
Adam Grant
Organizational psychologist | Bestselling author exploring motivation, generosity, and human potential
Adam Grant is a Change Management speaker who has appeared at 15 events including TED and Corporate Culture Summit 2025, most recently in 2025.

About
Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist at the Wharton School and bestselling author who explores the science of motivation, generosity, rethinking, and potential. Through his research and speaking, he examines the psychology behind human behavior in the workplace and beyond, investigating everything from what drives original thinking to the dynamics of giving and taking in professional relationships.
Grant's work spans critical areas of human psychology, including the real drivers behind procrastination, the concept of "languishing" and how to move toward flow states, and the importance of rethinking our assumptions. His speaking engagements at major venues like TED2016, TED@IBM 2016, and TEDMonterey 2021 demonstrate his ability to translate complex psychological research into actionable insights for diverse audiences, helping people understand the surprising patterns that govern creativity, motivation, and success.
What Adam Talks About
The psychology of procrastination and overcoming delay tactics
Identifying and developing original thinking patterns
Understanding giver vs. taker dynamics in workplace relationships
Moving from languishing to flow states for peak performance
The science of rethinking and challenging assumptions
Talks10
The case against personal branding | WorkLife
In the age of social media and influencers, we’re constantly pushed to think of ourselves as brands-shiny packages containing all of our best traits to market to employers and followers. But striving to build a “personal brand” may actually hinder your ability to make genuine connections and maintain a strong reputation. In this episode, Adam explores the science on alternatives to personal branding and explains why contribution, collaboration, and humility are better self-promotional tools than a carefully crafted image. Join us in person at a TED conference: https://tedtalks.social/events Become a TED Member to support our mission: https://ted.com/membership Subscribe to a TED newsletter: https://ted.com/newsletters Follow TED! X: https://www.twitter.com/TEDTalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ted Facebook: https://facebook.com/TED LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ted-conferences TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tedtoks Podcasts: https://www.ted.com/podcasts The TED Audio Collective is a collection of podcasts for the curious. The TED Audio Collective videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (or the CC BY - NC - ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy (https://www.ted.com/about/our-organiz...). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at https://media-requests.ted.com.

Rewriting your story with Allison Sweet Grant | ReThinking

How to stop languishing and start finding flow
More Talks
What frogs in hot water can teach us about thinking again
The real reason you procrastinate
Are you a giver or a taker?
The surprising habits of original thinkers
Rebuilding Workplace Culture
Rethinking Leadership Assumptions
The Daily Show's secret to creativity
| Event | Year | Location | Talks |
|---|---|---|---|
| TED | 2025 | 🇨🇦Vancouver, Canada | 2 |
| Corporate Culture Summit 2025 | 2025 | 1 | |
| World Business Forum | 2025 | 1 | |
| Brilliant Minds | 2025 | 🇸🇪Stockholm, Sweden | 1 |
| Wharton Leadership Conference 2024 | 2024 | 🇺🇸Philadelphia, United States | 1 |
| Amsterdam Business Forum | 2024 | 1 | |
| BRAND MINDS | 2024 | Bucharest, Romania | 1 |
| Nordic Business Forum | 2024 | 🇫🇮Helsinki, Finland | 1 |
| Oslo Business Forum | 2024 | 1 | |
| Brilliant Minds | 2023 | 1 | |
| TEDMonterey 2021 | 2021 | 🇺🇸Monterey, United States | 1 |
| TED@BCG 2021 | 2021 | 1 | |
| WorkLife with Adam Grant 2020 | 2020 | 1 | |
| WorkLife with Adam Grant 2018 | 2018 | 1 | |
| TED@IBM 2016 | 2016 | 1 | |
| TED2016 | 2016 | 🇨🇦Vancouver, Canada | 1 |
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Who has Adam shared a stage with?
Speakers who appeared at the same event editions as Adam
| Speaker | Shared events | Where they appeared together |
|---|---|---|
| Brené BrownResearch Professor at University of Houston | Bestselling Author of 'Dare to Lead' | 4 | Amsterdam Business Forum 2024, Nordic Business Forum 2024, Oslo Business Forum 2024View shared history → |
| Bozoma Saint JohnChief Marketing Officer | Brand Builder & TV Personality | 2 | Nordic Business Forum 2024, TEDMonterey 2021View shared history → |
| Erin MeyerINSEAD Professor | Author of The Culture Map | 2 | Brand Minds 2024, Oslo Business Forum 2024View shared history → |
| Morten HansenMorten Hansen | 2 | Nordic Business Forum 2024, Oslo Business Forum 2024View shared history → |
| Pico IyerTravel writer & author of The Art of Stillness | 15 books on travel, belonging, and finding home | 2 | TED 2016, TED 2025View shared history → |
| Rokia TraoreMalian Singer-Songwriter | Cultural Bridges Through Music | 2 | TED 2016, WorkLife with Adam Grant 2018View shared history → |
Similar Speakers
Related by topic and shared stages

Malala Yousafzai
Activist | Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Both at Brilliant Minds 2023, Brilliant Minds 2025
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Brené Brown
Research Professor at University of Houston | Bestselling Author of 'Dare to Lead'
Both at World Business Forum 2025, Oslo Business Forum 2024
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