As founder and CEO of personal finance site LearnVest, Alexa von Tobel is teaching people new things everyday. She knows that the best TEDTalks are the ones that can deliver eye-opening information in a way that's accessible to the audience.
She explains, "When I had the privilege of giving a TED talk on the importance of financial literacy at TEDxWallStreet, I spent hours reviewing the latest talks and re-watched all of my favorites. I think a quintessential TEDTalk delivers an innovative idea with true insight and a sense of humor."
Here are her four favorite TEDTalks, and notes on why she chose each one.
Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity
"The first on my list is Ken Robinson's notable talk on creativity in our education system. It's the most viewed TEDTalk of all time, and for good reason."
Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation
"As a CEO, Dan Pink's talk on motivation struck a chord — especially the gem that 'if-then rewards destroy creativity.' There are major implications here for running a company and properly incentivizing your team to be as creative as possible."
Shawn Achor: The happy secret to better work
"In the same vein, I'm a huge fan of Shawn Achor's talk on happiness and productivity. When I was at Harvard College concentrating in psychology, I took one of Shawn's classes, and this talk summarizes some of his best lessons. Plus, he gets bonus points for an amazing opening anecdote!"
Sheryl Sandberg: Why we have too few women leaders