You don’t have to head off to a fancy business school this fall to learn about business. In fact, all you really have to do is have a computer and a little free time to get a world of business education at your fingertips. Here is a collection of lectures, many from the most prestigious business schools, economists and business leaders, that can help you learn about aspects of business that you’re interested in, and perhaps some you didn’t even know existed.

General Business

These lectures cover a wide range of general business topics from customer service to writing your first business plan.

1. Amazon.com: Customer Experience Matters: Take some advice from Jeffery Bezos, founder of internet retailer Amazon, on what it takes to run a successful business in this lecture. [Princeton]
2. The Business of Baseball: Love sports and want to know more about what goes into the business of actually running a successful franchise? You can learn more here. [Harvard@Home]
3. Joseph Pine on what consumers want: This lecture deals with the divide between the consumer desire for authenticity and the mass production of items. [TED]
4. Clay Shirky on institutions vs. collaboration: Here you can learn about how Clay Shirky thinks business dynamics will change in the future and how you can get ahead of the game. [TED]
5. Building the Next Generation Company: Innovation, Talent, Excellence: Watch this video lecture to learn what it will take to stay competitive in the business of tomorrow. [MIT]
6. The Naked Corporation: Learn how transparency may change the face of business in the coming decades. [Boston College]
7. Power of How: Redefining Corporate Culture: In this lecture, CEO Dov Seidman explains how defining yourself in how you do business and present yourself can be a great way to stand out from the crowd. [WGBH]
8. In the Corridor: State of the Workforce: Learn what to expect from the workforce in the coming years through this panel discussion. [WGBH]
9. Vision, Values and Strategy: Does your business have them? It should, as this lecture explains the importance of these elements in business. [Stanford on iTunesU]
10. Conducting Business in Contemporary Society: This short lecture will introduce some basics of what it is like to own or operate a business in today’s economic climate. [Yale on iTunesU]
11. How to Write a Business Plan: If you’re unsure how to write a business plan you can get some guidance on how to create one and implement it. [Yale on iTunesU]
12. The Challenges and Opportunities Facing Business and Society Today: Given by Roland Betts, this lecture addresses issues both positive and negative in today’s society and how they are impacting business operations. [Yale on iTunesU]
13. Building a Business: Negotiation Skills: Check out this lecture to get some pointers on how to be a better negotiator and get what you want. [Oxford on iTunesU]

Ethics

Having an organization with a strong foundation of ethics is essential in these days of business transparency and media scandals. Here are some lectures that will help you learn more about business ethics and its practice.

14. Strong Ethics, Smart Business: Get some advice from the CEO of Xerox on why ethics are an essential part of a successful organization. [WGBH]
15. Winston Forum on Business Ethics: Check out this video to learn more about business ethics. [Boston College]
16. Rebuilding a Company after a Near Fatal Ethics Breakdown: What happens when your business experiences a real crisis of faith? Do you throw in the towel? This lecture is all about how you can rebuild and recover after an ethical breakdown. [WGBH]
17. Ethical Challenges in Business: A Leadership Perspective: This lecture will help give you some insights into how you can become a better leader who leads by example. [WGBH]
18. Ethical Leadership: Qualities and Responsibilities of Leaders in the New Millennium: Listen to this lecture from Aaron Feuerstein on how he took an ethical and admirable approach to business. [Boston College]
19. Keepers of the Corporate Conscience: If you’re planning on serving on a board of a corporation you might find this lecture interesting, as it addresses the ways that these groups must function in order to maintain solid ethics. [WGBH]
20. Good Work: When Excellence and Ethics Meet: Learn how you can do work that is both highly ethical and socially conscious and done with an expert hand from this lecture. [WGBH]

Entrepreneurship

If you’re thinking of starting your own business, these lectures can help you learn some of the fundamental things that can make or break your venture.

21. Entrepreneurial Leadership Qualities: Learn what separates good leaders from great ones in this lecture from Janice Fraser. [Stanford on iTunesU]
22. Startups: The Need for Speed: Check out this lecture to get a better understanding of why it’s important to work fast when it comes to starting a business. [Stanford on iTunesU]
23. Entrepreneurship and Business: This collection of podcast lectures will help you build your skills and expertise in businesses and maybe even guide you towards starting your own business. [Carnegie Mellon]
24. David S. Rose on pitching to VCs: If you’re looking to get some funding for your startup check out this lecture that explains some of the best ways to get investors. [TED]
25. Adventures of a Startup CEO: No Guts, No Glory: Learn why you might need to just take the leap of faith and start your business in this lecture. [Stanford on iTunesU]
26. Executive MBA Programs: In this site, you’ll find hundreds of resources and lectures for entrepreneurs and MBA students alike.  [Exec MBA Programs]
27. The Physics of Startups: Shai Agassi gets technical in this lecture from Stanford all about what goes on when you’re starting a business. [Stanford on iTunesU]
28. Overcoming Adversity and Taking Risks: These are two major elements in entrepreneurship, as you’ll learn from this multi-speaker lecture. [Stanford on iTunesU]
29. Choosing the Entrepreneurial Path: Are you sure entrepreneurship is the right path for you? Get a better handle on it here. [Stanford on iTunesU]
30. 5 Must-Haves for an Entrepreneurial Career: Check out this lecture to find out what skills and traits you’ll need to have or to hone to be a successful entrepreneur. [Stanford on iTunesU]
31. The Dynamic Relationship between an Entrepreneur and VC: Learn more about the kinds of relationship that you can expect to have with venture capital investors here. [Stanford on iTunesU]
32. Phases of a Start-Up: What phase is your business in? Get some insights into the various stages startups go through from this lecture. [Stanford on iTunesU]
33. The Role of Entrepreneurship in Solving World Problems: Social entrepreneurship is a growing field as more and more entrepreneurs want to make a difference with their enterprises. Learn more about how the process works from this lecture. [Stanford on iTunesU]

Management and Leadership

Become a better manager and coworker with a little advice and information from these great lectures.

34. Positive Psychology: This excerpt from a larger course will help you learn more about issues like happiness, self-esteem, creativity, humor and achievement that can be essential to living a good life and can make a big difference in the fulfillment of employees to understand as a manager. [Harvard Extension]
35. A Life of Significance: The Integration of Faith and Character into the World of Work: Can you make your business a meaningful place to work? This lecture addresses what it means to integrate moral character into the workplace. [Princeton]
36. The Consequences of Incompetence: The All-Too-Human Costs of Bad Thinking and Poor Decision-making by People in High Places: If you’re going to be in charge of a business or a large number of employees, this lecture can be an eye-opener, helping you increase your resolve to be a good manager and leader. [Princeton]
37. Leadership and Choice: Being a leader isn’t easy, so learning as much as you can as to what makes a good leader can be helpful. Check out this lecture as part of your leadership education. [Stanford on iTunesU]
38. Using Creative Leadership: Leadership and management doesn’t have to be boring for you or your employees. Get some insights on how to make it more creative from t his lecture. [Stanford on iTunesU]
39. Piloting a Company through Turbulent Times: The current economic climate hasn’t been easy on a lot of businesses. Learn how you can guide your business through this rough patch with success. [Yale on iTunesU]
40. Managing Non-Profits: If you’d like to go into managing a non-profit organization and do some good in the world then take a few minutes to watch this informative lecture. [WKU]
41. Small Business Management: This series of short lectures can help you learn more about the basics of owning and operating your own small business. [Southern Institute of Technology on iTunesU]
42. Construction Management Degree: This blog explains the hurdles of management and provides interesting lectures and resources with a focus on the construction management industry.
43. Human Resources and Organizations: Whether you’re a one-person human resources department or have several people working for you, this lecture series will give you some help managing and keeping things running smoothly when it comes to hiring, training and more. [Cambridge on iTunesU]
44. Business Management: This collection of lectures will help you to learn everything from risk management to internet marketing. [Stanford at iTunesU]

Technology

These lectures will help you better understand the application of technology in business and the ways in which you can make the most of it for your own endeavors.

45. The Future of the Web: Sir Tim Berners-Lee, a man who played a significant role in the development of the world wide web, delivers this lecture on where the net is heading in the future as it’s now the forum for a large portion of communication and business. [Princeton]
46. Rip, Mix, Burn, Sue: Technology, Politics, and the Fight to Control Digital Media: This lecture addresses copyright laws and the difficulty in creating systems that protect intellectual property rights with new digital media– something a lot of business owners worry about. [Princeton]
47. Broadband Video Leadership Panel: Do you have something to offer the world of broadband technology? This lecture presents some of the big issues and the directions broadband entertainment might be taking in the future. [WGBH]
48. Evan Williams on listening to Twitter users: Twitter has become increasingly popular both for personal and business use in the past year. Learn how to make the most of it for your business through this lecture. [TED]
49. Technology, Society and Business: Learn about the integration of technology and business and the legal, social and economic implications of these through this collection of lectures. [UC Berkeley]
50. Corporate Excellence, Ethics, and the Role of IT: Watch this lecture to learn why the role IT plays in your organization is an increasingly important one. [WGBH]
51. Developing Security Solutions: Keeping your data private and your innovations top secret can make or break your business. Learn how to develop some security solutions that can help ensure the safety of your data through this lecture. [Yale on iTunesU]
52. Using Social Media to Grow a Company: Take advantage of all that social media has to offer your business. This lecture will help you learn how if you’re not familiar with sites like Facebook and Twitter. [Yale on iTunesU]

International Issues

With markets becoming increasingly global it’s important to know more about the cultures of other countries as well as how business operates on an international scale– these lectures will help on both accounts.

53. China: Traditions and Transformations: This lecture, taken from a larger course, explores both the history and the current social and cultural state of China. [Harvard Extension]
54. Africa and Africans: The Making of a Continent in the Modern World: Listen to this free lecture to get a better understanding of the lasting impact of colonialism in Africa and the way that business and culture functions there today. [Harvard Extension]
55. Global Human Resource Management: This lecture addresses some of the major issues that come into play when you take a business overseas and start managing people from a range of cultures and backgrounds. [WGBH]
56. China and the West: Divergence and Convergence: As a major player in the global marketplace, it pays to learn a little about China. This lecture examines a sometimes-strained relationship between the west and China. [WGBH]
57. International Relations: New Approaches in a Complex World: Listen to this panel at Harvard discuss the impact of globalization, from religion to culture, on the world economy in this lecture. [Harvard@Home]
58. The Globalization Debate: Rhetoric and Reality: Get a fresh perspective on the globalization debate from this economics professor who has a different take on things and addresses some issues that have been thus far ignored. [Boston College]
59. Forces Impacting Global Business: Maurice Greenberg, chairman of American International Group, offers his thoughts on what factors impact global business. [Boston College]
60. People Before Profit: the New Globalization in an Age of Terror, Big Money, and Economic Crisis: Not all aspects of globalization are negative as this lecture from Charles Derber explains. [Boston College]

Economics

Listen to or watch these lectures to get a better idea of how economics works, where our economy stands right now and how your business might fit into it all.

61. The Modern World Economy: Listen to this sample lecture to learn about the economic history countries around the world from the 1870′s into the 2000′s. [Harvard Extension]
62. The Economics of Climate Change: Risk, Ethics, and a Global Deal: Nicolas Stern from this London School of Economics delivers this lecture– especially pertinent in times when green initiatives are driving industry to make changes. [Princeton]
63. Beyond Freakonomics: New Musings on the Economics of Everyday Life: Steven Levitt, author of the popular book Freakonomics, delivers this lecture on economics– interesting for business and lay people alike. [Princeton]
64. Rogue Economics: Not all of the world’s economy operates within the law. Learn about the dark side and what role businesses and governments play in support it. [WGBH]
65. The Financial Crisis: Learn more about what the current financial crisis might mean for you and your business venture through this lecture from Jeff Baker. [WGBH]
66. Decoding the Economy: Main Street to Wall Street: If you’d like an explanation of how economics works in terms you can actually understand, give this lecture a watch. [WGBH]
67. Bad Money: The Global Crisis of American Capitalism: This lecture will help you better understand the forces behind our economic collapse and what businesses and investors need to do to prevent it from happening again. [WGBH]
68. Financial Markets: This collection of lectures will help you learn just about everything about the way the global markets work. [Yale]
69. Finance and Economics: Get the basics on these two subjects with this free lecture from the prestigious Cambridge University. [Cambridge on iTunesU]

Innovation

Innovation is essential to keeping a business going over the long term and to make it competitive on the larger market. These lectures approach the topic from a variety of different angles.

70. Social Innovation in Global Health: When People Come First: Health care is a major global industry and one that constantly needs new ideas and entrepreneurs to keep it running. Learn more about health care innovation and how some social entrepreneurs are making a difference. [Princeton]
71. Einstein, Franklin, and the Role of Creativity in Today’s World: Some of the greatest thinkers and inventors of our time have been highly creative, inspired individuals. What role does this kind of creativity play in your business? [Princeton]
72. The Geography of Innovation in the U.S. – A Tale of 280 Cities: This lecture looks at why certain cities are homes to innovation more so that others. [Duke Law]
73. Disruptive Innovation and the Way We Learn: If you’d like to learn more about just what disruptive innovation is and how it can change how you do business, check out this lecture from Clayton Christensen. [WGBH]
74. Woody Norris invents amazing things: Want some inspiration on how you can develop something truly amazing for your business? Listen to this impressive lecture. [TED]
75. Inventing and Marketing: The inventor of the Furby gives this lecture and tells why his ideas have taken him far in this lecture. [WGBH]
76. Stimulating Creativity and Innovation in the Workplace: Robert Sutton of Stanford gives some advice on how you can foster a truly creative environment in your workplace through this lecture. [Stanford on iTunesU]

Law

These lectures will improve your knowledge of important legal considerations like copyrights, patents and intellectual property.

77. Importing Legal Ideas: This lecture will teach you about how some legal ideas have been, or perhaps should be, brought in from other countries around the world some of which could have a big impact on copyright and business. [Princeton]
78. Copyright Liberties: If you create something great you want to protect it with copyright, right? This lecture addresses why some of the issues with copyright law aren’t so cut and dry and may have been misinterpreted. [Duke Law]
79. Empirical Evidence on Patents: Do they work like property?: If you don’t know much about patent law you may want to check out this lecture that explains some of the issues related to them a little more clearly. [Duke Law]
80. Democratizing Innovation and Norms-based Intellectual Property Rights: Learn more about the trend towards democratization in innovation and the role the web plays in that from this lecture. [Duke Law]
81. Working Knowledge: Employee Innovation and the Rise of Corporate Intellectual Property, 1800-1930: In most situations, if an employee comes up with an idea while working for a company, that idea belongs to the company. This lecture explains the history of those kinds of policies. [Duke Law]
82. Larry Lessig on laws that choke creativity: Could the law be stifling the innovations produced by your company? Learn more here. [TED]

Inspiration

Looking for a business or entrepreneurial role model? These lectures offer a chance to see how entrepreneurs work and what made them the best at what they do.

83. The First Tycoon: This lecture tells the story of how railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt fought his way to the top– inspiration for anyone struggling to make it in business. [WGBH]
84. The Widow Clicquot: The Champagne Empire: Learn more about how this widow started and ran what is now a champagne company known around the world. [WGBH]
85. How to Make Money and Save the World: This lecture is given by Gary Hirshberg, Chairman, President and CEO of Stonyfield Farm and Professor Nancy F. Koehn of Harvard Business School. They explain how you can go good for the environment and still make a healthy profit as well. [WGBH]
86. Flexible Employment: How Women Can Own Their Own Careers: If you’re a woman in business you might be facing some unique challenges. Get some advice and inspiration from Jacquit Welch in this lecture. [WGBH]
87. Entrepreneurial Women: Check out this panel series that brings together a group of women who are at the top of their game in business and listen to them discuss the issues they face working in corporate America. [Harvard@Home]
88. Robin Chase on Zipcar and Her Next Big Idea: Wish you had though of the Zipcar? This woman did. Learn from her experience and where she wants to go next from this lecture. [TED]
89. The Manager’s Studio with Mike White: Think you can’t ever be a business wonder with an undergrad degree in something unrelated? This CEO proves different. [Boston College]
90. View from the Top: Shell Oil’s John Hofmeiser: Listen to this lecture on Shell President John Hofmeister to get some pointers on building big business and understanding green initiatives. [Stanford on iTunesU]

Green and Sustainable Business

The environment and social issues are big buzz words these days and have become pretty essential to the marketing and operations of a lot of businesses. Consider your options in making your business greener and more socially conscious with these informative lectures.

91. Models of Sustainable Transportation Across the Globe: Learn what works elsewhere and new ways that you or your business could potentially bring them home. [WGBH]
92. Sustainable Enterprise: The Next Industrial Revolution: This lecture addresses the growing desire and profitability of green and sustainable business and how it just might be the latest industrial standard. [WGBH]
93. Ray Anderson on the business logic of sustainability: Learn from this businessman why being sustainable just makes good business sense. [TED]
94. Kevin Surace invents eco-friendly drywall: Check out this lecture to see how even the invention of something as basic of eco-friendly drywall can have a big impact on the environment and the success of your business. [TED]
95. Jacqueline Novogratz on patient capitalism: This entrepreneur focuses her business sense on helping the world’s poor. You can learn about her philosophies and methods in this lecture. [TED]
96. The Selective Greening of American Business: The Role of Social Norms, Politics, and Law: Learn why government regulations on business could be a good thing from this lecture. [Boston College]
97. Corporate Social Responsibility in an Increasingly Flat World: Learn why your business should be focused on protecting the land and people of the countries it operates in this lecture. [WGBH]
98. Corporate Leadership Going Green: Listen to this lecture to get a better understanding of why going green is a popular choice and the implications it can have for your business. [Yale on iTunesU]
99. Green Rush: Eco-Business: Check out this lecture series to learn about the popularity of green marketing in business and how you can get in on the action. [American Public Media on iTunesU]
100. Social Entrepreneurship: Go through this lecture series to become better educated on ways you can make money while still helping others. [Stanford a iTunesU]