Ted Audio Collective Remember 2020? I mean, who can forget 2020? It was such a

challenging year on so many dimensions. The dual pandemics of COVID-19 and

the racial reckoning in the U.S. uprooted traditional systems, structures, and

dynamics forcing us all to embrace change. At Columbia Business School I co-chair

to task force to understand how we needed to change as an institution from addressing the

complexities of online learning and work from home to becoming more inclusive. How could we foster

a greater sense of connection and belonging for students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds

and ethnicities? And guess what this meant? Listening. I've heard the expression,

we have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak. I love that phrase

because it's a reminder that sometimes the key to bringing about change is shutting your mouth.

I'm Madu Paganola. This is Ted Business. Listening is one approach we took to embrace change when

there was so much uncertainty. And today you'll hear Ken Chenult, the former CEO and chairman

of American Express, discuss his approach to leading during times of crisis. Ken sat down with

Ted's current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers to share some insight on how leaders can

inspire hope, stay grounded in their values, and ultimately empower the people they lead.

You'll hear more in a moment, but first a quick break.

Hey, it's Adam Grant. The new season of my Ted podcast Work Life is out now.

The past few years have been full of changes to how we work. There's so much more we can rethink

about our jobs. Join me as I dive into the science of making work not suck. This season we'll

explore how to fix your meetings, bust pure accuracy, and make the most out of your breaks and

vacations. Listen to Work Life with Adam Grant, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Great. Well, thank you so much for being here with us today, Ken. It's really great to have you.

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