Stem cell biologist; Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine, 2012
Working at the hospital, I found that my surgical skills were not as good as I expected.
Recorded · Nobel Prize Outreach · 2012
The 2010s
The deepest part of the record, and the decade the podcast interview took over from the profile.
80 people · 165 answers
How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a favourite failure?
Co-founder and former chief executive of Spotify
It was like switching out the engines mid-flight.
Recorded · Music Ally · 2016
Former chief operating officer of Facebook; founder of LeanIn.org
Day one of my first job out of college, my boss found out that I didn't know how to enter data into Lotus 1-2-3. That's a spreadsheet—ask your parents.
Recorded · Los Angeles Times · 2016
Film director, photographer and installation artist
I have never made any money from my films but I have won prizes and recognition. I have been on the margins forever.
Recorded · Eye For Film · 2018
Chancellor of Germany, 2005–2021; Leader of the Christian Democratic Union 2000–2018
The Berlin Wall limited my opportunities. It quite literally stood in my way.
Recorded · The Harvard Gazette, Harvard University · 2019
Chinese professional tennis player, 1999–2014
As hard as it's been to come to this decision, I am at peace with it. I have no regrets. I was not supposed to be here in the first place, remember?
Recorded · Fox Sports Australia · 2014
If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere, what would it say and why?
Education campaigner; co-founder of the Malala Fund; United Nations Messenger of Peace
Why is it that countries which we call strong are so powerful in creating wars but are so weak in bringing peace? Why is it that giving guns is so easy but giving books is so hard?
Recorded · The Nobel Foundation · 2014
Gynaecological surgeon; Nobel Peace Prize laureate, 2018
Taking action means saying 'no' to indifference. If there is a war to be waged, it is the war against the indifference which is eating away at our societies.
Recorded · Nobel Prize Outreach · 2018
Chancellor of Germany, 2005–2021; Leader of the Christian Democratic Union 2000–2018
Tear down walls of ignorance and narrow-mindedness, for nothing has to stay as it is.
Recorded · The Harvard Gazette, Harvard University · 2019
United States international footballer, 2001–2015
GIVE ME THE RESPECT I'VE EARNED AND GIVE IT TO MY WOLF PACK TOO.
Recorded · Speakola · 2018
Co-chief executive and president of Ariel Investments
We cannot afford to be color blind. We have to be color brave.
Recorded · TED · 2014
India Test and one-day international cricketer, 1996–2012; later India head coach
One of the things, Bradman said has stayed in my mind.
Recorded · ESPNcricinfo · 2011
What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you have ever made — of money, time, or energy?
President of Liberia, 2006–2018
My journey was supported by my many teachers and mentors who guided me to a world opened up by the enlightenment of higher education, and which led to my conviction that access to quality…
Recorded · The Nobel Foundation · 2011
India Test and one-day international cricketer, 1989–2013
In the last 24 years that I have played for India I have made new friends, and before that I have had friends from my childhood. They have all had a terrific contribution.
Recorded · ESPNcricinfo · 2013
Co-founder and chief executive of Airbnb
We need to have mentors. I think I've always been pretty shameless about seeking out people much smarter and much more experienced than me from the very beginning.
Recorded · Fortune · 2017
Co-founder and chief executive of Google DeepMind; Nobel laureate in Chemistry
I think chess — actually, a number of things that I learned when I was young — it wasn't so much the chess itself; it was the skills that you were training while you were playing chess.
Recorded · Academy of Achievement · 2017
Novelist and short-story writer
Remember, if you sit at your desk for 15 or 20 years, every day, not counting weekends, it changes you. It just does. It may not improve your temper, but it fixes something else.
Recorded · The Guardian · 2010
Education campaigner; co-founder of the Malala Fund; United Nations Messenger of Peace
Her story is why I dedicate the Nobel Peace Prize money to the Malala Fund, to help give girls quality education, everywhere, anywhere in the world and to raise their voices.
Recorded · The Nobel Foundation · 2014
Everyone here · A–Z
Abby Wambach, Agnès Varda, Akio Toyoda, Alice Waters, Allyson Felix, Andre Geim, Andy Murray, Angela Merkel, Anne Enright, Annie Proulx, Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Bong Joon-ho, Brian Chesky, Brian Eno, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Chris Hoy, Colm Tóibín, Dan Pallotta, Daniel Ek, David Hare, David Hockney, Demis Hassabis, Denis Mukwege, Drew Houston, Eliud Kipchoge, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Elmore Leonard, Esther Duflo, Geoff Dyer, Halla Tómasdóttir, Hilary Mantel, Howard Schultz, Indra Nooyi, Jeanette Winterson, Jeff Bezos, John Lewis, John McCain, Kazuo Ishiguro, Kobe Bryant, Li Na, Linus Torvalds, Magnus Carlsen, Malala Yousafzai, Margaret Atwood, Margaret Hamilton, Megan Rapinoe, Mellody Hobson, Michael Phelps, Neil Gaiman, Nick Cave, Novak Djokovic, Patti Smith, Paul Graham, Peter Thiel, Philip Pullman, Rahul Dravid, Ratan Tata, Ray Dalio, Ricardo Semler, Richard Ford, Roddy Doyle, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Sachin Tendulkar, Sarah Waters, Satya Nadella, Sheryl Sandberg, Shinya Yamanaka, Siya Kolisi, Sonia Sotomayor, Susan Wojcicki, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Tony Elumelu, Tu Youyou, Ursula K. Le Guin, Warren Buffett, Will Self, Yaa Gyasi, Yo-Yo Ma, Zadie Smith