Forget the corporate ladder — winners take risks | Molly Graham (re-release and interview)

Success in your career looks different for everyone — but no matter your industry, you'll need to take risks. Company and community builder Molly Graham took to the TED stage two years ago to share three key skills to learn before jumping off a metaphorical cliff, outlining a path off the corporate ladder and into true professional and personal growth -- and these key skills are more relevant today than ever.

Today, Molly has returned to TED as the new host of the podcast, WorkLife . WorkLife is a show where Molly and her expert guests talk through the messy feelings we all experience at work—conversations that delve into our ambitions and failures. Elise Hu, host of TED Talks Daily, caught up with Molly to look back at her talk and how those ideas continue to evolve in today's world. They discuss the importance of embracing the emotional side of work, how to tell the difference between good fear and bad fear, aging, why so many successful things feel messier than we think they’re supposed to, and so much more.

Listen to WorkLife with Molly Graham wherever you get your podcasts.

Molly's talk originally aired in 2024. Elise and Molly’s conversation was recorded in April 2026.