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1. Women Have Something To Say

Girls Write Now Awards Source:Getty

TED Talks allow for people to share their life stories and inspire. There have been many women who have given TED talks and they’re beyond amazing. If you need some motivation this week, check out all these awesome talks from women.

2. Chimamanda Adichie: The Danger Of A Single Story

Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice — and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding. Everyone has a story.

3. Mellody Hobson: Color Blind Or Color Brave?

The subject of race can be very touchy. As finance executive Mellody Hobson says, it’s a “conversational third rail.” But, she says, that’s exactly why we need to start talking about it. In this engaging, persuasive talk, Hobson makes the case that speaking openly about race — and particularly about diversity in hiring — makes for better businesses and a better society.

4. Sarah Kay: If I Should Have A Daughter…

Spoken word poet, Sarah Kay shares her inspiring story of living for poetry from the corners of New York’s Bowery Poetry Club to now teaching students and connecting with them over the power of expression through Project V.O.I.C.E. There’s a reason she inspired two standing ovations is 2011.

5. Rhon Manigault-Bryant: #dangerousbodies #blackwomen #scifi

Rhon Manigault-Bryant is an assistant professor of Africana studies at Williams College. She is a scholar-artist who merges her life as a musician and vocalist with her interdisciplinary specializations in religion, gender, race, music, popular culture, and ethnographic methods.

6. Brene Brown: The Power Of Vulnerability

Brene Brown is a TED talk G. She’s got so many that are spot on, it’s hard to choose. She studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk at TEDxHouston, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity.

7. Monica Lewinsky: The Price Of Shame

In 1998, says Monica Lewinsky, “I was Patient Zero of losing a personal reputation on a global scale almost instantaneously.” Today, the kind of online public shaming she went through has become a constant. In a brave talk, she takes a look at our “culture of humiliation,” in which online shame equals dollar signs — and demands a different way. We should be able to be forgiven for our past mistakes.

8. Rita Pierson: Every Kid Needs A Champion

Rita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, “They don’t pay me to like the kids.” Her response: “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.'” A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level. Rita is what we need.

9. Cameron Russell: Looks Aren’t Everything. Believe Me, I’m A Model.

Beauty is perception and because Cameron gets paid because she’s beautiful, her insight on looks is amazing. She admits she won “a genetic lottery”: she’s tall, pretty and an underwear model. But don’t judge her by her looks. In this fearless talk, she takes a wry look at the industry that had her looking highly seductive at barely 16-years-old.

10. Chen Lizra: The Power Of Seduction In Our Everyday Lives

Chen Lizra is explaining the power of Seduction in our everyday lives. Every successful person will tell you that it is impossible to reach high levels of Success without being able to persuade and “seduce” others. It is one of these skills that are usually neglected and also considered a taboo by many. This is one of the reasons why this was quite a controversial topic among TED viewers.

11. Solome Tibebu: Surviving Anxiety

Solome Tibebu founded Anxiety In Teens, a mental health help site for youth, as an anxious 16-year-old in 2006. Since then, Tibebu has grown the organization to reach isolated youth with anxiety, inform and educate affected teens and their friends and families, as well as inspire recovery and awareness.

12. Sheena Iyengar: The Art Of Choosing

Sheena Iyengar studies how we make choices — and how we feel about the choices we make. At TEDGlobal, she talks about both trivial choices (Coke v. Pepsi) and profound ones, and shares her groundbreaking research that has uncovered some surprising attitudes about our decisions.

13. Arianna Huffington: How To Succeed? Get More Sleep

We can literally sleep our way to the top. Arianna Huffington shares a small idea that can awaken much bigger ones: the power of a good night’s sleep. Instead of bragging about our sleep deficits, she urges us to shut our eyes and see the big picture: We can sleep our way to increased productivity and happiness — and smarter decision-making.

For 2024’s iteration of MadameNoire and HelloBeautiful’s annual series Women to Know, we knew we wanted to celebrate the people who help make the joys of film and television possible. To create art is to create magic. This year, we spotlight Hollywood Executive’s changing the face of cinema.