‘Ideas worth spreading’, we’ve collated a list of the five engaging TED talks that every woman should listen to with the hope that it will spark your curiosity. Enjoy!
Reshma Saujani – Teach girls bravery, not perfection
This inspirational talk from the founder of ‘Girls Who Code’ explores how young girls are socialised to avoid risks, fear failure and strive for perfection.
Sheryl Sandberg – Why we have too few women leaders
COO of Facebook and author of ‘Lean In’, Sheryl Sandberg explores the hard choices women face in their professional lives and why only a small percentage reach positions of power.
Meera Vijayann – Find your voice against gender violence
In this poignant talk, Meera Vijayann discusses her history with gender violence, female empowerment and the importance of speaking out against sexual crimes.
Chimamanda Adichie – We should all be feminists
Self-described ‘happy feminist’, Chimamanda Adichie looks at her childhood in Nigeria exploring the negative stigma surrounding feminism, gender privilege and asks how we can live in a fairer world.
Anne-Marie Slaughter – Can we all have it all?
In this moving talk, Anne-Marie Slaughter explores the struggles faced by women trying to ‘have it all’ and the need for a change in policy and culture to achieve a healthy work/life balance.
